2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon problems

General information about Volkswagen-Passat wagon
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The Volkswagen Passat is a nameplate of large family cars (D-segment) manufactured and marketed by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen since 1973. It has been marketed variously as the Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar and Carat, with varying body styles such as saloon, estate, and hatchback.

A "four-door coupé" variant of the Passat with a lower roof was released in the North American market in 2008 as the Passat CC, which was then renamed to Volkswagen CC. The CC was succeeded by the Arteon in 2017.

In January 2011, Volkswagen introduced a separate Passat model line, internally designated "Volkswagen New Midsize Sedan" or NMS, that was manufactured in the US at the Chattanooga assembly plant and in China at Nanjing by SAIC-Volkswagen. Developed to increase Volkswagen sales in North America, the Passat NMS is larger and cost less to produce. sold in the North America, South Korea, China, and Middle East. The separate B8 Passat model entered production in Europe in 2014, based on the MQB platform.

In 2019, the Passat NMS program was split into two as the North American one continued being produced on an older platform while the Chinese Passat moved on to the MQB platform, which resulted in Volkswagen marketed three models under the Passat nameplate globally at that time. The North American Passat was discontinued after the 2022 model year.

Volkswagen ended the production of the saloon Passat for the European market in 2022. The B9 Passat, released in 2023, is only available in an estate body style. The Passat continues to be available as a saloon in China.

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Common 2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon problems

Based on the sources provided, here are common problems with the Volkswagen Passat Wagon 2010 based on complaints from owners:

Fuel System Problems: Some Passat Wagons with the 2.0-liter TDI engine have experienced poor starting, an illuminated glow plug warning light, and a shuddering engine when running. These issues are often caused by a faulty fuel pressure sensor, which can be identified by the fault code P0191. The solution involves clearing error codes and replacing the fuel pressure sensor, a relatively simple task detailed in the Haynes Passat manual and Autofix.

Suspension Noise: Certain Passat Wagons have been reported to experience rear suspension noise, particularly rumbling at low speeds. This issue is attributed to a faulty lower-arm hydro bush that needs replacement. Despite sounding complex, replacing this part is straightforward when following the steps outlined in the Haynes Passat manual and Autofix.

Parking Sensor Failures: Parking sensors, when they fail, can lead to unexpected accidents. Owners have noted issues with parking sensors failing, which can be identified by specific fault codes. The solution typically involves inspecting and cleaning the sensor connections behind the bumper to restore proper functionality.

Brake Vibrations: Some Passat Wagons have been known to exhibit brake vibrations, causing an annoying sensation every time the brakes are applied. This issue can be disruptive and may require inspection and potential repair to address the root cause of the vibrations.

These common problems with the Volkswagen Passat Wagon 2010 highlight various issues that owners have encountered, ranging from electronic system malfunctions to mechanical concerns. Addressing these problems promptly and accurately can help maintain the vehicle's performance and safety.

Is Passat 2010 reliable?

Super reliable, economical and so very comfortable and practical. From the beginning, the Passat just fitted my way of driving like a glove.

What is the most common problem with Volkswagen Passat?

The VW Passat scores well in major reliability ratings with a 3.5 out of 5.0 from RepairPal and a 4.5 out of 5.0 from J.D. Power. Common Volkswagen Passat problems include issues with interior accessories, steering problems, and oil sludge problems.

How many miles will a 2010 Passat last?

Fortunately, the Passat has built up a reputation for longevity and durability. Typically, a Passat can last between 200,000 and 250,000 miles with proper maintenance and care. This translates to about 13 to 17 years of service, assuming an average annual mileage of 15,000 miles.

Is the Passat Wagon reliable?

The Volkswagen Passat Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 17th out of 24 for midsize cars.

What is the common problem in VW Passat?

Is Passat 2010 reliable?

Super reliable, economical and so very comfortable and practical. From the beginning, the Passat just fitted my way of driving like a glove.

How many miles will a 2010 Passat last?

What is the mileage of Passat 2010?

The Passat 2007-2010 mileage is 14.3 to 18.33 kmpl. The Manual Petrol variant has a mileage of 14.3 kmpl. The Automatic Diesel variant has a mileage of 18.33 kmpl. The Manual Diesel variant has a mileage of 18.33 kmpl.

2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Passat wagon problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Air bags problems
Electrical system problems
Engine problems
Fuel/propulsion system problems
Steering problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon complaints

The NHTSA has received 9 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon.

2019-02-06

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2019-02-03
VIN: WVWXK7AN6AE
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,AIR BAGS
Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SCHUMACHER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP (561-935-4690, LOCATED AT 3001 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, SUITE C, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409) WHERE THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECENT FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

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2019-02-02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2019-02-02
VIN: WVWXK7AN6AE
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Summary: MANUFACTURER RECALL 20AE NHTSA RECALL 17V509

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2018-11-14

ENGINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2018-11-09
VIN: WVWXK7AN9AE
Components: ENGINE
Summary: 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. 88K MILES. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING IT IN THE CITY. WITHIN ONE HOUR OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING I STOPPED THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART 30 MINUTES LATER IT REFUSED TO START. PROMPTLY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. VW DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS: TIMING IN THE ENGINE SLIPPED DUE TO SLACK IN TIMING CHAIN. COMPRESSION MEASURED LOW TO NONE. INCORRECT TIMING HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO VALVES AND CAMSHAFT. VEHICLE WILL NEED A CYLINDER HEAD, CAMSHAFT, TIMING CHAIN & TENSIONER TO START. THEY SAY THIS PORTION WILL COST ME $5,700 PLUS TAX. ALSO A POSSIBILITY IT WILL NEED AN ENGINE BLOCK IF THE CYLINDER WALL IS DAMAGED IN ADDITION. IN MY RESEARCH I'VE FOUND MANY VW OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR REOCCURRING PROBLEM THAT VW IS AWARE OF. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS CAR.

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2018-10-30

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2018-10-23
VIN: WVWXK7ANXAE
Components: AIR BAGS
Summary: TAKATA RECALL I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICE. I BRING IN TO THE KING VW TO HAVE IT DONE. BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED BY NHTSA OR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAPERWORK ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THIS FROM CARFAX. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, FIRE OR SUCH, SPEED WAS 0 MPH

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2018-05-21

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2017-12-05
VIN: WVWXM7AN3AE
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Summary: THERE WAS AN INTERRUPTION IN ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THIS RESULTED IN THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN A DRAINED BATTERY AND NO START CONDITION, OR CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TOOK THE CAR TO VW GARAGE WHO WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SAID THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL SOON, BUT I SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIR AND CLAIM MONEY BACK ONCE RECALL WAS ACTIVE, WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE EARLY PART OF 2018. STILL NO RECALL AND OVER $400 OUT OF POCKET. CAR STALLED AND CUT OUT AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS DUE TO THIS FAULT, VW WERE VERY AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT AS YET NO RECALL MADE, DESPITE VW ASSURING ME THERE WOULD BE ONE.

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2018-04-05

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2018-03-19
VIN: WVWXM7ANXAE
Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Summary: MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE AIRBAG RECALL. AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND THE "AIRBAG ERROR" LIGHT CAME ON. THIS VEHICLE ISN'T PART OF THE EARLIER CLOCKSPRING RECALL, BUT IT SHOULD BE.

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2017-11-14

ENGINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2016-01-11
VIN: WVWXK7AN0AE
Components: ENGINE
Summary: PCV VALVE FAILED, AT SOME POINT PRIOR TO JAN 11, 2016 AND 77,748 MILES. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATION OF THE FAILURE EVER OCCURRED UNTIL THE PCV VALVE FAILURE CASCADED INTO FAILURE OF THE ENGINE REAR MAIN SEAL (BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION), RESULTING IN A MASSIVE OIL LEAK. BASED ON A WEB SEARCH, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR THE VALVE FAILURE, BUT THE METHOD IN WHICH IT FIRST BECOMES APPARENT TO THE VEHICLE OWNER (REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE). COST TO REPAIR WAS OVER $1900. PCV VALVE FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POINT PRIOR TO OCT 24, 2017 AND 116,102 MILES. SIMILAR TO THE FIRST EVENT, NO INDICATION OF THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNTIL THIS CASCADED INTO AN UPPER TIMING COVER SEAL FAILURE. COST TO REPAIR WAS OVER $600. MY RESEARCH CLEARLY INDICATES VW PCV VALVES ARE KNOWN TO BE TROUBLE-PRONE. VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON PCV VALVES TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES ON CERTAIN VW MODELS (INCLUDING PASSATS) UP THROUGH 2008 MODEL YEAR. MY EXPERIENCE, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER OWNERS, CERTAINLY SUGGESTS 2009 AND 2010 VW PASSATS STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND ONE HAS TO WONDER WHY THESE MODEL YEARS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE OUTRAGEOUS COSTS THAT OWNERS ARE LEFT TO DEAL WITH.

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2017-11-14

STEERING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2017-10-24
VIN: WVWXK7AN0AE
Components: STEERING
Summary: STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEVICE FAILED. INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE CENTER BEGAN DISPLAYING "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE", WITH ILLUMINATION OF A WARNING LAMP, AND WOULD IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENGINE UPON INITIAL START-UP (OR ON OCCASION, WOULD NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO EVEN BE STARTED). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT ALL TIMES. ON A SECOND OR THIRD TRY, SOMETIMES WITH A SMALL TWIST OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AS NORMAL AND WAS DRIVEABLE. VW RECALLED VEHICLES FOR THIS DEFECT, BUT IT APPEARS THE RECALL EXPIRED FEB 2013. THIS CONTINUES TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND I'M PUZZLED HOW OR WHY THIS RECALL WAS ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. COST TO REPAIR WAS OVER $600.

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2017-10-21

ENGINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2017-10-13
VIN: WVWXL7AN7AE
Components: ENGINE
Summary: TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 69,000 MILES. OIL CHANGES WERE KEPT UP WITH CONSISTENTLY WITH CAR. ENGINE NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR CAR TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING.

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2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2010 Volkswagen Passat wagon.

2018-03-06

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Summary: 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 deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: 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 injury or death.
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 Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

2017-08-16

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.