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.
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.
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
24
82,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
19
62,000 mi
Engine
12
117,500 mi
Power train
9
130,000 mi
Electrical system
8
63,507 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
8
68,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
8
114,909 mi
Seats
8
94,800 mi
Unknown or other
7
45,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
5
70,000 mi
Fuel system, diesel
4
45,000 mi
Tires
4
71,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
4
50,000 mi
Air bags
3
43,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
3
77,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
3
65,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
3
33,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
3
20,000 mi
Structure: body
3
48,000 mi
Exterior lighting
2
63,507 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
2
64,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
2
102,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
2
8,000 mi
Seat belts
2
28,000 mi
Service brakes
2
189,000 mi
Steering
2
142,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
2
1,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
1
—
Electrical system: wiring
1
29,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
1
62,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
33,515 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
40,000 mi
Fuel system, other
1
50,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly
1
14,015 mi
Power train: manual transmission
1
20,030 mi
Structure
1
33,000 mi
Structure: body: door
1
—
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields
1
30,253 mi
Suspension
1
33,515 mi
Tires: sidewall
1
—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
1
—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
1
130,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
1
—
Wheels
1
71,000 mi
The 2004 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2006 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.
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.