The vehicle dossier US · 2016

2016 Volkswagen
PASSATProblems & recalls

106 distinct owner reports in the NHTSA snapshot. Other components appears in 40 of them. Explore what was reported—and which official actions are on file.

Snapshot Sep 28, 2026Live NHTSA complaint API How this dossier is compiled

01 / Owner-reported evidence

What owners reported.

Categories attached to 106 distinct reports. A report can mention more than one component, so category totals can overlap.

Other components40 reports
Air bags25 reports
Electrical system22 reports
Steering19 reports
Engine19 reports
Fuel system18 reports
Brakes17 reports
Transmission & drivetrain5 reports
Body & structure4 reports
Visibility3 reports
Suspension1 reports
See original component labels
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
AIR BAGS22
STEERING19
ENGINE17
SERVICE BRAKES15
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM15
UNKNOWN OR OTHER13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
POWER TRAIN5
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)5
STRUCTURE:BODY4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
WHEELS2
VISIBILITY/WIPER2
SEAT BELTS2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR1

These are reports made to NHTSA, not verified diagnoses. More reports can reflect more vehicles, more time on the road, or greater reporting activity.

The reporting timeline

When reports arrived.

Reports by year filed, not by the year a problem occurred. Showing the latest 11 years with reports.

Year filed (last two digits)Latest report: May 3, 2026
Mileage, where supplied

34,000 miles is the median among 54 reports with usable mileage. The middle half spans 11,000–60,000 miles.

This describes the submitted reports. It does not predict when a vehicle will fail.

02 / Official safety campaigns

5 recall campaigns on file.

A campaign can cover only certain production dates or configurations. The count does not tell you whether an individual car has an open recall.

May 5, 2021 Safety recallUNKNOWN OR OTHERCampaign 21V321000

Reported concern

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Manufacturer’s stated response

Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Manufacturer campaign: 01F1

Read campaign 21V321000 at NHTSA
Sep 16, 2020 Safety recallUNKNOWN OR OTHERCampaign 20V561000

Reported concern

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Manufacturer’s stated response

Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.

Manufacturer campaign: 01E9

Read campaign 20V561000 at NHTSA
May 22, 2019 Safety recallEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSCampaign 19V389000

Reported concern

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Manufacturer’s stated response

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

Manufacturer campaign: 94L9

Read campaign 19V389000 at NHTSA
Jun 6, 2016 Safety recallFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAILCampaign 16V403000

Reported concern

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.

Manufacturer’s stated response

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.

Manufacturer campaign: 15F7

Read campaign 16V403000 at NHTSA
Oct 26, 2015 Safety recallENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINECampaign 15V705000

Reported concern

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

Manufacturer’s stated response

Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Manufacturer campaign: 23R1

Read campaign 15V705000 at NHTSA
Check this car’s VIN at NHTSA

03 / The manufacturer’s record

Instructions. Updates. Responses.

832 distinct communications list this model-year. Showing the latest 12. A matching model-year does not establish that every engine, trim or reported symptom is covered.

Aug 21, 2026 OtherSM 35-2026This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts going forward.NHTSA ID 11036867

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts going forward.

Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11036867 at NHTSA
Aug 6, 2026 OtherTT 00-13-04_7Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED OrderNHTSA ID 11036868

Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order

Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11036868 at NHTSA
Aug 4, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsV0026012081638_2Differences between a leak and seepageNHTSA ID 11036870

Differences between a leak and seepage

Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11036870 at NHTSA
Aug 3, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsV4823022072282_3Clean and install an additional plastic "ring" to prevent ingress of dirt,hair. Foreign bodies into the clock spring.NHTSA ID 11036880

Clean and install an additional plastic "ring" to prevent ingress of dirt,hair. Foreign bodies into the clock spring.

Components: STEERING. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11036880 at NHTSA
Jul 15, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsVOS-26-42This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No …NHTSA ID 11035772

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.

Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11035772 at NHTSA
Jul 9, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsV1718062017813_24Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption MeasurementNHTSA ID 11035762

Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement

Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11035762 at NHTSA
Jun 18, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsTT 13-20-01_3Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.NHTSA ID 11034614

Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.

Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11034614 at NHTSA
Jun 18, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsTT 10-18-02_2Lubricating engine components before reassembly.NHTSA ID 11034613

Lubricating engine components before reassembly.

Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11034613 at NHTSA
Jun 11, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsV6919012010479_17InquiriesNHTSA ID 11034621

Inquiries

Components: AIR BAGS. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11034621 at NHTSA
Jun 4, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsV1719012012855_81Volkswagen Engine Oil StandardsNHTSA ID 11034617

Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards

Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11034617 at NHTSA
May 19, 2026 OtherSM 26-2026This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.NHTSA ID 11033526

This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.

Components: STRUCTURE:BODY. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11033526 at NHTSA
Mar 27, 2026 Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsVOS-26-21This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform …NHTSA ID 11030847

This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, SVM updates for any control module(s) etc.

Campaign / software reference: VOS-26-21

Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.

Source record 11030847 at NHTSA
Browse all manufacturer records by page

Records below contain the NHTSA bulk summary unless a document-reviewed explainer is linked. A service bulletin is not a safety recall or a promise of a free repair. Records may be revised or superseded; verify the current document with the manufacturer.

04 / Agency investigations

Official inquiries.

An investigation is an inquiry into a potential concern. Its presence does not establish a defect, and a closed case does not certify a car’s condition.

No investigation records matched this model-year in the snapshot.

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