NMS, first generation (A32/A33)
2017 Volkswagen Passat
The most reported problem on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat is airbag, with 28 complaints.
- 110owner complaints
- 7recalls
- 9involved a crash
- 39,090median miles at failure
Newest report Aug 27, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Passat doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2017 model year.
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
The 2017 Volkswagen Passat has 110 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 178 for 2017 sedans on this site. Of the 9 Passat model years since 2014, it has the 3rd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2016 and 2018
- At 11 complaints for each year on the road, the 2017 runs close to the 2016 (10) and 2.2 times the 2018 (5).
- Top problem
- Airbag leads with 28 of the 110 complaints (25%), ahead of brake wear at 17. Too few of the airbag reports give a mileage to say when it starts.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 10 of the 110 complaints (9%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 9 reports mention a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 3 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 3 of 9, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- Airbag, the one problem here with enough reports to check, has a recall on the same system (24V-834). A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2021 at 21 and have dropped every year since, to 7 in 2025. So far in 2026, 4 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: airbag warning light or recall, 28 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
110 complaints is 2.5 times fewer than the median 2017 model on this site and 1.6 times fewer than the median 2017 sedan. Among the 4 Passat model years here it ranks 3rd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Volkswagen filed 677 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. 7 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Airbag warning light or recall 1 bulletin · 28 complaints
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication for the airbag control module. For trouble code DTC B10001B. Driver airbag igniter resistance too high -N95
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 2 bulletins · 17 complaints
Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation. Addition of mandatory brake form and reference to Volkswagen Warranty Policy and Procedures Manual.
Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation Instruction (U.S. Only)
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 4 bulletins · 11 complaints
Tips to address MIB2 infotainment functionality concerns
Updated diagnostic direction to address new concerns in regards to Apply CarPlay Connection on MIBII equipped vehicles. Update models and model year applicability.
2 more on this problem
Update to existing information to address phone concerns via bluetooth resulting from saved emoji information
Repair direction to address fault code B201A that sets after replacement of the J794 infotainment module. Include model year 2017 for all models with MIB2 radios
Complaints filed by year
21 complaints came in 2021, 2.1 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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 and remedy
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
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 and remedy
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Passat vehicles. Brake fluid may leak slowly from the some of the brake line connections, resulting in a low brake fluid level.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in March 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47N3.
All 7 recalls on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Airbag, with 28 of the 110 complaints.
At what mileage do 2017 Volkswagen Passat problems start?
Of the 50 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 12,000 miles and half by about 39,000.
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Passat better or worse than the 2016 and 2018?
Counted per year on the road, the 2017 has about as many complaints as the 2016 and more complaints than the 2018: 11 a year against 10 and 5.
How many 2017 Volkswagen Passat complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (9%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for airbag on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 24V-834. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.