2012 Volkswagen Passat vs 2013 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Volkswagen Passat | 2013 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 483 | 747 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,568 | 1,590 |
| Investigations | 3 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 29 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–34 | 23–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 53,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 295 | 381 |
| Electrical System | 95 | 93 |
| Engine | 40 | 104 |
| Steering | 46 | 51 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 32 | 65 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 60 |
| Structure | 17 | 31 |
| Power Train | 15 | 33 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 66 | 61 |
| Stalling | 23 | 47 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 31 |
| Loss of power | 15 | 30 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 6 |
| Won’t start | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 13 |
2012 Volkswagen Passat
2013 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Volkswagen Passat vs Volkswagen Passat years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.