The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
The risk
IF SUCH FAILURES OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE AT NIGHT OR IN RAINY OR SNOWY WEATHER, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat | 1996 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat | 1996 | 40 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2002
34 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the electrical system; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC filed 204 campaigns in all.
| 02V338000 16 Dec 2002 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 02V324000 6 Dec 2002 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V288000 6 Nov 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V284000 30 Oct 2002 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 02V267000 1 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V259000 20 Sept 2002 | PLEASURE-WAY INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 02V233000 5 Sept 2002 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 02V225000 15 Aug 2002 | CLUB CAR, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002