2015 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 62 engine-area complaints for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat, 26% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 40,000. Recall 15V705000 covers a camshaft lobe defect that can shear off and disable engine and braking power.
- Engine complaints
- 62
- 26% of 243
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 40,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Sudden hesitation or loss of power lasting several seconds during acceleration, including while merging or passing on the highway.
- Engine shakes, sputters, and stalls unexpectedly, sometimes just before entering an intersection.
- Vehicle lurches or revs erratically with unpredictable shifting, occurring both in town and while climbing hills.
- Camshaft lobe shears off, which owners say disables power braking along with the engine, tied to recall 15V705000.
- Owners report the recall repair could not be completed because replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period.
- Loss of engine power accompanied by a battery warning light and stalling at highway speed.
When 2015 Volkswagen Passat engine complaints were filed
First complaint Dec 4, 2015, latest Feb 9, 2026.
Engine recalls for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat
- NHTSA 15V705000Oct 26, 2015Engine91,867 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Risk: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Engine complaints by Passat model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2015 Volkswagen Passat have?
- NHTSA lists 62 engine-area complaints for the 2015 Passat, which is 26% of the 243 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat engine?
- Yes. Recall 15V705000 covers a camshaft lobe defect in 2015-2016 Passat and related Volkswagen models; the fix is an ECM software update from a Volkswagen dealer.
- At what mileage do 2015 Passat engine problems usually appear?
- The median mileage at failure for engine-area complaints is 40,000 miles.
- Did the 2015 Passat engine issue cause any crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data for this engine-area complaint set records 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 0 injuries.
- How does the 2015 Passat compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2015 Passat's engine complaints made up 26% of that year's total, similar to 2010 (26%) and 2016 (27%), but higher than 2017 (9%) and 2019 (17%).