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2020 Volkswagen Passat

Gas
Midsize Cars
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA17
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg
2022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car. The most efficient version, the Passat, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 17 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
PassatGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo233427$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42297.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

69AY
1,829 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskAn incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AY.
NHTSA campaign 20V533000reported Sep 2, 2020Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Exterior Lighting

94L9
662,185 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskWithout the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.FixVolkswagen 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V389000reported May 22, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Air Bags

69Y8
3 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskIn an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.FixVolkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.
NHTSA campaign 19V218000reported Mar 20, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
17complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Engine4
Unspecified4
Forward Collision Avoidance4
Air Bags4
Electrical System2
Steering2

What owners describe

“The front information center which is responsible for the rear camera system is shutdown due to the radio / entire screen being dead without reason”Aug 28, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“While driving and after, we noticed gas fumes both inside and outside of vehicle. The gas tank was approximately half full. Became very concerned over the the possibility of a fire. Did research online and realized that this was and is a common problem with older models of the Passad (ours is a 2020 model that we bough…”Aug 24, 2026 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report
“2020 Volkswagen Passat SE 2.0L VIN: [XXX] Complaint Summary: I am reporting a persistent and unresolved fault involving the secondary air injection system (DTC P0491 – insufficient airflow) that has resulted in repeated, conflicting diagnoses across multiple repair facilities. This raises concerns about a potential s…”Mar 23, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Passat model years

A

2022 Volkswagen Passat

0 recalls · 12 complaints

A

2021 Volkswagen Passat

1 recalls · 18 complaints

A

2019 Volkswagen Passat

1 recalls · 12 complaints

D

2018 Volkswagen Passat

4 recalls · 45 complaints

F

2017 Volkswagen Passat

7 recalls · 110 complaints

F

2016 Volkswagen Passat

5 recalls · 106 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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