2015 Volkswagen Passat
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2015 models.

- Class
- Midsize Cars
- Body styles
- 1.8l Tsi 4dr Sedan, 3.6l 4dr Sedan, Tdi 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl
- Horsepower
- 150–170 hp
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Diesel, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 34 combined · 30 city / 42 hwy
- Length
- 191.7 in
- Curb weight
- 3,172–3,446 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 7 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 34 MPG combined — 32% better than the average 2015 midsize car (25.7 MPG).
Watch out for
- Modest powerUp to 170 hp, versus about 278 hp for similar 2015 models.
- 7 recallsMore than similar models (about 3). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 29 similar 2015 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2015 Volkswagen Passat is a midsize car offered with 3 engines (2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 1.8L 4-cyl turbo and 3.6L 6-cyl) and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 192 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 110-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,172 lb (1.8l Tsi 4dr Sedan).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 34 MPG combined (30 city / 42 highway), 32% better than the 2015 midsize car average of 25.7 MPG, for an estimated $2,400 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 7 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2015
- Engine dropped: 2.5L 5-cyl
Compared with 2014; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2014 Passat →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Built in: Chattanooga, Tennessee
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2015 Passat configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8l Tsi 4dr Sedan | 191.7 in | 72.4 in | 57.9 in | 110.2 in | 61.4 / 60.2 in | 3,172 lb | 60/40 |
| 3.6l 4dr Sedan | 191.7 in | 72.4 in | 57.9 in | 110.2 in | 61.4 / 60.2 in | 3,446 lb | 59/41 |
| Tdi 4dr Sedan | 191.7 in | 72.4 in | 57.9 in | 110.2 in | 61.4 / 60.2 in | 3,408 lb | 60/40 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passat Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 42 / 34 | +32% | $2,800 | 299 |
| Passat Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 40 / 33 | +28% | $2,900 | 305 |
| Passat | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 34 / 28 | +9% | $2,400 | 318 |
| Passat | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 35 / 28 | +9% | $2,400 | 315 |
| Passat | 3.6L 6-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | -11% | $3,550 | 390 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2015 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat.
Similar 2015 midsize cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Volkswagen Passat (this car) | 34 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2015 Toyota Corolla | 34 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2015 Ford Mustang | 25 MPG | Not rated | 11 |
| 2015 Honda Accord | 47 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2015 Chevrolet Impala | 25 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2015 Toyota Camry | 40 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2015 Chevrolet Camaro | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
Recalls (7)
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Dec 4, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V862000 · 226 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · May 22, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V389000 · 662,185 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- 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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module · Jan 11, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V014000 · 119,394 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine · Oct 26, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V705000 · 91,867 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
- Risk
- If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings · Jun 15, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V373000 · 62 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.
- Risk
- If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail · Jan 23, 2015
NHTSA campaign 15V028000 · 44,658 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
- Risk
- A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
Seats · Oct 24, 2014
NHTSA campaign 14V670000 · 393 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.
- Risk
- Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.
Not every 2015 Volkswagen Passat is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2015 Volkswagen Passat buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 86 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Engine — 53 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Electrical System — 44 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 48,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Passat years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Passat | 28 | 193.7 in | ★★★★★ | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 Passat | 28 | 193.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 18 |
| 2020 Passat | 27 | 193.7 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 18 |
| 2019 Passat | 29 | 191.7 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 12 |
| 2018 Passat | 29 | 191.7 in | ★★★★★ | 4 | 46 |
| 2017 Passat | 27 | 191.7 in | ★★★★★ | 7 | 110 |
| 2016 Passat | 29 | 191.7 in | Not rated | 5 | 106 |
| 2014 Passat | 34 | 191.7 in | Not rated | 10 | 565 |
| 2013 Passat | 34 | 191.7 in | Not rated | 9 | 670 |
| 2012 Passat | 34 | 191.7 in | Not rated | 11 | 415 |
| 2010 Passat | 25 | 188.2 in | Not rated | 4 | 140 |
| 2009 Passat | 23 | 188.2 in | Not rated | 3 | 116 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volkswagen. How we calculate this →