There may come a time when your 2015 VW Passat trunk suddenly refuses to open. The culprit? Most likely the “valet mode”, which is designed to disable access to the trunk while it’s activated. All you need to do is turn it off from the glove compartment to make your trunk accessible again.

While the most common cause of the Passat trunk not opening is the “valet mode,” there are other possible reasons for the malfunction. Knowing the reason will help you get to your belongings faster.

That’s why

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comparison app, is here to help you determine the potential causes and how to manually open your trunk. Read until the end to get a tip on reducing your

Volkswagen Passat insurance costs

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What to do if your 2015 Volkswagen Passat trunk won’t open

Not being able to open your 2015 Passat’s trunk can be stressful, but a little troubleshooting can save you time and money.

Most common cause: valet mode accidentally activated

2015 Passat owners are sometimes surprised to discover that their car has a valet system implemented to restrict access to the trunk. This feature is particularly useful when your car will be driven by someone else without your presence—such as for valet parking. You can also activate valet mode when you bring your car for detailing or let your friend borrow your car.

Since the valet mode button isn’t in plain sight, you can easily forget that it’s turned on—or not realize it’s on at all! Valet mode can sometimes be inadvertently activated if the glove compartment is too full and the button gets pressed accidentally. Some Passat owners have also reported that jumping the car battery can cause the valet mode to turn on.

You can check whether the Passat’s valet mode has been activated from the glove compartment. The button can be found in the upper left-hand corner and has the symbol of a car with a lock. The valet system is activated if the button is lit orange. Turn off valet mode by pushing the button, and your trunk should open again!

Other possible causes

If it isn’t the valet system causing the trunk to stay shut, there may actually be a malfunction. Here are potential causes to look out for:

Broken key fob: If the trunk opens using the lever on the driver’s side or the trunk button, but not when you use the key fob, there may be an issue with the fob itself.

Faulty door switch: If your key fob is the only way that you can open the trunk, there may be an issue with the driver’s door switch or trunk switch.

Electrical malfunction: If none of the switches or key fob works, there could be a blown fuse, failing actuator, or faulty wiring harness.

Broken latch: The latch may be broken if you can hear the actuator when you use the switches or key fob but still can’t unlock the trunk.

If you think your trunk woes are caused by one of the issues above, bring your Passat to a dealership. An automotive diagnostic specialist will be able to check all the components to identify and repair the problem.

MORE:

Volkswagen trunk does not lock or open inspection

How to manually open a 2015 Volkswagen Passat trunk

While going to the dealership will help you resolve your trunk issues, it’s not the most practical solution if you need to get to your trunk right away.

Thankfully, The 2015 Passat has an emergency trunk release accessible from inside the vehicle. You’ll just need a few tools to help you.

The emergency release is inside the trunk, so you will need to fold down the rear seats to reach it. To do this, you’ll need a screwdriver or a long key.

Unlock the plate behind the center back seat using a screwdriver or the valet key found in the glove compartment. Open the cover plate to reveal a slot on the bottom edge.

Insert a screwdriver or key into the slot towards the passenger side and push towards the driver side until the seat latch releases. You may need to put your muscles to work for this!

Fold down the driver-side rear seat and open the trunk using the emergency latch.

Cost of trunk repair for 2015 Volkswagen Passat

The cost of repair will depend on the cause of your Passat’s trunk malfunction and where you’re located.

For example, if you need to replace the lock latch, the part alone can cost around $85 from the

VW parts store

. However, with the cost of labor to replace it, the bill might add up to $150 to $200. A trunk lock actuator replacement or a trunk latch release cable replacement would be around the same cost, if not more.

On the other hand, if you only need a

trunk latch adjustment

, then you’ll only have to fork out for labor which cost around $100 or less depending on the location and the shop.

In most cases, minor Passat trunk repairs are still affordable. However, your bill will be much higher if your trunk issue is due to significant body damage. Replacing the trunk lid can cost well over $750 since

the cost of the part alone

is already that much. This is where a Volkswagen Passat insurance policy with

collision insurance

and

comprehensive coverage

can help pay for part of your repair costs!

MORE:

The most common Volkswagen problems

How to save on Volkswagen Passat insurance

Car insurance for Passats can get expensive, especially for higher trims—

Volkswagen Passat S insurance costs

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