2013 Volkswagen Passat Volkswagen Passat 2013

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2013 Volkswagen Passat repairs by problem area

Engine (39%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (2%)

Brakes and Traction Control (3%)

Suspension and Steering (10%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (26%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (11%)

Other (8%)

Chart based on 232 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat.

2013 Volkswagen Passat engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (11%)

$100 - $499 (21%)

< $100 (61%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 66 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2013 Volkswagen Passat

Engine not specified

60000 mi Oxygen sensor 

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2013 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD

13000 mi Failed turbo. Replaced basically everything from the exhaust manifold back. 
15000 mi Faulty design on the 2013 tdi turbos. 
88500 mi

US $60
leaking engine coolant. won't fix because because it is being bought back. rnNever buying VW again Leaking oil. Not fixing because it is being bought back. NEVER BUYING A VW AGAIN. 
91000 mi Leaking oil and coolant when bought back. 
81000 mi

US $1700
Cooling fan fragmented and cut radiator 
105000 mi Ad Blue subsystem had multiple failures finally resolved by dealer. 
27780 mi Check Engine Code P048C. Needed to replace exhaust flap for particulate system. Dealer thought the low kilometres caused it. Cost $ 700 but covered by warranty. 
31000 mi Needed a new urea heater for the ad-blue emission injection system. 
71300 mi

US $300
Heater core needed replacement for the 2nd time since new. 
46800 mi O2 sensor, VW decided to replace under warranty 
35000 mi

US $15
No heat on passenger side. Bad heater core. Part is on backorder. Heater core replaced, problem solved 
57000 mi Heat not working, second time 
47000 mi Diesel Exhaust Fluid heater module failed, tripping warning light on dash. Module replaced by dealer under CA emissions warranty. 
59000 mi Intercooler had sprung a very small leak, thus slowly loosing coolant. 
71000 mi

US $1100
Water pump leak instigated replacement of timing belt, water pump, idlers and drive belts. Also replaced front brake pads and rotors. And did oil and filter change. 
16000 mi turbo failure 
94000 mi no heat in cabin; replace heater core; flush; refill with antifreeze 
120000 mi turbo input temp sensor threw a CEL; diagnosed as sensor not working. As explained this guards against turbo air temp being too warm. In consultation with tech decided to forgo fixing it as winter temps not an issue. Repair not done. Repair not covered under VW extended turbo warranty. 
10000 mi Diesel Exhaust Fluid leak from claimed faulty cap though I suspect dealer error as occurred only shortly after 10K service. 
69800 mi engine light came on Day after 70k service. Ad Blue diesel sensor (level & temp sensor) failed and will require $1200 service. isn't covered by current law or warranty. Widespread, costly problem w VW diesels. car is sitting until buyback 
74000 mi Adblue sensor never repaired. 

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2013 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD

118200 mi Passenger side heater core was clogged up and needed to be replaced. TSB. DEF Heater failed. Replaced under the extended warranty. 
44000 mi The heat sensor in the adBlue tank failed. VW repaired it at no charge. 
47700 mi Turbo hose came loose.  Fault in an engine control module. 
59000 mi Fuel pump shattered sending pieces throughout the fuel system. 
69000 mi

US $64
Turbo went, replaced. Replaced particulate filter system which was full of oil. 
104100 mi

US $500
Bad NOX Sensor 
37600 mi Check engine light came on. 
56000 mi Def Blue heater went out. Dealer repaired at no charge. 
20900 mi Adblue (urea) additive was not serviced properly the first time SI I got a 300 km left warning message. When back to the dealer and they filled it properly. Apparently the mechanics forgot to do the job the first time... Fixed. 
26100 mi Heather core défective. This item was colères by va nous cost 
47000 mi

US $463
Check Engine light came on required new O2 sensor. 
67900 mi

US $430
Diesel particulate filter. It was a software issue. I believe my son had made frequent short trips that that had not activated a DPF regen cycle. Charge mostly for diagnostics. 
51500 mi Had an alarm ID'd in Canada Nov/14 as the ad-blue tank heater. (OBD2 alm 205C). "Portfolio Protection" repair insurance covered it. (the bill would have been about $1K.) The repair kit was priced at $625, then labor on top. 
67600 mi Turbocharger blew on I29 in SD. Had it aqnd many other components replaced by Graham Automotive VW dealer in Sioux Falls. VW had extended the turbo warranty on this 2013 Passat to 120000 miles so I lucked out. A "hidden" warranty. Figure. 
71000 mi Engine light came ON , 80 miles after turbo replacement. Drove from South Dakota to Texas. VW of Corpus Christi found that a grommet had been overlooked during the turbo repair. Fixed as part of the extended warranty on the turbo. 
25000 mi Radiator leak. Smelled coolant after driving. No visible loss of fluid. Full radiator replacement after testing showed a leak when under pressure. 
40300 mi

US $400
Cam sensor failure. Car would not start. Quoted $1400 repair. Escalated to VW USA and got 75% of costs covered out of warranty. 
63000 mi

US $100
Fuel pump shelled and shot metal through the entire system. Entire fuel system needed to be replaced. 
70000 mi Ad-blue heater had failed, but was repaired under extended emissions warranty. 
90000 mi

US $150
Replaced clogged heater core 
18000 mi

US $900
knock sensor failed 
Radiator needed replacement 
98000 mi

US $673
AdBlue heater failure. Replace heater & temperature sensor. 
98700 mi

US $409
Check engine light came on. I investigated with VCDS software, and found that the code was most likely caused by a faulty front O2 sensor. Dealer confirmed and replaced the sensor. 
67800 mi Fuel pressure code sent. Cleared code has not returned. 
94000 mi exhaust flap failed at 90K but dealer said it caused the failure of the particulate filter and it's not covered past 80k 
21000 mi AdBlue tank and pump had to be replaced because of a bad sensor. 
24000 mi CEL came on, was able to drive to dealer, an emission sensor was diagnosed as faulty and was replaced 
47900 mi

US $400
Oxygen sensor was replaced 
78000 mi

US $800
Heater core had to be replaced, system was flushed due to plugged/contaminated core. Passenger side would not blow warm heated air. There is a technical service bulletin on this design problem. Dealer has done 100% of on time maintenance. 
85500 mi

US $1200
Urea system sensor went bad. Had to replace urea tank by removing bumper and replacing entire system. VW later issued a recall and repaid cost of repair 
345000 mi warranty repair same problem sensor for check engine came on due to EPA add blue dumb ass technology 
71000 mi

US $270
Had to replace Oxygen Censor 
132200 mi

US $393
Broken wire to air cooler pump circuit my check engine light came on 
144433 mi

US $531
Oxygen Sensor O2 no working correctly had to be replaced first one was broken had to return for another. 
179200 mi Heater for Add Blue 
184500 mi Add Blue needs software update from Germany 
190254 mi

US $325
maintenance 
190000 mi

US $168
I had a loose wire causing my check engine light to come on something to do with heating the fuel $168 to fix rest was maintenance. 
200572 mi

US $726
maintenance 
39000 mi Heater stopped putting out heat. Dealer installed new heater core. There is a TSB for this problem. Also did the 40K service including tranny service 
48400 mi Oxygen sensor indicator light. 
43000 mi engine fuel filter developed a leak. Repaired under parts warranty. 
44800 mi Turbo failed! Also the transmission has a delay or shifts hard between 2 and 3 gears. 
34000 mi The fuel line for the turbo was defective. Had it replaced and solve the issue. This is the 3rd time I was stranded in the middle of the highway! So traded the car in for a GTI! 
39000 mi Fuel rail replacement 
19000 mi

US $345
The glow plug light flashed and the car went into limp mode. Dealership drained the diesel and replaced the fuel filter. Error codes indicated that the problem was caused by substandard fuel. 
22000 mi Glow plug light began to flash and the check engine light came on as well. Drove to VW dealer who was close by. High pressure fuel pump was defective and had to be replaced. 
63000 mi

US $1100
The heater for the ad-blue injection system clogged and burn out. Replacement part included the injection pump and heater as one assembly. Also replaced wire connector and hose connectors. An extended warranty has now been issued for this. 
27900 mi Fuel gauge intermittently shows zero after starting to drive. Fuel gauge sender removed+reinstalled, electric fuel pump removed+reinstalled. 
15600 mi Emissions Service Action 23N5-ECM software update to prevent turbocharger failure in extreme cold weather conditions 
44000 mi Vehicle was loosing coolant. Dealer replaced water pump. 
52200 mi Hesitation after cold start. Injector lines and injectors replaced. 
8200 mi Failed Turbo Charger and Catalytic Convertor as a result of the failed turbo 
36000 mi Car wouldn't turn off. Some electrical problem. 
22000 mi Oxygen Sensor was faulty, replaced at no cost. 
74300 mi

US $570
Exhaust control valve was stuck open. they replaced the valve(flap) 
25000 mi Temperature sensor in the adblue tank was defective turning on the Check Engine light. Dealer replaced under warranty. 

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2013 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

280-horsepower 3.6L V6 6-speed automated manual FWD

70000 mi

US $100
Oil change and filter, general fluid check up. 

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2013 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

76100 mi Something emissions related check engine light was on 
75000 mi

US $15
Car was difficult to start after fueling. Infamous N80 valve was defective. Ordered OEM Bosch replacement valve online for less than $15 shipped. Installation took less than 12 minutes. 
5500 mi Intermittently, the engine will shudder at stop signs and red lights for just a second or two. The Dealer downloaded new firmware to the ECM, but the problem is not fixed. Car had to be towed in one month after purchase for a stuck vavlve. 
71700 mi

US $1300
check engine light, transmission service light and check gas cap messages appeared intermittently. Replaced map sensor, purge valve, clean throttle body, fuel pump relay 

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2013 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2013 Volkswagen Passat problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.