2015 Volkswagen Passat Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

86Air Bags complaints

35.5%Of all 242 complaints

#1Most-reported category

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

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS86 · 35.5%

ENGINE53 · 21.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44 · 18.2%

Unspecified / other40 · 16.5%

SERVICE BRAKES26 · 10.7%

Share of the 242 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2015 Volkswagen Passat overview page.

What owners report

“I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CLOCK SWITCH PART ON MY 2015 VW PASSAT, WHICH CONTROLS BOTH THE AIR BAGS…”NHTSA complaint 11133062 — filed 10/03/2018

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 VW PASSAT (IN EXCELLENT CONDITION) I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE SLOWLY AND AS I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL…”NHTSA complaint 11128801 — filed 09/11/2018

“ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AT SAME TIME, NO NOTABLE REASON GIVEN FOR ISSUE. JUST TOLD COSTS ASSOCIATED AREN'T UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALLS.”NHTSA complaint 11127873 — filed 09/06/2018

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

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Volkswagen Passat have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2015 Volkswagen Passat: 86 of 242 complaints on file (35.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2015 Volkswagen Passat have in total?

242 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 11 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS 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.