2017 Volkswagen Passat reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 173
- 101 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 27 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- 13 reported crashes · 6 injuries · 1 fire
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,912
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Volkswagen median
-76
median 249 across 119 Volkswagen records
Vs 2015-2019
-125
median 298 complaints in 577 records
Top component share
16%
Air Bags: 27 complaints
What owners report fails — 2017 Volkswagen Passat
- AIR BAGS 27
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17
- STEERING 16
- SERVICE BRAKES 15
7 recalls on record for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
- NHTSA 24V834000 · 2024 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MO An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- 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 19V679000 · 2019 · UNKNOWN OR OTHER If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2017 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 2017 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 2017 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
NHTSA has 173 consumer complaints on record for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is air bags (27 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2017 Volkswagen Passat units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (27), unknown or other (20), electrical system (17), steering (16). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2017 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.