Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, lane keeping, and electrical. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2021 Volkswagen Passat: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Volkswagen Passat. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | FWD | 28 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Premature rear brake wear
5,000–17,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Passat, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Rear brakes wear out early, often while the front brakes are still in good shape. Reports put rear pad and rotor replacement anywhere from about 5,000 to 17,000 miles, and heavy rear brake dust is an early warning sign. One dealer covered the repair on a lease. Another owner was refused manufacturer help because the car was out of warranty. A separate report describes automatic emergency braking slamming the car to a stop on an empty road at night, with only light water on the pavement.
Active lane assist steers the car back into its lane when the driver deliberately moves over to avoid something, such as a trailer sticking into the road, cyclists, joggers, or service vehicles on the shoulder. Near-collisions are part of these reports. Another report describes the car veering left or right on its own at crosswalks painted with thick white lines, at 30 to 45 mph. The system comes on with every start and has to be switched off by hand each drive.
Only two reports here, but one involves a fire. The car began smoking after coming to a stop following a short drive, then caught fire and was declared a total loss. The cause is not stated. The other report describes electrical problems that began at 7,000 miles and stayed unresolved after repeated dealer visits. The specific faults are not described. That same owner also reports rear brake pads and rotors needing replacement at 9,000 miles.
Most of these reports are about driver-assist systems, not lights. In one crash, the forward collision system did not respond when another car pulled out in front, and the driver hit a wall to avoid it. Another report describes lane departure assist moving the steering wheel left or right in the rain, plus high beams aimed so high the road was hard to see. That car had about 100 miles on it. The dealer said the lane assist could not be turned off and the headlights could not be adjusted.
Two separate problems show up. The clock spring in the steering wheel breaks under normal use, which cuts the connection to everything in the wheel, including the airbag and radio controls. The other problem is lane control fighting the driver when steering around potholes or cyclists, which in one case nearly put the car in a ditch. That system has to be switched off before every drive, and owners report dealers saying it cannot be turned off for good.
Excerpts from complaints Passat owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Rear brakes needed to be replaced at less than 20k miles The dealer comped it since we lease 2 different 2021 VW Passats and they both needed their rear wheels replaced at sub 20k miles
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
Driving home from work around 1:00 am at night with street lights and no other cars in the vicinity the auto brake engaged, causing an abrupt stop. Once the auto brake ceased I was able to complete my trip. There was a light coating of water in a spot on the road but nothing else and no reason for this to occur.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks second for owner complaints among 5 Passat years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the seventh model year of the Passat's eighth generation (2015–2023).
Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.
Risk: The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volkswagen Passat, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
