YearToAvoid

2017 Volkswagen Passat Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 16% of its 110 total complaints, the highest share of any Passat model year. Median failure mileage is 53,328 and one crash is linked to a forward collision system failing to detect another vehicle. No related recall exists.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
18
16% of 110
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
53,328 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report

  • Forward collision/autonomous braking system engages suddenly at highway speeds (around 40-45 mph) with no vehicle or obstruction present.
  • Forward collision system failed to detect another vehicle during a low-speed drive, resulting in a crash without airbag deployment.
  • Rearview backup camera fails to display on the dashboard monitor, sometimes traced to an electrical failure.
  • Front assist system displays a 'no sensor view' warning and disables itself intermittently, then resets after a few miles.
  • Lane assist and park assist sensors malfunction, disabling themselves or falsely detecting objects that are not present.

When 2017 Volkswagen Passat collision avoidance system complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 3, 2017, latest Aug 5, 2026.

2017 Volkswagen Passat collision avoidance & cameras complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2017Jul 2019Mar 2021May 2021Jan 2022Mar 2023Jan 2024Aug 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2017 to Aug 2026; peak May 2021 (3).

Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by Passat model year

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

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 20110 (0%)
  3. 20121 (0%)
  4. 20135 (1%)
  5. 20141 (0%)
  6. 20151 (0%)
  7. 20167 (7%)
  8. 201718 (16%)
  9. 20183 (7%)
  10. 20191 (8%)
  11. 20204 (22%)
  12. 20211 (6%)
  13. 20221 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are collision avoidance and camera problems in the 2017 VW Passat?
NHTSA lists 18 complaints in this area for the 2017 Passat, which is 16% of the 110 total complaints filed for that model year, the highest share among all Passat model years in this data.
Is there a recall for the 2017 Passat's collision avoidance or camera system?
No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls tied to this problem area for the 2017 Passat.
Has the forward collision system caused any crashes in the 2017 Passat?
Yes, NHTSA data records one crash linked to this problem area, involving a forward collision system that failed to detect another vehicle at low speed. No fires or injuries were reported.
At what mileage do these camera and collision system problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area on the 2017 Passat is 53,328 miles.
How does the 2017 Passat compare to other model years for this problem area?
The 2017 Passat's 16% complaint share is higher than the 2016 model's 7%, the 2018 model's 7%, and most other years, though the 2020 model shows a 22% share on a smaller complaint count.

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.