2016 Volkswagen Passat vs 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Volkswagen Passat | 2017 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 106 | 108 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 828 | 674 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–29 | 23–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 37,000 mi | 35,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 25 | 28 |
| Electrical System | 22 | 17 |
| Steering | 19 | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 15 | 15 |
| Engine | 17 | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 15 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 15 | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 16 | 18 |
| Stalling | 7 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 0 |
2016 Volkswagen Passat
2017 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.