2018 Volkswagen Passat: What to check before buying

The infotainment screen goes black or stops responding to touch, taking the radio, navigation and backup camera with it, and dealer visits do not always fix it. Random warning lights, airbag and adaptive cruise errors, and a rear camera that switches on in Drive are also reported. Stalling and power loss are traced to battery or wiring harness failure, with harness and screen faults between 55,000 and 70,000 miles. A crash-related report says the engine can be shut off in gear with only a brief chime, letting the car roll away.

ABS kicks in during ordinary stops, so the car takes longer to stop, and ABS warning lights come on. Other reports describe front brakes that run very hot even after new pads and rotors, whistling and slipping in rain, and a pedal that needs excessive force, with the brake fluid warning lit at about 800 miles. A crash-related report involves a broken caliper bracket and a wheel that locked up, causing loss of control. Confusion over whether replacement pads need a wear sensor also appears.

Oil disappears between changes, sometimes before 7,000 miles, and dealers respond with top-offs and repeat consumption checks rather than repairs. Intake manifold runner failure turns on the check engine light and can drop the car into limp mode at highway speed, reported around 90,000 miles. Other complaints describe the EPC and check engine lights coming on with shaking, a failed air pump control valve, and stalling at stops shortly after startup. The car restarts after these stalls, and a mechanic could not reproduce the problem.

Airbag warning lights and sensor faults come and go, sometimes along with errors for adaptive cruise, front assist and the passenger seat belt. A cracking sound when turning the steering wheel accompanies the warnings in one report. A clockspring that fails more than once is blamed for disabling adaptive cruise and stability control and for applying the brakes when not needed. A crash-related complaint says the front and side airbags did not deploy in a collision at around 45 to 50 mph.

The fuel pump module leaks, leaving a strong gasoline smell, and fire is raised as a concern. A faulty fuel pump control module can also keep running after the car is shut off, draining the battery overnight and leaving every dash warning lit on the next start. Replacing the module fixed that problem. Repeated no-starts are also reported, blamed in turn on the starter and fuel injectors, with costly repairs spread across several shop visits.

Major drivetrain repairs show up between about 74,000 and 98,000 miles. Complaints include a transmission failure with a dealer repair quote of $4,500, a rear main seal that needs replacing after an abnormal noise, and a failed catalytic converter that followed emissions warning lights. The converter replacement part is on national backorder, which has kept a car at the dealer for months with no repair date.

The engine hesitates or stalls when the driver tries to accelerate, then can surge forward without warning. One of these episodes ended in a crash with serious injuries. Another report describes a check engine light at highway speed with adaptive cruise on, then sudden power loss and shaking on any attempt to accelerate, and finally a full shutdown that cleared after a restart. Similar hesitation and stalling is said to affect other 2018 Passats.

Front wheel bearings wear out, bringing a delayed brake response, pulling left and right under braking, and a loose, bouncy ride over bumps. In one case the car had to be towed to a dealer. A clicking noise during sharp left turns is also reported. The CV joint is suspected, but the dealer found nothing wrong and called the car safe to drive.