RoadVitals

1996 Volkswagen Passat Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
8
Latest Jun 2, 2008
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.
6%
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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 8 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 exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 2, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V256000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AT THE COST OF $250. HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10229638
Incident
Jun 2, 2008
Mileage
140,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10038578
Incident
Aug 12, 2003
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Aug 29, 2003

HEADLIGHTS CONTINUALLY GO OUT. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP SUPPOSEDLY DID ELECTRICAL PART OF IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT, BUT HEADLIGHTS STILL DID NOT WORK. FURTHER REAIRS BY AN INDEPENDANT MECHANIC WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN ONE OF THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER A YEAR. DEALERSHIP COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10036873
Incident
Apr 21, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 15, 2002

CONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. MR

NHTSA ID
8020841
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 29, 2002

HEADLIGHT BULB IS YELLOW ON THE OUTSIDE OF LENSE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017606
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 4, 2000

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. SOME OF THE DASHLIGHTS STAY ON, HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHTS, BLOWER MOTOR, TURNSIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, POWER WINDOWS AND A/C DO NOT WORK. DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
856295
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 31, 2000

THE IGNITION SWITCH PREMATURELY MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE DESIGN WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLGHTS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
855765
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 18, 1998

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
530693
Incident
Sep 8, 1997

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

Electrical44Interior & seats30Visibility21Brakes12Engine10Body & structure10Transmission9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .