Photo: Charles01 / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
2010 Volkswagen Passat: common problems and reliability
An average Passat year.
172 owner complaints, most about air bags. 4 recalls.
Should I buy a 2010 Passat?The 2010 Volkswagen Passat has 172 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and engine.
Safety record for the 2010 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2010 Volkswagen Passat vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Passat years only. How we score it
Is 2010 a good year for the Passat?
Across the 26 Passat model years we track, complaint volume runs from 12 (2019) to 1,304 (2002). With 172 complaints, the 2010 Passat sits below the model's median of 244.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2010 Passat
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 18V148000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 17V509000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Campaign 16V078000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
air bags:frontal
Campaign 15V483000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is highly polarized and varies significantly by generation, engine, and market.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Passat. See the full Passat owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Passat listings typically run $9,995–$16,052 across 2012 to 2022 model years.
Other Passat model years
Compare every Passat year side by side to see how 2010 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Passat against its rivals
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