What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Passat?

Air bags are the largest complaint group with 354 of 594 complaints. Engine has 80 and electrical has 74. In the samples we read, owners describe inflator recalls waiting on parts, turbo failures and infotainment glitches.

How many recalls does the 2014 Volkswagen Passat have?

NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2014 model year. Five involve air bags and the others cover headlight aim, a diesel heat shield, TDI sensor wiring, a fuel rail cap and transmission oil cooler seals.

What is the gas mileage of a 2014 Volkswagen Passat?

EPA combined ratings run from 23 MPG for the 3.6L to 34 MPG for the 2.0L turbo diesel. The 1.8L turbo is rated 28 MPG combined.

Is the 2014 Volkswagen Passat safe?

NHTSA gives the 4 door front-wheel drive model 5 stars overall and 4 stars for rollover. It also has air bag recalls that should be completed.

Is 2014 a bad year for the Volkswagen Passat?

It has 594 complaints, which is fifth highest of the listed years, and 10 recalls, second only to 2012. The 2013 model has more complaints at 749.

2014 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 594 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Passat, and most of them name the air bags^[1]^[2]. The car also has 10 recalls, so check that each one has been done before you buy^[3].

594owner complaints^[1]

10recalls^[3]

23–34MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed 594 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Of those, 19 mention a crash, 3 a fire and 15 an injury^[1]. No deaths are reported^[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

Here are the component groups with the most complaints:

Component group	Complaints
Air bags^[2]	354
Engine^[6]	80
Electrical system^[7]	74
Unknown or other^[8]	59
Fuel/propulsion system^[9]	47
Steering^[10]	44
Power train^[11]	37
Speed control^[12]	13

In a sample of complaint texts we read, the themes look like this.

Air bags^[2]. In the air bag sample, owners describe waiting for parts for an inflator recall, with no clear time frame from the dealer or the maker. Some describe being afraid to drive the car. Two describe a failed clock spring, with the air bag warning light on and steering wheel controls that stopped working.
Engine^[6]. In the engine sample, owners describe turbocharger failures that cut power and ended in a tow. A few describe the engine shutting off or stalling while driving.
Electrical^[7]. In the electrical sample, owners describe radio, navigation, Bluetooth and backup camera glitches, and steering wheel buttons that stop responding. A few describe the car shutting down suddenly. One diesel owner describes two breakdowns from chewed wiring that the dealer said the warranty did not cover.
Fuel and propulsion^[9]. In this sample, owners describe fuel pump failures with stalling or lost power. Some TDI owners describe a check engine light from a faulty AdBlue heater. Two describe fuel leaking from a line or a rail.

The sample is small, so it shows what owners write about, not how often each problem happens.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 10 recalls for this model year, newest first^[3]. Several apply only to certain engines or build dates, so check the exact car.

Driver air bag inflator (24V834). Recall date October 30, 2024^[13]. The inflator may explode after long exposure to humidity and heat. Metal fragments could hit the driver or other occupants. Dealers replace the driver's front air bag module for free^[13].
Repeat inflator repair (19V862). Recall date December 4, 2019^[14]. It covers cars thought to have been repaired already under an earlier inflator recall. The inflator may still explode, with the same injury risk. Dealers replace the inflator for free^[14].
Headlight aim (19V389). Recall date May 22, 2019^[15]. A blocking cap that stops the headlight from being adjusted sideways may be missing. The aim could be changed out of specification, which cuts visibility and raises crash risk. Dealers inspect the car and block the adjustment as needed, for free^[15].
Driver air bag inflator (18V148). Recall date March 6, 2018^[16]. Pressure inside the inflator may build too high so that it explodes in a crash and throws metal fragments. Dealers replace it with an alternative inflator for free^[16].
Driveshaft heat shield (17V309). Recall date May 11, 2017^[17]. It covers diesel cars with Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). A heat shield may be too short to protect a half-shaft grease boot, so grease could leak onto a hot exhaust part and raise fire risk. Dealers replace the heat shield for free^[17].
Underbody sensor wiring (16V171). Recall date March 24, 2016^[18]. It covers TDI cars. Water may get into a sensor connector and cause an electrical short, which could overheat and start a fire. Dealers inspect the connector and replace it as needed, for free^[18].
Remedy pending
Driver air bag inflator (16V078). Recall date February 10, 2016^[19]. The inflator could rupture in a crash and send metal fragments toward the people in the car. When the recall was issued, owners were told to expect another notice once parts were available, so the remedy was not yet available at that time^[19]. Recall 18V148 notes that it partially supersedes 16V078^[16].
Air bag clock spring (15V483). Recall date August 4, 2015^[20]. Debris may tear the clock spring cable, which could stop the driver's air bag from deploying in a crash. Dealers add a protective cover if the air bag light is off, or install a new clock spring if the light is on, for free^[20].
Fuel rail cap (15V028). Recall date January 23, 2015^[21]. It covers certain 2014 and 2015 Passats built between April 7, 2014 and November 18, 2014^[21]. A sealing cap may fail and let fuel leak into the engine compartment, which could cause a fire. Dealers replace the fuel rails for free^[21].
Transmission oil cooler seals (14V182). Recall date April 15, 2014^[22]. It covers 2014 cars with a 1.8T engine and a torque converter automatic transmission^[22]. Seals may leak fluid onto a hot surface and cause a fire. Dealers replace the seals for free^[22].

Fuel economy

EPA lists six versions. The 2.0L turbo diesel is the most efficient at 34 MPG combined^[4]. The 3.6L is the thirstiest at 23^[23].

Engine and transmission	City / highway / combined MPG	Est. annual fuel cost
3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (AM-S6), Premium^[23]	20 / 28 / 23	$3,550
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Diesel^[4]	30 / 40 / 34	$2,800
1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular^[24]	24 / 35 / 28	$2,400
1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular^[25]	24 / 34 / 28	$2,400
2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular^[26]	22 / 31 / 25	$2,700
2.5L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular^[27]	22 / 32 / 26	$2,600

All six are front-wheel drive. The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA rates the 4 door front-wheel drive Passat at 5 stars overall, 5 stars for frontal crashes and 5 stars for side crashes^[5]. The rollover rating is 4 stars, with a rollover risk of 10.7%^[5].

Engine and size

EPA lists these horsepower ratings for 2014 test cars:

1.8L 4-cylinder: 170 hp^[28]
2.0L 4-cylinder: 140 to 200 hp depending on version^[29]
3.6L 6-cylinder: 280 hp^[30]

Size figures below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US cars. Length, width, height and wheelbase are the same for all three sedans listed.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
1.8L TSI 4 door sedan^[31]	192 in	72 in	58 in	110 in	3,214 lb
3.6L 4 door sedan^[32]	192 in	72 in	58 in	110 in	3,446 lb
TDI 4 door sedan^[33]	192 in	72 in	58 in	110 in	3,397 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Passat model year. The 2014 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	93	1
1996	40	1
1997	37	0
1998	331	4
1999	664	5
2000	507	3
2001	432	3
2002	643	3
2003	631	6
2004	285	3
2005	148	3
2006	576	7
2007	273	7
2008	174	4
2009	152	4
2010	172	4
2012	484	11
2013	749	9
2014	594	10
2015	244	7
2016	106	5
2017	110	7
2018	46	4
2019	12	1
2020	18	3
2021	18	1
2022	13	0

The 2014 Passat has 594 complaints and 10 recalls on file^[3]. Four listed model years have more complaints: 2013 (749), 1999 (664), 2002 (643) and 2003 (631)^[3]. Only 2012 has more recalls, with 11^[3]. The neighbors look like this:

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2012	484	11
2013	749	9
2014	594	10
2015	244	7

All figures are from^[3]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they only compare years of the same model. The list has no entry for 2011.

Should you buy a used 2014 Passat?

The record is mixed. The 5-star overall safety rating is a point in its favor^[5], and the diesel gets 34 MPG combined^[4]. On the other side are 594 complaints, with air bags the biggest group at 354^[1]^[2], and 10 recalls^[3]. Five of those recalls involve the air bag system, and several others carry fire risk for specific engines or builds^[13]^[14]^[16]^[19]^[20]^[17]^[18]^[21]^[22]. Before buying, ask for proof that every recall that applies to the exact car was completed. Owners in the samples we read also describe turbo, fuel pump and infotainment trouble, so a pre-purchase inspection that looks at those areas makes sense^[6]^[7]^[9].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Passat?: Air bags are the largest complaint group with 354 of 594 complaints^[1]^[2]. Engine has 80 and electrical has 74^[6]^[7]. In the samples we read, owners describe inflator recalls waiting on parts, turbo failures and infotainment glitches^[2]^[6]^[7].
How many recalls does the 2014 Volkswagen Passat have?: NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2014 model year^[3]. Five involve air bags and the others cover headlight aim, a diesel heat shield, TDI sensor wiring, a fuel rail cap and transmission oil cooler seals^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22].
What is the gas mileage of a 2014 Volkswagen Passat?: EPA combined ratings run from 23 MPG for the 3.6L to 34 MPG for the 2.0L turbo diesel^[23]^[4]. The 1.8L turbo is rated 28 MPG combined^[24]^[25].
Is the 2014 Volkswagen Passat safe?: NHTSA gives the 4 door front-wheel drive model 5 stars overall and 4 stars for rollover^[5]. It also has air bag recalls that should be completed^[13]^[16]^[20].
Is 2014 a bad year for the Volkswagen Passat?: It has 594 complaints, which is fifth highest of the listed years, and 10 recalls, second only to 2012^[3]. The 2013 model has more complaints at 749^[3].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 594 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat (19 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 15 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
354 complaints name the air bags component group (13 crashes, 1 fires, 10 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Volkswagen Passat model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Passat, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (AM-S6), Diesel, Front-Wheel Drive: 30 city / 40 highway / 34 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
80 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,650). NHTSA vehicle records
74 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,574). NHTSA vehicle records
59 complaints name the unknown or other component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 39,625). NHTSA vehicle records
47 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 58,013). NHTSA vehicle records
44 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
37 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,550). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 30,500). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 24V834, filed October 30, 2024: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V862, filed December 4, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V389, filed May 22, 2019: Exterior Lighting › Headlights. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V148, filed March 6, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V309, filed May 11, 2017: Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V171, filed March 24, 2016: Electrical System › Wiring. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V078, filed February 10, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V483, filed August 4, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V028, filed January 23, 2015: Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V182, filed April 15, 2014: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit And Lines. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Passat, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (AM-S6), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Passat, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 35 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Passat, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 34 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Passat, 2.5L 5-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 31 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Passat, 2.5L 5-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Volkswagen Passat with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 170 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Volkswagen Passat with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 140 to 200 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Volkswagen Passat with 3.6L 6-cylinder: rated 280 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PASSAT 1.8L TSI 4DR SEDAN: length 192 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 3,214 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PASSAT 3.6L 4DR SEDAN: length 192 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 3,446 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PASSAT TDI 4DR SEDAN: length 192 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 110 in, curb weight 3,397 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2014 Volkswagen Passat: problems, recalls and fuel economy