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
The worst 2020 Volkswagen Passat problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine5
- Airbags4
- Driver assistance4
- Electrical3
- Brakes2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine5
- Airbags4
- Driver assistance4
- Electrical3
- Brakes2
- Fuel system2
- Steering2
- Wheels2
- Seat belts1
- Visibility1
Recalls 3
Air bags: passenger side frontal: cushion
- What is 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.
Recall number 20V533000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights
- What is 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.
Recall number 19V389000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window
- What is 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.
Recall number 19V218000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat 463
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the...
- Prevent Sporatic Misfire Faults.
- Checking engine oil level.
- Reprogramming Control Module process
- Condensation and or water droplets visible on inside of exterior light lenses
- Engine missfire diagnostic aid
- Identifying and Mixing Volkswagen Engine Coolants
- When replacing Evaporative Emissions System components, it is not always necessary to replace the entire...
- Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting
- Suggested fuel additive
2020 Volkswagen Passat fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23 | 34 | 27 |
What 2020 Volkswagen Passat owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The front information center which is responsible for the rear camera system is shutdown due to the radio / entire screen being dead without reason
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. Did research online and realized that this was and is a common problem with older models of the Passad (ours is a 2020 model that we bought new and had zero accidents) plus Jetta and Golf models. We took it to a VW Dealer (Ken Graff VW Gilbert, AZ ) nearest our home for fear of a fire hazard and safety. They repaired it stating that the gas tank had various creaks neasr the top of the tank which allowed fumes to be released. My cost to repair was approximately $1,100 which for a vehicle with some 62,000 miles and no accidents seems to be concerning. The service advisor stated not covered under warranty or not under a recall notice. Thjs is plainly wrong and is certainly a fire hazard. Thank you for looking into this important issue.
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 concerns about a potential systemic defect affecting this vehicle model. Detailed Description: The issue began prior to March 2025 while the vehicle was still under warranty. The vehicle displayed a Check Engine Light associated with diagnostic trouble code P0491 (secondary air injection system insufficient airflow). On April 3, 2025, a repair facility diagnosed the issue as a failed secondary air injection pump and replaced the component. However, the Check Engine Light returned within 24 hours with the exact same fault code, indicating that the repair did not resolve the issue. A second independent diagnostic evaluation was performed later in April 2025. This inspection confirmed that: The secondary air injection pump was functioning correctly Airflow through the system was present Electrical controls and PCM commands were operating properly The fault was attributed instead to a mechanically stuck secondary air injection combination valve Despite this revised diagnosis, the issue has remained unresolved. As of 2026, a dealership evaluation has now attributed the same fault condition to a potential failure within the cylinder head assembly, indicating a significantly more serious underlying condition. Safety Concern: This issue involves the emissions and engine air management system and has resulted in: Persistent Check Engine Light Repeated failure of emissions-related components Conflicting and escalating repair diagnoses across multiple qualified service providers I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this issue for potential investigation into a systemic defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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, Will replace part for my fiance,
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.
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.
VIN: [XXX] Dealership: Vanguard Volkswagen 6900 Burnet Rd Austin, TX 78757 I bought 2020 Passat back in Aug 2020 with CarNet included. It was showing that CarNet will be installed later when available at no cost. So in 2021 they installed carnet and everything was working fine up until 2024. The light turned off and no connection to the car. I called CarNet and they told me that most likely an issue with HW module and suggested to take to the dealer to get reset/replaced. Went to the dealer few days ago. Left them a car for 3 days for diag. No fault codes. So dealer sent a ticket to the Volkswagen to see how to proceed. I got a call from dealership today that Volkswagen responded to them that 2020 Passat is no longer eligible for the CarNet. Excuse me? At the time of sale CarNet was included. It was working fine no issues. And now Volkswagen taking car feature away that it came with and I paid for.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Bought car from dealer. Vw Manhattan. 42000miles. 8 months later at 53000 miles. Engine problems. Went to Vw service. Head gasket. Lemon car. Warranty till 50000 miles. Cost? 4800$ Worse car possible.
Our vehicle will not speed up after accelerating but you can hear the engine making noise like it’s trying to speed up. We have taken our vehicle 3-4 times back to the dealership and they have told us they found nothing.
Compare the 2020 Volkswagen Passat
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2020 Volkswagen Passat
Is the 2020 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
Owners have filed 18 complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Passat, fewer than a typical Passat model year.
What is the 2020 Volkswagen Passat year score?
The 2020 Volkswagen Passat scores 94 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Volkswagen Passat: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Volkswagen Passat?
Engine and cooling, with 5 complaints. Next is airbags (4).
How many recalls does the 2020 Volkswagen Passat have?
3 recalls, covering air bags and exterior lighting.
What year does the Volkswagen Passat have bad engine?
The Volkswagen Passat model years with the most engine complaints are 2003 (153 complaints), 2002 (148 complaints) and 2006 (130 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2020 Volkswagen Passat get?
Official estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat range from 27 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 23 city and 34 highway.
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