Volkswagen Passat Battery: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A genuine, well-documented VW Group requirement: the Passat's replacement battery needs to be "coded" to the car's Gateway module — here's what that actually involves.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 000915105DE

Accuracy note: genuine VW part number confirmed directly from VW's own parts store, shared across the wider VAG range — 280 CCA rating confirmed, though capacity and case size genuinely vary by generation and engine.

Genuine reference (also cross-referenced as 000915089E, 000915105DD, 5K0915105D)	VW OEM: 000915105DE — 280 CCA
B7/B8 generation, standard fitment	242-278mm case depending on engine, lead-acid or EFB
Start/Stop-equipped variants	EFB or AGM technology required — a standard lead-acid battery isn't sufficient for the frequent cycling involved

Confirmed: Most Passats Genuinely Need the Battery "Coded" After Replacement — Volkswagen Passat Battery

This is worth understanding before assuming a simple swap is the end of the job: VW Group vehicles with a Battery Management System (essentially any model with stop-start) need the new battery's details — capacity, chemistry, and serial number — registered to the car's Gateway module, a process usually called battery coding or registration. Skip this, and the car's charging strategy keeps assuming the old, worn battery is still fitted, which can lead to overcharging or undercharging the new one and shortening its life prematurely. This can genuinely be done with widely available aftermarket tools like VCDS or OBDeleven, not exclusively at a VW dealer with their ODIS system — worth knowing if you're comparing quotes or considering doing it yourself.

A genuinely useful, specific detail: the coding process reads a Part Number, Vendor Code, and Serial Number printed on the battery's own label — budget or generic aftermarket batteries sometimes lack a valid one of these, which can cause the coding process to fail outright. If a battery's exact new part number is rejected during coding, using the original (pre-supersession) part number instead sometimes resolves it. Genuinely worth choosing a battery from a reputable supplier with proper VAG-compatible labelling rather than the cheapest generic option specifically for this reason.

Volkswagen Passat Battery: The Part Everyone Blames First, Not Always Correctly

Ask anyone why their Volkswagen Passat won't start and "the battery" is usually the first guess, and it's frequently correct, which makes it a reasonable starting point. It's not always right, though, so it's worth ruling out other causes before spending on a replacement that changes nothing.

Volkswagen Passat Battery reference plate

Before you buy: battery size, capacity and type (standard vs AGM/EFB for stop-start systems) vary by trim and engine. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Volkswagen Passat Battery: What It Does

On the Volkswagen Passat, powering the engine start and running electrics while the engine's stopped both fall to the 12V battery. Stop-start technology puts significantly more strain on it than older designs, thanks to how frequently the engine cycles — explaining why a specific AGM or EFB battery is needed rather than a standard unit.

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Volkswagen Passat Battery: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Battery Guide for warning signs to watch for, confirming fitment against your VIN, and matching the right technology (standard, EFB, AGM) when buying aftermarket.

More Volkswagen Battery

The same part, covered across other Volkswagen models.