2015 Volkswagen Passat Visibility Problems

The heater core becomes clogged and limits heat available for windshield defogging and defrosting. This creates a visibility hazard during inclement weather and makes the cabin uncomfortable during cold weather. The heater core was diagnosed and replaced on this vehicle in December 2024. The same symptoms have returned in December 2025. Volkwagen issued TSB VWP-16-05 to remedy this same issue in 2013-2014 Passats. I own a 2015 Passat. 2015 Passats have the same symptoms and problems.

NHTSA ID

11703926

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

The heater core becomes clogged and limits heat available for defrosting the windshield. The heat available is insufficient to defrost and maintain visibility while driving under adverse conditions. The cabin also becomes uncomfortable because of limited heat during cold weather operation. Volkwagen issued TSB VWP-16-05 for this issue for this model for the model year prior to my car. I had this issue repaired in December 2024. The same problem and symptoms have returned in December 2025.

NHTSA ID

11703917

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that cool air was being blown inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the heater failed to heat the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Additionally, the defroster failed to properly defrost the windshield while activated. The contact linked the failure to VWP:16‑05; (Heater Core Limited Warranty Extension). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

NHTSA ID

11702531

Incident

Nov 17, 2025

Mileage

103,000 mi

I have a 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI that I purchased in 2018. The car has no heat and needs a second heater core replacement, currently with 85,565. In researching the issue, i found the Warranty extension on the NTSB website Number: VWP-16-05 that covers model years 2013 and 2014 prior to my model. As winter approaches, lack of heat for the windshield creates visibility issues in cold, wet, and snowy weather. I am limiting the use of the vehicle until i can get a repair. In February of 2022, a dealership replaced the heater core in my vehicle at 48,471 miles, and I paid $633.07 for that portion of the service. The car started to display the issue again in February of 2024, I returned to the same dealership, and was quoted $1977 to repair the issue, which I declined at that time. I ask that the case be reviewed and 2015 model year be added to the extended warranty.

NHTSA ID

11626997

Incident

Nov 22, 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while attempting to activate the defroster, the defroster failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the tubing of the heater core needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred approximately 100 miles later. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

NHTSA ID

11614388

Incident

Dec 5, 2023

Mileage

59,000 mi

The defroster failed to keep the windshield fog free. The dealer said the heater core was plugged up and we replaced it now a year and a half later we have the same thing the heater core plugged up. We have not had an accident yet but have come close.

NHTSA ID

11483849

Incident

Feb 12, 2021

A coolant issue related with an TDi engine clogged my heater and the car is frosting from inside. There are many Passat owners that have or has the same issue and VW even made an extended warranty buletin for the 2012-2014 Passats, Now, the 2015 suffers from the same issue and they want to charge us for flushing the coolant 3 times and change the heater! The car still have the power train warranty and extended warranty for the TDI engines. Just a simple google search Passat heater core will show how many they are and dealers are making easy money cause they done so many times. As is now my wife drives the car during freezing mornings with two toddlers and condensation and frozen windows affects the visibility! Unacceptable for a car with 51.000 miles when is no require in the service book to change coolant to prevent this and what causes that, cause is not something that I could do to prevent it, it’s just the nature of their poor design of their coolant system. And changing the heater core without looking what caused that and only to rip money from their customers. I’m requesting your assistance to get my car fixed and have my family safe and have VW to investigate the cause and come with a solution to prevent this!

NHTSA ID

11441649

Incident

Nov 18, 2021

I HAD RECENTLY SCANNED MY VEHICLE WITH A DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER BECAUSE MY WINDOW WASHERS WERE NOT SPRAYING TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD WHEN MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE STALK. THE CODE SHOWS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE STALK AND THE WASHER PUMP. I TRIED REPLACING THE PUMP BUT SAME OUTCOME NO WASHER FLUID WOULD DISPENSE THIS IS A VERY BIG INCONVENIENCE MOSTLY BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE MOST COMMUTES ARE PART HIGHWAY AND PART SIDEROADS/ DIRT ROADS, SO THINGS START TO GET DIRTY AND VISIBILITY IS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED. IM REALLY NOT TRYING TO PAY FOR A HARNESS OR TO GET THE LOOM PULLED APART TO FIND THE BUG. TO KEEP EVERYTHING LOOKING STOCK

NHTSA ID

11343758

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

MY SUNROOF SHATTERED, WHILE OPEN, FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON. I WAS JUST DRIVING AND IT POPPED. I LOOKED UP AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. I FOUND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN CA. HTTPS://WWW.LAW360.COM/CASES/59C2EB8D55D0EE381E000001?ARTICLE_SIDEBAR=1 THE PERSON WHO REPAIRED THE ROOF STATED IT DID NOT APPEAR ANYTHING HIT IT, IF ANYTHING IT SHATTERED AROUND THE GLUE AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

11104017

Incident

Jun 20, 2018

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DEFROSTER DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,320.

NHTSA ID

11101204

Incident

Jun 10, 2018

Mileage

65,320 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FOLLOWING CODES APPEARED: (U1123-0017178 DATA BUS ERROR, P0441-0021406 EVAP IGNITION CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT PURGE, P0456 EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK, AND P0303 CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEMER VOLKSWAGEN (550 TROY SCHENECTADY RD, LATHAM, NY 12110, PHONE NUMBER: (518) 512-0024) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG ALL VOLKSWAGENS AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,900.

NHTSA ID

11025361

Incident

Sep 24, 2017

Mileage

43,900 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-20 TOWARDS SHREVEPORT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY SUNROOF GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SO SLING AND ROCKS OR PROJECTILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712027

Incident

Apr 20, 2015

Mileage

16,363 mi