NHTSA lists 279 complaints for the 2004 Volkswagen Passat, 9 of them mention a crash and 25 mention a fire. 23 complaints mention an injury, with 23 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.
At a glance
Complaints
279
With crash
9
With fire
25
With injury (complaints)
23
Injuries
23
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
1,002,000
Investigations
3
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
235
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The required sales year is missing.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
59
21.1%
POWER TRAIN
38
13.6%
SEATS
34
12.2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
28
10.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
23
8.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
22
7.9%
ENGINE
18
6.5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
16
5.7%
STRUCTURE
16
5.7%
VISIBILITY
13
4.7%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
31
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
20
SEATS
FRONT ASSEMBLY
20
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DELIVERY
11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS
10
STRUCTURE
BODY
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLING SYSTEM
6
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
4
VISIBILITY
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
4
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL LINE (1.8T ENGINES ONLY) OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) T (excerpt)
Consequence: A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. IN ADDITION, A FUEL LEAK FROM A FUEL LINE OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH ALL 1.8T ENGINES WITH A PRECAUTIONARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT AND ADJUST THE FUEL LINE ROUTING ON 1.8T VEHICLES AND THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. T (excerpt)
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. (excerpt)
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE (excerpt)
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
3 investigations; 0 open.
EA11002
Opened: 2011-01-26. Closed: 2012-02-17.
Engine Compartment Fire
In July 2010, the Agency opened PE10-027 to investigate allegations of coil on plug (COP) ignition coil fires in MY2002-2003 VW Passat vehicles.The investigation was upgraded in January 2011 to include all MY2001-2007 4-cylinder VW Passat, gasoline, turbo-charged vehicles.Based on the analysis of VW's response, and including ODI's consumer complaints, ODI has since identified 135 unique engine fir
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
PE08008
Opened: 2008-01-31. Closed: 2008-05-30.
FUEL TANK LEAK
VOLKSWAGEN (VW) IS RECALLING CERTAIN VW PASSAT 4MOTION AND AUDI A6 QUATTRO AND ALLROAD QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER CARS.VW VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL WERE MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 22, 2000 THROUGH MAY 31, 2005 AND AUDI VEHICLES SUBJECT TO RECALL WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 2, 2001 TO JUNE 1, 2005.THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE VW VEHICLES IS 08V-156 (VW ALSO IS CORRECTING DEFECTS RELATED
THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA ON 04-APR-08 THAT A SAFETY RECALL ACTION WOULD BE INITIATED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.IN JUNE 2008, THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (CODE 26E5/R5) REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PROCEDURES TO BE EMPLOYED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WERE SENT BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY JUNE 13, 2008.THE CAMPAIGN WAS ASSIGNED NHTSA NO. 08V-156.THIS RECALL A
Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Date: 2023-08-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
10237427
Date: 2023-05-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
10235138
Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
10228180
Date: 2022-12-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Update model year applicability to include 2023.
10228178
Date: 2022-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
10204722
Date: 2021-12-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.
10175799
Date: 2020-05-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1A
10174476
Date: 2020-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
10169135
Date: 2019-12-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT.
Update model applicability to MY 2020.
10168683
Date: 2019-11-25. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards.
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.