Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 1 time.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
3
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
3
0
0
0
Seat Belts
2
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
2
0
0
0
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
1
0
0
0
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
1
0
0
0
Power Train
1
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan95V178000
Filed Sep 20, 199534,000 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America,inc
Defect. IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Risk. A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Nov 1, 2006110,000 milesNJ
94 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 110K MILES, EXPERIENCED HEATER CORE FAILURE, LEAKING 200 DEGREE FLUID ONTO FLOOR OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT NEAR GAS/BRAKE PEDAL AND FOGGING OVER INTERIOR OF WINDSHIELD WITH STICKY ANTI-FREEZE RESIDUE. *NM
Electrical System
Filed Dec 30, 2004130,000 milesMA
THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE SEAT BELT SWITCH BUILT INTO THE DOOR CAUSES THE SEAT BELT MOTOR TO RUN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON OFF. THE SEAT BELT MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS.*AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 19, 2004NJ
THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND 45 MINUTES LATER SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER TOOK OUT THE BATTERY TO STOP VEHICLE FROM CATCHING FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THE SMOKE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *NLM THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPAIRED IN DEC. 2002 BUT WAS FAULTY. ONE WEEK LATER THE ELECTRICAL BURNED. A LETTER WAS RECEIVED FROM THE DEALER IN RE TO EXTENDING THE IGNITION SWITCH WARRANTY. SMOKE CONTINUED TO POUR OUT OF THE IGNITION AREA AND FROM IN BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND AN ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNT(#15 WIRE). THE ABS LIGHT STAYED ON DUE TO A FAILED ABS PUMP. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT IN RE TO THE IGNITION PROBLEM. *SC
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 28, 2002ID
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Mar 20, 2002CA
WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT STEAM ENTERS INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHICH FOGS UP WINDOWS. CAUSE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
Power Train
Filed Jul 6, 2001NC
ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER DOES NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. *SLC
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Apr 4, 2001NJ
COOLING FAN HAD TO BE REPLACED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE WITHIN 5 YEARS. I THINK THE PART WAS COVERED IN A RECALL, BUT VOLKSWAGEN COULD NOT TELL ME ABOUT THE VEHICLE HISTORY.
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 23, 2000WA
THE CAR CUTS OFF AT ANY GIVEN SPEED WITHOUT ANY NOTICE INCLUDING ON A FREEWAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR.*AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 7, 2000CA
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION BRAKES WILL FAIL WITHOUT BEING DEPRESSING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 12, 2000CA
WITH THE TRANSMSIION FAILING IT COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AT THE SPEED THAT I WAS GOING AT THE APPROMIMATE TIME OF FAILURE. AN ACCIDENT ALMOST OCCURED DUE TO THE VIOLNET LUNGING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGENS TRANSMISSIONS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED PROMPTLY BY VOLKSWAGEN BEFORE FATALITIES DO OCCUR. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE NOT FAILED AT SUCH AN EARLY TIME.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Feb 1, 2000MD
THE FAN MOTOR SHAFT SEIZED, RENDERING THE FAN MOTOR INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS SINCE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 14, 1999PA
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, TEMP GAUGE, AND TRANSMISSION INDICATOR. ENGINE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 29, 1998CO
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
Seat Belts
Filed Oct 13, 1998CO
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES WILL RETRACT SUDDENLY, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Sep 10, 1998CA
GOING UPHILL, MAKING LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 10 MPH, VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE/STALLED, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE DEFECT. *AK
Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly
Filed Sep 5, 1998TX
TIE ROD END WORE OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MAKE NOISE WHEN TURNING CORNERS.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 13, 1998PA
DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE CLAMPS CAUSE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINES TO LEAK ALLOWING FUMES TO ENTER PASSANGER COMPARTMENT.
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Aug 11, 1998UN
VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE BATTERIES WITHIN A FOUR YEAR PERIOD.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 25, 1998CO
THE ENGINE QUITS AT ALL SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION AND WILL NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY, CREATING HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THE PROBLEM IS MOST APPARENT AFTER AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT OF THE COOLING FAN.
Structure
Filed Dec 8, 1997CA
STRUCTURE OF VEHICLE CAUSES TIRE DAMAGE/BLOW OUTS.
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 20, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.