Is the 2007 Volkswagen Passat a bad year?
262 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Passat years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat are in line with other Passat years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Passat owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 100,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 106 (40%) | 74k–135k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 42 (16%) | 74k–140k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 34 (13%) | 53k–122k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 16 (6%) | 15k–109k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (5%) | 40k–110k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 56 (21%) | 15k–99k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 15 (6%) | 51k–85k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 8 (3%) | 16k–93k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 7 (3%) | 12k–99k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 100,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 262 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 2 report an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Electrical problems from day one - constantly a new light on that never stayed on.
Driving home while stopped at a traffic light my car felt like it jerked forward though my foot was on the brake.
Complaint involves an engine failure I had on my 2007 Volkswagen Passat wagon 3.6L. The problem stems from a faulty "Oil pump bolt/cam bolt" .
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 100,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Volkswagen Passat: 7
The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. 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.
Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail. If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine with 147 kw may have a vacuum line that may fracture and become disconnected at low ambient temperatures. If this happens, the brake power assist can become inoperative, and the driver will experience increased effort to apply the brakes possibly increasing vehicle stopping distance. This could lead to a crash without warning.
On certain '6' generation passenger vehicles, the wiper motor may fail during heavy rain due to excessive moisture entering the wiper motor. If this happens, the wipers can become inoperative. This could lead to reduced visibility increasing the risk of a crash without warning.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Volkswagen: 404
Repair instructions Volkswagen sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Volkswagen Passat. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
DTC's P053F,P0087, P0088, P1025 may set due to the high pressure fuel pump being out of time (sync)
Recommended fuel additive to avoid engine misfires
Fuel Additive to Help Prevent Sporadic Misfire Faults
Gasoline Engine Misfire Diagnosis document
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Engine Compartment Fire
Neighbouring years
2006 Passat: 576 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2008 Passat: 168 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Volkswagen Passat year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · All Passat years side by side
Other Volkswagen models: Volkswagen Atlas · Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport · Volkswagen Beetle · Volkswagen CC · Volkswagen Eos · Volkswagen GTI · Volkswagen Golf · Volkswagen Golf SportWagen · Volkswagen ID.4 · Volkswagen Jetta · Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen · Volkswagen Rabbit · Volkswagen Routan · Volkswagen Taos · Volkswagen Tiguan · Volkswagen Touareg. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 Volkswagen Passat a bad year?
262 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Passat years. At 100,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Volkswagen Passat?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (106), fuel system (42), electrical system (34), brakes (16), transmission and drivetrain (13).
How many recalls does the 2007 Volkswagen Passat have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 24V-834), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-247), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-148), Fuel system (NHTSA 17V-509) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.