Complaints
105
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Volkswagen Passat Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Avg mileage:73,333 mi
#29 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Avg mileage:115,522 mi
#39 complaints
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
Avg mileage:156,182 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Volkswagen Passat.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 10 | — | — | 73,333 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 9 | — | — | 115,522 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 9 | — | — | 156,182 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 | — | — | — | |
| AIR BAGS | 4 | — | — | 100,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 | — | — | 65,250 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 4 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 | — | 1 | 87,000 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 3 | 1 | — | 100,000 mi | |
| TIRES | 3 | — | — | — | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 | — | — | 67,750 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 3 | — | — | 158,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 | — | 1 | 157,500 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 2 | — | — | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 2 | — | — | 32,500 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 | — | — | 97,000 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 | — | — | — | |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 | — | — | — | |
| STRUCTURE | 2 | — | — | 55,000 mi | |
| VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER | 2 | — | — | 88,500 mi | |
| 1 | — | — | — | ||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 | — | — | 86,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 | — | 1 | 200,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 | — | — | 80,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 | — | — | 100,000 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 | — | — | 80,000 mi |
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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