The 2004 Volkswagen Passat's elevated safety profile includes 4 recall campaigns and 283 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

283

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

14E0070002014-07-03

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

View at NHTSA

07V0630002007-20-02

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

View at NHTSA

04V5860002004-15-12

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

View at NHTSA

View all 4 recalls

08V1560002008-07-04

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2004 Volkswagen Passat has accumulated 283 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine and engine cooling leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine And Engine Cooling49

02Seats28

03Power Train28

04Fuel System, Gasoline25

05Fuel/propulsion System22

283 total across 1 model years (2004–2004)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Volkswagen Passat Fuel Economy

18–27mpg combined

15-23city

22-34hwy

$3,150-$4,550/yr

With 20 configurations tested, the 2004 Volkswagen Passat ranges from 18 to 27 MPG combined. That's a 9 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Passat - Automatic (S5)

27mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel DriveDiesel

23 city34 hwy~$3,150/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon - Automatic (S5)

27mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel DriveDiesel

23 city34 hwy~$3,150/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat - Manual 5-spd

23mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

19 city28 hwy~$3,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon - Manual 5-spd

23mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

19 city28 hwy~$3,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat - Automatic (S5)

22mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

19 city28 hwy~$3,700/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat 4motion - Manual 5-spd

22mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

19 city28 hwy~$3,700/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon - Automatic (S5)

22mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

19 city28 hwy~$3,700/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon 4motion - Manual 5-spd

22mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

19 city28 hwy~$3,700/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat 4motion - Automatic (S5)

21mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

18 city26 hwy~$3,900/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon 4motion - Automatic (S5)

21mpg

1.8L 4-cyl Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

18 city26 hwy~$3,900/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat - Automatic (S5)

20mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city25 hwy~$4,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat - Manual 5-spd

20mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city26 hwy~$4,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon - Automatic (S5)

20mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city25 hwy~$4,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon - Manual 5-spd

20mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city26 hwy~$4,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat 4motion - Automatic (S5)

19mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$4,300/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon 4motion - Automatic (S5)

19mpg

2.8L 6-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$4,300/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat 4motion - Automatic (S5)

18mpg

4.0L 8-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

16 city23 hwy~$4,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat 4motion - Manual 6-spd

18mpg

4.0L 8-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

15 city22 hwy~$4,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon 4motion - Automatic (S5)

18mpg

4.0L 8-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

16 city23 hwy~$4,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Passat Wagon 4motion - Manual 6-spd

18mpg

4.0L 8-cyl · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive

15 city22 hwy~$4,550/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2004 Volkswagen Passat

34States

24%in top 3

If you're near Florida, you're in luck: 11% of listings are there. But with 34 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

FLFlorida

12811%

TXTexas

918%

ILIllinois

646%

GAGeorgia

535%

NCNorth Carolina

524%

CACalifornia

524%

PAPennsylvania

514%

DCWashington DC

494%

AZArizona

434%

HIHawaii

403%

WAWashington

403%

DEDelaware

383%

OHOhio

343%

MIMichigan

333%

MDMaryland

323%

MOMissouri

313%

VAVirginia

252%

NJNew Jersey

222%

NY22

IN21

OR21

TN20

OK20

WI19

MN17

CO16

KY16

UT14

NV12

RI11

NH11

MA10

NE10

CT7

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2004.

Buying a 2004 Volkswagen Passat?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2004 Volkswagen Passat a good car to buy?

The 2004 Volkswagen Passat has its strengths and its watch-outs. 4 recalls have been issued, so verify completion with the dealer. Owners report engine and engine cooling as the area to watch most closely. Check the safety section for recall details and the pricing data to see if the numbers work for you.

Are there recalls on the 2004 Volkswagen Passat?

There are 4 documented recalls for the 2004 Volkswagen Passat. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2004 Volkswagen Passat?

You'll get between 18 and 27 MPG combined from the 2004 Volkswagen Passat, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen Passat?

Out of 283 owner complaints, engine and engine cooling issues lead the pack. Get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers this area. The known issues breakdown has all the details.