Midsize sedans · model years 2014 to 2017
Volkswagen Jetta vs Volkswagen Passat: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Passat looks better on 2 and the Jetta on 1, with 4 too close to call.
Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2017 | Jetta | Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 7.2% | 4.0% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.6% | 2.2% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 53,000 | 50,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 3 | 3 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Jetta owners complain about most is engine; for the Passat it is airbags. Complaints citing engine make up 25% of all Jetta complaints, against 14% on the Passat. The Passat leans the other way on airbags: 48% of its complaints, against 9.2% for the Jetta.
Volkswagen JettaVolkswagen Passat
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Jetta is stalling (12% of its complaints). On the Passat it is airbag problems (48% of its complaints), against 9.2% on the Jetta.
| Problem | Jetta | Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or recall | 9.2% 79most in 2014 · 41k mi | 48% 495most in 2014 · 53k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 12% 104most in 2014 · 66k mi | 6.5% 67most in 2014 · 61k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 8.2% 7134k mi | 6.7% 69most in 2015 · 26k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 7.8% 67most in 2014 · 74k mi | 3.4% 3579k mi |
| Wheel bearing, tires or wheels | 3.2% 2822k mi | 1.8% 1860k mi |
| Fuel pump failure | 1.4% 1275k mi | 3.4% 3571k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 1.7% 1536k mi | 3.0% 3148k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 2.6% 2262k mi | 2.1% 2168k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the Jetta complaints that give a mileage come before 53,000 miles, and half the Passat complaints before 50,000. 47% of Jetta reports and 50% of Passat reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Volkswagen JettaVolkswagen Passat
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 580 for the Jetta and 491 for the Passat.
Worst and best years
The 2019 Jetta draws 4.8 times the complaints of a typical Jetta year for its age. The 2014 Passat draws 8.7 times the complaints of a typical Passat year for its age.
Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen JettaVolkswagen Passat
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Passat draws more recalls: 5.0 campaigns per model year against 4.0 for the Jetta. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Volkswagen Jetta
16 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (3), equipment (3) and airbags (2).
- 19V-615 (electrical) covers 4 model years
- 20E-064 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- EA18003: Air bag clockspring failure (open)
- RQ17009: Air bag clockspring failure (closed)
- PE15010: Air bag clockspring failure (closed, led to a recall)
Volkswagen Passat
20 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (6), service brakes, hydraulic (3) and other (3).
- 19V-389 (exterior lighting) covers 4 model years
- 15V-028 (fuel system) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA18003: Air bag clockspring failure (open)
- RQ17009: Air bag clockspring failure (closed)
- PE15010: Air bag clockspring failure (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Jetta complaints report a crash: 7.2%, against 4.0% for the Passat. Fire reports: 11 for the Jetta and 6 for the Passat. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Jetta and 0 in the Passat for these model years.
Volkswagen JettaVolkswagen Passat
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Volkswagen Jetta or the Volkswagen Passat more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Passat looks better on 2 and the Jetta on 1, with 4 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Jetta has 862 complaints and the Passat 1,023 for model years 2014 to 2017, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Jetta or the Passat?
The Jetta has 16 recall campaigns and the Passat 20 across model years 2014 to 2017. The Passat draws more recalls: 5.0 campaigns per model year against 4.0 for the Jetta.
What are the most common problems on the Jetta and the Passat?
The most reported problem on the Jetta is stalling (12% of its complaints). On the Passat it is airbag problems (48% of its complaints), against 9.2% on the Jetta.
More comparisons
- Volkswagen Jetta vs Toyota Corolla2014 to 2019
- Volkswagen Jetta vs Honda Civic2014 to 2019