Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Volkswagen Passat
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 106 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #21V321000 Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V561000 Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V389000 Headlights can be Adjusted/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V403000 Fuel Rail may Detach and Leak NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V705000 Loss of Power Brakes due to Camshaft Lobe Fracture NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 25 complaints
- Electrical System 22 complaints
- Steering 19 complaints
- Engine 17 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 15 complaints
- Service Brakes 15 complaints
Of the 106 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 106 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$6,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat has had a few recalls, primarily affecting its lighting, fuel system, and engine components. While these issues are not uncommon, they have not been frequent enough to significantly impact long-term reliability. The recalls highlight some common areas of concern, but overall, the Passat maintains an average reliability rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| fuel rail | 50,000–70,000 miles | $400–$600 | common |
| brake vacuum pump | 60,000–80,000 miles | $300–$500 | common |
| headlight aim adjuster | 40,000–60,000 miles | $150–$300 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 10,000 miles
- Brake system inspection annually
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Battery test annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Loss of brake assist signal brake vacuum issues
- Strong fuel smell indicates fuel rail problems
- Headlight misalignment points to adjuster failure
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.