SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1990 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Volkswagen Passat are lower than the model-year median of 110.

About this comparison →
34Owner complaints

Model-year median: 110

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19880
198934
199024
199139
199268
1993
Compare all Passat years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
12Power Train
8Visibility
8Seat Belts
7Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Suspension
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 5 of 34 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports3 fire reports1 injury reports

Power Train complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
179,000 miles · May 7, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainFire

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMP…

Read full complaint

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018332

179,000 miles · May 7, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainFire

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMP…

Read full complaint

MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: POWER WINDOWS, IGNITION SWITCH, PASSENGER SIDE PASSIVE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR (TURN KEY OF AND ON TO RESET TRANSMISSION). FINALLY, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL CAUSING WIDE-RANGING DAMAGE TO HOOD AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018331

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2000
Power Train

WE DID NOT REALIZE OTHER OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL YEAR UNTIL WE READ YOUR REPORTS.WE DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT OUR PROBLEMS MAY BE ONE OF A FEW. OTHERS ARE "HARD START, ROUGH/HUNTING AT IDLE ,HARSH ENGAGEMENT & FINALLY NO 4TH GEAR SHIFT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725552

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

SPRING STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #551915

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 1999
Power Train

NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705274

Mileage unknown · Jan 2, 1997
Power Train

LONG AXLE METAL DONUT OUTSIDE DIAMOND PRESS, GLUED TO HUB, PRESSED ON SHAFT FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL, SLID DOWN AND WEDGED IN THE FRONT WHEEL AXLE PIVOT. SEE ENCLOSED VIDEO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803988

Mileage unknown · May 23, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED ELECTRONIC FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #504856

Mileage unknown · Date not reported
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

TIMING BELT BROKE AND DISTORYED THE ENGINE

NHTSA ODI #514337

Official recalls

2

96V115000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Jul 1, 1996

IN THE EVENT THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY IN THAT CONDITION, THE COOLANT PRESSURE WILL RISE TO A LEVEL AT WHICH THE HEAT EXCHANGER COULD LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LEAKING HEAT EXCHANGER WILL ALLOW HOT COOLANT TO ESCAPE CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S FEET OR COULD STEAM UP THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEAT EXCHANGER ON THESE VEHICLES.

92V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 15, 1992

THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE GEAR.

Remedy: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.