Volkswagen · Passat · 2005
4
Recalls
148
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Volkswagen Passat has 4 recalls and 148 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: engine and engine cooling (48 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2005 Volkswagen Passat page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine and engine cooling with 48 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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.
Remedy Status
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
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.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH ALL 1.8T ENGINES WITH A PRECAUTIONARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT AND ADJUST THE FUEL LINE ROUTING ON 1.8T VEHICLES AND THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
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.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
It just died and I lost brakes, power steering, and only know what else stopped working. Come to find out the splines wear off of the oil pump shift after the counter balance and chain goes out. This is so common a problem that when you Google what happened there are numerous vid...
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Electronic control module, electronic body module starts going out, it will not let you open the doors from the outside without rolling the windows down and sometimes won't even let you open them with the inside door handles. This is a major safety issue in a wreck or fire especi...
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Approximately back in June 2021, I noticed the smell of diesel fuel coming from the rear of the vehicle, noticed hours and days after the vehicle was parked. The smell is partially present from the interior in the trunk area, but mostly evident when standing near the vicinity of ...
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2005 VW PASSAT WAGON, 4 MOTION, 128,000 MILES, W/ INTENSE ODOR OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR; AFTER DRIVING 15 MILES TO WORK, I DEVELOPED A HEADACHE AND ILLNESS SYMPTOMS WHICH LASTED FOR 2 -3 DAYS. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL VW DEALER. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, WHO AGREED TO DIAGN...
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MY 2005 PASSAT HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE TANK. MY VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE NEW AND ONLY HAS 72000 MILES ON IT. THIS LEAK/SMELL OCCURS AFTER WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME AND I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS DESC...
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I COMPLETELY FILLED THE FUEL TANK OF MY CAR IN THE MORNING ON 4/22/2019. I THEN DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY (SO IT WAS STATIONARY AT THIS TIME). THAT AFTERNOON I SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND SAW A PUDDLE ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR BY THE DRIVER'S S...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND DRAIN THE COOLANT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY REPLACE THE COOLANT OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE...
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INERTIA REEL WILL NOT PAYOUT WEBBING. CAR WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, CAR WAS LEVEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ANTI-SLIP REGULATOR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED MOMENTUM VOLKSWAGEN OF ...
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I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OIL MYSELF IN MY CAR, SINCE I WANTED TO SAVE MONEY AND I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING. INSTEAD OF DRAINING THE OIL, I ACCIDENTALLY DRAINED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I DIDN'T FIGURE OUT THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE OIL! SO, THIS IS WHAT H...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 148 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2005 Volkswagen models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2005 Volkswagen Passat has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 148 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Volkswagen Passat.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Volkswagen Passat.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Volkswagen Passat are engine and engine cooling (48 reports), seats (12 reports), fuel system, gasoline (9 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2005 Volkswagen Passat. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.