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Engine coolingPart report

1996 Volkswagen Passat Engine cooling Problems

Complaints
5about this part
Share
13%of 40 total for the year
Median mileage
103,508miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the engine cooling of the 1996 Volkswagen Passat, 13% of the 40 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 103,508 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Our main comment is that this vehicle was sold to our daughter illegally. We then found that the mileage indicator had been rolled back. This car has been sitting in her driveway because it will not run, all the hardware is falling off. After finally in. ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****743725”

NHTSA complaint #10006395, filed 2001-04, 92,000 miles

“I have had ongoing issues with electronic and emissions sensors for this vehicle and recently spent $756.54 to (again!) replace sensors so that the vehicle would pass its annual emissions test (as mandated by the epa). I wrote to vw customer care to seek reimbursement of this (and past) charges and was told today (7/13/06) that no recalls or service bulletins were issued, so no reimbursement will be made. I told them that NHTSA issued recall 99v131 (which addresses some of the areas) but vw told me that it did not apply, as all reimbursements are VIN-specific. Can anyone please help? …”

NHTSA complaint #10162287, filed 2006-07

“The contact owns a 1996 Volkswagen Passat. Upon purchasing the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The seller stated that it was a minor issue. The check engine light was reset and illuminated again two days later. In addition, the vehicle would constantly overheat. There were no signs of the vehicle overheating while driving; however, radiator fluid would spill out of the vehicle when it was parked. The radiator, timer, water pump, and sensors were replaced on the vehicle, but none of the repairs remedied the failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #10238766, filed 2008-08, 117,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine cooling: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202116%
202016%
201622%
201521%
201441%
201351%
201241%
200943%
200895%
20073212%
20066611%
20055034%
20045921%
200313121%
200213521%
20019221%
20009419%
19998613%
19983912%
1997719%
1996513%
19951920%
1994936%
19931826%
19921744%
1991625%
19901235%

Other parts of the 1996 Volkswagen Passat

Electrical system
14 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
12 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
5 complaints
Exterior lighting
3 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints
Brakes
1 complaints
Other or unknown
1 complaints
Body and structure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1996 Volkswagen Passat

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology