2011 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls & Reliability
27 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 5/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score.
Few reports
Where 2011 sits among all Passat years
What owners report
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and…
Technical service bulletins
583 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2011 Passat TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2011 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
The 2011 Volkswagen Passat drew 27 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 5/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2011 Volkswagen Passat problems?
The top reported problems for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat are engine (6 complaints), electrical (5), and airbags (5).
Does the 2011 Volkswagen Passat have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.