2010 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

41Engine complaints

25.2%Of all 163 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS45 · 27.6%

ENGINE41 · 25.2%

POWER TRAIN29 · 17.8%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM25 · 15.3%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18 · 11%

Share of the 163 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat overview page.

What owners report

“I DROVE TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND PARKED MY CAR STATIONARY FOR 2 HOURS. ONCE I RETURNED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. I…”NHTSA complaint 11101283 — filed 06/11/2018

“SO WE JUST PAYED OFF OUR CAR AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED, FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE IT ACTED AS IT WAS IN NEUTRAL…”NHTSA complaint 11100084 — filed 06/05/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OIL WAS NOTICED ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE…”NHTSA complaint 11080427 — filed 03/21/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2010 Volkswagen Passat: 41 of 163 complaints on file (25.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2010 Volkswagen Passat have in total?

163 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 2 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.