Car · Volkswagen recalls
2018 Volkswagen Passat recalls
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat, filed between June 1, 2018 and September 16, 2020. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.
Stop-driving notice. 1 campaign below carries a "do not drive" or "park outside" advice from the maker. Read those first and call a dealer.
| Campaign | Filed | Part |
|---|---|---|
| 20V561000 | September 16, 2020 | Unknown or other |
| 19V389000 | May 22, 2019 | Exterior lighting: headlights |
| 18V536000 | August 15, 2018 | Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper |
| 18V369000 | June 1, 2018 | Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper |
Unknown or other (20V561000)
Filed September 16, 2020
What is wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
What could happen. Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix. Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
Exterior lighting: headlights (19V389000)
Filed May 22, 2019
What is wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
What could happen. Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper (18V536000)
Filed August 15, 2018
What is wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
What could happen. The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
Service brakes, hydraulic: caliper (18V369000)
Filed June 1, 2018 · Do not drive until fixed
What is wrong. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
What could happen. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix. Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
Check that your car is on the list
Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2018 Volkswagen Passat may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN.
How to confirm the repair is free
- Call any authorized Volkswagen dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
- Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
- If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
- Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.
If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, Volkswagen may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or Volkswagen customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.
Other model years of the Passat
More: all Volkswagen recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.
2018 Volkswagen Passat recall questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Volkswagen Passat have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.
Is a recall repair on a 2018 Volkswagen Passat free?
Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.
How do I know if my 2018 Volkswagen Passat was already fixed?
Enter the VIN on our recall page. If a campaign is still open, it shows as open. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.
Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-28. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.