Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports10 fire reports4 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

18 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845086

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE A DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT AND RUINED ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841223

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1999

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

TRANSMISSION/HEATER CORE/ FAN SWITCH AND ENGINE COOLING T SYSTEM WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND HESITATE. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE/WATER PUMP ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #840106

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1999

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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MILES:1,519- DOESN'T TURN OVER - REPLACED BATTERY: 8602- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON- REPL BAD HOUSING CONNECTION:11,672-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON-RPL CAM POSITION SENSOR&ECM&AC CONTROLS:22,013-RATTLING WHINING NOISE-REPL FROZEN RADIATOR FAN MOTOR, BURNT FAN CONN/REPRODUCED WRING, O/RING, DEFECTIVE CAM POSITION, SENSOR;25,763 REPLACE BATTERY;34,677-SERPENTINE BELT REPL;36,800-REPL HALL/TCI CONTROL UNIT;50,610- REPL BATTERY, ALTERNATOR HARNESS;51,070 REPL AUXILIARY WATER PUMP;CONNECTOR,HOSES;53,190-AC CONTROL WITH OPEN CONNECTION & WIRING OVERHEATED,REPL CONTROLS & REPAIRED WIRING, HEATERCONTROL, CONNECTOR:60,523-REPL HEATER CORE, SEALS, THERMOSTATE, HOUSING, SEAL RING, 3 O-RINGS, SERPINTINE BELT; 63,782-REPL BATTERY, CRUISE CONTROL & SUNROOF NO LONGER WORK TOO COSTLY TO REPAIR, 66,035- REPL POWER SUPPLY RELAY, FUEL PUMP;71,000 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALER INDICATES FULL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. PURCHASED '88 JETTA. IN '97 DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO PASSAT GLX. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE BUY A VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705378

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1999

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE COOLING FAN. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE WITHIN THE RADIATOR. CONSUMER THINKS RADIATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835666

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1998

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE STARTED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825631

Mileage unknown · May 7, 1998

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT SMELLED STRONG ODOR. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #535495

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1996

Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFire

THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT 10MPH AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980662

Official recalls

95V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Sep 20, 1995

IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

93V118000 · Suspension:front

Jul 14, 1993

LOCK NUTS USED TO HOLD THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLES TO THE SUSPENSION STRUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THE LOCK NUTS MAY BREAK AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE AXLE FROM THE SUSPENSION STRUTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE AXLE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULL TOTHE SIDE OF THE SEPARATION AND RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE LOCK NUTS.

92V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Apr 14, 1992

THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

No summary supplied.

PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture

Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

PE99036 · Fog Lamp Fire

Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Oct 21, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

ALLEGED THAT THE FOG LAMP HOUSING CATCHES FIRE DURING USE