2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 33%of 9 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,748miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine of the 2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon, 33% of the 9 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,748 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon. 88k miles. Check engine came on as I was driving it in the city. Within one hour of check engine light appearing I stopped the car. When I tried to restart 30 minutes later it refused to start. Promptly had it towed to dealer. Vw dealership mechanic says: timing in the engine slipped due to slack in timing chain. Compression measured low to none. Incorrect timing has caused damage to valves and camshaft. Vehicle will need a cylinder head, camshaft, timing chain & tensioner to start. They say this portion will cost me $5,700 plus tax. …”
NHTSA complaint #11151418, filed 2018-11, 88,000 miles“Timing chain broke at 69,000 miles. Oil changes were kept up with consistently with car. Engine now has to be replaced in order for car to drive. Vehicle was stationary when it stopped working.”
NHTSA complaint #11035392, filed 2017-10, 69,000 miles“Pcv valve failed, at some point prior to jan 11, 2016 and 77,748 miles. No warning lights or other indication of the failure ever occurred until the pcv valve failure cascaded into failure of the engine rear main seal (between the engine and transmission), resulting in a massive oil leak. Based on a web search, this is an extremely common situation, not only for the valve failure, but the method in which it first becomes apparent to the vehicle owner (rear main seal failure). Cost to repair was over $1900. Pcv valve failed again at some point prior to oct 24, 2017 and 116,102 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #11046156, filed 2017-11, 77,748 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11038146Sep 17, 2026Suggested fuel additive
- 11035762Jul 9, 2026Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
- 11034614Jun 18, 2026Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
- 11034613Jun 18, 2026Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
- 11034617Jun 4, 2026Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- 11030847Mar 27, 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…
- 11025437Oct 14, 2025G12Evo can now be mixed with previous coolants.
- 11025430Oct 14, 2025Engine misfire diagnostic aid.
- 11025436Oct 9, 2025How to measure engine oil consumption.
- 11025431Oct 6, 2025A list of suggested fuel stations
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon
← All problems reported for the 2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology