Illustration94 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
1994 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 110.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Passat years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
25 reportsTHE 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
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 …
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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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN ENGINE GETS HOT STEAM ENTERS INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHICH FOGS UP WINDOWS. CAUSE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, CONSUMER DOES NOT OWN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. *SLC
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.
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
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION BRAKES WILL FAIL WITHOUT BEING DEPRESSING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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 ADDRE…
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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.
Official recalls
195V178000 · 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.
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
2EA00028 · 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.