IllustrationTURN INDICATOR SWITCH DEVELOPED A "DEAD SPOT" WHEN TRYING TO SIGNAL A LEFT TURN; INDICATOR NOW FUNCTIONS SPORADICALLY.
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 reportsTIMING BELT SNAPPED CAUSING THE CYLINDER HEAD TO BLOW AND TOTAL ENGINE SHUT DOWN.
ENGINE STALLS.
TIMING BELT BROKE.
EXPERIENCING POSSIBLE AUTO TRANMISSION. INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE, CAN REMOVE KEY IN ANY GEAR; ALSO, GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF PARK INTO ANY GEAR WITHOUT KEY BEING IN IGNITION, DATE OF MFR. 08-91. *AK
IMING BELT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOS EPOWER/CONTROL. *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATS.
TIMING BELT FAILURE.
VEHICLE WOULD START, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE POSITION, VEHICLE WILL NOT GO OR MOVE. PUT VEHICLE IN SHOP 3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE IN SHOP NOW. *AK
FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
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.