Model year guide

2016 Volkswagen Passat

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2016 Volkswagen Passat is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 22 on record.

2016 Volkswagen Passat — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2016 Volkswagen Passat at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints106
Combined26 mpg
Typical price$12,893

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

2016 Volkswagen Passat recalls 5

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail NHTSA Campaign #16V403000 · 06/06/2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a…

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.

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.

Unknown Or Other NHTSA Campaign #20V561000 · 16/09/2020

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 …

Fix: 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.

Unknown Or Other NHTSA Campaign #21V321000 · 05/05/2021

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 …

Fix: 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.

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.

2016 Volkswagen Passat common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
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.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2016 Volkswagen Passat MPG & running costs

Combined26 mpg
City23 mpg
Highway32 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,375

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

What's a 2016 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Low
$9,500
Typical price
$12,893
High
$17,991

From 18 comparable 2016 Volkswagen Passat listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2016 Volkswagen Passat costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,875
Depreciation (5 yrs)$1,700
Total$13,575
Per mile$0.18

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 ($12,893) with the same model 4 model-years older ($11,546), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2016 Volkswagen Passat trims & engines on record

Trims
1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line · 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE · 1.8T SEL, SEL Premium
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl 170 hp

2016 Volkswagen Passat vehicles on record

2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A39GC049698 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBS7A32GC012919 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBT7A35GC055938 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A36GC052591 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A34GC033943 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A31GC013617 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBT7A31GC032463 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBS7A3XGC008102 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A31GC060470 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A35GC033935 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A35GC060908 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBT7A35GC051789 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A30GC055535 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A30GC053008 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SEL, SEL Premium1VWCT7A32GC036378 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A33GC007351 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBS7A30GC017651 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAS7A37GC051033 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T S TDI S, R-Line, 1.8T R-Line1VWAT7A38GC058733 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SEL, SEL Premium1VWCT7A38GC062600 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBT7A33GC031492 2016 Volkswagen Passat 2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T SE, SE w/ Technology, TDI SE1VWBT7A36GC060999

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

2016 Volkswagen Passat — frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2016 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 2016 Volkswagen Passat?

Based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, fuel system.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2016 Volkswagen Passat at about 26 mpg combined (23 city / 32 highway).

How much is a 2016 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Comparable 2016 Volkswagen Passat listings run roughly $9,500–$17,991, typically around $12,893 (from 18 vehicles).

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