2015 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

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

53Engine complaints

21.9%Of all 242 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 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

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED IN…”NHTSA complaint 11124627 — filed 09/05/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT…”NHTSA complaint 11097184 — filed 05/22/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN…”NHTSA complaint 11025361 — filed 09/25/2017

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2015 Volkswagen Passat: 53 of 242 complaints on file (21.9%). 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 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.