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1992 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 39 owner complaints about the 1992 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

80
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years74% below the Passat median · #23 of 33 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints395 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage140kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 4, 2007. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1992 Volkswagen Passat has problems

39 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling172
Fuel system, gasoline80
Power train70
Visibility71
Vehicle speed control40
Electrical system30
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Suspension21
Seat belts21
3 other systems30

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1992 Volkswagen Passat recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 92V-131 · Sep 15, 1992 · 12,650 vehicles

Risk. THE VENTURI TUBE CAN PARTIALLY BLOCK THE THROTTLE PLATEAND PREVENT IT FROM RETURNING TO ITS FULL IDLE POSITION, RESULTING IN UNWANTEDENGINE SPEED WHEN THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.

Best & worst years

1992 vs. every other Passat year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Passat median. How we score

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1992 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings

1992 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Passat owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

HEAT EXCHANGER (CORE) LEAKED WHILE DRIVING, STEAMING UP THE VEHICLE INTERIOR TO IMPAIR VISIBILITY. HOT COOLANT LEAKED INTO PASSENGER'S FOOT AREA. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ALREADY ISSUED RECALL # 96V115000. MY CAR IS 1992 VW PASSAT: [XXX]. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF…
Complaint 10041089 · Oct 2, 2003 · 140,000 miles
AFTERMARKET ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN IN TWO DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES, PART NO 191199279C FOR THREE DIFFERENT VW VEHICLES 85-95 MODELS. *AK
Complaint 982248 · Apr 3, 1996
WHEN IT'S COLD VEHICLE WILL START FAST AND RUN WELL. BUT AFTER CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP, PARKED AND STARTED AGAIN, IT'S HARD TO START. THEN, WHEN GOING DOWN THE STREET AND SLOWING DOWN, VEHICLE WILL STALL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO…
Complaint 858402 · Mar 13, 2000

Own a 1992 Passat?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.