Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2018 Volkswagen Passat
NHTSA data on file today
The 2018 Volkswagen Passat has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 46 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 #20V561000 Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V389000 Headlights can be Adjusted/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V536000 Brake Caliper Bracket Bolts may be Loose NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V369000 Insufficient Coating on Brake Caliper Pistons NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Service Brakes 12 complaints
- Engine 11 complaints
- Electrical System 10 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 6 complaints
- Air Bags 5 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 4 complaints
Of the 46 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 46 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,200–$8,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2018 Volkswagen Passat has an average reliability rating due to recalls affecting the brakes and lighting. Complaints commonly revolve around brakes and engine issues, but overall it maintains reasonable performance for its class.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| service brakes | 40,000–70,000 miles | $300–$700 | very common |
| engine | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | common |
| electrical system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$800 | common |
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 change every 10,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- Replace spark plugs at 40,000 miles
- Brake fluid change every 2 years
- Cabin filter replacement annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Squealing brakes when slowing down
- Frequent engine stalling
- Electrical issues with dashboard
- Unusual noises during acceleration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.