2018 Volkswagen Passat: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Volkswagen Passat: 4 recalls, 46 owner complaints and up to 29 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V369000 · 2018 · 10,225 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen atlas, passat, beetle, beetle convertible, golf, golf sportwagen and gti and Audi q5 and sq5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles May have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Why it matters: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V536000 · 2018 · 8,416 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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…
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #19V389000 · 2019 · 662,185 vehicles
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."
Why it matters: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Other / unknown Vehicle recall #20V561000 · 2020 · 23 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements May have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (12): the most common themes are noise or vibration (3), warning light on (3).
- Engine (11): the most common themes are warning light on (6), stalls / loses power (4), electrical failure (4).
- Electrical (10): the most common themes are electrical failure (4), warning light on (3).
- Fuel & propulsion (6): the most common themes are warning light on (3), stalls / loses power (2), electrical failure (2).
The 2018 Volkswagen Passat has 46 owner complaints, ranking #24 of 33 Passat model years for complaints (well below the 238 average). Complaints peaked in 2021 (8 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 35,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (110 complaints, 7 recalls), 2019 (12 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 36 | 29 | Regular |
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2018 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Volkswagen Passat problems?
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (12), engine (11), electrical (10).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA ratings run up to 29 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Volkswagen Passat repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.