2016 Volkswagen Passat reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 179
- 83 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 22 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 9 reported crashes · 4 injuries
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,827
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Volkswagen median
-70
median 249 across 119 Volkswagen records
Vs 2014-2018
-118
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
12%
Electrical System: 22 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 Volkswagen Passat
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22
- AIR BAGS 22
- STEERING 19
- ENGINE 17
- SERVICE BRAKES 15
5 recalls on record for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat
- NHTSA 21V321000 · 2021 · UNKNOWN OR OTHER Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
- NHTSA 20V561000 · 2020 · UNKNOWN OR OTHER Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupan
- NHTSA 19V389000 · 2019 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the
- NHTSA 15V705000 · 2016 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehic
- NHTSA 16V403000 · 2016 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYS A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Volkswagen Passat
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Volkswagen Passat units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
NHTSA has 179 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (22 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Volkswagen Passat units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (22), air bags (22), steering (19), engine (17). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.