2017 Volkswagen Passat Safety Report
2017 Volkswagen Passat Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (7) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (107) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 9 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Unknown Or Other | Compare unknown or other issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2021 | Compare against the 2021 Volkswagen Passat with 0 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Volkswagen Passat before buying across this generation. |
Volkswagen Passat Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Volkswagen Passat years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Passat | 43 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Volkswagen Passat | 104 | 5 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Volkswagen Passat | 12 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Volkswagen Passat | 242 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Volkswagen Passat | 15 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Volkswagen Passat | 0 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2017 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Volkswagen Passat, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Unknown Or Other
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Volkswagen onlyService Brakes
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Volkswagen onlySteering,Electrical System,Air Bags
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Electrical System,Air Bags issues Volkswagen onlyAir Bags
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Volkswagen onlyFuel/Propulsion System
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Volkswagen onlyForward Collision Avoidance
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Volkswagen onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Reliability Score
The 2017 Volkswagen Passat receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Sensor Fault Faulty airbag sensors have been reported, which may prevent the airbags from deploying correctly in a collision. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Failure Service brakes have been reported to fail, causing brake pads or shoes to detach, leading to a sudden loss of braking power. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Volkswagen Passat:
Issues with the service brakes have been commonly reported.
Faulty airbag sensors have been reported.
Recall Details for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
The following 7 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable ...
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Summary: 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.
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
Consequence: The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for...
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Passat vehicles. Brake fluid may leak slowly from the some of the brake line connections, resulting in a low brake fluid level.
Consequence: A low brake fluid level may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47N3.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Volkswagen Passat with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 3 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
ABS sensor has failed. Air bag sensor is faulty due to abs
said vehicle started making a grinding sound and all of a sudden the brake pad or shoe they'll completely off of the vehicle and the caliper for disc brake was the wrong calipers on my front end of my vehicle and now it's upside down and backwards and it's not the right calipers for my vehicle
while in cruise control and going up a incline or a hill The EPC light will come on and the car will start lugging down very badly and have no power, they've said vehicle has done this for a year now and we have not been able to get any kind of acknowledgment of it from another dealership or the actual company I've said make and model of vehicle Volkswagen Passat
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, with the check engine warning light and an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred, causing the vehicle to intermittently start and stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but w...
began smelling fuel in the cockpit about 2 months ago but thought not much about why until it kept getting stronger. Looked under the car a saw fuel dripping in front of rear passenger wheel and directly under tank.
Fuel pump control module over heated and burned
While backing into a parking spot there was a crunching sound in the steering column. Following this noise the air bag light came on and all steering wheel control buttons nonfunctional including the horn. I reached out to a Volkswagen dealer as I had seen recalls for the clockspring, I was told my vehicle was not included in the recall. This is a 2017 Passat and had approximately 130,000 miles wh...
Today, as my wife was driving home, she heard a "crunch" noise while making a turn. Afterwards, the Airbag light came on, and her steering wheel botton functions are not working, including her car horn. This all relates to the clockspring. This will be the third time we have had the clockspring replaced. This is extremely inconvenient, as the dealership is an hour away. The original clockspring di...
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: T1XX, Tire Size: 235/45/R18, DOT Number: B9ELT1XX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in a parking lot, the contact became aware that the rear passenger’s side tire had three cracks approximately 3 inches in length on the side wall near the rim. The vehicle was taken to a tire dealer for inspection, and t...
Clock spring on vehicle has failed. This is a known issue with many VW vehicles, but I have been told my vehicle is not on the extended warranty program. 2017 VW Passat - approximately 150,000 miles. This eliminates all steering wheel controls, horn, cruise control, and air bags.
On 6 separate occasions while operating my vehicle it randomly stops running. The first two were at 40 mph and I was told it was a battery issue. It happened twice less than 4 days after the battery was replaced, once at 25 mph and once at 15 mph. I then had the fuel pump replaced. Less than 4 days later it happened twice again. Once at 10 mph and another time at 45 mph.
Our 2017 VW Passat had the clockspring replaced last year under warranty number [XXX] at Barnes Crossing Volkswagen in Tupelo, MS. The airbag stopped working and safety features such as adaptive cruise control were also not available. Not realizing the airbag would NOT deploy in the event of an accident, Volkswagen asked us to drive an hour to have it repaired which was considerably dangerous. As ...
Clock spring has failed 5 times within a year. The first clock spring replacement failed two weeks after the repair. I the. took it to a different dealership to be repaired. The second clock spring broke about 6 months later. The third clock spring broke two weeks after the repair. The fourth clock spring broke two months later and I am about to have it repaired within the next week. Due to the fa...
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormally strong fuel odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who performed a smog test, and the vehicle passed. The mechanic detected the fuel odor coming from the carbon filter and advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed by a dealer. The vehicle was...
The main CPU component failed in my car and grounded out the second cylinder causing a fire to happen, This happened on my way from the store while I was in traffic and almost caused me to get into an accident. Luckily no one was hurt but now my car is not functional. I took it to a mechanic to see what the cause was and that's what they said it was the computer that failed and that I would need t...
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that heat and defroster and defogger blower motor was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving across a railroad track, the Forward Collision-Avoidance braking system independently engaged. The contact was able to safely cross the railroad track. The contact stated that the failure had occurred previously while the contact was driving and crossing an intersection. However, the dealer was unable to duplicate th...
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH, the transmission was shifting hard, and the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound while shifting between 1st and 2nd gear. The contact drove to the residence and parked the vehicle. The contact then shifted into reverse (R) and the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The contact stated that the failure re...
The Passat stalls when traveling at low speed and/or from a stop, battery light turns on and loses all engine power, and will not restart for a period of time (10mins to 2 hours). This has happened on a residental street and on the highway when merging onto an on-ramp. There is no loss of electrical power and the starter attempts to turn the engine over but the car will not start. After multipl...
Fuel pump cap Piece underneath the back seat, comes loose and allows gas to spill into the car underneath the backseat
Showing 20 of 107 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Has the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT has 7 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT have?
The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT has 107 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 8 involved crashes. 3 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT involve unknown or other (11 complaints), service brakes (9 complaints), steering,electrical system,air bags (7 complaints). Other affected components include air bags, fuel/propulsion system, forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT have?
There are 8 crash reports associated with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT out of 107 total complaints (7.5% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT out of 107 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
3 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT is acceptable with caveats. It has 107 complaints, 7 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT are: 1. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (11 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES (9 complaints), 3. STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS (7 complaints), 4. AIR BAGS (7 complaints), 5. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (5 complaints). UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the single most-reported problem area with 11 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
Be cautious of potential issues with the service brakes and airbag sensors. Regular inspections are recommended. The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT has 107 NHTSA complaints and 7 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 107 owner complaints, 7 recalls, and 9 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Airbag Sensor Fault and Service Brakes Failure.
What are the known issues with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT?
Known issues with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT include: Airbag Sensor Fault, Service Brakes Failure. These are based on patterns found across 107 NHTSA complaints. 7 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Common issues include service brake failures and faulty airbag sensors.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Yes, recalls have been issued for the 2017 Passat and other models due to airbag and exterior lighting issues.
What should I do if I experience brake issues?
If you experience brake issues, have your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic immediately.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential issues with the service brakes and airbag sensors. Regular inspections are recommended.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Volkswagen Passat
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The data includes 107 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 7 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 8 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 3 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Volkswagen Passat an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16