Body & structure
Filed Jun 18, 2003
DOOR HANDLE PROBLEM. HANDLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON DIFFERENT DOORS. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10024379
1996 Volkswagen Passat Body & structure Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jun 18, 2003
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 142 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structure
Filed Nov 7, 2002
TRUNK LOCKING MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURE. RESULTS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THE TRUNK WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND NOT CLOSE AND LOCK. MAY CAUSE A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT WHEN THE TRUNK POPS UP, COMPLETELY BLOCKING DRIVER REAR VIEW CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DT
- NHTSA ID
- 769410
- Incident
- Jul 1, 1999
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Nov 7, 2001
COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND LIMITED CONTROL OF THE CAR. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURANCE. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON EXISTENT. AS FOR THE DOOR HANDLE AND WINDOW PROBLEM, AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. SO FAR NO ONE HAS LOST THEIR LIFE AT LEAST IN OUR CASE. M. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 754215
- Incident
- Nov 6, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Sep 21, 2000
I CANNOT GET INTO MY CAR DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT ROLLING ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL DOORS ONCE BEFORE AND THEN THE FRONT TWO DOORS BROKE ONCE AGAIN MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN, I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IF I WERE TO WRECK AND BECAME UNCONSIOUS IN A BURNING CAR THE PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
- NHTSA ID
- 732158
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Aug 1, 2000
THE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES AND I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 726330
- Incident
- Jun 1, 1999
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Apr 21, 1999
ON TUESDAY, OWNER NOTICED THAT THE DRL WERE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR A/C FAN. DRIVER HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY DEALER TO 'JIGGLE' SWITCH IN ORDER TO GET BOTH WORKING. INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT MAKE EITHER TO WORK. DRIVER SWITCHED OFF ENGINE WHILE MOVING, TRYING TO GET EITHER TO WORK. AFTER TRYING THIS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK, ONE INCIDENT CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO 'SET'. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL EITHER BY SWITCH, BRAKE PEDAL OR CLUTCH PEDAL. DRIVER ENDED UP TURNING OFF CAR IN ORDER TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER LETTING CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, BOTH ITEMS WORKED AGAIN, BUT AFTER THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT, BOTH ITEMS DID NOT WORK AGAIN. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 705840
- Incident
- Mar 11, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jan 20, 1999
ALL DOORS AT 32 DEGREES AND BELOW INTERMITENTLY WILL NOT STAY CLOSED/ INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITENTLY WOULD NOT SHOW MILAGE 1 YEAR AGO BUT NOW THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INCLUDING SPEED,FEUL LEVEL, AND TACH DO NO WORK AT ALL
- NHTSA ID
- 702402
- Incident
- Jan 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Sep 18, 1997
GAUGES FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 603980
- Incident
- Dec 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Feb 12, 1997
TRUNK SWITCH FAILED 2 TIMES.
- NHTSA ID
- 602765
- Incident
- Mar 1, 1996
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 30, 1996
WINDSHIELD SEALS LEAK.
- NHTSA ID
- 513295
- Incident
- Oct 19, 1996
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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 .