2013 Volkswagen Passat Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, 8% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 70,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “low beam” (48% of reports).
- 60exterior lighting complaints
- 70,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 21%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.
- Low beam: mentioned in 29 of 60 complaints (48%)
- Side headlight: mentioned in 6 of 60 complaints (10%)
- Headlights failed: mentioned in 5 of 60 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 40 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 60 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Volkswagen Passat exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Passat | 2 | 11% | 100 |
| 2018 Passat | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2017 Passat | 1 | 1% | 11,000 |
| 2016 Passat | 5 | 5% | 800 |
| 2015 Passat | 6 | 2% | 19,000 |
| 2014 Passat | 10 | 2% | 57,500 |
| 2013 Passat | 60 | 8% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Passat | 17 | 4% | 35,000 |
| 2011 Passat | 1 | 6% | 116,000 |
| 2010 Passat | 4 | 2% | 61,899 |
| 2008 Passat | 3 | 2% | 85,491 |
| 2007 Passat | 7 | 3% | 111,000 |
| 2006 Passat | 12 | 2% | 27,896 |
| 2005 Passat | 5 | 3% | 63,754 |
| 2004 Passat | 16 | 6% | 28,000 |
| 2003 Passat | 39 | 6% | 50,332 |
| 2002 Passat | 32 | 5% | 54,900 |
| 2001 Passat | 30 | 7% | 69,500 |
| 2000 Passat | 11 | 2% | 82,000 |
| 1999 Passat | 15 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 1998 Passat | 4 | 1% | 103,000 |
| 1997 Passat | 2 | 5% | 111,000 |
| 1996 Passat | 3 | 8% | 140,000 |
| 1995 Passat | 5 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: 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."
Risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.
Risk: A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Passenger side headlight went out. The problem was not the bulb or fuse. This issue seems to perfectly match Safety Recall 94G8, but for some reason my car is not covered in that recall notice, even though safety recall 94G8 is for "some" 2012-2013 VW Passats, which is what I drive.
In April 2025, my 2013 Volkswagen Passat developed serious issues: the steering wheel cover is lifted, horn and steering wheel controls stopped working, lights malfunctioned, and now the vehicle will not start. It also has an open Takata airbag recall with no parts available until âafter juneâ…
The component is the wiring harness leading to trunk light. The safety issue is low as it is just a trunk light although this is definately a defect because opening and closing the lid you can see the light works until the lid is opened past half way, then the light goes off. Where the harness is…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Volkswagen Passats have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 60 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat (8% 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 exterior lighting?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems start?
The median reported mileage is 70,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “low beam”, in 29 of 60 complaints, followed by “side headlight” (6).
Other 2013 Volkswagen Passat problems
- Air Bags problems (382)
- Engine problems (104)
- Electrical System problems (93)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (65)
- Steering problems (51)
See all 2013 Volkswagen Passat problems or exterior lighting problems across all Passat years.