Skip to content

Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2020 Volkswagen Passat

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
3
on record
MPG
27
combined

Open recalls on record

3 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Recalls3
Complaints15
Safety
Fuel

Vehicle Summary

2020 Volkswagen Passat

3 recalls
15 complaints
27 MPG combined
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Check all recalls are completed
Review consumer complaints
Verify no crash-related complaints
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
3
Owner complaints
15
Complaints citing a crash
1

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

3 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 19V389000high

    Lighting issue

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

    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."

  • 19V218000high

    Airbag system issue

    AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.

  • 20V533000high

    Airbag system issue

    AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Passat vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag may have been folded incorrectly affecting its deployment force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consumer complaints

15 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

15
Total
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries

Most reported components

  • ENGINE5
  • AIR BAGS4
  • OTHER3
  • FUEL SYSTEM1
  • BRAKES1

Notable Issues

15 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 1 report involves injuries. 1 report involves a crash.

Most reported problems

engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)5
airbag concerns (warning light, deployment issues)4
miscellaneous issues3

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Sedan
Drive type
FWD
Engine
2.5L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
Transmission
Automatic
Seats
5

Fuel economy

23

City

34

Hwy

27

Comb

Annual cost
$2,200
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Data sources

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Volkswagen Passat years

Common problems

Volkswagen Passat problems

538 owner complaints analysed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 20V533000

    An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.

  2. Recall

    Recall 19V389000

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

  3. Recall

    Recall 19V218000

    In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.