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1991 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 Volkswagen Passat are lower than the model-year median of 110.

About this comparison →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 110

1Recall 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
199325
1994
Compare all Passat years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
6Visibility
6Fuel System, Gasoline
4Seat Belts
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Power Train
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
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: 1 of 24 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998
Visibility

THE POWER WINDOWS IN THE 1991 PASSAT SUDDENLY DIED. THERE IS STILL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR, BUT THE TRACK/GUIDE OR WHATEVER MAKES THE WINDOW SLIDE UP SMOOTHLY IS BROKEN. CURRENTLY THEY ARE STUCK IN THE UP,SEALED POSITION BECAUSE IF THEY GO DOWN, THEY DONT GO BACK UP COMPLETELY. THE CAR HAS SUSTAINED…

Read full complaint

THE POWER WINDOWS IN THE 1991 PASSAT SUDDENLY DIED. THERE IS STILL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DOOR, BUT THE TRACK/GUIDE OR WHATEVER MAKES THE WINDOW SLIDE UP SMOOTHLY IS BROKEN. CURRENTLY THEY ARE STUCK IN THE UP,SEALED POSITION BECAUSE IF THEY GO DOWN, THEY DONT GO BACK UP COMPLETELY. THE CAR HAS SUSTAINED SOME WATER DAMAGE FROM WHEN THEY COULD NOT BE PUT UP.

NHTSA ODI #700682

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VALVES ON TWO OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #539513

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL PUMP SITS IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER AND THE CONTAINER CRACKED, SUSPECTS THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM VIBRATION. HOWEVER THE FUEL LEAKS OUT AND LEAKS APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF SOMEONE WALKS BY WITH A CIGARETTE OR MATCH, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWO TIMES, DEALER C…

Read full complaint

THE FUEL PUMP SITS IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER AND THE CONTAINER CRACKED, SUSPECTS THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM VIBRATION. HOWEVER THE FUEL LEAKS OUT AND LEAKS APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF SOMEONE WALKS BY WITH A CIGARETTE OR MATCH, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWO TIMES, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824809

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SUDDENLY THE ABS LIGHT SENSOR CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. ABS SENOR LIGHT WENT OUT, AND ABS SYSTEM RESTORED BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824198

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER HAS AN INTERNAL HYDRAULIC LEAK WHICH MAY LEAD TO A BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #536716

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER DROVE ON HIGHWAY DURING NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY ABS SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. COSUMER LOST BRAKES. THREE HOURS LATER, THE SENSOR LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN AND BRAKES RETURNED. AFTER 6 MONTH SIMILAR CONDITION REOCCURRED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #824019

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 1998
Visibility

INTERIOR HEATING CORE BROKE, CAUSING SMOKE TO FILL THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, HEATER FAN MOTOR SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #534618

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #522377

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1997
Seat Belts

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS FAILED, OPENED WHILE DRIVING AND STAYED OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #517980

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1996
Visibility

WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE VENTILATION SWITCH . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #805764

Official recalls

1

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.