repaired · 2023 Q1
Unknown or other
Risk. Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
2016 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 106 owner complaints about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-321 the manufacturer reports only 26% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 3, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Volkswagen Passat has problems
106 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
25Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
22Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
19Steering1 crash/fire/injury
17Engine
15Fuel/propulsion system
15Service brakes2 crash/fire/injury
11Vehicle speed control
7Forward collision avoidance
5Electronic stability control (ESC)
3013 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 25 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 1 |
| Steering | 19 | 1 |
| Engine | 17 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 15 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 15 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 5 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 30 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2016 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 · 2022 Q3
Unknown or other
Risk. Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Fuel injection system: fuel rail
Risk. A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Show 1 more recall
repaired · 2017 Q2
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Best & worst years
2016 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
2016 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings
2016 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Passat owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The clock spring system failed, rendering all of the cars' steering wheel functions non-functional. The airbag light is on and the steering wheels airbag does not operate as well as the cars horn and auto cruise controls. The instrument cluster is malfunctioning as well. The safety risks associated…
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that on seven occasions, the clock spring failed while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle with the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel.…
Air bag error light is on and steering wheel controls/horn are inoperable. Cause is most likely a clock spring failure as has been reported in numerous VW vehicle models including the 2016 VW Passat but the current recall 69L2 doesn’t appear to cover our vehicle. With recall problems on numerous…
Own a 2016 Passat?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.