13 of the 50 complaints about the 1990 Volkswagen Passat are about the engine — 26% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 146,000 miles.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALL 96V115000: THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT, THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY HEATING CORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEATER CORE, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10044805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALL 96 V 115 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OVERHEATING IN WHICH COOLANT / STEAM WAS COMING INTO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK HEATING CORE FAILED AND LEAKED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM REPAIR WHILE THE SAME FAILURES AS IN THE RECALL OCCURED.
NHTSA complaint #884612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED AND ENGINE OVERHEATED. CURRENTLY, THERE IS A LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #876465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #551915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN I APPLY QUICK BRAKES AT 50 MPH. ALSO, WHEN I LEAVE THE HIGHWAY, REDUCING VEHICLE SPEEC TO 30 MPH, UPON APPLYING BRAKING THE ENGINE FREQUENTLY STALLS. THIS IS AN DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION WHICH CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT/CRASH. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN I APPLY QUICK BRAKES AT 30 MPH. THE LACK OF VACCUM PRESENT DUE TO ENGINE STALLING CAUSES THE POWER BRAKES TO FAIL, REQUIRING EXCESSIVE FOOT PRESSURE AND EMERGENCY BRAKES ENGAGEMENT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAD AN RECENT TUNE-UP WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS TO THE PROBLEM*AK.
NHTSA complaint #721370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO THE OIL TOP BEING LEFT OFF WHICH CAUSED ANIT-FREEZE FLUID TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #849510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMIMG BELT BROKE WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #514337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING BELT BROKE AND DISTORYED THE ENGINE
NHTSA complaint #514337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE OVERHEATS, CAUSING THE COOLANT PRESSURE TO RISE, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #821477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET LEAKS, ALLOWING OIL TO RUN ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND BURNS, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO ENTE RVEHICLE; ALSO, HEAT EXHANGER LEAKS, CAUSING ODOR TO ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO DRIVER'S FEET OR FOG UP WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #515289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEATER EXCHANGER LEAKS AND ODER ENTERS PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS LEAK COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE DRIVER'S FEET OR CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG OVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #546774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET LEAKS ALLOW OIL TO RUN ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND BURN, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE IS ALSO A RISK OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #546773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT TENSIONER BEARING SEIZED, CAUSING DESTRUCTION OF TIMING BELT.
NHTSA complaint #504856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.