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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 110

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Volkswagen Passat

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 37 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Visibility: 16 reports
  • Electrical System: 13 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 7 reports
  • Latches/locks/linkages: 4 reports
  • Equipment: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    25
    1994    93
    1995    40
    1996    37
    1997    331
    1998    664
    1999    507
    2000
    Compare all Passat years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Visibility
    16    Electrical System
    13    Engine And Engine Cooling
    7    Latches/locks/linkages
    4    Equipment
    3
    All reported categories
    Structure
    3    Exterior Lighting
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Air Bags
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Tires
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    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 reports
    Clear category filter
    80,000 miles · May 18, 2004
    Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibility

    NUMEROUS 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

    NHTSA ODI #10072811

    80,000 miles · May 10, 2004
    Electrical System

    THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER STAED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS REPLACING. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10073359

    42,003 miles · May 23, 2003
    Electrical System

    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    NHTSA ODI #10019185

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No 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 ↗

    Defect 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.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.