1997 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Passat years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 23rd of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Volkswagen Passat. That ranks 23rd out of 28 Passat model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (16 complaints, 43%), typically at around 125,952 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 fires, 2 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 37owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 16 | 43% | 125,952 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 13 | 35% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 19% | 82,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 11% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 8% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 8% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 5% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 5% | 67,750 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | 113,900 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Volkswagen Passat recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Volkswagen Passat.
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.
- Fuel tank puncture (PE00033) — opened Aug 10, 2000, closed Dec 28, 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 1997 volkswagen passat tdi. The contact stated that a fire erupted spontaneously inside the dashboard which caused all of the wires to melt and the windshield to fracture. The fire department was contacted who determined that the fire started in the area where the ignition…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 volkswagen passat. Whenever the contact attempted to activate the windshield wipers or headlights, they failed to turn on. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. There were no warnings prior to the failures. The current mileage was 62,000 and failure mileage…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 volkswagen passat. While parking the vehicle, the contact heard an unfamiliar noise and the air conditioning began to blow hot air. He exited the vehicle and discovered water leaking from the undercarriage. He believes that the heater core may have failed. The current and…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 volkswagen passat. The contact has taken his vehicle to the garage and the dealer eight times. The engine head was replaced at 42,000 miles and the turbo charge is currently failing. The contact stated that the repairs cost more than the actual price of the vehicle. The…
On sunday, august 5th, 2007, while driving the car with my 7 year old son in the back seat, dense, noxious 'steam'/smoke began to come out of all vents and around the dash area in my well-maintained volkswagen. Hot coolant also leaked into the passenger compartment of my passat on the driver's…
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 | 37 | 0 |
| 1996 Passat | 40 | 1 |
| 1995 Passat | 93 | 1 |
See all Volkswagen Passat problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners most often report visibility, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 16 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Volkswagen Passat?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 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 1997 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.