Model year record

1993 Volkswagen Passat recalls & problems

The 1993 Volkswagen Passat has 3 safety recalls and 68 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (20 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints68filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 10reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingSep 20, 1995

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 95V17800034,000 vehicles

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

SuspensionJul 14, 1993

Front

Recall 93V1180001,200 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE AXLE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULL TOTHE SIDE OF THE SEPARATION AND RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE LOCK NUTS.

Fuel system, gasolineApr 14, 1992

Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 92V058000358,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Fix: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1993 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Passat

22mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Passat Wagon

22mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Passat

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Passat Wagon

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Passat

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Passat Wagon

20mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Passat

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Passat Wagon

18mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Passat

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

Passat Wagon

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.8 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Cooling system › Fan	20	1	4	0	103,000 mi
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core; Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element	18	1	0	3	107,387 mi
Electrical systemIgnition; Ignition › Switch	16	1	2	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc	7	1	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Fuel injection system	7	0	2	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly	4	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner	4	1	1	1	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front › Buckle assembly	4	1	0	1	—
Exterior lightingFog lights	4	1	1	0	—
TiresSidewall	3	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling
HEATER CORE BAD IN 1993 VW GLX, VERY COMMON IN MY EXPERIENCE. *TR
Sep 10, 2006 · 103,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKS AT THE END OF THE HOSE AND HE SMELLED GAS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RUN AS EFFECTIVELY WHEN THE FUEL BEGAN LEAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Jul 30, 2007 · 115,000 miles
Seat belts › Front
FRONT SEAT BELTS FAIL TO POWER, MUST USE EMERGENCY BELTS. *JB
Jun 4, 2006
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT. FOUND TWO RECALLS REFERRING TO THESE TWO PROBLEMS. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER. *JB
May 10, 2006 · 95,400 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
FAULTY HEATER CORES/HEATER EXCHANGERS LOCATED BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. HEATER CORE LEAKED. *BF ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AROUND THE FEET OF THE PASSENGER. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. RECALL# 98V295000. *SC
Nov 1, 2004
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
TURN ON AIR CONDITIONER, OR HEATER, AND A STEAM OF ANTIFREEZE COATS WINDSHIELD, AND IT GETS COMPLETELY FOGGED OVER TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT SEE. HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. 1993, PASSAT GLX. VR6. *AK
Sep 12, 2004 · 88,000 miles
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater core1 injury
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN STEAM STARTED COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP. HOT ANTI FREEZE LEAKED IN AND SCORCHED THE DRIVER'S FEET. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE HEATER CORE CAME APART AT THE SEAM. *AK *JB
May 6, 2004 · 88,000 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *MR
Apr 6, 2004

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FUEL TANK PUNCTUREClosedLed to recall 02V026000
EA00028 · opened Dec 28, 2000 · closed Jan 29, 2002
FUEL TANK PUNCTUREClosed
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.
PE00033 · opened Aug 10, 2000 · closed Dec 28, 2000
FOG LAMP FIREClosed
ALLEGED THAT THE FOG LAMP HOUSING CATCHES FIRE DURING USE
PE99036 · opened May 12, 1999 · closed Oct 21, 1999