YearToAvoid

2019 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#13 most-complained of 13 Passat years

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat has 12 NHTSA complaints, 1 recall, and a complaint index of 0, ranking it 13th of 13 model years on complaint volume — the Best year of the Passat lineup. No crashes, fires, injuries or deaths were reported.

Complaints
12
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
25 city / 36 hwy

Top 2019 Volkswagen Passat problems

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

  1. Electrical System4 (33%)
  2. Brakes3 (25%)
  3. Engine2 (17%)
  4. Fuel System2 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain2 (17%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (8%)
  7. Other1 (8%)
  8. Steering1 (8%)
  9. Structure & Body1 (8%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal position sits too far forward, at times trapping a foot behind it and forcing pressure onto the firewall instead.
  • The speedometer has been reported reading up to 2 mph slower than actual speed at 70 mph, alongside complaints about inflated posted fuel economy.
  • Some owners describe the windshield developing a fine crack that spreads across the glass with no impact from debris.
  • The transmission is reported to hesitate unpredictably when accelerating from a stop or at low speed, sometimes followed by sudden unpredictable acceleration.
  • Several owners report the factory remote start does not function, with the engine turning over then immediately dying.
  • One owner reported the collision avoidance system triggered an abrupt stop with no vehicle or object nearby.
2019 Volkswagen Passat complaints: complaints filed per month5Apr 2019Jul 2019Dec 2019Sep 2020Mar 2025
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Mar 2025; peak Nov 2019 (5).

2019 Volkswagen Passat recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2019 Volkswagen Passat fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
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.

2019 compared with other Passat years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Caution58110725
2018Good42454 !25.5
2019Best012129
2020Best1718327
2021Good2518128

All Volkswagen Passat years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2019 Passat has the lowest complaint index (0) among all 13 model years covered and carries a 'Best' verdict, with only 12 complaints and 1 recall filed.
What problems does the 2019 Volkswagen Passat have?
NHTSA complaints point to the Electrical System as the top problem area, making up 33% of complaints, followed by Brakes at 25% and Engine and Fuel System each at 17%.
Does the 2019 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 19V389000) covering the Electrical System, related to a headlight horizontal-aim blocking cap that may not have been installed correctly.
How does the 2019 Passat compare to other Passat years?
The 2019 Passat ranks 13th of 13 model years by complaint index, the best result in the lineup, compared to years like 2013 (complaint index 100, Avoid) and 2012 (complaint index 83, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Volkswagen Passat?
EPA rates the 2019 Passat at 29 mpg combined (25 city / 36 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.

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.