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Volkswagen Passat 2006–2010
B6 · PQ46 (transverse engine — a fundamental architecture change from the longitudinal B5)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20261,797 complaints, 1,286 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 1,286
- Median of reported failures
- 74,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Airbag system (19.3%)
- Recalls
- 7
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,286 and 107,000 miles.
Figure 1 · Volkswagen Passat 2006–2010 · 1,286 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 82 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 18 complaints (1.4%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 10,000
- 25%
- 40,286
- Median
- 73,540
- 75%
- 107,000
- 90%
- 138,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 82 | 6.4% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 40 | 3.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 41 | 3.2% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 25 | 1.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 38 | 3.0% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 29 | 2.3% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 41 | 3.2% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 41 | 3.2% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 34 | 2.6% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 51 | 4.0% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 59 | 4.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 70 | 5.4% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 48 | 3.7% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 50 | 3.9% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 49 | 3.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 51 | 4.0% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 29 | 2.3% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 71 | 5.5% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 23 | 1.8% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 59 | 4.6% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 45 | 3.5% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 42 | 3.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 29 | 2.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 46 | 3.6% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 22 | 1.7% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 22 | 1.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 14 | 1.1% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 21 | 1.6% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 15 | 1.2% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 12 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 11 | 0.9% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 200,000+ | 18 | 1.4% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 1,797 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006–2010 Volkswagen Passat, and 1,286 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 40,286 and 107,000 miles. The median is 73,540 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (19.3% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles), the engine (13.1% of complaints, typically around 92,000 miles), the fuel and propulsion system (10.4% of complaints, typically around 105,000 miles).
7 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2006–2010 Volkswagen Passat last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2006–2010 Volkswagen Passat were filed by 74,000 miles and 90% by 138,000 miles — figures drawn from 1,286 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
18 reports (1.4%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a Passat reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2006–2010 Passat: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,286 mileage-tagged complaints, 7 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine (2.0l fsi) on 2006–2008 (BPY 2.0 FSI) cars. High-pressure fuel pump cam follower wear-through. The bucket follower riding the intake camshaft lobe wears through, then the pump plunger machines the camshaft lobe, filling the engine with metal. Requires camshaft…
- Check engine. Timing chain tensioner failure on the 2.0T allowing chain slack and valve-to-piston contact; carbon buildup on intake valves inherent to early direct injection without port injection.
- Check body / electrical. Blocked sunroof drains flood the driver footwell and soak the comfort control module and other under-carpet electronics, producing seemingly random electrical faults. One of the most-reported B6 problems.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 40,000 and 107,000 miles, with a median of 74,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 90,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Volkswagen Passat 2006–2010
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine and its cooling system113 reports45,00014,000–70,000Engine and its cooling system: 113 reports, median 45,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 70,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline118 reports63,00014,000–100,000Transmission and driveline: 118 reports, median 63,000 miles, middle half 14,000 to 100,000 miles.
- Steering173 reports64,00050,000–90,000Steering: 173 reports, median 64,000 miles, middle half 50,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Electrical system174 reports67,00040,000–106,000Electrical system: 174 reports, median 67,000 miles, middle half 40,000 to 106,000 miles.
- Airbag system347 reports90,00053,000–120,000Airbag system: 347 reports, median 90,000 miles, middle half 53,000 to 120,000 miles.
- Engine236 reports92,00070,000–115,000Engine: 236 reports, median 92,000 miles, middle half 70,000 to 115,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system187 reports105,00080,000–124,000Fuel and propulsion system: 187 reports, median 105,000 miles, middle half 80,000 to 124,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 347 | 19.3% | 90,000 | 53,000–120,000 |
| Engine | 236 | 13.1% | 92,000 | 70,000–115,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 187 | 10.4% | 105,000 | 80,000–124,000 |
| Electrical system | 174 | 9.7% | 67,000 | 40,000–106,000 |
| Steering | 173 | 9.6% | 64,000 | 50,000–90,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 118 | 6.6% | 63,000 | 14,000–100,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 113 | 6.3% | 45,000 | 14,000–70,000 |
| Fuel system | 67 | 3.7% | 68,000 | 50,000–101,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 56 | 3.1% | 81,000 | 47,000–120,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 48 | 2.7% | 40,000 | 11,000–101,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Volkswagen Passat 2006–2010 · 1,286 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 38% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 61% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 82% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.4% of reports (18) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
38% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
In the reporting window
- Airbag system — middle half 53,000–120,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 40,000–106,000 mi
- Steering — middle half 50,000–90,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 14,000–100,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — middle half 14,000–70,000 mi
Mostly reported later
- Engine — middle half 70,000–115,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 80,000–124,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
61% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Steering — median 64,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — median 45,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Airbag system — middle half 53,000–120,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 70,000–115,000 mi
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 80,000–124,000 mi
- Electrical system — middle half 40,000–106,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 14,000–100,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
82% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Airbag system — median 90,000 mi
- Engine — median 92,000 mi
- Electrical system — median 67,000 mi
- Steering — median 64,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 63,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system — median 45,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Fuel and propulsion system — middle half 80,000–124,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 73,540 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 19.3% of complaints (347 reports, 117 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 120,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 13.1% of complaints (236 reports, 201 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 92,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,000 and 115,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 10.4% of complaints (187 reports, 124 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 105,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 80,000 and 124,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.7% of complaints (174 reports, 143 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 106,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 9.6% of complaints (173 reports, 156 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 90,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 6.6% of complaints (118 reports, 103 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 14,000 and 100,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 779 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 211. The median year sits at 240.
That makes 2006 an outlier: roughly 3.2 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (6), the fuel system (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,797 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 50 (2.8%)
- Fires
- 39
- Injury reports
- 16
- Fatality reports
- 0
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Engine (2.0l Fsi) 2006–2008 (BPY 2.0 FSI)
High-pressure fuel pump cam follower wear-through. The bucket follower riding the intake camshaft lobe wears through, then the pump plunger machines the camshaft lobe, filling the engine with metal. Requires camshaft and often HPFP replacement; inspection interval became a de facto maintenance item.
Engine
Timing chain tensioner failure on the 2.0T allowing chain slack and valve-to-piston contact; carbon buildup on intake valves inherent to early direct injection without port injection.
Body / Electrical
Blocked sunroof drains flood the driver footwell and soak the comfort control module and other under-carpet electronics, producing seemingly random electrical faults. One of the most-reported B6 problems.
Brakes
ABS control module failure causing ABS/ESP warning lights and loss of stability control.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 779 | 575 |
| 2007 | 341 | 227 |
| 2008 | 240 | 176 |
| 2009 | 211 | 162 |
| 2010 | 226 | 146 |
Recalls (7) — is your car included?
Dec 2024 · 2006–2007 · Air BagsAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. 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.
What can happen. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
Jun 2018 · 2006–2010 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. 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.
Apr 2018 · 2006–2007 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.
Mar 2018 · 2007–2010 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode…
The defect. 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.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. 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.
Mar 2017 · 2006 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Mar 2017 · 2007–2010 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
What can happen. 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.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Jan 2016 · 2010 · Air BagsA loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in…
The defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
What can happen. A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
What owners reported
the contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen jetta. When idling on an incline, the vehicle lunges backwards several feet. The only way to stop the vehicle from rolling backwards is to apply excessive pressure to the accelerator pedal to offset the steady decline. The dealer stated that this was a common failure due to a…
2006 · 4 miles · Transmission and driveline
the contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that when she activated the turn signal lights, the signal indicated that she was turning in the opposite direction of what the signal indicated. The drivers on the road do not know which direction her vehicle is turning. She stated that she also has an…
2006 · 13 miles · Exterior lighting
On 7/13/06 i purchased a new 2006 vw Passat from bert smith vw in st. Petersburg, florida. I took delivery at 5pm on friday 7/14/2006. I have 4 major problems. Bert smith vw service person (noel aponte and his service manager michael) and they say that they have never heard of the below issues. First issue: i have…
2006 · 25 miles · Body structure
Dt: the contact complained about a windshield wiper problem. After engaging the windshield wipers into the on position they b worked intermediately based on speed at which the vehicle was traveling. This only occurred when the vehicle was traveling at less than 5 MPH. Once the vehicle reached a speed of more than 5…
2006 · 50 miles · Visibility equipment
Built from 1,286 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page