Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Passat, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling92
- Electrical system73
- Service brakes, hydraulic48
- Power train34
- Visibility31
- Exterior lighting30
- Fuel system, gasoline28
- Air bags26
- Suspension25
- Structure23
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 2001 Passat vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person 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 2001 Volkswagen Passat failed the safety check 3.20% of the time — 60% more often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 126,241 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2001 Volkswagen Passat cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (85 kW, 114 hp), 1.8 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp) and 2.3 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp), out of 7 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 85 kW 114 hp | 215 |
| 1.8 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 60 |
| 2.3 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 54 |
| 1.6 petrol | 75 kW 101 hp | 46 |
| 1.9 diesel | 74 kW 99 hp | 35 |
| 2.8 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 29 |
| 1.9 diesel | 96 kW 129 hp | 27 |
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
503 first registered in 2001 are on Dutch roads; 11% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €53,704.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen249
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde161
- Band onvoldoende profiel133
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm122
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld117
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af109
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm88
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk83
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
710 cars built in 2001 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2,420 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, 1,304 of these cars first registered in 2001 took their annual MOT test. 57% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2001 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 20.8% | 19.3% |
| Suspension | 15.4% | 15.4% |
| Brakes | 13.0% | 13.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 11.6% | 9.7% |
| Steering | 7.1% | 3.7% |
| Tyres | 6.5% | 5.6% |
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
639 of these cars first registered in 2001 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
37 2001 cars are on the New Zealand register; 46% arrived as used imports, 49% 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 6 variants: combined 10.3–13.3 L/100 km (about 18–23 mpg US), CO₂ 237–306 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 11.9 | 8.3 | 10.3 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 9.0 | 11.4 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| Passat · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.6 | 9.8 | 12.4 |
| Passat 4MOTION · Compact · Premium gasoline | 15.3 | 10.7 | 13.3 |
| Passat 4MOTION Wagon · Station wagon: Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.3 | 10.7 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2001 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… |
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 2001 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 |
| 621610 | CONCERNS WITH NOISE FROM HEADLINER COMING FROM FRONT OF SUNROOF AREA ON VEHICLES UP TO VIN 3B_1P284196. *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 |
| 10242995 | 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 |
| 10242333 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10241715 | Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections |
| 10241714 | Perfect Delivery Inspection (PDI) - Technician and Detailer Inspections |
| 10241340 | Engine Oils Which Meet Volkswagen Oil Quality Standard VW 502 00/505 00/505 01 and VW 504 00/507 00 |
| 10241339 | Oil Consumption Measurement |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Engine Compartment Fire
FUEL TANK LEAK
PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
PASSENGER/ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE STALLING
PASSENGER AIR BAG LID FAILURE
PASSENGER SIR DOOR MOUNTING STUD FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation