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1992 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Volkswagen Passat are lower than the model-year median of 110.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 110

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
198934
199024
199139
199268
199325
199493
1995
Compare all Passat years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
17Fuel System, Gasoline
8Power Train
7Visibility
7Vehicle Speed Control
4
All reported categories
Electrical System
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Seat Belts
2Suspension
2Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Air
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: 3 of 39 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

17 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING BELT BROKE.

NHTSA ODI #516659

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

IMING BELT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOS EPOWER/CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #514470

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATS.

NHTSA ODI #546718

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING BELT FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #546583

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

AFTERMARKET ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN IN TWO DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES, PART NO 191199279C FOR THREE DIFFERENT VW VEHICLES 85-95 MODELS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982248

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1995
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSuspension

WINDSHIELD PITTED. *AW

NHTSA ODI #480626

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #478142

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.