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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL LINE (1.8T ENGINES ONLY) OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. IN ADDITION, A FUEL LEAK FROM A FUEL LINE OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH ALL 1.8T ENGINES WITH A PRECAUTIONARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT AND ADJUST THE FUEL LINE ROUTING ON 1.8T VEHICLES AND THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Exterior lighting: brake lights, switch
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Fuel system, diesel
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Risk and remedy
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Canadian recalls (3)
Show 3 Canadian recalls
Fuel system
2008-04-09 · campaign 2008-119
On certain Passat and Passat Four Motion vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, an underbody heat shield may become damaged. If this occurs, the heat shield may contact the exhaust system, which can result in a vehicle fire. In addition, the affected vehicles may have a fuel line (1.8T engine only) or fuel tank ventilation valve (4motion / all-wheel drive vehicles only) that may leak due to fracture. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a vehicle fire. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs.
Lights and instruments
2006-05-24 · campaign 2006-122
On certain Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta wagon, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Passat and Passat wagon, the brake lamp switch may malfunction. If this happens, the brake lamps could become inoperative; or could come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked. Correction: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch with a newly revised version. This action includes vehicles previously affected by Transport Canada recall 03-184 and 04-075. The switch installed during this prior repair may not function properly. Note: parts available December 2006.
Fuel system
2004-12-13 · campaign 2004-435
On certain vehicle equipped with TDI-PD (Pumpe-Düse) engines, the high-pressure diesel pumps were produced with improper fasteners. In rare cases, one of these improper fasteners may yield due to repeated cyclic loading and allow diesel fuel to escape from the high-pressure pump. Diesel fuel in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire. Additionally, due to the quantity of fuel that may be released, there is a crash risk posed to vehicles traveling behind the subject vehicle. Correction: Dealers will install a replacement diesel pump kit.
Owner complaints (279)
Owners filed 279 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Passat (9 crashes, 25 fires, 23 injuries reported). Among 33 model years of this model, it ranks #11 for the most complaints (median 146).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 59 | |
| Power train | 38 | |
| Seats | 34 | |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 28 | |
| Electrical system | 23 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 22 | |
| Engine | 18 | |
| Structure | 16 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Volkswagen Passat.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2004 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. w/SAB | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2004 Volkswagen Passat version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Passat 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 28 | 23 | $3,550 |
| Passat 1.8 L Automatic (S5) | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| Passat 2.0 L Automatic (S5) | 23 | 34 | 27 | $3,550 |
| Passat 2.8 L Manual 5-spd | 17 | 26 | 20 | $4,100 |
| Passat 2.8 L Automatic (S5) | 17 | 25 | 20 | $4,100 |
| Passat 4motion 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
| Passat 4motion 1.8 L Automatic (S5) | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,900 |
| Passat 4motion 2.8 L Automatic (S5) | 17 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Passat 4motion 4.0 L Manual 6-spd | 15 | 22 | 18 | $4,550 |
| Passat 4motion 4.0 L Automatic (S5) | 16 | 23 | 18 | $4,550 |
| Passat Wagon 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 19 | 28 | 23 | $3,550 |
| Passat Wagon 1.8 L Automatic (S5) | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,750 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.