2013 Volkswagen Passat recalls (9)

Every 2013 Volkswagen Passat recall

Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.

• Air Bags · NHTSA 24V834000

  Oct 30, 2024Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

  Risk

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Fix

  Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

  Full recall details for 24V834000 →

• Exterior Lighting · NHTSA 19V389000

  May 22, 2019Exterior Lighting:Headlights

  Problem

  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."

  Risk

  Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 19V389000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 19V862000

  Apr 12, 2019Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

  Risk

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Fix

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

  Full recall details for 19V862000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 18V148000

  Jun 3, 2018Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

  Risk

  In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

  Fix

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

  Full recall details for 18V148000 →

• Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA 17V309000

  Nov 5, 2017Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

  Risk

  If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

  Fix

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

  Full recall details for 17V309000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 16V078000

  Oct 2, 2016Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

  Risk

  In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

  Fix

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

  Full recall details for 16V078000 →

• Electrical System · NHTSA 16V171000

  Mar 24, 2016Electrical System:Wiring

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

  Risk

  An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Fix

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

  Full recall details for 16V171000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 15V483000

  Apr 8, 2015Air Bags:Frontal

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

  Risk

  A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Fix

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

  Full recall details for 15V483000 →

• Exterior Lighting · NHTSA 14V125000

  Mar 17, 2014Exterior Lighting:Headlights

  Problem

  Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

  Risk

  A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

  Full recall details for 14V125000 →

2013 Volkswagen Passat complaints and service bulletins

Owners filed 748 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, reporting 29 crashes, 4 fires, 24 injuries, 2 deaths. Volkswagen has issued at least 1,595 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.

Most-reported components

• Air Bags382
• Engine104
• Electrical System95
• Unknown Or Other77
• Fuel/Propulsion System65
• Exterior Lighting60

Service bulletins by component

• Equipment (590)
• Electrical System (340)
• Engine and Engine Cooling (259)
• Engine (153)
• Power Train (119)
• Air Bags (91)

Read Volkswagen Passat owner complaints and bulletins, every year

NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2013 Volkswagen Passat

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 3 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.

• Air Bag Clockspring Failure
  EA18003Opened Apr 18, 2018Open
• Air Bag Clockspring Failure
  RQ17009Opened Nov 13, 2017Closed May 4, 2018
• Air Bag Clockspring Failure
  PE15010Opened Mar 24, 2015Closed Sep 28, 2015

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

← 2012 Volkswagen Passat · 2014 Volkswagen Passat →

• 2021 (1)
• 2020 (3)
• 2019 (1)
• 2018 (4)
• 2017 (7)
• 2016 (5)
• 2015 (7)
• 2014 (10)
• 2013 (9)
• 2012 (11)
• 2010 (4)
• 2009 (3)
• 2008 (3)
• 2007 (4)
• 2006 (3)
• 2005 (1)
• 2004 (1)
• 2003 (1)
• 2002 (1)
• 2001 (1)
• 2000 (1)

All Volkswagen Passat recalls, every model year