2014 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
92/100
#2 most-complained of 13 Passat years
The 2014 Volkswagen Passat has a complaint index of 92, ranking 2nd worst out of 13 model years, and is rated Avoid. Airbags account for 60% of its 594 complaints, with 10 recalls issued, mostly tied to Takata airbag inflators.
- Complaints
- 594
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes / fires
- 19 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 27
- 23 city / 33 hwy
Top 2014 Volkswagen Passat problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags354 (60%)
- Engine92 (15%)
- Electrical System82 (14%)
- Other63 (11%)
- Fuel System50 (8%)
- Steering44 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain37 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires15 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers15 (3%)
- Brakes14 (2%)
What owners report
- Driver's or passenger's frontal airbag deploys with excessive force, spraying powder and metal fragments into occupants during low-speed crashes.
- Some owners report the airbag or seatbelt on the passenger side locking up or firing on its own while turning, causing loss of vehicle control.
- Multiple owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking at low speed, with the brake pedal failing to stop the car.
- Owners report brake pedal application not stopping the vehicle during normal driving, leading to collisions with other vehicles.
- One owner described a frontal collision that triggered a major fire, destroying the vehicle despite airbags deploying as expected.
2014 Volkswagen Passat recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 19V862000Dec 4, 2019Airbags226 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side 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: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
- NHTSA 19V389000May 22, 2019Electrical System662,185 vehicles
Exterior lighting:headlights
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.
Remedy: 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.
2014 Volkswagen Passat fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 23 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,550
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2014 compared with other Passat years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2014 Passat a complaint index of 92, the 2nd worst of 13 model years for this model, so it is rated Avoid relative to other Passat years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Passat?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 60% of the 594 complaints filed, with a median failure mileage of 50,000 miles.
- Does the 2014 Passat have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recalls for the 2014 Passat, mostly related to Takata driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators, plus a 2024 recall for driver's side airbag module replacement.
- How many recalls does the 2014 Passat have?
- NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2014 Volkswagen Passat, covering airbags, electrical system, and transmission/powertrain components.
- How does the 2014 Passat compare to other years?
- The 2014 Passat's complaint index of 92 is worse than most other years; only the 2013 Passat, with an index of 100, ranks higher in reported problems.