1.7

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
100,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Volkswagen Passat:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #1

Jul 152004

Passat 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles
I purchased a 1997 Volkswagen Passat VR6 at checkered flag BMW in June 2004, and since have discovered that the electrical system is horrible. First, the air conditioner( A/C) quit working, then the airbag light came on, and the ac started working for a day, then blew a chemical cloud into the vehicle, while I was on the highway. My eyes were burning (as well as my face) for the rest of the day. Finally, I have already had to replace the battery, and there's a slow coolant leak. May I suggest that we remove all VW's from America's streets" they are a total menace to anyone who owns them! I went to checkered flag VW, to have it serviced, and they wanted to charge 89 dollars a problem, just to look, then they said I could trade it for a new one. Why would I want a new one" I don't need to trade an old problem for a new, more expensive one, I just want a reliable work vehicle, and I wish I had stuck to my guns and bought another Prelude. This thing will see the crusher when I'm done paying it off! four problems in not so many months. Only another VW owner would know that kind of frustration!

- Norfolk, VA, USA

Add Complaint