1996 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Passat years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 22nd of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Volkswagen Passat. That ranks 22nd out of 28 Passat model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints, 35%), typically at around 94,600 miles. Complaints mention 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 40owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Volkswagen Passat problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 14 | 35% | 94,600 | — | — |
| Visibility | 12 | 30% | 82,450 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 13% | 103,509 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 13% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 8% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 5% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 3% | 76,279 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 3% | 92,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Volkswagen Passat recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the electrical portion of the ignition switch assembly can fail causing the headlights and windshield wipers to become inoperative.
Risk: If such failures occur while the vehicle is in use at night or in rainy or snowy weather, a crash could occur.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel tank puncture (EA00028) — opened Dec 28, 2000, closed Jan 29, 2002, led to recall 02V026000.
- Light and /windshield wipers (EA00020) — opened Aug 10, 2000, closed Oct 9, 2002, led to recall 02V256000.
- Fuel tank puncture (PE00033) — opened Aug 10, 2000, closed Dec 28, 2000.
- Lights and/or windshield wiper obscured (PE00006) — opened Feb 2, 2000, closed Aug 10, 2000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door handles failed to open from the outside. The contact also stated that the front driver side and the front passenger side door handles failed to open from the outside. The contact had to use the key…
I was driving on the highway in my 1996 vw passat at 65 mph and the entire inside of my car was engulfed with water and anti freeze steam and vapor. It was quickly and with out warning impossible to see through the windshield. The probable cause of the problem is a defective heater core. This is a…
Heater core failed while driving, blowing hot steam out of the vents, dumping hot coolant onto my feet and fogging up the windshield instantly. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen passat. Upon purchasing the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The seller stated that it was a minor issue. The check engine light was reset and illuminated again two days later. In addition, the vehicle would constantly…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen passat. The contact started the ignition and the antilock brake system warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. While the light was illuminated, the air conditioner unit, windshield wipers, and headlights were inoperative. The vehicle was taken to an…
Other Volkswagen Passat years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Passat | 13 | 0 |
| 2021 Passat | 18 | 1 |
| 2020 Passat | 18 | 3 |
| 2019 Passat | 12 | 1 |
| 2018 Passat | 46 | 4 |
| 2017 Passat | 110 | 7 |
| 2016 Passat | 106 | 5 |
| 2015 Passat | 243 | 7 |
| 2014 Passat | 594 | 10 |
| 2013 Passat | 748 | 9 |
| 2012 Passat | 484 | 11 |
| 2011 Passat | 16 | 0 |
| 2010 Passat | 163 | 4 |
| 2009 Passat | 146 | 4 |
| 2008 Passat | 168 | 4 |
| 2007 Passat | 262 | 7 |
| 2006 Passat | 576 | 7 |
| 2005 Passat | 148 | 3 |
| 2004 Passat | 279 | 3 |
| 2003 Passat | 628 | 6 |
| 2002 Passat | 636 | 3 |
| 2001 Passat | 430 | 3 |
| 2000 Passat | 507 | 3 |
| 1999 Passat | 664 | 5 |
| 1998 Passat | 331 | 4 |
| 1997 Passat | 37 | 0 |
| 1996 | 40 | 1 |
| 1995 Passat | 93 | 1 |
See all Volkswagen Passat problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
Embed this 1996 Volkswagen Passat badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report electrical system, visibility, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Volkswagen Passat?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Volkswagen Passat a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Passat model years, the 1996 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.