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1995 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1995 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 110.

About this comparison →
93Owner complaints

Model-year median: 110

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
39
199268
199325
199493
199540
199637
1997331
1998
Compare all Passat years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility
20Engine And Engine Cooling
19Electrical System
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Power Train
10
All reported categories
Latches/locks/linkages
9Structure
6Exterior Lighting
5Suspension
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Equipment
4Seat Belts
4Steering
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Parking Brake
2Tires
2Service Brakes, Air
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Unknown Or 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: 19 of 93 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 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 reports3 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
165,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN 75% OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO YANK THE HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO OPEN, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE, THE OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS LOCK MECHANISM SLOWLY RISES TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION. DR…

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DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN 75% OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO YANK THE HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO OPEN, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE, THE OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS LOCK MECHANISM SLOWLY RISES TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANY TIMES FAIL TO CLOSE. WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS THEY FLY BACK OPEN EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING OR WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. **THERE IS A SIMILAR COMPLAINT MISPLACED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER SECTION BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.** *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255026

95,000 miles · Feb 12, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

REAR DOOR LATCH IS MALFUNCTIONING. LATCH RELEASES WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #10057073

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

1995 VW PASSAT. DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY AUTHORIZED VW DEALER AND REPAIR SHOP. DOORS DO NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER DESPITE CAR BEING IN HEATED GARAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052741

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER NOTICE IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE TO UNLOCK VEHICLE DOORS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ODI #10002125

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS MALFUNTIONING CAUSING THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR NOT TO OPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ODI #10002105

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages

FOUR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE, ONLY FROM INSIDE. DOORS ARE POWER OPERATED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018819

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

OUTDOOR LATCHES BROKE, MUST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN DOORS TO GET IN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #739621

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2000
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility

HEATER CORE IS DEAD CARE SMELLS LIKE ANTIFREEZE. DRIVER'S DOOR NO LONGER OPENS FROM OUTSIDE, AND OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO DO THE THE SAME. CAR CAN'T BE SHUT OFF FOR SHORT STOP OR IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. A/C WENT OUT 2 YEARS AGO CONTACTED VW OF AMERICAN NO HELP.

NHTSA ODI #737705

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING, 5 BATTERIES IN FIVE YEARS, RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN, TRUNK LIGHT ILLUMINATES FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE DOOR LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #552644

Official recalls

1

95V178000 · 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.

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

2

EA00028 · 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.