There are 8 owner-reported driver assist & adas complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Passatin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving across a railroad track, the Forward Collision-Avoidance braking system independently engaged. The contact was able to safely cross the railroad track. The contact stated that the failure had occurred previously while the contact was driving and crossing an intersection. However, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
I have had to have my vehicle serviced over 5 times within the last three months. There is a recurring sensor temps, Air bad error, radio not working properly, and front assist sensor light error. Everything I have had to take my vehicle to a service dealer, my wheel bearing need to be changed, my tire sensor needs to be changed, and my steering wheel is shaking. This is an urgent matter that needs to be taken care of
On starting the vehicle for the first time of the day, console display indicated Lane Assist was disabled. It was necessary to access the menu system and re-enable Lane Assist. Lane Assist was enabled when the vehicle was parked the previous day. Lane Assist has many times somehow become disabled and cleared on the menu system while the car was parked overnight. The problem and others have been reported to Volkswagen several times. After lengthy service visits since 2019, Volkswagen have been unable to correct or explain the faults. Volkswagen insist no error codes have been recorded in the system. All thing considered, the ongoing absence of error codes may be yet another fault.
While driving at approximately 10 MPH, the message "Lane Assist Currently Not Available" was displayed and Lane Assist deselected in the system menu. Later, while parked, I re-enabled Lane Assist using the menu system. This problem, along with others, has been ongoing since 2019. Since 2019, Volkswagen have been unable or unwilling to correct any of the problems experienced with the vehicle.
While stopped at an intersection with no moving traffic, the Park Assist enabled itself warning extreme proximity to something on the left side of the vehicle. As with other faults, the Park Assist faults have occurred numerous times since 2019. The Lane Assist system unexpectedly disabled itself while driving less than five MPH on a slightly inclined driveway.
I HAVE A 2017 VW PASSAT SE. FRONT ASSIST BREAKS OR GETS READY TO BREAK (SHOWS THE BIG CAR SYMBOL ON DASHBOARD AND BEEPS) IN BAD WEATHER LIKE WHILE IT IS RAINY AND THERE ARE NO CARS AROUND ME. IT ALSO HAPPENED A FEW TIMES DURING SUNNY WEATHER. THE CAR SLAMMED THE BREAKS FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING LIKE 40-45 MPH. I AM SUPER SCARED IT WILL BRAKE ONE DAY WHEN I AM GOING WITH 60+ ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSE A CRASH. A SAFETY SYSTEM THAT IS PURPOSE TO REDUCE THE ACCIDENT RISK OR IMPACT OF A CRASH SHOULD NOT BEHAVE DANGEROUSLY AND BECOME A POTATIAL ACCIDENT CAUSE.
The emergency breaking incident first occurred on 8 December 2019 as I was entering the parking lot for my apartment complex. There were no obstacles. The second occurrence was reported to the NHTSA on 5 May 2021. The tracking number for the issue is 11415338. The vehicle has exhibited multiple faults with its electronics, including emergency breaking enabling for no apparent reason, lane assist randomly disabling itself (including driving and overnight while parked), parking sensors alerting extreme proximity when nothing it near the vehicle, Infotainment system (failed to move from VW display, locked up, failed to display rear camera with vehicle in reverse and other failures), the rear camera has failed to display and displayed a image "rolling" vertically, wing mirrors have failed to extend or extend after considerable delay, and other issues. All of these issues have been reported to Volkswagen and service has reported no problems. Additional information, photos, and video are available.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES CLOSE TO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE, THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE BRAKED SUDDENLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,090.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026