Menu

2005 Volkswagen PassatProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 148 owner complaints about the 2005 Volkswagen Passat, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.

2005 Volkswagen Passat
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Passat median · #14 of 33 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Free fix at dealersOwner complaints14822 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage78kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 18, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Jones028 from Hong Kong, CC BY 2.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2005 Volkswagen Passat has problems

148 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 cooling501
Power train130
Seats137
Engine121
Fuel system, gasoline102
Electrical system91
Fuel/propulsion system80
Structure60
Exterior lighting50
14 other systems388

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

3 recalls

2005 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

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

Recall 08V-156 · Apr 7, 2008 · 412,000 vehicles

Risk. A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

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.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

78kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 45 engine and engine cooling complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles34under 100k miles11100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

18 owners mentioned a cost

$3,000median

Middle half: $2,000 – $3,150

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2005 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

2005 Volkswagen Passat safety ratings

2005 Volkswagen Passat 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2005 Volkswagen Passat frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2005 Volkswagen Passat, and the recalls they led to.

  1. PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA07014 · closed Jul 7, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-156
  2. Engine Compartment FireEA11002 · closed Feb 17, 2012
    No recall
  3. FUEL TANK LEAKPE08008 · closed May 30, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-156
In owners' words

What Passat owners report

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED STATED THAT…
Complaint 10457776 · May 8, 2012 · 125,000 miles
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE ALARM MESSAGE "OIL PRESSURE LOW: STOP ENGINE" CAME ON. I GOT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. BENT VALVES, BROKEN PISTON SHAFT, ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. I'VE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET AS I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO MY OPTIONS SINCE THEN.…
Complaint 10452405 · Mar 20, 2012 · 100,000 miles
2.0L VW PASSAT TDI HAD A RATTLING, VIBRATING CHAIN NOISE FROM THE OIL PUMP BALANCE SHAFT MODULE IN THE OIL PAN. THE OIL PUMP CHAINS/SPROCKETS/TENSIONERS WERE WORN AND CAUSED NOTICEABLE VIBRATION AND RATTLING NOISE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES; HOWEVER, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. WE HAD THE ENTIRE OIL…
Complaint 10451066 · Mar 10, 2012 · 120,000 miles

Own a 2005 Passat?

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