Volkswagen Passat — the 12 years we've written up

2.0T burns oil — a quart every 1,000 to 1,500 miles with the dealer calling it normal — $0–$300 a year in top-up oil; $3,000–$6,000 if it comes to piston rings

Front wheel bearing bolts may not have been tightened at the factory (recall) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

Passenger airbag folded wrong; some side airbags the wrong part — two recalls — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

Remote start cranks then dies; Front Assist stops the car for nothing — $0–$400 for a reflash or calibration; $800–$1,600 for a radar unit

Front caliper bolts left loose and caliper pistons badly coated — two brake recalls — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed; $300–$700 for a wheel-speed sensor or rotors and pads

Clock spring breaks in the steering column — driver airbag, horn and wheel controls all go dark — $350–$900

Timing chain tensioner (EA888) — $1,200 preventive, $5,000+ reactive

Steering-column clock spring fails — airbag light on, horn and wheel buttons dead — $350–$900

Timing chain tensioner (1.8T EA888) — $1,200 preventive, $5,000+ after failure

Emissions system components after the Dieselgate fix — $1,000-$3,500 depending on part

Takata driver airbag inflator can rupture — four recalls, still being re-recalled in 2024 — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed

Takata driver airbag inflator can explode — four recalls, the latest from December 2024 — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed