Complaints
185
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Volkswagen Passat Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#117 complaints
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Avg mileage:45,757 mi
#214 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Avg mileage:100,811 mi
#311 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Avg mileage:150,000 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Volkswagen Passat.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 17 | — | — | 45,757 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 14 | — | — | 100,811 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 11 | — | — | 150,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 11 | — | — | — | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 8 | — | — | 92,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 | — | — | 84,000 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 7 | — | — | 140,000 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 | — | — | 60,000 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 | — | — | — | |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 6 | — | — | 83,507 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 6 | — | — | 88,000 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 5 | — | — | — | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 4 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 | — | — | — | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 4 | — | — | — | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 3 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 3 | — | — | 100,508 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 3 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 | — | — | 92,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 | — | — | — | |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK | 2 | — | — | 10,028 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 2 | — | — | — |
Other Volkswagen Passat Years
Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Passat reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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