2017 Volkswagen Passat: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2017 Volkswagen Passat? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 107 complaints, with Airbag Malfunctions as the top reported area.
2017 Volkswagen Passat Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 2 2017 Volkswagen Passat trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 2 trims analysed.
2017 Volkswagen Passat Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
10.7% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
10.7% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2017 Volkswagen Passat has 107 owner complaints, 8 crash-related complaints, and 7 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Airbag Malfunctions. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Volkswagen
- Model
- Passat
- Model year
- 2017
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 107
- Crash-related complaints
- 8
- Safety recall campaigns
- 7
- Top reported component
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 27
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 23 / 34
- Fuel type
- Regular Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2017 Volkswagen Passat Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Airbag Malfunctions
Uncategorized Issues
Electrical Faults
Complaint patterns center on Airbag Malfunctions, Uncategorized Issues, Electrical Faults. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2017 Volkswagen Passat?
The 2017 Volkswagen Passat shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2017 Volkswagen Passat
Inspection Focus
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, especially for airbag systems.
- Request service records for reported components like airbags, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase, focusing on airbag and brake systems.
- Check for any outstanding safety recalls related to forward collision avoidance or lane departure.
Before You Close the Deal
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, especially for airbag systems.
- Request service records for reported components like airbags, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase, focusing on airbag and brake systems.
- Check for any outstanding safety recalls related to forward collision avoidance or lane departure.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2017 Volkswagen Passat, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat are concentrated in airbag malfunctions, with additional reports of electrical faults, brake system issues, and steering defects. The data suggests potential concerns with safety systems, but the low confidence level and limited sample size warrant caution.
- Airbag malfunctions account for the highest number of complaints among all components.
- Electrical faults and brake system issues each have a notable number of complaints.
- Forward collision avoidance and lane departure systems also appear in complaints.
- Airbag Malfunctions
- Electrical Faults
- Brake System
All 2017 Volkswagen Passat Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 28 | 3 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 20 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 17 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 17 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 16 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 15 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
ABS sensor has failed. Air bag sensor is faulty due to abs
while in cruise control and going up a incline or a hill The EPC light will come on and the car will start lugging down very badly and have no power, they've said vehicle has done this for a year now and we have not been able to get any kind of acknowledgment of it from another d…
said vehicle started making a grinding sound and all of a sudden the brake pad or shoe they'll completely off of the vehicle and the caliper for disc brake was the wrong calipers on my front end of my vehicle and now it's upside down and backwards and it's not the right calipers …
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, with the check engine warning light and an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure…
began smelling fuel in the cockpit about 2 months ago but thought not much about why until it kept getting stronger. Looked under the car a saw fuel dripping in front of rear passenger wheel and directly under tank.
Fuel pump control module over heated and burned
While backing into a parking spot there was a crunching sound in the steering column. Following this noise the air bag light came on and all steering wheel control buttons nonfunctional including the horn. I reached out to a Volkswagen dealer as I had seen recalls for the clocksp…
Today, as my wife was driving home, she heard a "crunch" noise while making a turn. Afterwards, the Airbag light came on, and her steering wheel botton functions are not working, including her car horn. This all relates to the clockspring. This will be the third time we have had …
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat equipped with Michelin Tires, Tire Line: T1XX, Tire Size: 235/45/R18, DOT Number: B9ELT1XX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in a parking lot, the contact became aware that the rear passenger’s side tire had three cracks appr…
Clock spring on vehicle has failed. This is a known issue with many VW vehicles, but I have been told my vehicle is not on the extended warranty program. 2017 VW Passat - approximately 150,000 miles. This eliminates all steering wheel controls, horn, cruise control, and air bags.
On 6 separate occasions while operating my vehicle it randomly stops running. The first two were at 40 mph and I was told it was a battery issue. It happened twice less than 4 days after the battery was replaced, once at 25 mph and once at 15 mph. I then had the fuel pump replace…
Our 2017 VW Passat had the clockspring replaced last year under warranty number [XXX] at Barnes Crossing Volkswagen in Tupelo, MS. The airbag stopped working and safety features such as adaptive cruise control were also not available. Not realizing the airbag would NOT deploy in …
Clock spring has failed 5 times within a year. The first clock spring replacement failed two weeks after the repair. I the. took it to a different dealership to be repaired. The second clock spring broke about 6 months later. The third clock spring broke two weeks after the repai…
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormally strong fuel odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who performed a smog test, and the vehicle passed. The mechanic detected the fu…
The main CPU component failed in my car and grounded out the second cylinder causing a fire to happen, This happened on my way from the store while I was in traffic and almost caused me to get into an accident. Luckily no one was hurt but now my car is not functional. I took it t…
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that heat and defroster and defogger blower motor was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The …
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving across a railroad track, the Forward Collision-Avoidance braking system independently engaged. The contact was able to safely cross the railroad track. The contact stated that the failure had occurr…
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving 10-15 MPH, the transmission was shifting hard, and the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound while shifting between 1st and 2nd gear. The contact drove to the residence and parked the vehicle. The conta…
The Passat stalls when traveling at low speed and/or from a stop, battery light turns on and loses all engine power, and will not restart for a period of time (10mins to 2 hours). This has happened on a residental street and on the highway when merging onto an on-ramp. There is…
Fuel pump cap Piece underneath the back seat, comes loose and allows gas to spill into the car underneath the backseat
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat.
2017 Volkswagen Passat Recalls
7 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. 7 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2017 Volkswagen Passat Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Passat reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 107 owner complaints, 8 crash-related complaints, and 7 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2017 Volkswagen Passat shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (28 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (20 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (17 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2017 Volkswagen Passat?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2017 Volkswagen Passat, NHTSA complaints include 8 crash-related reports and 1 fire reports out of 107 total complaints. 3 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2017 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?▾
Yes. 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2017 Volkswagen Passat. A major recall area is UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 7 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2017 Volkswagen Passat?▾
The 2017 Volkswagen Passat shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Airbag Malfunctions during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Passat reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2017 Volkswagen Passat based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.