Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2000 Volkswagen Passat, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic160
- Engine and engine cooling94
- Electrical system43
- Suspension36
- Fuel system, gasoline30
- Service brakes, air29
- Visibility26
- Steering25
- Power train19
- Air bags17
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2000 Passat vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2000 Volkswagen Passat failed the safety check 0.79% of the time — 58% less often than the average 2000 passenger car (1.86%). Median odometer at inspection: 138,590 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2000 Volkswagen Passat cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp), 1.6 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp) and 2.3 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp), out of 8 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 115 |
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 44 |
| 2.3 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 43 |
| 1.8 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 36 |
| 1.9 diesel | 66 kW 89 hp | 34 |
| 1.9 diesel | 85 kW 114 hp | 27 |
| 2.8 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 22 |
| 1.9 diesel | 81 kW 109 hp | 21 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
366 first registered in 2000 are on Dutch roads; 6% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen190
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde155
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm84
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af84
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld83
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm79
- Band onvoldoende profiel73
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect63
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
321 cars built in 2000 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,310 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 606 of these cars first registered in 2000 took their annual MOT test. 54% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2000 the figure was 61%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 23.3% | 17.7% |
| Suspension | 17.2% | 14.3% |
| Brakes | 12.9% | 12.8% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.4% | 9.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 9.7% | 7.7% |
| Steering | 7.3% | 3.9% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
471 of these cars first registered in 2000 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 358,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
25 2000 cars are on the New Zealand register; 52% arrived as used imports, 44% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.8–12.5 L/100 km (about 19–24 mpg US), CO₂ 225–288 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.2 | 8.2 | 9.8 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 8.7 | 11.2 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.7 | 9.8 | 12.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2000 Volkswagen Passat.
| 2008119 9 Apr 2008 | Fuel System On certain Passat and Passat Four Motion vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, an underbody heat shield may become damaged. If this occurs, the hea… |
| 2000133 16 Jun 2000 | Fuel System On certain Passat Four Motion, sulphur in the fuel interacting with certain additives found in widely available fuel can become deposited on certain contact poi… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL LINE (1.8T ENGINES ONLY) OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE.
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SULFUR IN FUEL INTERACTS WITH CERTAIN ADDITIVES FOUND IN WIDELY AVAILABLE GASOLINE CAUSING SULFUR TO BECOME DEPOSITED ON THE CONTACT POINTS OF THREE FUEL SENDING UNITS MOUNTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD CAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ FULL WHILE THE FUEL TANK MAY NOT IN FACT BE FULL OR COULD BE EMPTY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2000 Volkswagen Passat: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 626970 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. *SLC |
| 621623 | SUBJECT REGARDING MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT |
| 621613 | SUBJECT REGARDING LATCH SYSTEM LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN, INSTALLING / RETROFITTING. *TT |
| 612460 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE CAPACITIES OF THE ENGINE OIL WITH FILTER CHANGE. *MJS |
| 610173 | CONCERNS WITH THE ARMREST CUPHOLD MISSING AT PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION. *TT |
| 610162 | SUBJECT REGARDING PREMIUM V RADIO, CODING AFTER CD-CHANGER OR CD-PLAYER INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 610161 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO THE SUNROOF SLIDING HEADLINER, REPLACING SLIDES. *TT |
| 607937 | CONDITIONS WITH POOR AM RECEPTION. *TT |
| 10253215 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253214 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253213 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10252204 | Air Conditioning Does not Operate |
| 10243034 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243011 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242998 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242997 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242996 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242399 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242375 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242372 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242349 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242336 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242335 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10241715 | Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections |
| 10241714 | Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
PASSENGER/ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE STALLING
PASSENGER AIR BAG LID FAILURE
PASSENGER SIR DOOR MOUNTING STUD FAILURE
FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
FUEL TANK PUNCTURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation