Model year guide

2015 Volkswagen Passat

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2015 Volkswagen Passat is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 76 on record.

2015 Volkswagen Passat — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2015 Volkswagen Passat at a glance

Safety recalls7
Owner complaints242
Combined29 mpg
Typical price$12,919

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2015 Volkswagen Passat recalls 7

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V014000 · 11/01/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. …

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #19V389000 · 22/05/2019

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."

Fix: 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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #15V705000 · 26/10/2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

Fix: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Seats NHTSA Campaign #14V670000 · 24/10/2014

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is …

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings NHTSA Campaign #15V373000 · 15/06/2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.

Fix: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail NHTSA Campaign #15V028000 · 23/01/2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A seali…

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V862000 · 04/12/2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 6…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2015 Volkswagen Passat common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 242 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

2015 Volkswagen Passat MPG & running costs

Combined29 mpg
City25 mpg
Highway36 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,490

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2015 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Low
$8,699
Typical price
$12,919
High
$16,000

From 75 comparable 2015 Volkswagen Passat listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2015 Volkswagen Passat costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$12,450
Depreciation (5 yrs)$4,750
Total$17,200
Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($12,919) with the same model 5 model-years older ($8,160), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2015 Volkswagen Passat trims & engines on record

Trims
Wolfsburg Edition PZEV · S · SE · SEL · SE PZEV · Limited Edition
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl 170 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 150 hp · 3.6L 6-cyl 280 hp · 1.8L 4-cyl 132 hp

2015 Volkswagen Passat vehicles on record

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

2015 Volkswagen Passat — frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Volkswagen Passat have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Volkswagen Passat?

Based on 242 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, electrical system, power train.

What gas mileage does the 2015 Volkswagen Passat get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2015 Volkswagen Passat at about 29 mpg combined (25 city / 36 highway).

How much is a 2015 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Comparable 2015 Volkswagen Passat listings run roughly $8,699–$16,000, typically around $12,919 (from 75 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.