2003 Volkswagen Passat Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, 14% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 62,359 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition coil” (13% of reports).
- 90electrical system complaints
- 62,359median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition coil: mentioned in 12 of 90 complaints (13%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 74 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 90 complaints, 13 a fire, 3 an injury.
Volkswagen Passat electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Passat | 3 | 23% | 90 |
| 2021 Passat | 3 | 17% | — |
| 2020 Passat | 3 | 17% | — |
| 2019 Passat | 4 | 33% | 2,763 |
| 2018 Passat | 10 | 22% | 49,900 |
| 2017 Passat | 18 | 16% | 54,078 |
| 2016 Passat | 22 | 21% | 6,100 |
| 2015 Passat | 48 | 20% | 52,100 |
| 2014 Passat | 74 | 12% | 48,000 |
| 2013 Passat | 93 | 12% | 63,000 |
| 2012 Passat | 95 | 20% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Passat | 4 | 25% | 96,500 |
| 2010 Passat | 21 | 13% | 71,000 |
| 2009 Passat | 18 | 12% | 62,800 |
| 2008 Passat | 21 | 13% | 85,000 |
| 2007 Passat | 34 | 13% | 80,000 |
| 2006 Passat | 79 | 14% | 59,244 |
| 2005 Passat | 9 | 6% | 63,507 |
| 2004 Passat | 23 | 8% | 55,999 |
| 2003 Passat | 90 | 14% | 62,359 |
| 2002 Passat | 220 | 35% | 14,590 |
| 2001 Passat | 73 | 17% | 39,500 |
| 2000 Passat | 43 | 8% | 74,000 |
| 1999 Passat | 58 | 9% | 84,799 |
| 1998 Passat | 28 | 8% | 82,365 |
| 1997 Passat | 13 | 35% | 86,000 |
| 1996 Passat | 14 | 35% | 94,600 |
| 1995 Passat | 15 | 16% | 143,435 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists electrical system for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I purchased a used 2003 vw passat from a private dealer drove the car five months and the timing belt came off while i was driving. I almost got into an accident but avoided it. This particular vehicle and ones like it was recalled in 3/7/2014 for engine and engine cooling engine problems that…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that it took multiple attempts for the vehicle to become operable even when the starter was engaged. The vehicle also experienced an interior water leak and the driver side door latch would not properly latch. In addition, the…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN PARK. ALSO, THE…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Volkswagen Passats have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 90 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat (14% of the 628 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat electrical system?
No recall currently lists electrical system for this vehicle.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 62,359 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition coil”, in 12 of 90 complaints.
Other 2003 Volkswagen Passat problems
See all 2003 Volkswagen Passat problems or electrical system problems across all Passat years.