Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Lane departure5
- Service brakes5
- Air bags3
- Electrical system3
- Steering2
- Exterior lighting2
- Engine1
- Equipment1
- Tires1
- Forward collision avoidance1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2021 Passat vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 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 2021 Volkswagen Passat failed the safety check 0.96% of the time — 1% more often than the average 2021 passenger car (0.95%). Median odometer at inspection: 26,000 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2021
78,249 new Volkswagen Passat cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2021; the largest markets were Germany (45,629), Sweden (5,665), Poland (4,467).
- Average mass
- 1,622 kg
- Average CO₂
- 114 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 117 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 61% · Petrol/electric 23% · Petrol 15%
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
Real-world fuel consumption
30,699 Volkswagen Passat cars first registered in Europe in 2021 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Diesel versions use 6.0 l/100 km on the road against 5.2 in the WLTP test (+16%).
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,161 | 7.3 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Diesel | 24,613 | 6.0 | 5.2 | +16% |
| Plug-in hybrid | 1,925 | 5.6 | 1.2 | +362% |
Litres per 100 km from the cars' own fuel meters (OBFCM), collected in 2024; the year is the year of first registration. All years together · European Environment Agency · CC BY 4.0
Engines
The most common engines in 2021 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 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 hybrid | 115 kW 154 hp | 2,606 |
| 1.5 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 764 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 158 |
| 2.0 petrol | 140 kW 188 hp | 39 |
| 2.0 diesel | 90 kW 121 hp | 30 |
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
3,638 first registered in 2021 are on Dutch roads; 81% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €50,134.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde1,041
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld293
- Remschijf ernstig gecorrodeerd291
- Band onvoldoende profiel276
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm177
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht117
- Band beschadigd95
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage45
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,326 cars built in 2021 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 51 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, 222 of these cars first registered in 2021 took their annual MOT test. 92% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2021 the figure was 91%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 2.7% | 3.3% |
| Brakes | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.4% | 2.9% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.4% | 0.3% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.9% | 0.4% |
| Suspension | 0.9% | 0.6% |
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
1,398 of these cars first registered in 2021 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 98,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
123 2021 cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% arrived as used imports, 98% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 1 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD Early Release | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2021 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD Later Release | ★★★★☆ | 10.7 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- 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 8.3 L/100 km (about 28 mpg US), CO₂ 195 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passat · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.8 | 6.6 | 8.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.
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 2021 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 |
| 11011375 | moisture witin rear tail lamp assembly |
| 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 |
| 11005830 | Phyical condensation within Taillamp cluster is an optical phenomenon and does not affect the function of the taillights. |
| 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)