Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Volkswagen Passat.
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With 181,970 currently licensed in the UK, the Volkswagen Passat is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Passat 5 stars in 2024, with 96% adult occupant and 89% child protection scores.
It has a 76.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, exhaust emissions.
Annual running costs are estimated at £3,112 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £259/month or 39p/mile.
Theft risk is rated low at 3.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2024
MOT Pass Rate
76.2%
180,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£259
est. annual total
New From
£40,000
Euro NCAP tested the Passat in 2024 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
89%
Pedestrian
80%
Safety Assist
78%
There are 43 known DVSA recalls affecting the Volkswagen Passat. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2025/357
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2005-09-28 to 2013-05-06
R/2025/357
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2013-06-06 to 2015-06-02
R/2025/357
Urgent Safety Warning – Do Not Drive Your Vehicle Our information shows your vehicle was originally allocated to or used for an extended period of time in a region with a climate zone considered to as HIGH RISK. Issue: The front airbag in your VW vehicle contains an ageing inflator propellant that may explode when deployed due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity. Risk: If the airbag inflator explodes metal fragments may be ejected causing life-threatening or fatal injuries to anyone in the vehicle.
Build dates: 2009-11-11 to 2012-07-18
R/2025/208
The front passenger airbag may be faulty. In the event of an accident-related deployment the front passenger airbag may have a reduced protective effect also the gas generator housing may burst and components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or deadly injuries to vehicle occupants.
Build dates: 2025-01-20 to 2025-03-17
R/2024/014
On certain vehicles with electromechanical brake servo and DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) of a limited production period there is a possibility that a heat protection mat was incorrectly fitted. In individual cases the brake fluid reservoir can melt and cause a brake fluid leak into the engine compartment.
Build dates: 2019-08-08 to 2023-10-20
+ 38 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 180,000 MOT tests, the Passat has a first-time pass rate of 76.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Passat is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Volkswagen Passat are estimated at around £3,112 per year, or £259 per month.
Fuel
£1,046
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,616
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Passat achieves a combined fuel economy of around 50.4 mpg (39.2 mpg urban, 48.7 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| PASSAT | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 50.4 mpg | 1.5L |
| PASSAT | PETROL | 40.4 mpg | 2.0L |
| PASSAT SALOON | PETROL | 34 mpg | 1.8L |
| PASSAT SALOON | DIESEL | 50.4 mpg | 1.9L |
| PASSAT SALOON | PETROL | 34.9 mpg | 2.0L |
| PASSAT SALOON | PETROL | 30.4 mpg | 2.3L |
| PASSAT SALOON | DIESEL | 40.4 mpg | 2.5L |
| PASSAT SALOON | PETROL | 26.2 mpg | 2.8L |
Starting from £40,000 new, a Volkswagen Passat typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £30,000 | −£10,000 |
| 2 years | 64% | £25,500 | −£14,500 |
| 3 years | 56% | £22,450 | −£17,550 |
| 4 years | 50% | £20,200 | −£19,800 |
| 5 years | 46% | £18,600 | −£21,400 |
| 6 years | 43% | £17,300 | −£22,700 |
| 7 years | 41% | £16,250 | −£23,750 |
| 8 years | 39% | £15,450 | −£24,550 |
| 9 years | 37% | £14,650 | −£25,350 |
| 10 years | 35% | £13,950 | −£26,050 |
The Passat has a theft rate of 3.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 181,970 licensed and 42,750 SORN Passats in the UK (224,720 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The Passat has a 76.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 180,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Passat 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2024. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 80% for vulnerable road users, and 78% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Passat are estimated at around £3,112 per year (£259/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 43 known safety recalls affecting the Passat. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Passat has a theft rate of 3.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new Passat starts from around £40,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
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