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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Equipment complaints

3 reports
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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

65,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentSeat Belts

SEAT BELTS NEVER RAVAL ALL THE WAY (MINOR ISSUE), AIR CONDITIONER GETS COLD ONLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE (ONCE AGAIN MINOR), AND NOW IT MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 5 AND 6. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH O2 SENSORS, THE COIL PACK (3 TIMES), IGNITION WIRES (TWICE), SPARK PLUGS (TWICE IN 4,000 MILES), AND THE ECU. STILL MISFIRES AFTER 3 SHOPS AND…

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SEAT BELTS NEVER RAVAL ALL THE WAY (MINOR ISSUE), AIR CONDITIONER GETS COLD ONLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE (ONCE AGAIN MINOR), AND NOW IT MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 5 AND 6. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH O2 SENSORS, THE COIL PACK (3 TIMES), IGNITION WIRES (TWICE), SPARK PLUGS (TWICE IN 4,000 MILES), AND THE ECU. STILL MISFIRES AFTER 3 SHOPS AND THE DEALER HAVING IT TWICE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT (KEN GARFF OREM VW/AUDI DEALERSHIP). THEY TOLD ME "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO", VW AMERICA SAID "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, THOSE DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENT FROM US". THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, BROKE SOME ENGINE COVERINGS, THAT I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TO HAVE THEM DECIDE TO REPLACE. THE NEXT ROUND I GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE HOOD WAS POPED A LITTLE BIT BUT CLOSED (I LIVE 2 MILES FROM THE DEALER). SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AND NOT TO MY SUPRISE, THEY LEFT A FEW ENGINE COMPONENTS UNBOLTED AND SITTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEY ALSO LEFT THEIR TOOLS AND THE BOLTS IN SMALL CASIM PARTS OF THE SHEET METAL. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS LOOKED AT AND THEY CONVIENIENTLY LEFT THE WIRES CUT BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. VW AMERICA ALL THROUGH THIS SAID ONLY THAT I CAN COMPLAIN AND THAT THEY WILL "NOTE THIS IN MY RECORD, BUT THATS ALL WE CAN DO." THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OFFERED TO HELP ME FIND A NEW DEALER OR TELL ME A TYPICAL WAY TO FIX A MISFIRE.

NHTSA ODI #10070187

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

STALLING WITHOUT REASON. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #10069159

Official recalls

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 ↗

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.