RecallMyCar

1996 Volkswagen Passat Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 1996 Volkswagen Passat, and owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
40
owner complaints to NHTSA
18–35
MPG combined (EPA)

1 safety recall for the 1996 Volkswagen Passat

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Switch (electrical system)

    NHTSA 02V256000 Reported 10,450 vehicles potentially affected VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC

    On certain passenger vehicles, the electrical portion of the ignition switch assembly can fail causing the headlights and windshield wipers to become inoperative.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the electrical part of the ignition switch assembly. Owner notification began november 20, 2002. Owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Volkswagen Passat have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 87,604 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 11 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door handles failed to open from the outside. The contact also stated that the front driver side and the f”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 6, 2015 · Latches/locks/linkages

“I was driving on the highway in my 1996 VW passat at 65 MPH and the entire inside of my car was engulfed with water and anti freeze steam and vapor. It was quickly and with out warning impossible to s”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 4, 2011 · Engine and engine cooling

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Volkswagen Passat (Passat Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–35 mpg
City / Highway16–31 / 23–41
FuelDiesel, Regular
EPA classMidsize Cars, Midsize-Large Station Wagons
Engine4/6 cyl, 1.9/2/2.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Volkswagen Passat model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Passat model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1988 Volkswagen Passat10
1989 Volkswagen Passat10
1990 Volkswagen Passat234
1991 Volkswagen Passat124
1992 Volkswagen Passat139
1993 Volkswagen Passat368
1994 Volkswagen Passat125
1995 Volkswagen Passat193
1996 Volkswagen Passat140
1997 Volkswagen Passat037
1998 Volkswagen Passat4331
1999 Volkswagen Passat5664
2000 Volkswagen Passat3507
2001 Volkswagen Passat3430
2002 Volkswagen Passat3636
2003 Volkswagen Passat6628
2004 Volkswagen Passat3279
2005 Volkswagen Passat3148
2006 Volkswagen Passat7576
2007 Volkswagen Passat7262
2008 Volkswagen Passat4168
2009 Volkswagen Passat4146
2010 Volkswagen Passat4163
2011 Volkswagen Passat016
2012 Volkswagen Passat11484
2013 Volkswagen Passat9748
2014 Volkswagen Passat10594
2015 Volkswagen Passat7243
2016 Volkswagen Passat5106
2017 Volkswagen Passat7110
2018 Volkswagen Passat445
2019 Volkswagen Passat112
2020 Volkswagen Passat318
2021 Volkswagen Passat118
2022 Volkswagen Passat013

Checking a specific 1996 Volkswagen Passat

How do I know if my 1996 Volkswagen Passat has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Volkswagen Passat; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V256000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volkswagen models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.