YearToAvoid

2007 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

65/100

#7 most-complained of 18 Passat years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2007 Volkswagen Passat has 262 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 65 out of 100 — #7 highest of 18 Passat model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is airbags (106 complaints, 40% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes, 6 fires, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
262
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
4 / 6
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 27 hwy

Top 2007 Volkswagen Passat problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags106 (40%)
  2. Engine64 (24%)
  3. Fuel System42 (16%)
  4. Electrical System41 (16%)
  5. Brakes16 (6%)
  6. Steering15 (6%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain13 (5%)
  8. Other12 (5%)
  9. Structure & Body9 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers8 (3%)
2007 Volkswagen Passat complaints: complaints filed per quarter202006 Q32009 Q12011 Q12013 Q22015 Q22017 Q22019 Q22022 Q3
335 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q3 to 2025 Q4; peak 2018 Q3 (20).

2007 Volkswagen Passat recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V834000Oct 30, 2024Airbags248,330 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

  2. NHTSA 18V247000Apr 18, 2018Airbags71,335 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.

  3. NHTSA 18V148000Mar 6, 2018Airbags363,713 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

See all 7 recalls for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat →

2007 Volkswagen Passat fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,825
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2007 compared with other Passat years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good41148321.5
2006Avoid82576721
2007Caution65262721
2008Caution53168422
2009Caution71146422.5

All Volkswagen Passat years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Volkswagen Passat a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2007 Volkswagen Passat ranks #7 of 18 among Passat model years (Complaint Index 65/100, verdict: Caution). It has 262 complaints and 7 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Volkswagen Passat?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (106 complaints), engine (64 complaints), and fuel system (42 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 71,000 miles.
Does the 2007 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat, most recently reported 2024, covering airbags, fuel system, visibility & wipers, and brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2007 Volkswagen Passat?
EPA rates the 2007 Volkswagen Passat at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,825. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.