2013 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems
Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, 14% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 45,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “glow plug” (12% of reports).
- 104engine complaints
- 45,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 49%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Glow plug: mentioned in 12 of 104 complaints (12%)
- Turbo failed: mentioned in 7 of 104 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 77 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 104 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury.
Volkswagen Passat engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Passat | 3 | 23% | — |
| 2021 Passat | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2020 Passat | 4 | 22% | 2,000 |
| 2019 Passat | 2 | 17% | 3,005 |
| 2018 Passat | 11 | 24% | 74,000 |
| 2017 Passat | 7 | 6% | 32,000 |
| 2016 Passat | 17 | 16% | 86,334 |
| 2015 Passat | 53 | 22% | 45,000 |
| 2014 Passat | 77 | 13% | 54,400 |
| 2013 Passat | 104 | 14% | 45,000 |
| 2012 Passat | 40 | 8% | 59,400 |
| 2011 Passat | 6 | 38% | 110,000 |
| 2010 Passat | 41 | 25% | 91,449 |
| 2009 Passat | 60 | 41% | 78,000 |
| 2008 Passat | 43 | 26% | 92,000 |
| 2007 Passat | 28 | 11% | 100,500 |
| 2006 Passat | 64 | 11% | 107,114 |
| 2005 Passat | 12 | 8% | 123,750 |
| 2004 Passat | 18 | 6% | 117,000 |
| 2003 Passat | 23 | 4% | 136,400 |
| 2002 Passat | 13 | 2% | 131,400 |
| 2001 Passat | 5 | 1% | 130,500 |
| 2000 Passat | 8 | 2% | 144,850 |
| 1999 Passat | 2 | 0% | 192,015 |
| 1998 Passat | 1 | 0% | 105,090 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:driveline:driveshaft; engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.
Risk: If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while at a red light ,the vehicle intermittently stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was…
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased in 2024 from a Used Car Dealer. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated after the vehicle was driven off the dealer lot. The contact drove to the destination and restarted the…
Timing chain issues, motor oil circulation problems, that Volkswagen has recalls out for 2.0 cc turbo 2013.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Volkswagen Passats have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 104 owner complaints about engine for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat (14% of the 748 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 45,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “glow plug”, in 12 of 104 complaints, followed by “turbo failed” (7).
Other 2013 Volkswagen Passat problems
See all 2013 Volkswagen Passat problems or engine problems across all Passat years.