*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Electrical system
BACKUP LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ACCENT LIGHTS (LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES, WINDOW, A/C & HEATER CONTROLS AND LOCK BUTTONS ETC.) WOULD TURN ON. ALSO IF THE CAR IF THE KEYS WERE TURNED TO THE FIRST NOTCH (STEERING WHEEL UNLOCK) AND THE HEATER VENTS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT NOT BLOWING (DUE TO NO POWER) WHEN YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AIR WOULD START BLOWING... I TRACED IT DOWN TO AN IGNORANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING THE CAR. THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE LOOMED ON TO THE TRUNK ARM, EVERYTIME THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED IT BENT THE WIRE CAUSING THE WIRE TO BREAK AND SHORT OUT OVER TIME, I FIXED THE WIRE AND REROUTED IT LOW AND BEHOLD THE REVERSE LIGHTS…
Aug 15, 2006 · 165,000 milesParking brake
5SP VRG PASSAT. EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED UNDER 40 DEGREES STICKS ON CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DRAG DOWN THE ROAD FOR UP TO A MILE BEFORE THEY BREAK LOOSE AGAIN AND MOVE FREELY. *TR
Dec 10, 2006 · 165,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages
DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN 75% OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO YANK THE HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO OPEN, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE, THE OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS LOCK MECHANISM SLOWLY RISES TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANY TIMES FAIL TO CLOSE. WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS THEY FLY BACK OPEN EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING OR WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. **THERE IS A SIMILAR COMPLAINT MISPLACED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER SECTION BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.** *TR
Nov 25, 2006 · 165,000 milesVisibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
HEATER CORE "DOORS " MELTED FROM THE R TYPE ANTIFREEZE BREAKING DOWN TO AN ACID. THIS CAUSE THE HEATERCORE TO BREAK, ANTIFREEZE ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS AND ALSO ODDLY ENOUGH FILLED THE GAUGE CLUSTER WITH STEAM FOGGING THE CLUSTER. IT'S $800 FOR A REPLACEMENT SO I BOUGHT A FITTING AND SOME HOSE CLAMPS AND BYPASSES THE HEATER CORE SO I COULD STILL OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WASN'T TOO COLD. HOWEVER WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER ALL THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE DOWN DUE TO YOUR BODY HEAT CAUSING ALL GLASS IN THE VEHICLE TO FOG. REPLACED THE HEATER CORE IN JANUARY, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AND INSTALLED REGULAR TYPE 50/50 ANTIFREEZE AND NOT THE VW R-TYPE FLUID TO PREVENT BREAK DOWN…
Nov 1, 2006 · 165,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Cooling system1 injury
THE HEATER CORE FAILED ON OUR 1995 VW PASSAT WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IT. WITHOUT WARNING IT FAILED AND POURED 190 DEGREE ANTIFREEZE OVER HIS ANKLES. FORTUNATELY HE WASN'T SEVERELY BURNED OR CRASHED THE CAR, BUT IT WAS SERIOUS ISSUE. WE SPOKE TO VW BUT THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE CORE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE RANDOMLY SELECTED. I HAVE READ ON THE FORUMS OF THIS HAPPENING OFTEN AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS RECALL THAT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
Oct 29, 2008 · 115,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND IS WORSE WHEN IN HIGH GEAR. PART OF THE FAN FRACTURED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 95V178000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN. THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Aug 17, 2006 · 163,000 milesTires › Sidewall
1995 PASSAT SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. *TS THE TECHNICIAN WHO PERFORMED THE INSPECTION POINTED TO CRACKS WHICH WERE NEAR THE RIM LINE. *JB
May 14, 2006Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater coreCrash
95 PASSAT HEATER CORE RUPTURE FILLING THE VEHICLE CABIN WITH HOT RADIATOR FLUID AND STEAM. WINDSHIELD BECAME COATED WITH ANTI-FREEZE SOLUTION THAT JUST SMEARED AND COULD NOT BE WIPED OFF. VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. I WILL BYPASS THE HEATER CORE FOR I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. CONTACTED VWOA AND NO SPECIFIC RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.*JB
Jan 17, 2006 · 142,900 miles
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.