Model year record

2004 Volkswagen Passat

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 350 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V156000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 412,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2008-04-07
Owners notified: 2008-06-13

Defect description

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) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V063000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 1,002,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-02-20
Owners notified: 2007-04-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety risk

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V586000

Fuel system, diesel

Component: Fuel system, diesel
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 19,284
Reported to NHTSA: 2004-12-15
Owners notified: 2005-02-08

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Engine and engine cooling	33	75,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	24	130,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	22	10,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	21	95,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler	20	47,000 mi
Engine	18	117,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	18	72,000 mi
Electrical system	16	63,000 mi
Seats	15	94,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	9	200 mi
Structure	9	44,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	7	35,880 mi
Structure: body	7	85,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	6	59,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	6	58,310 mi
Unknown or other	6	40,350 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery	5	80,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	5	58,600 mi
Exterior lighting	4	45,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel	4	89,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	4	2,500 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	4	78,500 mi
Air bags	3	85,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	3	12,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	3	35,000 mi
Equipment	3	53,560 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	3	10,000 mi
Interior lighting	3	55,999 mi
Power train	3	114,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	3	34,240 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	18,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	3	68,000 mi
Air bags: side/window	2	10,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	42,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	2	133,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	2	—
Exterior lighting: headlights	2	100 mi
Fuel system, other	2	—
Service brakes	2	133,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads	2	22,000 mi
Suspension	2	55,999 mi
Tires	2	35,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	2	3,087 mi
Tires: tread/belt	2	398 mi
Unknown	2	—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	2	300 mi
Visibility	2	43,400 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	2	—
Child seat	1	—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	1	—
Electrical system: horn	1	3,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	58,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	1	62,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	42,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	55,999 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	1	—
Equipment: recreational vehicle/trailer: LPG systems: tank assembly	1	55,999 mi
Fuel system, other: fuel injection system	1	—
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: filling/charging	1	24,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	120,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)	1	3,000 mi
Seat belts	1	85,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	117,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	1	2,500 mi
Steering	1	96,000 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid	1	—
Tires: bead	1	3,087 mi
Tires: valve	1	—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	97,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	48,000 mi

The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

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.