Safety Score
87
Safe
Recalls
0
Complaints
50
NCAP Stars
—
Recalls (0)
No recalls found for the 1997 Volkswagen Passat.
Owner Complaints (showing up to 50)
| Date | Component | Crash | Injuries | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-05-05 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | No | 0 | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ERUPTED SPONTANEOUSLY INSIDE THE DASH… |
| 2008-07-21 | VISIBILITY | No | 0 | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OR HEAD… |
| 2008-06-07 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND THE… |
| 2007-11-06 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | No | 0 | TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE AND THE DEALER EIGHT TIM… |
| 2007-08-05 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 1 | ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 5TH, 2007, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WITH MY 7 YEAR OLD SON IN THE BACK SEAT, DENSE, NOXIOUS 'STEAM'/SMOK… |
| 2007-06-04 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | HEATER CORE FAILED- CLOUDING THE WINDOW TO A DEGREE THAT WE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE WE COULD GET THE CAR PULLED O… |
| 2007-02-01 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | No | 0 | VEHICLE VOLKSWAGEN 1997 PASSAT GLX - V6 ENGINE. FULL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, DIGITAL… |
| 2006-10-18 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | VARIOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING--WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LIGHTS, DEFROST MOTOR--ON A VERY DARK, RAINY MOR… |
| 2006-08-13 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL. SAME CONDITION WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL ON 1996 VW PASSAT MODELS, M… |
| 2006-05-10 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | HOT COOLANT SUDDENLY STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND CAUSED ALL THE WINDOWS TO FOG OVER. HAD TO PULL OF FREEWAY AN… |
| 2005-12-27 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE FLOOR, NOT ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO COMPLETELY … |
| 2005-12-24 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | No | 0 | WHILE EN-ROUTE BETWEEN DEXTER, MICHIGAN AND GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, CABIN BEGAN TO SMELL OF SMOKE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER,… |
| 2005-12-14 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | HEATER CORE FAILURE. INITIALLY I ONLY SMELL THE RADIATOR FLUID. THEN IT QUICKLY CHANGES OVER TO STEAM ACTUALLY COMING O… |
| 2005-05-02 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | 1. IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. 2. CAUSED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND TEMPORARY ENGINE FAILURE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DAMAGE.… |
| 2005-03-21 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCE A FAILURE YET, BUT I HAVE A 1997 PASSAT VR6 AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH MY MODEL HAVE EXPER… |
| 2005-01-27 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | HEATER CORE FAILURE - HEATER CORE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, DUMPING HOT COOLANT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FOOT WELL, AND OBSCU… |
| 2004-12-13 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | No | 0 | CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES. THE DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES FROZE IN COLD WEATHER. CONSUMER HAD TO TIE… |
| 2004-12-13 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH AND HEADLIGHTS PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ON A WINDING ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS J… |
| 2004-12-03 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | No | 0 | WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AT NIGHT IN INCLEMENT CONDITIONS HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. CO… |
| 2004-08-09 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | Yes | 1 | I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 PASSAT WHEN IT STARTED TO OVER HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE GAGE ROSE VERY QUICKLY AND I IMMEDIATELY TOO… |
| 2004-07-15 | AIR BAGS | No | 0 | I PURCHASED A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VR6 AT CHECKERED FLAG BMW IN JUNE 2004, AND SINCE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRI… |
| 2004-06-01 | VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | No | 0 | DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM HAS REPEATED FAILURES DESPITE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR ON SIX OCCASIONS. THIS IS A… |
| 2004-05-10 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER STAED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS RE… |
| 2004-05-07 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | No | 0 | NUMEROUS OCASSIONS MY PASSAT WILL "SHUT DOWN" WHILE DRIVING. LOSE ALL POWER, A/C, HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND N… |
| 2004-03-10 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | No | 0 | MY GIRLFRIENDS 1997 VW PASSAT HAS A PLASTIC COOLANT HOUSING WHICH FAILED. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS CATASTROPHIC LOST OF ALL … |
| 2004-03-06 | VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | No | 0 | SUNROOF SUDDENLY AND LOUDLY EXPLODED OUTWARDS FROM CABIN AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING WITH HEAT ON HIGH/MEDIUM HIG… |
| 2003-12-09 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | No | 0 | 1997 VW PASSAT TDI: RR DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. PROBLEM DEVELOPED OVER PERIOD OF TIME, SAFETY HAZARD BE… |
| 2003-10-02 | VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | No | 0 | WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CHEMICAL FUMES ARE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. DEALER STATED H… |
| 2003-09-15 | STRUCTURE | No | 0 | STALLING WITHOUT REASON. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM |
| 2003-08-16 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | ON AUGUST 16, 2003, WE WERE DRIVING ON THE NEW JERSEY PARKWAY IN OUR 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON WHEN THE CLUT… |
| 2003-08-15 | VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | No | 0 | HEATER CORE FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY, CAUSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SWEET SMELLING WHITE/GREY SMOKE AND HOT MIST TO FILL THE P… |
| 2003-06-01 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | No | 0 | 1997 VW PASSAT TDI. THE CAR HAD A "TV-12" RECALL, IN WHICH THE ECM AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. WITHIN SIX (6) … |
| 2003-01-15 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No | 0 | SEAT BELTS NEVER RAVAL ALL THE WAY (MINOR ISSUE), AIR CONDITIONER GETS COLD ONLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE (ONCE AGAIN MINOR),… |
| 2002-11-20 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | LIGHTS, WIPERS AND HEATER FAN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S … |
| 2002-08-01 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | No | 0 | THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE NOT BEE REAR ENDED BUT I'M AFRAID THAT I MIGHT BE. WHE… |
| 2002-08-01 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | No | 0 | 3 DOOR LATCHES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND CURRENTLY ARE COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. HAVE TO PULL WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDE… |
| 2002-05-15 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | No | 0 | 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 40,000 EXSPEIENCED SUDDEN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. NEW BATTERY PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED. NO EXPLANAT… |
| 2002-05-01 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENLY NOT START. DLR DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. TS |
| 2002-04-03 | STRUCTURE | No | 0 | ON TOP OF ALL THE CHRONIC DESIGN AND OTHER FAILURES THAT HAVE BEEN ENDURED, ADD THE FOLLOWING : DRIVERS OUTSIDE REAR V… |
| 2002-03-24 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | No | 0 | SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. LAST REPORT TO NHTSA WAS 6/17/01 JB. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK |
| 2002-03-06 | STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | No | 0 | OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES OF BOTH FRONT DOORS DO NOT WORK. REAR DOOR HANDLES MUST BE PULLED HARD TO WORK. DRIVER'S DOOR HAND… |
| 2001-07-04 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | No | 0 | NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK |
| 2001-06-17 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | No | 0 | WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT, BRAKE PEDAL FAILE… |
| 2001-06-01 | AIR BAGS | No | 0 | STARTED WITH AIRBAG LIGHT TURNING ON. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE PARKING BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TURNED ON BUT ONLY FOR THE F… |
| 2001-05-19 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | No | 0 | WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95 IN THE PASSING LANE AT 70 MPH, THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR … |
| 2001-05-16 | STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | No | 0 | RT FRONT PASSSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE SECURELY. I WILL BE BRINGING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME TO LOOK … |
| 2000-10-02 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | No | 0 | NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK |
| 2000-08-31 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | No | 0 | IGNITION SWITCH WORE OUT PREMATURELY. WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PORTIONS HAD TURNED OFF, AFFECTI… |
| 1999-11-30 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | No | 0 | THE DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES INTERMITTENTLY HAVE FAILED TO SECURE THE DOORS FROM OPENING, |
| 1999-09-01 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | No | 0 | CONSUMER STATES THE PIVOT AND PLUNGER PIVOT POINT OF THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES.*JB |