Model year record
1997 Volkswagen Passat
No recall campaigns on file for this model year. 57 owner complaints on file.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
| Component | Complaints | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core | 9 | 136,000 mi |
| Electrical system: ignition: switch | 7 | 85,100 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 38,000 mi |
| Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 4 | 79,000 mi |
| Electrical system | 3 | 60,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling: cooling system | 3 | 100,000 mi |
| Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash | 2 | 100,000 mi |
| Equipment: electrical | 2 | — |
| Structure | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 65,000 mi |
| Visibility: rear window wiper/washer | 2 | 80,000 mi |
| Air bags | 1 | 100,000 mi |
| Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 1 | 86,000 mi |
| Electrical system: ignition | 1 | 200,000 mi |
| Electrical system: starter assembly | 1 | 80,000 mi |
| Electrical system: wiring: front underhood | 1 | 100,000 mi |
| Equipment: appliance: air conditioner | 1 | 80,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting: headlights | 1 | 97,000 mi |
| Exterior lighting: headlights: switch | 1 | 125,000 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Seat belts | 1 | 65,000 mi |
| Structure: body: door | 1 | — |
| Tires: sidewall | 1 | 113,900 mi |
| Visibility | 1 | 60,000 mi |
| Visibility: glass, side/rear | 1 | 79,000 mi |
| Visibility: power window devices and controls | 1 | 158,000 mi |
| Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior | 1 | 110,000 mi |
| Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 1 | 80,418 mi |
The 1996 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1998 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Other Volkswagen Passat model years
20222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991199019891988
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.