1991 Volkswagen Passat

Routine

Owners filed 24 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › defroster/defogger/hvac system › windshield › electrical heating element. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Seat Belts2
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control92V131000
Filed Sep 15, 199212,650 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc

Defect. THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.

Risk. THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.

Remedy. REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Aug 28, 2003180,995 milesWI

BURNING HOT ANTI-FREEZE AND STEAM CLOUDED THE CABIN OF MY VW PASSAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING AN UNSAFE DRIVING SITUATION AND POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS FROM BREATHING THE HOT FUMES.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 21, 2003MA

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, STARTED VIBRATING AND SHUT DOWN. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Nov 14, 2000WI

FUEL INJECTIN SYSTEM: ACCUMULATOR ( DELIVERY SYSTEM) WAS LEAKING GAS TO POINT IT WAS POURING OUT. GAS FUMES WERE STRONG FROM IN & OUTSIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO MOTOR GARAGE WHICH HAD SEEN A COMMON PROBLEM POSSIBLY DUE TO ROAD SALT ON STREET ADDED TO CORROSION. *AK FUMES POSSIBLY COULD HAVE IGNITED WHEN STOPPING AND COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS. *YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2000AL

THE TIMMING BELT FAILED AT 152081 KM'S THIS IS IN CANADA. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD CALL YOUR SITE AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM. THE TIMING BELT IS SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD FOR 100000 KM. THE TIMING BELT ONLY LASTED FOR 52 000 KM . I REPORTED IT TO VOLKSWAGEN NORTH AMERICA BUT THEY JUST GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO OR I CAN DO PLEASE WRITE TO ME AT [email protected] OR CALL ME AT 403-212-1034 THANK YOU LEN.*AK

Power Train
Filed May 3, 2000PA

ODOMETER MILLAGE IS TURNED BACK. YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Apr 18, 2000MO

WHILE DRIVING, VEHCLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BURNED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 21, 2000PA

TEMPERATURE AND GAS GAUGE WERE FIXED ON MANY OCCASIONS BY THE DEALER BUT NEVER FULLY FIXED. WORK ONLY WHEN PUSHED ON THE DASH COVER. THERE IS A SERVICE BULL ON THIS BUT PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T HELP FIX IT. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Apr 7, 1999NM

HAD SMELLED GAS FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE. DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS LEAKING ONTO THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH, WHICH WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE REGULATOR BODY (PLASTIC) HAD DELAMINATED FROM THE BRASS CORE AND WA SLEAKING HEAVILY. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Apr 5, 1999NM

DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE REGULATOR MOUNTED ON FUEL DISTRIBUTOR STRUCTURALLY FAILED. COMPOSITE BODY DELAMINATED FROM BRASS CORE, CAUSING STEADY FUEL LEAK WHENEVER IGNITION KEY IS ON AND ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP IS POWERED. LEAKING GASOLINE DROPS DIRECTLY ON THE ELECTRIC CLUTCH ON THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS TURNED ON. AN ELECTRIC SPARK OR THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR CLUTCH COULD IGNITE THE LEAKING GASOLINE. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 12, 1999CO

THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT CONTROL MODULE WILL DRAIN THE CARS BATTERY IN A MATTER OF HOURS. TO USE THE CAR THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MUST BE DISABLED. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE BELTS EVEN WORK MANUALLY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. *AK

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Nov 17, 1998PA

THE POWER WINDOWS IN THE 1991 PASSAT SUDDENLY DIED. THERE IS STILL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR, BUT THE TRACK/GUIDE OR WHATEVER MAKES THE WINDOW SLIDE UP SMOOTHLY IS BROKEN. CURRENTLY THEY ARE STUCK IN THE UP,SEALED POSITION BECAUSE IF THEY GO DOWN, THEY DONT GO BACK UP COMPLETELY. THE CAR HAS SUSTAINED SOME WATER DAMAGE FROM WHEN THEY COULD NOT BE PUT UP.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 1, 1998CA

TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VALVES ON TWO OCCASIONS.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 30, 1998NY

THE FUEL PUMP SITS IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER AND THE CONTAINER CRACKED, SUSPECTS THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM VIBRATION. HOWEVER THE FUEL LEAKS OUT AND LEAKS APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF SOMEONE WALKS BY WITH A CIGARETTE OR MATCH, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWO TIMES, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 11, 1998NC

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT SENSOR CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. ABS SENOR LIGHT WENT OUT, AND ABS SYSTEM RESTORED BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jun 8, 1998NC

MASTER CYLINDER HAS AN INTERNAL HYDRAULIC LEAK WHICH MAY LEAD TO A BRAKE FAILURE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 5, 1998NC

CONSUMER DROVE ON HIGHWAY DURING NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY ABS SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. COSUMER LOST BRAKES. THREE HOURS LATER, THE SENSOR LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN AND BRAKES RETURNED. AFTER 6 MONTH SIMILAR CONDITION REOCCURRED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Apr 18, 1998CD

INTERIOR HEATING CORE BROKE, CAUSING SMOKE TO FILL THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, HEATER FAN MOTOR SWITCH FAILED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 23, 1997WA

THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 2, 1997NY

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS FAILED, OPENED WHILE DRIVING AND STAYED OPEN. *AK

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element
Filed Dec 2, 1996CA

WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE VENTILATION SWITCH . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

20 of 24 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202213000Routine
202118110Routine
202018300Routine
201912100Routine
201845400Do not drive
2017110710Routine
2016106500Routine
2015243720Above average
20145941030Above average
2013748942Fatalities reported
20124831130Above average
201116011Fatalities reported
2010163410Routine
20091464120Routine
2008168460Routine
2007262760Above average
2006576760Above average
20051484110Routine
20042794250High concern
20036347940High concern
20026364462Fatalities reported
20014304140Above average
20005075251Fatalities reported
19996646132Fatalities reported
1998331541Fatalities reported
199770120Routine
1996142110Routine
199593110Routine
199425110Routine
1993683100Routine
199239110Routine
1991 — this page24110Routine
199034230Routine

Compare every Passat year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 15, 1992. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.