YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Passat Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 87 Fuel System complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, 12% of that year's 748 total complaints. Owners reported crashes in 4 cases and fires in 3, with a median failure mileage of 43,000. No related recalls are listed for this component.

Fuel System complaints
87
12% of 748
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
43,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power or acceleration while driving, sometimes tied to turbocharger failure on the TDI diesel models.
  • Some describe the gas pedal getting stuck or the engine revving on its own without driver input, occurring both while moving and while parked.
  • Fuel leaking from the gas tank was reported while the vehicle sat parked in a garage, with visible dripping and fuel fumes filling the space.
  • Several owners describe stalling after a whistling sound and loss of acceleration, with smoke seen coming from the exhaust pipe.
  • Turbocharger failures were reported to cause vehicles to lose power abruptly on highways, leaving drivers stranded in traffic.

When 2013 Volkswagen Passat fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 1, 2013, latest Jun 9, 2025.

2013 Volkswagen Passat fuel system complaints: complaints filed per quarter152013 Q42014 Q42016 Q32017 Q32019 Q42020 Q42023 Q22024 Q3
87 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q4 to 2025 Q2; peak 2016 Q3 (15).

Fuel System recalls for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Passat model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201033 (20%)
  2. 20113 (19%)
  3. 201246 (10%)
  4. 201387 (12%)
  5. 201450 (8%)
  6. 201523 (9%)
  7. 201618 (17%)
  8. 20177 (6%)
  9. 20186 (13%)
  10. 20192 (17%)
  11. 20202 (11%)
  12. 20210 (0%)
  13. 20221 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2013 Volkswagen Passat have?
NHTSA lists 87 Fuel System complaints for the 2013 Passat, which is 12% of the 748 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat fuel system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this component on the 2013 Passat.
At what mileage do fuel system problems usually appear on the 2013 Passat?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 43,000 miles.
Did the 2013 Passat fuel system issues cause any crashes or fires?
NHTSA data lists 4 crashes and 3 fires associated with Fuel System complaints on the 2013 Passat, with 0 injuries reported.
How does 2013 compare to other Passat years for fuel system complaints?
The 2013 Passat's 87 fuel system complaints and 12% share are higher than most other years, though 2010 (20%) and 2016 (17%) show higher percentage shares despite fewer total complaints.

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.