Representative model. Photo: Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2020 Volkswagen Passat recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2020 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 18
Latest campaign: Sep 2, 2020

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	2	Sep 2, 2020	20V533000 19V218000
Exterior lighting	1	May 22, 2019	19V389000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Sep 2, 2020Latest campaign


Sep 2, 202020V533000	Air bags: passenger side frontal cushion An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 20V533000 What's wrong 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 Protection." Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 20V533000 · Sep 2, 2020
May 22, 201919V389000	Exterior lighting: headlights Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V389000 What's wrong 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V389000 · May 22, 2019
Mar 20, 201919V218000	Air bags: side/window In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V218000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V218000 · Mar 20, 2019

Sep 2, 202020V533000

Air bags: passenger side frontal cushion

An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 20V533000

What's wrong: 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 Protection."
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 20V533000 · Sep 2, 2020

May 22, 201919V389000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V389000

What's wrong: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V389000 · May 22, 2019

Mar 20, 201919V218000

Air bags: side/window

In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 19V218000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.
Campaign: NHTSA 19V218000 · Mar 20, 2019

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2020 Volkswagen Passat? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component18

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

18Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

1Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Unknown or other	4	22	0	0
Engine	4	22	0	0
Air bags	4	22	1	1
Electrical system	3	17	0	0
Forward collision avoidance	3	17	0	0
Wheels	2	11	0	0
Service brakes	2	11	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	2	11	0	0
Steering	2	11	0	0
Visibility/wiper	1	6	0	0
Back over prevention	1	6	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	1	6	0	0
Seat belts	1	6	1	1

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Electrical system
“my 2020 vw passat has less than 60k mikes and i am replacing my 3rd wheel sensor. they fail without warning disabling my antilock brakes. And other safety features”
Filed 09/10/2026 · ODI 11763407
Electrical system
“The front information center which is responsible for the rear camera system is shutdown due to the radio / entire screen being dead without reason”
Filed 08/28/2026 · ODI 11760236
Fuel/propulsion system
“While driving and after, we noticed gas fumes both inside and outside of vehicle. The gas tank was approximately half full. Became very concerned over the the possibility of a fire.”
Filed 08/24/2026 · ODI 11759077

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

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2020 Volkswagen Passat recall questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Volkswagen Passat have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat. The most recent, 20V533000 (reported September 2, 2020), concerns air bags. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2020 Volkswagen Passat recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 2 campaigns. Others: exterior lighting (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Volkswagen Passat?

Unknown or other is the most-reported component, named in 4 complaints out of 18 filed with NHTSA (22%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2020 Volkswagen Passat?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.

Check a specific Volkswagen by VIN

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