IllustrationNUMEROUS OCASSIONS MY PASSAT WILL "SHUT DOWN" WHILE DRIVING. LOSE ALL POWER, A/C, HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER POWER RELATED ITEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE BEING HIT, OR HITTING SOMEONE.*AK
1997 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
10–25K
325–50K
350–75K
875–100K
10100–150K
7150K+
32 reports with mileage · 5 unknown
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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
1 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
13 reportsTHE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER STAED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS REPLACING. *JB
LIGHTS, WIPERS AND HEATER FAN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE, FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION SWITCH PART NUMBER AS LISTED ON THE INVOICE (6NO-905-865) IS SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, TO PART NUMBER 357-905-865 THAT FAILS IN THE 1996 VW PASSAT & JETTA, A VEHICLE SU…
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LIGHTS, WIPERS AND HEATER FAN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE, FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION SWITCH PART NUMBER AS LISTED ON THE INVOICE (6NO-905-865) IS SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, TO PART NUMBER 357-905-865 THAT FAILS IN THE 1996 VW PASSAT & JETTA, A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME SYMPTOMS
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2EA00028 · 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.