NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 3 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon.

2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon, describing incidents dated April 26, 2013 to June 5, 2017.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Seats 1 complaint

Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire; across all 3 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11003542 · Filed July 7, 2017
WHEN IN MOTION CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING
ODI #10836594 · Filed February 17, 2016
MY FRONT DRIVER SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON LOW. I COULD FEEL THE SEAT GETTING WARMER AND CHECKED TO BE SURE THE SETTING WAS NOT ON HIGH WHICH IT WASN'T. I THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS BEING SENSITIVE AND STUCK MY MITTEN UNDER MY THIGH. I THEN NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL AND SUDDENLY THINGS GOT VERY HOT AND STARTED…
ODI #10510560 · Filed May 3, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE LEAK WAS NOTICED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…

Read all 3 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11003542

Incident: June 5, 2017 · Filed: July 7, 2017

WHEN IN MOTION CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING

Electrical System; Seats

ODI #10836594

Fire 1 injury

Incident: January 15, 2016 · Filed: February 17, 2016

MY FRONT DRIVER SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON LOW. I COULD FEEL THE SEAT GETTING WARMER AND CHECKED TO BE SURE THE SETTING WAS NOT ON HIGH WHICH IT WASN'T. I THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS BEING SENSITIVE AND STUCK MY MITTEN UNDER MY THIGH. I THEN NOTICED A FUNNY SMELL AND SUDDENLY THINGS GOT VERY HOT AND STARTED TO BURN MY LEG AS I WAS DRIVING. I LOOKED DOWN AND ACTUALLY STARTED TO SEE SMOKE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO JUST PULL OVER BUT QUICKLY TURNED THE SEAT OFF. I PULLED OUT MY MITTEN AND FLEECE WAS ACTUALLY MELTED. I WAS A BLOCK OR TWO FROM WORK AND TRIED TO KEEP FROM SITTING COMPLETELY DOWN AS IT BURNED. I ARRIVED AND JUMPED OUT TO SEE A BLACKENED AREA AND HOLE IN MY SEAT!! THE CAR WAS SMELLING AND I AM STILL IN SHOCK OVER THIS. I HAVE LOOKED AND CAN'T FIND A RECALL ON THE SEAT. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND DANGEROUS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW OLD THE CAR IS.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10510560

Incident: April 26, 2013 · Filed: May 3, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE LEAK WAS NOTICED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Other Volkswagen Passat Wagon model years

Check your 2003 Volkswagen Passat Wagon VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen Passat Wagon at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Volkswagen VIN