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Volkswagen / Passat / 2005

2005 Volkswagen Passat problems

Owners have filed 172 complaints about the 2005 Volkswagen Passat with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling accounts for 29.7% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of power train at 7.6%.

Complaints172
Crashes9
Fires12
Injuries4
Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Engine and engine cooling 29.7% · 51
Power train 7.6% · 13
Seats 7.6% · 13
Engine 7.0% · 12
Fuel system, gasoline 5.8% · 10
Electrical system 5.2% · 9
Fuel/propulsion system 4.7% · 8
Unknown or other 4.1% · 7
Severity

Of those complaints, 9 describe a crash, 12 describe a fire and 4 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 22 model years of the Volkswagen Passat in this data, 2005 draws comparatively few complaints; 2013 is the outlier year.

Filing volume has held steady, 11 in the last three years against 12 in the three before.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 71,000 miles.

In owners' own words

The contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact heard a clattering sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for routine maintenance where the mechanic advised that the chain drive assembly for the oil pump would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 96,500. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 96,500 miles
I was driving on the highway with my 2 years old son, and out of no where the car stop and as soon as stop one of the message from my car was stop cooling engine, that was the four time that light appears on my car, I been talking the car to the mechanic for that problem but they told me it is a defect I already spent more than $3,000.00 On my car and is not working, my car is a wv Passat 2005. Engine and engine cooling · reported at 96,000 miles
Tl- the contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Passat tdi. The contact stated that at engine startup, a noise was heard from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the mechanic stated to the contact that the oil pump chain was loose. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 108,500 and the current mileage was 109,000. Kmj Engine and engine cooling · reported at 108,500 miles

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Volkswagen Passat years

Compare all 22 model years →