IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Passat years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
39 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
TRUNK LATCH BROKE.*ET
VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY OVERHEATING (6 TIMES).*ET
ENGINE OVERHEATING THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAPPEND AGAIN. YH
TRANSFER PUMP WAS REPLACED ONCE DURING WARRANTY, ALL OTHERS AFTER ITS EXPIRATION. THE SYMPTOM IS THAT THE ENGINE STALLS AT ALL SPEEDS. IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL, ALL POWER ASSISTED COMPONENTS STOP WORKING. *AK
AUTOMOBILE STALLS OUT BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP GOES BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES HAS HAD THIS DONE FIVE TIMES. BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED, NEITHER WANTS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VEHICLE'S DEFECTS. *AK *ML
FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AND HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 5 TIMES. I HAVE BACK-UP PAPERWORK, INVOICES, ETC. SYMPTOMS ARE CAR STALLING, SOMETIMES ON FREEWAY. I FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP SAYS TALK TO VW; VW SAYS TALK TO DEALERSHIP. I'M STUCK.
ACCORDING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN'S OWNERS MANUAL THE TIMING BELT MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 60,000 MILES. THE ORIGINAL TIMING BELT BROKE AROUND MY 58,000 MILES, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CYLINDER HOUSING, AND VW PAID A PORTION OF THE COST. MY REPLACEMENT TIMING BELT BROKE AT THE 109000 MILE MARK; WELL BEFORE IT'S RECOMENDED REPLACEMENT…
Read full complaint
ACCORDING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN'S OWNERS MANUAL THE TIMING BELT MUST BE REPLACED EVERY 60,000 MILES. THE ORIGINAL TIMING BELT BROKE AROUND MY 58,000 MILES, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CYLINDER HOUSING, AND VW PAID A PORTION OF THE COST. MY REPLACEMENT TIMING BELT BROKE AT THE 109000 MILE MARK; WELL BEFORE IT'S RECOMENDED REPLACEMENT, AND CAUSED DAMAGE INSIDE THE CYLINDER HOUSING. VW REFUSES TO PAY ANY OF THE COST THIS DEFECTIVE PART CAUSED TO MY VEHICLE. THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICES, AND THEY WOULD HAVE CHECKED THE TENSION OF THE TIMING BELT. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO MENTION OF IT IN THE SERVICE MANUAL. I MAINTAINED AND HAD REGULAR SERVICES PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOPS THAT WAS USUALLY CHEAPER THAN GOING THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE VALVES.
Official recalls
192V131000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.