Skip to content
KLUNK
KLUNK

2007 Volkswagen Passat

The Verdict

46 Proceed with Caution

The 2007 Volkswagen Passat has 270 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (117 complaints) and engine (97 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 46/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Passat, consider the 2022 model year which has 95% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2022 has 95% fewer complaints

View the 2022 Volkswagen Passat dashboard →

46

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

18V148000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon de...

Risk

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious inj...

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Vol...

Reported Jun 3, 2018

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2007 Volkswagen Passat. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20001041995514520
20011145810114133
20021136722521924
20031553410631828
200466143613136
200537414849
20061383318417632
200733121179711
2008224381046
2009234151073
2010160507126
201120770
201243103317711
2013124742416014
201474736311425
2015541797677
2016211534351
2017401734133
201831312152
201923232
202041460
202223132

By Category

Electrical
117
Engine
97
Body
33
Brakes
12
Transmission
11

By Severity

1
121
2
138
3
1
4
10

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

The contact owned a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V148000(Air Bags) and 17V509000 ( Fuel System, Gasoline), and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted.

6mo ago
Electrical 2

I am filing a complaint in regards to Volkswagen failing to offer a solution to repair the Takata airbag which was recalled. I have tried contacting VW numerous times over the past two years as I live in Juneau, Alaska, which is landlocked and the only option is to send the vehicle on a ferry to either Anchorage or Seattle, WA to have this repair completed. The vehicle has not been driven in years due to the fear of what could happen if there were an accident and the airbag deployed. Please help me resolve this issue as Volkswagen is not taking action on this.

35mo ago
Engine 1

The timing belt is terrible on this vehicle. This is the same model and engine as the last recall but mine didn’t qualify because it is a 2007 not a 2008. The belt is and chain are completely unstable and prone to catastrophic failure that can happen anytime while driving especially on the highway. This could cause a huge accident. There is also a major issue with the fuel pumps and the hoses. My fuel tank is leaking gas above 3/4 of a tank and can cause a severe fire even if someone dropped a lit cigarette under the car while I am driving.

48mo ago
Engine 2

To start off, this car has common failures of the High Pressure Fuel Pump Cam Follower. This poses serious risk of damage to the engine when the follower is blown throw and the car goes into limp mode and if this happens on road it could be catastrophic. There were no warnings that this was the issue besides researching videos on YouTube while getting a fuel pressure code to find out the cam follower was completely blown throw which means my engine has MANY METAL pieces inside of my engine. If I did not catch this soon the next failure would’ve been the CAMSHAFT. The camshaft going bad at and given moment could also be catastrophic on the road and possibly even spark a fire. Another issue is with the timing chain on specific FSI engines. If this chain snaps mid drive then your engine could potentially blow in the middle of the road causing an accident. This problem is known by Volkswagen and they have yet to take serious action in regards to this safety hazard. Another potential for catastrophic events is the wiring harness specifically the one that runs under the Vacuum pump. These wires are covered in oil from the vacuum pump being prone to leaking and any fluid that goes on top of it. I also discovered that near my ECU to that wiring harness there was a spot of gasoline in which I was able to determine when I smelt the fluid with a glove on of course. This year make and model of Volkswagen can cause serious harm to those driving ESPECIALLY on the high way. The wiring harness and all components around it soak with oil and when you take off the manifold fuel also gets all over it even when you try to prevent it as much as you can. This has caused increased idle in my vehicle while driving with and EPC light that makes the car stall out of no where. If it happened when I was turning my wheel it could’ve caused an accident on the road or even a driver to have road rage behind me. Please help myself and fellow Passat owners of this year stay safe.

49mo ago
Transmission 2

The brakes totally went out on my vehicle with no warning. It first started when I bought the car, the brake pad (almost brand new) almost set my left front rotor on fire within 10 minutes of driving. If I didn’t pull over there’s no question that my car would’ve set on fire. My fuel like was leaking heavily, and the emergency brake which is hydraulic wouldn’t even deploy. I could’ve gotten killed. There is also an extreme issue with the power train system. Completely unsafe.

51mo ago
Engine 1

While I was operating the vehicle the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. It was told to me it's the fuel system. The car has been diagnosed back in November of 2021. The fuel pump is not getting fire to the other.

51mo ago
Electrical 1

The Air bag fault message came on the dash. My VW Passat car was not involved in any accident. I took the car to VW dealer for the diagnosis for which I was charged. The air bag fault message is no longer there but I am sure my air bags have not been replaced. I have been advised that I may have to change the airbags in future.

55mo ago
Engine 1

I WAS DRIVING AND 2 LIGHT CAME ON , THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I RAN IT THOUGH A SCANNER AND THE CODES THAT POPPED UP WERE CODE P0087 AND P2293

66mo ago
Engine 2

JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND AT 94206 MILES ON IT I CAN'T SEE HOW THE AIR COMPRESSOR WOULD GO OUT AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT I WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS RECALL ON THIS AT ALL IT'S A 2007 PLUS THERE 2 RECALLS NUMBER ARE 1ST ONE IS 20AE- NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 17V509 AUGUST 16 2017 AND NOW 2ND ONE IS MARCH 15 2018 MANUFACTURER RECALL # 69Q9 NHTSA RECALL # IS 18V148 I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IF THE RECALL WERE FIXED

69mo ago
Engine 1

MY 16 BOUGHT A CAR FROM BOMMARITO VW HAZELWOOD, THEY TOLD US IT HAD PRIOR ENGINE WORK AND THE CUSTOMER COULDN'T PAY FOR THE CHARGES SO THEY SOLD US THE CAR. WHEN TEST DRIVING WE HEARD A CLUNK EVERY TIME YOU WOULD EXCEL. THE SALESMAN SAID IT WAS STUFF IN THE TRUNK. COME TO FIND OUT THERE ARE NO MOTOR MOUNTS HOLDING THE MOTOR AND THE MOTOR GOES UP IN THE AIR WHEN YOU GIVE THE CAR GAS, THE MOTOR HIT THE EXHAUST AND BROKE IT. THERE IS NO WAY THIS CAR PASSED INSPECTION WITH A MOTOR HANGING THERE, YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW BECAUSE THE TINT IS SO BAD. A DEALERSHIP SHOULD NOT OF SOLD A VEHICLE WITH A MOTOR LIKE THIS, IT'S A BIT DANGEROUS TO PUT A YOUNG GIRL IN. IT HAS TAKEN ME TWO WEEKS FOR SOMEONE TO CALL ME BACK. *TR

74mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE MESSAGE "STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILURE" HAD DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE RANDOM STALLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. DURING THE FAILURES THE MESSAGE "STEERING LOCK MODULE FAILURE" HAD DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED THE LOCAL DEALER SERRA OF TRAVERSE CITY(1747 S GARFIELD TRAVERSE CITY MI.) WHO DIAGNOSE STEERING LOCK MODULE FAULTY. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

78mo ago
Engine 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 VW PASSAT SEDAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, WHEN HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SEEN FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED IMMEDIATLEY STOPPED THE VEHICEL AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE HOOD BUT WAS UNABLE DUE TO THE FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED HE BURNT HIS HANDS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

78mo ago
Transmission 1

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WANT TO DOWNSHIFT. PER THE MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTIONS/OWNER MANUAL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, THE OIL CHANGE FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RECOMMENDED IN CONTRARY. THAT CHANGE IN FEW YEARS IN VW BOOKS BUT THE CONSUMERS WHERE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT IT. THE ISSUE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 74000 MILES BUT IT WAS PAST THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY (PROBABLY 8 OR MORE). THE ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN A BRISK ACCELERATION OR GOING UPHILL AND MAINTAINING SPEED IS REQUIRED. WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD DOWN SHIFT TWO GEARS FROM SIXTH TO FOURTH FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRANSMISSION BOGS DOWN AND THE WHOLE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND LOSSES SPEED. I'VE TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE BY CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION OIL AT THE DEALER AND THAT WAS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THEY REVERS COURSE ON CHANGING FLUID FOR THE AUTOMATIC, HOWEVER THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND VW DID NOT WANT TO FIX IT OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ISSUE.

79mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER AND AROUND THE VEHICLE, HE LIFTED UP THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

83mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED OIL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. CAMEL BACK VOLKSWAGEN (1499 E. CAMEL BACK RD, PHOENIX, AZ) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

85mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, A SPEED WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HANLEES HILLTOP VOLKSWAGEN (LOCATED AT 3255 AUTO PLAZA, RICHMOND, CA 94806, (510) 283-6300), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,700. *BF CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG SIGN IS ON WAS TOLD NEEDS $2,000 REPAIRS CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT ABLE RE PAIR $2500 REPAIRS THE BRAKE SYSTEM ALWAYS ON. NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN REPAIRS ON THE CAR AND FEEL MY SAFETY IS IN DANGER.*JB

86mo ago
Engine 2

ON A TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY IN EARLY JUNE 2017, I WAS ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 20 MILES/H TO 40 MILES/HOUR ON BRADDOCK ROAD EASTBOUND WHILE ON ITS BRIDGE CROSSING THE CAPITAL BELTWAY (I-495 IN VA) WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JOLTED FORWARD. NO OTHER INDICATORS WENT ON AT THE TIME, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VW OF FREDERICKSBURG (VA) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. AT THE TIME, IT WAS ON ITS FIRST REPLACEMENT LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP/CONTROL MODULE SET THAT WAS INSTALLED AT PRIORITY VW OF CHESTER, VA, IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2014. REPLICATION OF THE JUNE 2017 PROBLEM TOOK JUST A DAY IN THE SHOP, BUT DIAGNOSING THE CORE ISSUE AND REPLACING THE ASSOCIATED PARTS TOOK ANOTHER 5 WEEKS. THE FUEL PUMP AND CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER ANOTHER RECALL, PLUS A PORTION OF THE 1ST REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP LODGED IN THE FUEL LINE RUNNING FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE ENGINE. THAT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF SEVERAL FUEL LINES AND ASSOCIATED FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE RELEVANT PORTION OF THE FINAL BILL TOTALED OVER $2000. THE $470 PORTION COVERING THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND ITS CONTROL MODULE WERE TAKEN CARE OF BY VW OF AMERICA, BUT THE $1500-1600 PORTION COVERING THE REST OF THE FUELING SYSTEM WAS NOT.

88mo ago
Engine 1

RECALL ID 280936 I HAVE CONTACTED VW ABOUT THE RECALL, I FILED A REIMBURSEMENT CLAIM, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO APPROVED IT BECAUSE I FIXED MY CAR ON MY OWN, I TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN I TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FOUND, SO I TOOK TO VOLKSWAGEN WHERE THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER THAT I CONTACTED MY BROTHER'S MECHANIC SO CHECKED IT AND HE FOUND THE PROBLEM. HE WORKS ON HIS OWN SO BOUGHT THE PARTS AND PAID HIM CASH. I HAVE NOT PROOFS ABOUT THE PAYMENTS BECAUSE I PAID THE PARTS CASH. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS CASE. ATTACHED IS A LETTER FROM THE VW WITH THE CASE # . I ALREADY TOLD VW THAT I CANNOT PROVIDE PROOFS.

88mo ago
Engine 2

BOTH RECALLS WERE NOT CORRECTED WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT THE EPIC MOTORSPORTS DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN ROSEMONT ILLINOIS

91mo ago
Engine 2

THE WELD BEADS ON THE DOWN PIPE FLANGE ADJACENT TO THE TURBO CHARGER FAILED AND RESULTED IN A HUGE EXHAUST LEAK. THE HEAT (COMING OUT FROM THE OPENING) GOT TRAPPED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND MELTED THE VACUUM HOSE CONNECTED WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. AS A RESULT, POWER DECREASED BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, BREAKING POWER WAS LOST AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY. VERY DANGEROUS AND THE DEFECT ON THIS MODEL IS ACTUALLY NOT UNCOMMON. LOW QUALITY FACTORY WELDS ON THE COMPONENTS SHOULD BE RE-WELDED AND THE CHEAP HARD PLASTIC HOSES SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH BETTER QUALITY AND MORE RELIABLE HOSES.

92mo ago

270 total

1/ 14
Report a Klunk