Volkswagen Passat Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 362 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Volkswagen Passat across 21 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (118). The words owners use most often: “control arms” (35% of reports).
- 362suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,750typical repair cost reported by owners
- 25%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.
- Control arms: mentioned in 125 of 362 complaints (35%)
- Front suspension: mentioned in 50 of 362 complaints (14%)
- Ball joints: mentioned in 26 of 362 complaints (7%)
- Tie rods: mentioned in 24 of 362 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Volkswagen Passat at $1,750, and half of them between $1,350 and $2,100.
Based on 36 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2019), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 186 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 362 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.
Volkswagen Passat suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Passat | 2 | 4% | 13,000 |
| 2017 Passat | 3 | 3% | 24,000 |
| 2016 Passat | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2015 Passat | 16 | 7% | 42,100 |
| 2014 Passat | 6 | 1% | 86,000 |
| 2013 Passat | 13 | 2% | 21,000 |
| 2012 Passat | 1 | 0% | 2,000 |
| 2011 Passat | 1 | 6% | 11 |
| 2010 Passat | 2 | 1% | 64,118 |
| 2009 Passat | 4 | 3% | 42,500 |
| 2007 Passat | 2 | 1% | 14,525 |
| 2006 Passat | 8 | 1% | 7,362 |
| 2005 Passat | 1 | 1% | 33,515 |
| 2004 Passat | 2 | 1% | 76,000 |
| 2003 Passat | 10 | 2% | 39,800 |
| 2002 Passat | 16 | 3% | 53,995 |
| 2001 Passat | 25 | 6% | 52,510 |
| 2000 Passat | 36 | 7% | 60,000 |
| 1999 Passat | 118 | 18% | 62,000 |
| 1998 Passat | 90 | 27% | 82,000 |
| 1995 Passat | 5 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs; suspension:front:wheel bearing
Model years: 2021
Problem: 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.
Risk: The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that upon performing an oil change on the vehicle, the dealer informed the contact that both rear driver's side and passenger's side suspension springs were fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact was given an estimate for the…
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-60 MPH and driving over the roadway, the rear coil spring fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Rear control arm rusted through, ejecting the spring and collapsing the suspension.
Stalling? Have to put in DRIVE in order to forward in order to get car to back up? Air bags Clock wheel has more connection to what wrong/Air bags connections is Connected to HORN (which stopped working) DRIVE? all the refuses are working fine. horn not work; Dangerous driving in CALIIFORNIA…
Rear coil spring is broken. Normal driving conditions and we noticed a significant vibration. Upon inspection of rear suspension we found a broken rear coil spring. I researched this issue and found that VW recalled several other 2015 models for rear coil springs breaking. This is a major safety…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volkswagen Passats have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 362 owner complaints about suspension for the Volkswagen Passat. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volkswagen Passat suspension?
Yes: 1 safety recall list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Volkswagen Passat?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,750 (half paid between $1,350 and $2,100), from 36 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “control arms”, in 125 of 362 complaints, followed by “front suspension” (50).
Other Volkswagen Passat problems
- Air Bags problems (1,652)
- Electrical System problems (1,136)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (847)
- Engine problems (643)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (605)
- Steering problems (570)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (471)
- Power Train problems (452)
See all Volkswagen Passat problems.