2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — Owner-Reported Problems

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

• Campaign 06V017000 was reported 1,098 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07V063000 was reported 1,230 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 07V375000 was reported 1,680 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 08V156000 was reported 1,903 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 14E007000 was reported 4,076 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
• Campaign 18V406000 was reported 5,474 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.

Safety Recalls (7)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

1. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 02V026000

   Report date

   Jan 25, 2002

   Component:

   FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

   Consequence:

   FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL FIT PASSAT VEHICLES WITH A NEW WHEEL HOUSE LINER THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT THE CAR'S FILLER NECK. JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE FITTED WITH A DIFFERENT METAL SHIELD DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ABRASION PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF TIRE DISINTEGRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

2. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 06V017000

   Report date

   Jan 23, 2006

   Component:

   FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

   Consequence:

   IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

3. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07V063000

   Report date

   Feb 20, 2007

   Component:

   EXTERIOR LIGHTING

   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.

   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 REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

4. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 07V375000

   Report date

   Aug 28, 2007

   Component:

   FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

   Consequence:

   IF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS INTERRUPTED, THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND THUS PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH.

   Remedy:

   DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 28, 20007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-222-8987 OR AUDI AT 1-800-822-2834. THIS RECALL IS A SUPPLEMENT TO A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 06V017).

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

5. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 08V156000

   Report date

   Apr 7, 2008

   Component:

   FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

   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.

   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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

6. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 14E007000

   Report date

   Mar 7, 2014

   Component:

   ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

   Consequence:

   A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

   Remedy:

   Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →

7. Manufacturer action

   Recall campaign 18V406000

   Report date

   Jun 13, 2018

   Component:

   AIR BAGS

   Consequence:

   In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

   Remedy:

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X3.

   View authoritative NHTSA record →