2013 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

104Engine complaints

13.9%Of all 747 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS371 · 49.7%

ENGINE104 · 13.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM92 · 12.3%

Unspecified / other77 · 10.3%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM65 · 8.7%

Share of the 747 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat overview page.

What owners report

“TURBOCHARGER FAILURE AT 15,000 MILES; REPLACED AND 2ND TURBO FAILED AT 25,000 MILES. FIRST FAILURE WAS DOCUMENTED IN A PRIOR REPORT AND IS REPEATED HERE…”NHTSA complaint 10702008 — filed 03/26/2015

“TURBO FAILURE. WHINING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. LOUDER AS ENGINE RPM'S INCREASE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF A TURBO IN THIS CAR. FORTUNATELY…”NHTSA complaint 10691199 — filed 02/27/2015

“COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER: VEHICLE ON THREE OCCASIONS HAS EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. DISPLAY DEPICTS 'ALTERNATOR…”NHTSA complaint 10640515 — filed 10/01/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Volkswagen Passat have engine problems?

Engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat: 104 of 747 complaints on file (13.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Volkswagen Passat have in total?

747 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 24 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.