2013 Volkswagen Passat Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 23about this part
- Share
- 3%of 749 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 59,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 23 complaints about the visibility of the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, 3% of the 749 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 59,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The heater core in my car has become clogged and is now failing to produce heat for inside the car and in turn is failing to defrost the windows when the temperature drops and it is raining. I have read many cases from online forums about this same problem. The heater cores in these cars should not be failing already.”
NHTSA complaint #10837553, filed 2016-02, 92,800 miles“No heat coming from the passenger side of the car. This was found out while driving to work on a very cold day and not having the defrost working very well on the passenger side. Taking it to the dealer confirmed that the heater core is clogged and needs to be replaced. This was a month ago. I found out that the parts were back ordered and that I was #502 in line for a replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #10825265, filed 2016-02, 73,000 miles“Left front lowbeam went out, replaced bulb but still comes on intermittently. Contacted vw and my car was not part of original recall , however my vw dealer has said hundreds of this make and model not covered under original recall have had same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11063203, filed 2018-01, 78,000 miles“I was traveling to work on interstate 85 (which as four lanes) and all of a sudden there was a gun shot/explosion sound that rattled my car. I froze and closed my eyes (thank god I was on a straight road & did not yank my steering wheel), when I opened I was covered in glass. For some reason, my sun roof exploded for no apparent reason. It was not below freezing or extreme heat and I had not been under an overpass. I had glass in my clothes, my mouth, my hair, and all in my car.”
NHTSA complaint #11171424, filed 2019-01, 120,000 miles“I drive a 2013 vw Passat tdi se. Yesterday, october 23, 2014, the sunroof exploded upward/outward for no apparent reason. The weather was not extremely hot or cold. We were on a lonely stretch of interstate 40 just east of winslow, az. This occurred late in the afternoon, not during the hot, middle of the day. No objects struck our car/sunroof, it just blew upward leaving a large hole in the glass.”
NHTSA complaint #10649618, filed 2014-10, 45,275 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10245617Nov 13, 2023Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number
- 10226226Nov 10, 2022A/C requirements, update to model year applicability.
- 10212136May 18, 2022Cleaning of Heating and Ventilation system, Updated to include additional model year applicability and cost of cleaning solution in warranty table.
- 10209418Mar 28, 2022Introduce new coolant with part number used during No Heat/Heater Core procedure.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 6% |
| 2019 | 1 | 8% |
| 2017 | 6 | 5% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3% |
| 2015 | 12 | 5% |
| 2014 | 16 | 3% |
| 2013 | 23 | 3% |
| 2012 | 6 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 6 | 4% |
| 2007 | 8 | 3% |
| 2006 | 21 | 4% |
| 2005 | 4 | 3% |
| 2004 | 13 | 5% |
| 2003 | 22 | 4% |
| 2002 | 27 | 4% |
| 2001 | 31 | 7% |
| 2000 | 26 | 5% |
| 1999 | 33 | 5% |
| 1998 | 27 | 8% |
| 1997 | 16 | 43% |
| 1996 | 12 | 30% |
| 1995 | 20 | 22% |
| 1994 | 2 | 8% |
| 1993 | 17 | 25% |
| 1992 | 7 | 18% |
| 1991 | 6 | 25% |
| 1990 | 8 | 24% |
Other parts of the 2013 Volkswagen Passat
382 complaintsEngine
105 complaintsElectrical system
93 complaintsFuel system
88 complaintsOther or unknown
77 complaintsExterior lighting
60 complaintsSteering
51 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
33 complaintsBody and structure
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat
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