The 2020 Volkswagen Passat has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 664,017 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS20V5330002020-09-021,829 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Passat vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag may have been folded incorrectly affecting its deployment force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash…
Consequence
An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AY.
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…
Consequence
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.
AIR BAGS19V2180002019-03-203 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.
Consequence
In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Volkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
4
1crashes1injuries
ENGINE
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
2
STEERING
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Steering wheel controls stopped working, no horn either. Probably no airbag but haven't got into an accident. There was recall on the same part for the until 2018, but the new part I was going to install lists that if fits cars 2016-2022 part # 5k0-953-569-bc recall from vw. Number: vwp-18-11,…”
“Steering wheel controls stopped working, no horn either. Probably no airbag but haven't got into an accident. There was recall on the same part for the until 2018, but the new part I was going to install lists that if fits cars 2016-2022 part # 5k0-953-569-bc recall from vw. Number: vwp-18-11,…”
“Steering wheel controls stopped working, no horn either. Probably no airbag but haven't got into an accident. There was recall on the same part for the until 2018, but the new part I was going to install lists that if fits cars 2016-2022 part # 5k0-953-569-bc recall from vw. Number: vwp-18-11,…”
“Error message alerted to maintenance needed and the air bag light has turned on and remained on. Also said message that front assist inls unavailable.”
“Error message alerted to maintenance needed and the air bag light has turned on and remained on. Also said message that front assist inls unavailable.”
“2020 volkswagen passat se 2.0l vin: [xxx] complaint summary: I am reporting a persistent and unresolved fault involving the secondary air injection system (dtc p0491 – insufficient airflow) that has resulted in repeated, conflicting diagnoses across multiple repair facilities. This raises…”
“2020 volkswagen passat se 2.0l vin: [xxx] complaint summary: I am reporting a persistent and unresolved fault involving the secondary air injection system (dtc p0491 – insufficient airflow) that has resulted in repeated, conflicting diagnoses across multiple repair facilities. This raises…”
“Oil pressure sensor fails. Causing high oil pressure. Causing the valve cover to be destroyed and the oil pan to leak. Draining the car oil.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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