20 of the 90 complaints about the 1993 Volkswagen Passat are about the engine — 22% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 103,000 miles.
20
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEATER CORE BAD IN 1993 VW GLX, VERY COMMON IN MY EXPERIENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10250580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT. FOUND TWO RECALLS REFERRING TO THESE TWO PROBLEMS. NEVER RECEIVED RECALL LETTERS FROM MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10159058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FAULTY HEATER CORES/HEATER EXCHANGERS LOCATED BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. HEATER CORE LEAKED. *BF ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AROUND THE FEET OF THE PASSENGER. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. RECALL# 98V295000.
NHTSA complaint #10103585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TURN ON AIR CONDITIONER, OR HEATER, AND A STEAM OF ANTIFREEZE COATS WINDSHIELD, AND IT GETS COMPLETELY FOGGED OVER TO THE POINT WHERE I CANNOT SEE. HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. 1993, PASSAT GLX. VR6.
NHTSA complaint #10090899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE POWER WINDOWS OPERATE BY THEMSELVES-NEED TO PULL FUSE TO STOP THIS, BUT THEN THEY ARE NOT OPERABLE AT ALL--THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN TERMS OF ESCAPE FROM VEHICLE, AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT FROM A VENTILATION STAND POINT. THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN CORNERING AND BRAKING, CREATING VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760759
NHTSA complaint #10008787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
LEAKAGE OF HOT ENGINE COOLANT FROM THE HEAT EXCHANGER LOCATED IN THE VEHICLES PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSED MINOR BURNS TO DRIVER'S LOWER LEG AREA. ADDITIONALLY, STEAM FROM THIS EVENT FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE THE VEHICLE. THIS EVENT REQUIRED THE DRIVER TO EXECUTE EMERGENCY ACTIONS TO AVOID A COLLISION AND SAFETY STOP THE VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN, INC. IMPLEMENTED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE 1992-1994 VR6 CORRADO WHICH EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE (NHTSA INVESTIGATION/ACTION NO. EA98-012). *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED CONSUMER TO SMELLED GAS FUMES, MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTIFICATION (95V-178). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #550244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING TO AIRPORT THE TEMPERATOR INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, FLASHING, AND THE HEATER CORE EXPLODED. INTERIOR OF THE CAR FILLED WITH DENSE WHITE VAPOR. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR ON THE ROAD/SHOULDER AND MY WIFE AND I EVACUATED. ROAD AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT WAS BASICLY CLEAR OF OTHER VEHICLES OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM OF OUR SURVIVAL.
NHTSA complaint #718788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND DESTROYED ALL THE VALVES. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT BROKE WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #845086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY DUE A DEFECTIVE TIMING BELT AND RUINED ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #841223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION/HEATER CORE/ FAN SWITCH AND ENGINE COOLING T SYSTEM WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND HESITATE. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE/WATER PUMP ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #840106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MILES:1,519- DOESN'T TURN OVER - REPLACED BATTERY: 8602- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON- REPL BAD HOUSING CONNECTION:11,672-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON-RPL CAM POSITION SENSOR&ECM&AC CONTROLS:22,013-RATTLING WHINING NOISE-REPL FROZEN RADIATOR FAN MOTOR, BURNT FAN CONN/REPRODUCED WRING, O/RING, DEFECTIVE CAM POSITION, SENSOR;25,763 REPLACE BATTERY;34,677-SERPENTINE BELT REPL;36,800-REPL HALL/TCI CONTROL UNIT;50,610- REPL BATTERY, ALTERNATOR HARNESS;51,070 REPL AUXILIARY WATER PUMP;CONNECTOR,HOSES;53,190-AC CONTROL WITH OPEN CONNECTION & WIRING OVERHEATED,REPL CONTROLS & REPAIRED WIRING, HEATERCONTROL, CONNECTOR:60,523-REPL HEATER CORE, SEALS, THERMOSTATE, HOUSING, SEAL RING, 3 O-RINGS, SERPINTINE BELT; 63,782-REPL BATTERY, CRUISE CONTROL & SUNROOF NO LONGER WORK TOO COSTLY TO REPAIR, 66,035- REPL POWER SUPPLY RELAY, FUEL PUMP;71,000 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALER INDICATES FULL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. PURCHASED '88 JETTA. IN '97 DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO PASSAT GLX. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE BUY A VOLKSWAGEN.
NHTSA complaint #705378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
MILES:1,519- DOESN'T TURN OVER - REPLACED BATTERY: 8602- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON- REPL BAD HOUSING CONNECTION:11,672-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON-RPL CAM POSITION SENSOR&ECM&AC CONTROLS:22,013-RATTLING WHINING NOISE-REPL FROZEN RADIATOR FAN MOTOR, BURNT FAN CONN/REPRODUCED WRING, O/RING, DEFECTIVE CAM POSITION, SENSOR;25,763 REPLACE BATTERY;34,677-SERPENTINE BELT REPL;36,800-REPL HALL/TCI CONTROL UNIT;50,610- REPL BATTERY, ALTERNATOR HARNESS;51,070 REPL AUXILIARY WATER PUMP;CONNECTOR,HOSES;53,190-AC CONTROL WITH OPEN CONNECTION & WIRING OVERHEATED,REPL CONTROLS & REPAIRED WIRING, HEATERCONTROL, CONNECTOR:60,523-REPL HEATER CORE, SEALS, THERMOSTATE, HOUSING, SEAL RING, 3 O-RINGS, SERPINTINE BELT; 63,782-REPL BATTERY, CRUISE CONTROL & SUNROOF NO LONGER WORK TOO COSTLY TO REPAIR, 66,035- REPL POWER SUPPLY RELAY, FUEL PUMP;71,000 TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DEALER INDICATES FULL REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. PURCHASED '88 JETTA. IN '97 DECIDED TO UPGRADE TO PASSAT GLX. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE BUY A VOLKSWAGEN.
NHTSA complaint #705378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE COOLING FAN. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE WITHIN THE RADIATOR. CONSUMER THINKS RADIATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #835666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE COOLING FAN. CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED NOTICED THERE WAS A HOLE WITHIN THE RADIATOR. CONSUMER THINKS RADIATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #835666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE STARTED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #825631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT SMELLED STRONG ODOR. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #535495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AT 10MPH AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #980662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.