1993 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 1993 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
- Engine1821.4%
- Visibility1720.2%
- Electrical1315.5%
- Brakes78.3%
- Fuel system78.3%
- Heating & air conditioning44.8%
- Exterior lighting44.8%
- Seat belts44.8%
- Tires & wheels33.6%
- Transmission33.6%
- Powertrain (other)11.2%
- Driver assistance11.2%
- Suspension11.2%
- Interior & seats11.2%
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
HEATER CORE BAD IN 1993 VW GLX, VERY COMMON IN MY EXPERIENCE. *TR
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT. FOUND TWO RECALLS REFERRING TO THESE TWO PROBLEMS. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER. *JB
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN STEAM STARTED COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP. HOT ANTI FREEZE LEAKED IN AND SCORCHED THE DRIVER'S FEET. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE HEATER CORE CAME APART AT THE SEAM. *AK *JB
LETTER CONCERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH VOLKSWAGEN CHOOSE TO HANDLE A RECENT FAILURE ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER VEHICLE HEATER CORE EXPLODED. *CB
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR FAILS TO START WHEN TURNING IGNITION ON. TAKES REPEATED ATTEMPTS. REQUIRES UNLOCKING ADJUSTABLE STEEERING WHEEL AND 'THUMPING' THE WHEEL UP AND DOWN. OCCASIONALLY STARTS ON FIRST ATTEMPT, MOSTLY AFTER SEVERAL THUMPS. THREE TIMES TOOK OVER 45 MINUTES TO GET CAR STARTED. DEALER REPLACES STARTER THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. THREE MORE DEALER VISITS HAVE BEEN LABELED 'WORKS OK', EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO START CAR FOR SERVICE MANAGER. CAME BACK 'CHECKS OK'. I SUSPECT CORROSION OF SOME KIND IN THE IGNITION WIRING. VERY FRUSTRATING.*AK
IGNITION : FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS, INTERMITTENTLY, CAR WILL CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND KEY IS REMOVED... BEEN TO 3 VW DEALERSHIPS 5 TIMES TOTAL. ABS BRAKES NEVER WORKED SINCE NEW, WOULDN'T STOP ON SNOW OR ICE LIKE OTHER ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS .. AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS FOR 4 YEARS VW FIXED SOME OF THE ABS PROBLEMS BUT ABS WARNING LIGHT STILL COMES ON SOMETIMES. ALSO, PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY WILL GO TO FLOOR, AND SNOW AND ICE PERFORMANCE IS MUCH WORSE THAN OUR OTHER ABS PASSATS . SEAT BELTS: LAP BELT BUCKLE SEEMS LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT . AIR CONDITIONER : $150 SWITCH IN DASH HAS FAILED 3 TIMES (COMMON ON 1993-94 PASSATS). SUNROOF: SMALL PART BREAKS ON TRACK REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE EXPENSIVE SUNROOF MECHANISM ... (SEEMS TO HAPPEN MANY 1993-94 PASSATS). FOG LIGHTS: CORRADO AND PASSAT LENSES FOG UP OR FILL UP WITH WATER AND THEN CRACK FROM HEAT. VW AND HELLA REDESIGNED LENS ON CORRADO MODEL BUT NOT ON PASSAT $26 TO $50 PER LENS, 11 LENSES SO FAR. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP BUT VEHICLE WON'T STOP. *AK
IGNITION : FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS, INTERMITTENTLY, CAR WILL CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND KEY IS REMOVED... BEEN TO 3 VW DEALERSHIPS 5 TIMES TOTAL. ABS BRAKES NEVER WORKED SINCE NEW, WOULDN'T STOP ON SNOW OR ICE LIKE OTHER ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS .. AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS FOR 4 YEARS VW FIXED SOME OF THE ABS PROBLEMS BUT ABS WARNING LIGHT STILL COMES ON SOMETIMES. ALSO, PEDAL INTERMITTENTLY WILL GO TO FLOOR, AND SNOW AND ICE PERFORMANCE IS MUCH WORSE THAN OUR OTHER ABS PASSATS . SEAT BELTS: LAP BELT BUCKLE SEEMS LIKELY TO CAUSE INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT . AIR CONDITIONER : $150 SWITCH IN DASH HAS FAILED 3 TIMES (COMMON ON 1993-94 PASSATS). SUNROOF: SMALL PART BREAKS ON TRACK REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE EXPENSIVE SUNROOF MECHANISM ... (SEEMS TO HAPPEN MANY 1993-94 PASSATS). FOG LIGHTS: CORRADO AND PASSAT LENSES FOG UP OR FILL UP WITH WATER AND THEN CRACK FROM HEAT. VW AND HELLA REDESIGNED LENS ON CORRADO MODEL BUT NOT ON PASSAT $26 TO $50 PER LENS, 11 LENSES SO FAR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEAKS AT THE END OF THE HOSE AND HE SMELLED GAS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RUN AS EFFECTIVELY WHEN THE FUEL BEGAN LEAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT. FOUND TWO RECALLS REFERRING TO THESE TWO PROBLEMS. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, STEAM AND HOT ENGINE COOLANT FLUIDS STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATION SYSTEM, BURNING DRIVERS FEET AND LEGS, AND REDUCING VISIBILITY OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND MADE REPAIRS TO HEATER CORE. THEN ON AUGUST 2, 2001, AIR CONDITIONING STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE, AND STARTED PRODUCING STEAM AND HOT FLUIDS FROM THE VENTILATION AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. MECHANIC HAS ADVISED THAT AIR CONDITIONER'S WIRING MELTED AND GLUED TO EACH OTHER. A MINOR FIRE ERRUPTED, CAUSING MELTING. PLEASE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
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
THE LEFT FOG LIGHT STARTED SMOKING, AND THEN ON FIRE. I WAS SITTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, CLEANING IT. THE LIGHTS WERE ON, INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC, AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT FIRST, IT GOT WORSE, SO I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER. I GOT UNDER THERE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND SECONDS LATER A PIECE OF BURNING PLASTIC WITH THE BULB STILL IN IT FELL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE BUMBER, APPARENTLY IT SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN UNIT OF THE LIGHT. I HAD TO STUFF IT WITH SNOW TO STOP THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BEYOUND THE LIGHT ITSELF. LATER ON I PURCHASED A PAIR OF USED FOG LIGHTS FROM EBAY TO REPLACE MINE. WHEN TRYING TO REPLACE THEM, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE LEFT LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO BURNT, AND THE PIECE WITH THE BULB FELL OUT OF IT TOO. THE LIGHTS I BOUGHT ALSO TIRNED OUT TO BE DAMAGED IN SIMILAR WAY, BUT JUST MELTED. THE REASON I MARK PROPERTY DAMAGE ON THIS FORM, IS BECAUSE TO REPLACE ONE OF THE UNITS COSTS $135, WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEE THAT THIS SAME THING WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN OBVIOUS AND HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW, AND VW SHOULD REPLACE THE UNITS WITH FIRE PROOF ONES. VW SHOUD ALSO PAY FOR THAT, NOT I.*AK
FOG LIGHTS BURNED A HOLE IN THE FINDER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
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
FRONT SEAT BELTS FAIL TO POWER, MUST USE EMERGENCY BELTS. *JB
PASSAGENGER CLOSED DOOR AND CLEARED HAIR FROM MOVING SEATBELT. LITTLE FINGER ON RIGHT HAND WAS CAUGHT IN THE SWIVEL AND THE TIP OF THE FINGER AND FINGER NAIL WERE TORN OFF. REQIRED 4 HOURS AT ER AND MONTHS TO HEAL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAD TWO BLOWOUTS OF THIS GOODYEAR EAGLE GA TOURING TIRE OVER A PERIOD OF 10 MONTHS DRIVING FREEWAY SPEED OF 70 WHEN ONE BLOWOUT OCCURRED AND 50 MPH WITH THE OTHER. EVEN THOUGH I ACCEPTED A SETTLEMENT OF $176.04 FROM GOODYEAR, THIS AMOUNT WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE COST OF ONE TIRE. I HAD 4 GOODYEARS ON THE CAR. (TIRESIZE: 215/50R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/50R15 )
CONTINENTAL TIRE FAILURE CAUSED ACCIDENT. *DSH
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
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *MR
TRANSMISSION/HEATER CORE/ FAN SWITCH AND ENGINE COOLING T SYSTEM WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND HESITATE. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE/WATER PUMP ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAULTY STUB AXLE CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES. *TW
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
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING RESISTORS/FUSES/ELECTRICAL WINDOWS/HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING TO FAIL. *AK
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
THE WHEELS ARE OUT OF LINE HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE TOO OFTEN. TT
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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 .