Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the brakes, lane keeping, and engine. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2022 Volkswagen Passat: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/5
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 2022's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 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.
Uneven rear brake wear
20,000–59,631 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Volkswagen Passat, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Rear brakes wear out early and unevenly. The reports describe a rear caliper that appears to stick, so one pad wears down to the rotor while the other pad at that wheel barely wears. A dragging noise is the usual first sign. The damage can spread to the rotors and then show up again on the opposite rear wheel. One report finds rear pads nearly worn out at just over 20,000 miles. Others describe repeat repairs between 40,805 and 59,631 miles, and the extended warranty did not cover the rotors or pads.
Lane assist can steer hard and without warning. It reads tire marks or tar on the road as lane lines and jerks the car out of its lane, nearly causing a sideswipe. The dealer said the sensitivity cannot be turned down. A separate crash-related report blames front brake assist for failing to stop the car, with major front-end damage and deployed airbags at 50k miles.
The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder burns too much oil. One report puts the rate at about 1 quart every 1000 to 1500 miles, and another calls the oil use a known defect of this engine. Related repairs mentioned include the oil pan, timing cover, and PCV, all replaced by 80,000 miles. Owners worry that running low on oil could damage the turbo and lead to repair bills of several thousand dollars.
Power assist can cut out for a moment as the car slows, leaving the wheel suddenly stiff. The loss lasts about 0.7 to 1.2 seconds and happens when decelerating between 30 and 42 mph, and it has recurred three times. Another report filed in this category mostly covers other problems: oil top-offs, static from the speakers, a screen that goes black for hours, and shaking when braking at highway speed. In both reports the dealer found nothing wrong.
Excerpts from complaints Passat owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I believe the cars FRONT END BRAKE ASSIST FAILED, resulting in a preventable accident. VW will not release data, and I have never had an accident in 32 years. There have been multiple class action lawsuits but VW refuses to announce a recall. Now, my car that is a 2022, with 50k miles on it, has major front end damage, and deployed airbags for an accident that could have been avoided. They have already been sued in 2024.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2026
Since owning the vehicle, the lane assist is very aggressive. It will pick up tire marks or tar in the road and jerk the car out of the lane that I am in. I’ve contacted the dealership and they told me that there is nothing they can do to turn the sensitivity down. It has done it several times and almost caused a sideswiped collision.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
My car consumes an over abundant amount of oil about 1 quart every 1000 to 1500 miles. There is a civil lawsuit right now about the piston rings having low tension and my car has every symptom of this. This could lead to turbo issues, and several thousands of dollars in repair costs. I’ve already had to replace my oil pan, timing cover, and pcv and the car only has 80,000 miles on it.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2026
I keep adding oil and the dealership says there’s nothing wrong. For electric problems the speakers have static noise and the screen goes black and turns on hours later. I took in my recently they said there wasn’t any problems with the car but I literally deal with it everyday. I told them my car shakes when I brake on high speed they said they checked car but found no issues I personally do not feel safe driving my car at all.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 has the fewest owner complaints of the 5 Passat years we cover, well under 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 2022 is the eighth model year of the Passat's eighth generation (2015–2023).
Cars shoppers compare with the Volkswagen Passat, with their own 2022 checklists.
2022 owner complaints, side by side
