2021 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls & Reliability
28 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 3/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score.
Few reports
Where 2021 sits among all Passat years
What owners report
Recalls (1)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact…
Technical service bulletins
341 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2021 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 2021 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
The 2021 Volkswagen Passat drew 28 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 3/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).
What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Passat problems?
The top reported problems for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat are driver assistance (6 complaints), electrical (5), and brakes & stability (5).
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Passat have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2021 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.