2015 Volkswagen Passat engine problems
53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2015 Volkswagen Passat — 22% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle sputtered intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that fuel was leaking into the engine compartment, causing engine failure. The…”
filed Feb 5, 2026
“My vehicle is a MY2015 Passat TDI SEL with the EA288 (CVCA) diesel engine. Water Pump Failure Occurred at 99488 miles. Leaking coolant from underneath the engine and the expansion tank bottle became empty. Vehicle was parked after a quick 8 min drive to work from home in the morning (~8:45AM) and…”
filed Oct 14, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear…Campaign 15V705000 · Oct 26, 2015
Related service bulletins
Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
V1718062017813_24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 9, 2026Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
TT 13-20-01_3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 18, 2026Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 10-18-02_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 18, 2026Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
V1719012012855_81 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 4, 2026This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during…
VOS-26-21 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 27, 2026
Engine problems in other Passat years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Passat | 11 | 24% |
| 2017 Passat | 7 | 6% |
| 2016 Passat | 17 | 16% |
| 2014 Passat | 77 | 13% |
| 2013 Passat | 104 | 14% |
| 2012 Passat | 40 | 8% |
| 2010 Passat | 41 | 25% |
| 2009 Passat | 60 | 41% |
| 2008 Passat | 43 | 26% |
| 2007 Passat | 28 | 11% |
| 2006 Passat | 64 | 11% |
| 2005 Passat | 12 | 8% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2015 Volkswagen Passat
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.