2014 Volkswagen Passat Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat.

20132015
Complaints
776
per 10K Sold
80.3
US Sales
96,649
Crashes
34
Fires
7
Injuries
22
Fatalities
Recalls
10

Worst 2014 Volkswagen Passat Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1342 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:45,014 mi
Crash-related:12
Fires:1
#275 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:69,472 mi
Fires:1
#371 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:46,839 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat.

Airbags
342
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
1
Avg Miles
45,014
Engine Problems
75
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,472
Electrical Faults
71
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
46,839
Fuel System
46
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
59,978
Steering Defects
42
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
43,197
Transmission / Drivetrain
35
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
90,860
Body Structure
12
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
44,288
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
139,288
Wipers & Visibility
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
45,114
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
104,833
Headlight/Taillight Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
53,419
Electronic Stability Control
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
23,186
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
27,692
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
75,139
Wheel Issues
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
73,203
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Diesel Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooler/Radiator:Hoses And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2014 Volkswagen Passat

10 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~2,596,586 vehicles.

24V834000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~248,330 affected

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.

19V862000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~226 affected

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.

19V389000Exterior Lighting:headlights
~662,185 affected

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."

18V148000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~363,713 affected

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.

17V309000Power Train:driveline:driveshaft · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
~84,262 affected

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.

16V171000Electrical System:wiring
~91,442 affected

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.

16V078000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~659,493 affected

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.

15V483000Air Bags:frontal
~415,825 affected

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.

15V028000Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
~44,658 affected

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

14V182000Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
~26,452 affected

Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.

Other Volkswagen Passat Years

2014 Volkswagen Passat — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2014 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2014 Volkswagen Passat has 776 NHTSA complaints, 34 crash-related, and 10 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 342 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Passat?
Top reported problems: Airbags (342 complaints, avg 45,014 mi); Engine Problems (75 complaints, avg 69,472 mi); Electrical Faults (71 complaints, avg 46,839 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2014 Volkswagen Passat?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 53,689 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2014 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA complaints for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat include 34 crash-related reports, 7 fire reports, 22 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2014 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes — 10 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,596,586 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2014 Volkswagen Passat?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (airbags) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Passat reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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