repaired · 2023 Q3
Front: wheel bearing
Risk. The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2021 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 20 owner complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the lane departure. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 21V-812 the manufacturer reports only 93% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Volkswagen Passat has problems
20 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
5Lane departure
5Service brakes
4Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
3Engine1 crash/fire/injury
3Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
2Steering
2Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
1Engine and engine cooling
1Equipment
33 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Lane departure | 5 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 1 |
| Engine | 3 | 1 |
| Air bags | 3 | 1 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 |
| 3 other systems | 3 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2021 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.
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
2021 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
2021 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings
2021 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD Later Release in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.7% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Passat owners report
Recent lane departure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The vehicle lane assistance feature for my 2021 Volkswagen Passat nearly caused me to collide with another vehicle on two separate occasions. While driving home on my regular route, there are many cross streets where intersecting traffic may cross in order to facilitate a left turn. On one such…
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at an undisclosed speed, the Lane Departure Assist malfunctioned, causing the steering wheel to inadvertently move to the right or left. Additionally, the high-beam headlights were aimed too high upwards,…
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving through a pedestrian intersection with thick white lines, the vehicle automatically veered to the left or right. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving 30 to 45 MPH. The contact had not contacted…
Own a 2021 Passat?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.