AI Damage2017 Volkswagen Passat: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Volkswagen Passat filed 110 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. The maker issued 387 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 110
- involving a crash
- 9
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 387
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 25% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 15% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 15% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 6% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 28 complaints (25% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Electrical system: 18 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 73.
- Service brakes: 17 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Steering: 16 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Forward collision avoidance: 16 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 110 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 28 | 3 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 18 | 0 | 73 |
| Service brakes | 17 | 1 | 15 |
| Steering | 16 | 0 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 16 | 1 | 4 |
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 52 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 14 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| Wheels | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Structure | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| Suspension | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Backover prevention | 3 | 0 | 3 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, with the Forward Collision Avoidance system activated, the vehicle failed to detect another vehicle and the vehicle was involved in a crash. The air bags did not deploy. There was no injuries sustained.
On July 26, 2022 the new tire had blowout on driver rear location causing vehicle to lose traction spin and crash into wooded area on side if I 75 south of Tampa. My concern is these aftermarket wheels had three flats in three week period. Two different brands of tires on same 19” aftermarket rims.
Hit a deer head on while travelling at about 40 mph on a rural highway. Airbags did NOT deploy, despite front end damage.
This past sunday, my son was driving on 95 and the driver's side front wheel exploded off the car while driving. He did not hit anything, nor did he get a flat tire. The metal holding the tire literally broke, the wheel came off the car causing the car to drop on the front axle while he was doing 65 mph on the highway.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 volkswagen passat. While driving 70 mph, the contact heard an abnormal banging sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle started to spin out of control and crashed into a retaining wall.
The driver airbag didn't deploy and the collision inspector told me that my seat belt didn't either! I am lucky I wasn't hurt worse. The car I was driving was not a safe car, but was sold to me as a certified preowned car.
I preface this by saying this is my first keyless car and I don't like it. It is sometimes confusing as to whether the car is running or off and the ignition button looks identical in both scenarios. On june 12, I parked my car (it was stationary) and took my dog into her day care center.
I am reporting a recurring safety-related defect involving the factory-installed infotainment touchscreen in my 2017 Volkswagen Passat SE Technology. The touchscreen intermittently malfunctions in several ways.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 536 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Passat has 31 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 110, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Suggested fuel additive
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided
- Differences between a leak and seepage
- Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts…
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during…
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery…
- Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
- Inquiries
- Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start
- Lubricating engine components before reassembly
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during…
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during…
NHTSA lists 387 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, service brakes. Total complaints: 110. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (17%), airbag warning light (16%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA lists 387 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Volkswagen Passat from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.