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2013 Volkswagen Passat

Car · 2010–2022

2012–2015 Volkswagen Passat — 2012–2015 pictured. Photo: Thomas doerfer, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which year to buy

Best betNo standoutNo year is clearly better than the rest Newest we'd buy2022The latest year rated a good buy Avoid2010, 2014Far more serious problems than usual Be careful2012–2013More problems; check the recalls were done

usual

’10 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22

Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.

2013CAREFULSerious complaints 2.3× usual, mostly air bags and engine Extended coverage

608 serious complaints of 748, the most about air bags (382) and engine (104); per car on the road, 2.3× this model's usual year. 9 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA18003: air bag clockspring failure. NHTSA investigation RQ17009: air bag clockspring failure.

What owners report

“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 volkswagen passat. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Jul 2016

“Driving my passat turbo diesel on I-81 noted a loss in power; drove the car home (about another 3 miles) and noted a strange humming sound from under the hood. Next day the sound was still there, with a blinking glow plug light and the engine light was on.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Feb 2013

Fixes and extended coverage

Extended coverage This Document informs dealers on VWP-18-11 for the Steering Wheel Clock Spring Limited Warranty Extension (VWP-18-11, Oct 2018)
Extended coverage This bulletin informs dealers of a warranty extension on the heater core. (VWP-16, Jun 2016)
Extended coverage Customer notificaiton letter - heater core warranty extension (WECN, Jun 2016)

From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.

748 owner complaints · 9 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 23–34 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2013 trims and features

Every Passat year's verdict →

Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.

Trims and features

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel; 2.5L 5-cyl; 3.6L 6-cyl · Drive: FWD

2013 Passat trims

	Comfortline	Highline	Highline V6 4Motion	Sportline	Trendline	V6 Executive Luxury

base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Volkswagen reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Volkswagen aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.

Year by year

Year	Engines	Drive	Fuel economy	Crash rating	Recalls	Owner complaints	Most-reported problem	CarPlay
2022	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 174 hp	FWD	28 mpg	4 of 5	0	13	Electrical system (3)	—
2021	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 174 hp	FWD	28 mpg	4–5 of 5	1	0	—	—
2020	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 174 hp	FWD	27 mpg	5 of 5	3	18	Unknown or other (4)	—
2019	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 174 hp	FWD	29 mpg	5 of 5	1	12	Electrical system (4)	—
2018	2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 174 hp 3.6L 6-cyl, 280 hp	FWD	22–29 mpg	5 of 5	4	45	Service brakes (12)	—
2017	1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 170 hp 3.6L 6-cyl, 280 hp	FWD	23–27 mpg	5 of 5	7	110	Air bags (28)	—
2016	1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 170 hp 3.6L 6-cyl, 280 hp	FWD	23–29 mpg	5 of 5	5	106	Air bags (25)	—
2015	1.8L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 3.6L 6-cyl manual available	FWD	23–34 mpg	5 of 5	7	244	Air bags (88)	—
2014	1.8L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl manual available	FWD	23–34 mpg	5 of 5	10	594	Air bags (354)	—
2013	2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl manual available	FWD	23–34 mpg	5 of 5	9	748	Air bags (382)	—
2012	2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel 2.5L 5-cyl 3.6L 6-cyl manual available	FWD	23–34 mpg	5 of 5	11	484	Air bags (296)	—
2010	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	FWD	25 mpg	Not rated	4	172	Air bags (48)	—

Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.

Which years have…

Blind-spot monitoring

Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints

Year	Version	Stars	Forward collision warning	Lane departure warning	Recalls	Complaints
2022	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	4	Standard	Standard	0	13
2021	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD Later Release	4	Standard	Optional	0	0
2021	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD Early Release	5	Standard	Optional	1	18
2020	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	No	Optional	3	18
2019	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	1	12
2018	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	Standard	Optional	4	45
2017	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	Standard	Optional	7	110
2016	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	Optional	Optional	5	106
2015	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	7	243
2014	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	10	594
2013	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	9	748
2012	Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD	5	No	No	11	484
2010	Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. w/SAB	Not Rated	No	No	4	163
2010	Volkswagen Passat Wagon w/SAB	Not Rated	No	No	2	9

Source: NHTSA.

Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg

Year	EPA model	Engines	Combined
2022	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	28
2021	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	28
2020	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	27
2019	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	29
2018	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	22–29
2017	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	23–27
2016	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	23–29
2015	Passat	Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Auto (AM-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	23–34
2014	Passat	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L, Turbo Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AM-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	23–34
2013	Passat	Auto (AM-S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (AM-S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	23–34
2012	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (S6), 5 cyl, 2.5 L Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.6 L	23–34
2010	Passat	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25
2010	Passat Wagon	Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo	25

Source: fueleconomy.gov.

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