Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2003 Volkswagen Passat has 27 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 0 powertrain-related recalls.
27
Complaints
0
Recalls
0
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 10, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2017 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED.... |
| Aug 24, 2015 | POWER TRAIN | THE AD BLUE HEATER FAILURES ARE RAMPANT IS ALL PASSAT MODELS 2012 TO 2015. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT ... |
| Apr 15, 2014 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | CAR WAS CONSTANTLY GETTING THE PASSENGER SIDE (FRONT AND BACK) FLOODED W WATER DURING A RAIN STORM. ... |
| Nov 6, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD INDEPE... |
| Jul 9, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED ... |
| Feb 7, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 47-50 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A STRONG HIT,AS IF SOMEONE HIT... |
| Feb 1, 2013 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | ON OR ABOUT FEB. 1, 2013, I STARTED MY MANUAL-TRANSMISSION 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS (V6) AND SHIFT... |
| Feb 28, 2011 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH ALL PASSATS 1998 AND UP THEY ARE PRONE TO HAVING MAJOR FAILURE OF TCM TRAN... |
| Jan 8, 2011 | POWER TRAIN | POWER TRAIN LACK OF POWER WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, PULLING OUT IN... |
| Oct 15, 2009 | POWER TRAIN | CAR HAD SLUDGE IN 2007 DEALER CLEANED ENGINE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. IN FEB 2009 THE SLUDGE CAME BAC... |
| Nov 25, 2008 | POWER TRAIN | EVERY TIME IT RAINS, I HAVE AN ACCUMULATION OF WATER UNDER BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE CA... |
| Oct 5, 2008 | POWER TRAIN | I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW IT HAS BEEN SAYING THIS: STOP,OIL PRESS... |
| Oct 1, 2008 | POWER TRAIN | I OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH A 1.8T ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 70,000 MILES AND I JUST FOUND OUT IT... |
| Jun 20, 2008 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS HOLDING 6INCHES OR MORE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FLOOR BOA... |
| Apr 5, 2008 | POWER TRAIN | 1. DRIVING CAR TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY WHEN PULLING OUT OF HOUSE. ALSO HIT ANOTHER CAR AS T... |
| Jan 26, 2008 | POWER TRAIN | MY 2003 VW PASSAT HAS SHOWN CASES OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOLLOWING A RECENT RAIN STORM. THE REAR ... |
| Dec 14, 2007 | POWER TRAIN | CAR MAKES JUMP WHEN SLOWING DOWN LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER FOUR TIMES I TOOK... |
| Jun 27, 2007 | POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY | 2003 VW PASSAT WITH A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THR... |
| Apr 16, 2007 | POWER TRAIN | I HAVE AN '03 VW PASSAT . ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED IT HAD STARTED HESITATING WHEN TRYING TO BACK... |
| Apr 5, 2007 | POWER TRAIN | WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR LURCHED INTO REVERSE AND THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1S... |