2003 Volkswagen Passat Fuel System, Gasoline Problems
Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, 22% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 59,641 miles. The words owners use most often: “fuel pump” (65% of reports).
- 137fuel system, gasoline complaints
- 59,641median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $970typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%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.
- Fuel pump: mentioned in 89 of 137 complaints (65%)
- Gasoline delivery: mentioned in 12 of 137 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel system, gasoline repair on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat at $970, and half of them between $790 and $1,450.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 137 complaints, 2 a fire.
Volkswagen Passat fuel system, gasoline complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel System, Gasoline complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Passat | 1 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2017 Passat | 1 | 1% | 41,751 |
| 2016 Passat | 3 | 3% | 89,000 |
| 2015 Passat | 2 | 1% | 120,000 |
| 2014 Passat | 2 | 0% | 67,000 |
| 2013 Passat | 1 | 0% | 1,200 |
| 2012 Passat | 3 | 1% | 7,235 |
| 2011 Passat | 1 | 6% | 75,000 |
| 2010 Passat | 8 | 5% | 88,749 |
| 2009 Passat | 7 | 5% | 107,154 |
| 2008 Passat | 19 | 11% | 80,025 |
| 2007 Passat | 12 | 5% | 62,500 |
| 2006 Passat | 21 | 4% | 53,000 |
| 2005 Passat | 10 | 7% | 71,500 |
| 2004 Passat | 28 | 10% | 88,500 |
| 2003 Passat | 137 | 22% | 59,641 |
| 2002 Passat | 55 | 9% | 80,500 |
| 2001 Passat | 28 | 7% | 76,000 |
| 2000 Passat | 30 | 6% | 65,000 |
| 1999 Passat | 24 | 4% | 88,500 |
| 1998 Passat | 16 | 5% | 223,434 |
| 1997 Passat | 1 | 3% | — |
| 1995 Passat | 3 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery
Problem: 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.
Risk: A heat shield that may contact the exhaust system can result in a vehicle fire. In addition, a fuel leak from a fuel line or fuel tank ventilation valve, in the presence of an ignition source, can lead to a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will install additional underbody heat shields on vehicles with automatic transmissions to cover the possibly damaged areas and flash all 1.8t engines with a precautionary software update. Dealers will also inspect and adjust the fuel line routing on 1.8t vehicles and the fuel tank ventilation valve on 4motion/all wheel drive vehicles, and replace components if necessary free of charge. The recall began on june 13, 2008. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: On certain vehicles equipped with 1.8l turbo, 2.8l v6, or 3.0l engines, a change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall.
Risk: If fuel flow to the engine is interrupted, the vehicle could stall without warning and thus present a potential risk of crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on september 28, 20007. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-222-8987 or audi at 1-800-822-2834. This recall is a supplement to a previous campaign (please see 06v017).
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: On certain vehicles produced from september 2002 - march 2003, equipped with 1.8l turbo, 2.8l v6, or 3.0l engines, a change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall.
Risk: If fuel flow to the engine is interrupted, the vehicle could stall without warning and thus present a potential risk of crash.
Fix: Dealers will install new fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on april 10, 2006. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-222-8987 or audi at 1-800-822-2834.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap
Problem: 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.
Risk: Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began june 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V017000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. While refueling the vehicle, it started to leak fuel from underneath the fuel tank. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Volkswagen Passats have fuel system, gasoline problems?
No. NHTSA has 137 owner complaints about fuel system, gasoline for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat (22% 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 fuel system, gasoline?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list fuel system, gasoline. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do fuel system, gasoline problems start?
The median reported mileage is 59,641 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners report a typical cost of $970 (half paid between $790 and $1,450), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel system, gasoline problems on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel pump”, in 89 of 137 complaints, followed by “gasoline delivery” (12).
Other 2003 Volkswagen Passat problems
See all 2003 Volkswagen Passat problems or fuel system, gasoline problems across all Passat years.