"takata recall" I have had my Volkswagen passat since may of 2015, since then my journey as a customer has been frustrating and a very scary experienced. Once I got the car within a week I took it to mechanics to get the usual diagnostics done to ensure the safety of the car. It automatically had the tire warning light on till date after tire changes, diagnostics, and timely services. My…
2013 Volkswagen Passat airbags problems
severe 310 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
310
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
20crashes
18injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 310 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 13 model years of Volkswagen Passat we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 310.
Airbags accounts for 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Takata recall: "recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available". On december 27, 2016, called dealer about airbag error message on dash. Was told there was still no fix, but to bring the car in to see why the error message. Paying for a car that is unsafe to drive. Recall notice dated february 9, 2016. NHTSA recall number 16v078 manufacturer recall number 69m9
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v483000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen passat. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v078000 (air bags). The contact stated that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 01/31/2017*ct updated 032/06/17*jb
Clock spring broke
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
It's a meaningful issue. 310 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 80 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 31,763 and 83,000 miles, with the median around 52,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,763; a quarter make it past 83,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Volkswagen/Passat.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.