Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 75/100 (GOOD)

2020 Volkswagen Passat Reliability Report

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat has good reliability and a 5-star crash rating, but owners report serious air bag and engine problems.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

6.1per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$639

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,200

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity70/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact75/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity79/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

A middle-ranked Passat year with good reliability and a 5-star crash rating, with owner complaints centered on air bags, engine failures, and the steering clock spring.

Top Issues to Watch

STEERING (2)
AIR BAGS (2)
ENGINE (2)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Redesign (Year 6)

2020 is year 6 of the Eighth generation (B8).

Redesigned for the 2015 model year.
Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
8th generation Passat (US).

What this means for buyers

Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.

2015: Eighth generation (B8) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2020: This Model Year

2020 is year 6 of the Eighth generation (B8).

Should You Buy the 2020 Volkswagen Passat?

Reliability is good, and above average among 2020 sedans. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars. Within the Passat lineup it sits in the middle of five scored years. The 2019 rates about the same, and the 2021 rates better. Repair costs run higher than usual, at $639 a year across the model against $526 for its class.

Complaints are few, but some are serious. One owner reported air bags that did not deploy in a crash. The car was a total loss, a person was hurt, and the seat belt reportedly did not hold tight. Two owners lost steering wheel buttons and the horn when the clock spring failed. One head gasket failed at 53,000 miles, a repair of about $4,800. Another owner's oil pressure sensor failure ended with an oil leak that drained the engine. Federal records list three recalls: two for air bags, one for exterior lighting.

Ask for proof that every recall was completed. Request engine repair records, and test the horn, wheel buttons, and air bag light. The 2021 is worth comparing, since it rates better.

Compared to the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, which scored 3 points higher. See also the 2019 Volkswagen Passat for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Low major repair risk (9%)
+Below-average complaint rate for Sedan

Cons

−Above-average repair costs for its class
−Moderate recall count
−UNKNOWN OR OTHER issues reported (4 complaints)

Compare 2020 Volkswagen Passat With

2020 Subaru Legacy

Reliability: 67/100

Good

2020 Ford Fusion

Reliability: 71/100

Good

2020 Buick Regal

Reliability: 75/100

Good

2020 Genesis G80

Reliability: 70/100

Good

2020 Kia Optima

Reliability: 72/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

3 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4)
STEERING (2)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

A moderate 3 recalls are on file for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

6.1

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 17.9

LowAvgHigh

Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2020 Volkswagen Passat Recall Details

3 recalls have been issued for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

20V5330002020-09-02

AIR BAGS

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."

Consequence

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

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AY.

19V3890002019-05-22

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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."

Consequence

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

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

19V2180002019-03-20

AIR BAGS

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

Volkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2020 Volkswagen Passat? Check its history first

Steering problems lead owner complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Passat, and 3 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2020 Volkswagen Passat NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 4/5Passenger: 4/5

Rollover risk: 10.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Not Available)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Volkswagen PassatRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$639

vs $526 avg for midsize cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.4

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Passat

$639

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

27 MPG

Running cost: $2,850/yr

Fuel + repair

23 city / 34 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2020 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Passat 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	23	34	27	$2,200

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2020 Volkswagen Passat.

Start the car and confirm the air bag warning light turns off and stays off.
Press the horn and test every steering wheel button; dead controls point to a failed clock spring.
Scan for stored trouble codes, especially P0491, and ask for records of secondary air injection repairs.
Accelerate firmly from a stop and onto a highway; watch for the engine revving without the car speeding up.
Make several slow left and right turns and watch for power loss or a park assist unavailable message.
Check the oil level and look for leaks at the valve cover and oil pan.
Ask for service records showing any head gasket repair or oil pressure sensor replacement.

2020 Volkswagen Passat Common Problems by Component

15 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4)STEERING (2)AIR BAGS (2)ENGINE (2)FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1)ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (1)FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1)SERVICE BRAKES (1)Other (1)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

4 complaints

A check engine light with code P0491 points to insufficient airflow in the secondary air injection system, and different repair shops give conflicting diagnoses. Other reports describe an engine that revs but will not speed up the car, with repeated dealer visits finding nothing. Loss of engine power during left or right turns also appears, along with a park assist unavailable message. Losing power in traffic or mid-turn is a real hazard. A separate report says the CarNet connected-services module stopped working and the dealer found no fault codes.

4 complaints total

STEERING

2 complaints

The clock spring fails, and the steering wheel buttons and horn stop working. The air bag warning light can also come on, which means the system has detected a fault. One failure happens after barely a year of ownership. Both reports describe the same symptoms: dead wheel controls, no horn, and concern about whether the driver air bag will deploy. Losing the horn and possibly the air bag makes this a safety issue, not just an inconvenience.

2 complaints total

AIR BAGS

2 complaintsSafety-related

Failure to deploy in a crash is the most serious report here. The car was a total loss, one person was injured, and the seat belt reportedly did not hold tight enough. In the other report, the air bag warning light comes on and stays on, along with a maintenance-needed alert and a message that front assist is unavailable. With only 2 reports, the pattern is thin, but both point to the air bag system either failing in a crash or signaling a fault.

2 complaints total1 crash1 injury

ENGINE (2 complaints)

ENGINE

2 complaints

Head gasket failure appears at 53,000 miles, just past the 50,000-mile warranty, with a dealer repair bill of about $4,800. A second pattern starts with a failed oil pressure sensor, which leads to high oil pressure, a destroyed valve cover, and an oil pan leak that drains the engine oil. Both reports describe expensive repairs, and an oil leak that empties the engine calls for prompt attention.

2 complaints total

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

2024-02-01

Car wasn’t pulling up the road the epc light came on had to have my vehicle rolled to the next dealer which was 36 miles from where I was. I was traveling from grapevine tx and it start acting up in Huntsville tx. Came out of pocket 1085.00 and that was with a discount for the fuel injector #3 My warranty expired 3000 miles ago. I am the first owner on my vehicle.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (1 complaints)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

2021-04-15

The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The contact stated that the vehicle started independently, and the Driver Assist function engaged independently. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was swerving unintendedly and would vibrate while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the dealer informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure. The dealer later replaced the brake rotors; however, the failure persisted. The electronic power control (EPC), the Adaptive Cruise Control and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the message "Front Assist Error" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake caliper was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the thermostat as the message "Coolant Error" was displayed on the instrument panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 7,000.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

1 complaint

2022-04-15

The Volkswagen Front Assist (sometimes referred to as Forward Collision Warning) system employed without having anything/anyone in front of the vehicle - no traffic in front, behind or on the side and the brakes engaged the brought the car to a complete stop in the street. This has been reported to Volkswagen and we have been told that their engineers are working on this issue but the vehicle is safe to drive. The day was a clear day. Date is approximate - I don't have my phone on me with the photo.

SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

2021-03-15

THE BREAKS IS VERY WEAK I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR AT THE FRONT OF ME WITH 1 INCH ! IT TOOK THE CAR LIKE 4 SECONDS TO STOP NOT SURE WAS IT JUST THE BREAKS OR THE BREAKS AND TIRES , THE CAR KEPT MOVING AFTER PRESSING THE BREAKS HARD ENOUGH , I WAS SHAKING SINCE I JUST GOT THE CAR 4 DAYS AGO !

WHEELS (1 complaints)

WHEELS

1 complaint

2020-09-25

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SOUTH SHORE IN RANDOLPH MA STOUGHTON EXITS AND I HEARD A POP IN MY DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE AND WHEN I PULLED OVER I CHECKED MY TIRE AND MY TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT AND THERE WAS A HOLE APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A HAND GUN BULLET HOLE IN MY RIM. I WAS GOING A LITTLE UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT DUE TO HAVING A 3 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE IN THE FAR RIGHT SLOW LANE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I WENT TO GET THE TIRE INSPECTED IT WAS CONFIRMED THERE WAS A HUGE PIECE OF GLASS IN MY TIRE.

Best & Worst Volkswagen Passat Years

Best Volkswagen Passat Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Volkswagen Passat Years to Avoid

No Volkswagen Passat years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 71 and 78 across 5 scored model years.

See full Volkswagen Passat years-to-avoid analysis

Volkswagen Passat Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Volkswagen Passat reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	71/100	Good
2019	77/100	Good
2020	75/100	Good
2021	78/100	Good
2022	77/100	Good

Volkswagen Passat Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2022	77/100	-1	Good	0	11
2021	78/100	+3	Good	1	18
2020(selected)	75/100	-2	Good	3	15
2019	77/100	+6	Good	1	12
2018	71/100	—	Good	4	45

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2020 Volkswagen Passat reliable?

Yes, it has a good reliability standing and rates above average against other 2020 sedans. Owners filed 15 complaints. It ranks in the middle of the five scored Passat years. Repair costs are higher than the class norm, so budget for that.

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Volkswagen Passat?

Owner complaints are split between air bags, the engine, and steering, with two reports each. Air bag reports include a failure to deploy and a stuck warning light. Engine reports cover a head gasket failure and an oil leak. Steering reports describe a failed clock spring that kills the horn and wheel buttons.

Does the 2020 Volkswagen Passat have air bag problems?

Some owners say so, and federal records show two air bag recalls. One owner reported air bags that did not deploy in a crash, with injury and a total loss. Another had a warning light that stayed on. Confirm all air bag recall work is done before buying.

How much does it cost to repair a 2020 Volkswagen Passat?

Independent repair-cost data estimates $639 a year across the model, compared with $526 for its class. One owner paid about $4,800 at a dealer for a head gasket failure at 53,000 miles, just past the 50,000-mile warranty.

Is the 2020 Passat better than the 2019 or 2021?

It is about the same as the 2019 and a step below the 2021. Both neighbors also have good reliability. The 2019 has 12 complaints and the 2021 has 18, but the 2021 rates better. Compare individual cars by their recall and repair records.

Don’t buy a 2020 Volkswagen Passat without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2020 Volkswagen Passat

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2020 Volkswagen Passat does best on repair costs (80/100) and worst on complaint severity (70/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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