1992 Volkswagen Passat Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 Volkswagen Passat, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1730.9%
- Fuel system814.5%
- Visibility712.7%
- Transmission712.7%
- Driver assistance47.3%
- Brakes35.5%
- Electrical35.5%
- Seat belts23.6%
- Suspension23.6%
- Exterior lighting11.8%
- Interior & seats11.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAT EXCHANGER (CORE) LEAKED WHILE DRIVING, STEAMING UP THE VEHICLE INTERIOR TO IMPAIR VISIBILITY. HOT COOLANT LEAKED INTO PASSENGER'S FOOT AREA. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ALREADY ISSUED RECALL # 96V115000. MY CAR IS 1992 VW PASSAT: [XXX]. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE ENGINE VALVES AND TIMING BELT FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *MJS
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING: -AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION, THROTTLE STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING -HEATER CORE EXPLODED -BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR -CV JOINTS BAD -TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT OPEN -OIL LEAK -TRANSMISSION FAILURES -EXHAUST PROBLEMS -STARTING PROBLEMS, IGNITION -FRESH AIR CONTROL DOES NOT WORK -STEERING WHEEL LOST SCREWS *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HEATER CORE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT WHITE STEAM FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH IMPAIRED THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER. *AK *NM
WHILE DRIVING GAS AND FUMES BEGAN EMITTING FROM VENTS CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG ELIMINATING CONSUMER'S VISIBILITY. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT HAD A BROKEN HEATER CORE. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *MJS
THERE IS FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING: -AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION, THROTTLE STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING -HEATER CORE EXPLODED -BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR -CV JOINTS BAD -TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT OPEN -OIL LEAK -TRANSMISSION FAILURES -EXHAUST PROBLEMS -STARTING PROBLEMS, IGNITION -FRESH AIR CONTROL DOES NOT WORK -STEERING WHEEL LOST SCREWS *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THROTTLE CABLE MELTS THEN IT JAMS, USUALLY IN A HIGH REVVING POSITION. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 NEW THROTTLE CABLES, EACH TIME THEY MELT AND STICK. *JB
THERE IS FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING: -AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION, THROTTLE STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING -HEATER CORE EXPLODED -BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR -CV JOINTS BAD -TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT OPEN -OIL LEAK -TRANSMISSION FAILURES -EXHAUST PROBLEMS -STARTING PROBLEMS, IGNITION -FRESH AIR CONTROL DOES NOT WORK -STEERING WHEEL LOST SCREWS *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING: -AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION, THROTTLE STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING -HEATER CORE EXPLODED -BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR -CV JOINTS BAD -TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT OPEN -OIL LEAK -TRANSMISSION FAILURES -EXHAUST PROBLEMS -STARTING PROBLEMS, IGNITION -FRESH AIR CONTROL DOES NOT WORK -STEERING WHEEL LOST SCREWS *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, INCLUDING: -AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION, THROTTLE STICKS WHEN ACCELERATING -HEATER CORE EXPLODED -BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR -CV JOINTS BAD -TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT OPEN -OIL LEAK -TRANSMISSION FAILURES -EXHAUST PROBLEMS -STARTING PROBLEMS, IGNITION -FRESH AIR CONTROL DOES NOT WORK -STEERING WHEEL LOST SCREWS *AK *ML
THE CAR JUST DIED WHEN SLOWING DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION AND THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER/DRIVING SIDE SEAT BELTS CAME OUT THE BUCKLE. *AK
AUTOMATIC FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR IS LOCKING IN THE OPEN POSITION. TT PROBLEM IS OK NOW, CLIP IN DOOR WAS STUCK AND DOOR WAS NOT REGISTERING AS CLOSED.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WINDSHIELD PITTED. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TURN INDICATOR SWITCH DEVELOPED A "DEAD SPOT" WHEN TRYING TO SIGNAL A LEFT TURN; INDICATOR NOW FUNCTIONS SPORADICALLY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUNK LATCH BROKE.*ET
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .