{"id":"2021_volkswagen_passat","make":"Volkswagen","make_slug":"volkswagen","model":"Passat","model_slug":"passat","year":2021,"url":"/volkswagen/passat/2021/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":42833,"model":"Passat","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":24,"hwy":36,"comb":28,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Midsize Cars","co2":314,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2250,"save_spend":0,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Thu Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 2021"}],"vclass":"Midsize Cars","segment":"Midsize car","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"21V812000","component":"SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2021-10-15","owner_notified":"2021-11-02","units":30,"summary":"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.","consequence":"The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021.  Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.  Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"40R7","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":1,"critical_count":0,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":92,"grade":"A","complaints":{"count":18,"crash":1,"fire":1,"injured":0,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Lane Departure",5],["Service Brakes",5],["Electrical System",3],["Air Bags",3],["Steering",2],["Exterior Lighting",2]],"by_year":{"2021":4,"2022":1,"2023":4,"2024":3,"2025":5,"2026":1},"excerpts":[["2026-06-08","Electrical System","I am requesting that Volkswagen open a formal case regarding a fire involving my 2021 Volkswagen Passat. On May 6, 2026, at approximately 9:30 PM, after driving about seven miles, I came to a complete stop and the vehicle began smoking before catching fire. The vehicle has been declared a total loss and is currently be\u2026"],["2025-11-24","Air Bags","I was parking my car and then I heard a loud crack. Then I noticed my car's airbag malfunction warning notice came up on the dashboard along with other failures. I can see on the edges of the horn panel on the left that its slightly detached, so it seem the airbag has somewhat inflated. I haven't taken it to the dealer\u2026"],["2025-10-08","Service Brakes","Driving home from work around 1:00 am at night with street lights and no other cars in the vicinity the auto brake engaged, causing an abrupt stop. Once the auto brake ceased I was able to complete my trip. There was a light coating of water in a spot on the road but nothing else and no reason for this to occur."]]},"investigations":[],"ncap":[{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.107,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":4,"frontal":3,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.107,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":999,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":28,"ncap":5,"complaints":18},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}