10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,932 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 2005 Volkswagen Passat:

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

problem #5

Dec 192015

Passat 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 70 mph, the seat heater burned a hole in the passenger seat and the passenger's coat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 02/23/16 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. Updated 03/30/16.

- Owenton, KY, USA

problem #4

Apr 252011

Passat

  • 81,500 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated the driver side seat warmer ignited a fire and burned through the seat. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the repair. The manufacturer was contact who stated that they would discuss the repairs with the dealer and give him a return call on the repair costs. The failure mileage was 81,500.

- Streamwood, IL, USA

problem #3

Jul 092010

Passat

  • 67,158 miles
I drove on a cold day to a meeting and as a result I got a 2nd degree burn on left buttock after leaving seat heater on number five for one hour and twenty minute drive. I am a partial paraplegic thus, I was unaware of temperature and unaware of increased temperature.

- Kamuela, HI, USA

problem #2

Jan 252009

Passat

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the heated seats on the driver side of the vehicle caught fire. He was able to extinguish the fire. The dealer stated that they would notify the contact if there was a related recall and he has not received a response from the dealer. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- Pittsfield, MA, USA

problem #1

Dec 292007

Passat 4-cyl Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles
(1) turned on drivers-side seat heater while driving (2) smoke began filling the vehicle, and (3) I turned off the heater, but a hole was burned through the left side of the driver's seat and through my left rear pant pocket as well.

- Berkeley, CA, USA