There are 4 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2005 Volkswagen Passatin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE INTERIOR HEATER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW MECHANIC OASIS AUTO CENTER IN REDDING, CA. HE SAID HE CLEARED THE COIL BUT THAT A VALVE MAY ALSO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER 2011. SINCE WE LIVE IN N. CALIFORNIA IT HAS NOT BEEN A BIG ISSUE SINCE IT IS WARM MOST OF THE YEAR. I DID HOWEVER SEE THIS IS A RECALL ITEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF WE CAN STILL GET THIS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN RAINY WEATHER, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WEATHER STRIPPING ALONG THE SUNROOF AND LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE DRAIN LINE ALONG THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
2005 VW PASSAT, REPEATED TOTAL FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE PREDICATED ON ANY SPECIFIC EVENTS. THE DEALERSHIP (DUKE GOLD'S SPEEDWAY VOLKSWAGEN) IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOT SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *NM
THE MOTORIZED SUNROOF ON MY 2005 VW PASSAT PULLS THE INTERIOR SUNSHADE OPEN WITH IT WHEN IT IS OPENED ELECTRICALLY. WHILE THE SUNROOF ITSELF HAS AN ANTI PINCH FEATURE, THE SUNSHADE HANDLES/VENTS REPRESENT A PINCH POINT AS THE SUNROOF OPENS. THE HANDLES/VENTS ARE HARD EDGED PLASTIC THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MANGLE A FINGERTIP. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE ANTI PINCH SYSTEM OPERATES IN THE "OPEN" DIRECTION OF MOTION, BUT SEEMS NOT TO BE ACTIVE (BASED ON MY BRUISED FINGER) *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026