IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKS AT THE END OF THE HOSE AND HE SMELLED GAS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RUN AS EFFECTIVELY WHEN THE FUEL BEGAN LEAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
1993 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from 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: 10 of 68 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 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 reports10 fire reports4 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
7 reportsFUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT. FOUND TWO RECALLS REFERRING TO THESE TWO PROBLEMS. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMELLS OF GAS FUMES. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS COMING FROM THE FUEL HOSE, AND IT MAY LEAD TO A FIRE. *AK
WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHEN CHECKING OUT THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE DISTRIBUTION RAIL NEAR THE ENGINE BEYOUND THE CLAMP. *AK
WHEN DECELERATING WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE ENGINE WOULD FALTER AND DIE, OFTEN LEAVING ME EXPOSED TO ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR HAD COME TO A STOP IT COULD BE RESTARTED AND WOULD PERFORM PERFECTLY. THIS WOULD HAPPEN CONSTANTLY AND THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM IT WITH A ROAD TEST. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE MASS…
Read full complaint
WHEN DECELERATING WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE ENGINE WOULD FALTER AND DIE, OFTEN LEAVING ME EXPOSED TO ONCOMMING TRAFFIC. ONCE THE CAR HAD COME TO A STOP IT COULD BE RESTARTED AND WOULD PERFORM PERFECTLY. THIS WOULD HAPPEN CONSTANTLY AND THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM IT WITH A ROAD TEST. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND QUOTED A PRICE. WHILE CALLING AROUND FOR A REALISTIC PRICE I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM SOUNDED LIKE WATER WAS IN THE UNIT AND WAS SHORTING THINGS OUT. I OPENED THE UNIT AND FOUNG A TABLE SPOON OR SO OF WATER SLOSHING AROUND ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD. EVERY TIME THE CAR DECELLERATED AND TURNED LEFT THE WATER WOULD MOVE OVER ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE SENSOR TO COMMAND A SHARP REDUCTION IN FUEL TO THE ENGINE. I DRAINED THE WATER AND DRIED IT OUT WITH A HAIR DRIER AND RE-SEALED THE BOX WITH RTV AND IT HAS PERFORMED FLAWLESLY. THE WATER APPEARS TO HAVE ENTERED THROUGH THE SENSOR PROBE OPENING AND NOT THROUGH THE COVER. I TOLD THE LOCAL VW SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY WERE UNINPRESSED.
92V05800; WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, AND UNDERHOOD THE CABLES MELTED, AND THE HOOD WOULD NOT OPEN. VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT/INTERIOR, AND MOTOR COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED BACK,. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLY TO RECALL. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FUEL INJECTORS WERE WORKED ON 6 MONTHS PRIOR, DEALER SAYS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
395V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Sep 20, 1995
IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
93V118000 · Suspension:front
Jul 14, 1993
LOCK NUTS USED TO HOLD THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLES TO THE SUSPENSION STRUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THE LOCK NUTS MAY BREAK AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE AXLE FROM THE SUSPENSION STRUTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE AXLE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO PULL TOTHE SIDE OF THE SEPARATION AND RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE LOCK NUTS.
92V058000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Apr 14, 1992
THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION RAIL ON THE ENGINE MAY SHRINK BEYOND THE CLAMP FORCE OF THE FUEL HOSE CLAMPS, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IF THE FUEL COMES IN CONTACT WITH A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL AND INSTALL A NEW SPRING TYPE SELF-TIGHTENING CLAMP.
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
3EA00028 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Dec 28, 2000 · Closed Jan 29, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
No summary supplied.
PE00033 · Fuel Tank Puncture
Opened Aug 10, 2000 · Closed Dec 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 10, 2000 BASED ON 9 REPORTS REGARDING PUNCTURED FUEL TANKS INVOLVING THE JETTA, PASSAT, AND CABRIO MODELS.THE REPORTS INDICATE ADDITIONAL REPORTS IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
PE99036 · Fog Lamp Fire
Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Oct 21, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
ALLEGED THAT THE FOG LAMP HOUSING CATCHES FIRE DURING USE