Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Volkswagen Passat, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine4
- Air bags4
- Unknown or other4
- Electrical system3
- Forward collision avoidance3
- Steering2
- Wheels2
- Service brakes2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Visibility/wiper1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2020 Passat vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2020 Volkswagen Passat failed the safety check 1.02% of the time — 13% less often than the average 2020 passenger car (1.18%). Median odometer at inspection: 30,042 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2020
114,559 new Volkswagen Passat cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2020; the largest markets were Germany (60,959), Sweden (9,754), the United Kingdom (6,512).
- Average mass
- 1,619 kg
- Average CO₂
- 120 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 117 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 60% · Petrol/electric 23% · Petrol 17%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2020 Volkswagen Passat cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 hybrid (115 kW, 154 hp), 1.5 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 2.0 diesel (110 kW, 148 hp), out of 8 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 hybrid | 115 kW 154 hp | 2,786 |
| 1.5 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 1,263 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 169 |
| 2.0 petrol | 140 kW 188 hp | 117 |
| 1.6 diesel | 88 kW 118 hp | 83 |
| 2.0 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 40 |
| 2.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 37 |
| 2.0 diesel | 90 kW 121 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
4,522 first registered in 2020 are on Dutch roads; 77% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €49,348.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,568
- Band onvoldoende profiel616
- Remschijf ernstig gecorrodeerd456
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld423
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm314
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht175
- Band beschadigd159
- Remonderdelen te veel gecorrodeerd89
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
5,722 cars built in 2020 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 98 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 6,057 of these cars first registered in 2020 took their annual MOT test. 87% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2020 the figure was 88%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 7.2% | 4.9% |
| Brakes | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.7% | 3.0% |
| Visibility | 1.6% | 2.8% |
| Suspension | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.6% | 0.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
2,750 of these cars first registered in 2020 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 109,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 1 variant; 1 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 8.7 L/100 km (about 27 mpg US), CO₂ 205 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passat · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 6.9 | 8.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat.
| 2020412 2 Sept 2020 | Airbag Issue: On certain vehicles, the passenger-front airbag may not have been folded properly. As a result, the airbag may inflate with too much force in a crash w… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
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."
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2020 Volkswagen Passat: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011377 | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication for the airbag control module. For trouble code DTC B10001B. Driver airbag igniter resistance too high -N95 |
| 11011374 | HVAC duct cleaning and deodorizing |
| 11010025 | Green Light Does Not Illuminate |
| 11010024 | Lack of paint under roof |
| 11010022 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11010021 | Additional reporting |
| 11010011 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11008866 | Inspecting sensors for damage |
| 11008861 | Fluid requirements |
| 11008860 | Manual transmission noise diagnosing |
| 11008858 | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards |
| 11008857 | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement |
| 11008856 | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick |
| 11008853 | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool |
| 11008852 | Recommended Gasoline Quality |
| 11008851 | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid |
| 11008850 | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults |
| 11008846 | Wind & Water Leak Checking |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007396 | Car-net 2.0 may not fully complete the initial Register and Pairing process (R&P) after removal of |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005826 | Car-net 2.0 may not fully complete the initial Register and Pairing process (R&P) after removal of |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11005821 | Engine Oil Pressure-Priming |
| 11005820 | Engine Assembly Tip |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)