repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2006 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 576 owner complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-247 the manufacturer reports only 12% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 9, 2025. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Volkswagen Passat has problems
576 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
148Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
112Steering
79Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
66Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
64Engine5 crash/fire/injury
47Power train1 crash/fire/injury
41Fuel/propulsion system
32Vehicle speed control
26Service brakes, hydraulic
14316 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 148 | 6 |
| Steering | 112 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 79 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 66 | 1 |
| Engine | 64 | 5 |
| Power train | 47 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 41 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 32 | 3 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 26 | 2 |
| 16 other systems | 143 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2006 Volkswagen Passat recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
repaired · 2019 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
Show 3 more recalls
no report yet
Power assist: vacuum
Risk. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES POSSIBLY INCREASING VEHICLE…
no report yet
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
Risk. THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
no report yet
Linkages: tie rod assembly
Risk. AN INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED TIE ROD NUT MAY LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
90kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 47 air bags complaints. 51% were reported before 100,000 miles.
5under 30k miles24under 100k miles23100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
28 owners mentioned a cost$1,700median
Middle half: $1,500 – $2,000
Engine and engine cooling
11 owners mentioned a cost$2,000median
Middle half: $693 – $7,500
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other Passat year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Passat median. How we score
'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2006 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings
2006 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 Volkswagen Passat, and the recalls they led to.
- Engine Compartment FireNo recall
In owners' words
What Passat owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owned a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was contacted however, the manufacturer was not.
My family and I have been VW owners for over 60 years. Unfortunately, the 2006 VW Passat has been layered with defects, negligent manufacturing issues, faulty wiring, electrical problems, computer glitches, to mention a few. There have been many recalls including an official recall by the NHTSA,…
Own a 2006 Passat?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.