1997 Volkswagen Passat Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 43%of 37 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 125,952miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the visibility of the 1997 Volkswagen Passat, 43% of the 37 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 125,952 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Numerous ocassions my Passat will shut down while driving. Lose all power, A/C, headlights, windshield wipers, and numerous other power related items. This has happened while driving on the interstate and luckily I was able to pull over before being hit, or hitting someone.”
NHTSA complaint #10072811, filed 2004-05, 80,000 miles“On sunday, august 5th, 2007, while driving the car with my 7 year old son in the back seat, dense, noxious 'steam'/smoke began to come out of all vents and around the dash area in my well-maintained Volkswagen. Hot coolant also leaked into the passenger compartment of my Passat on the driver's side. Note that this occurred while air conditioning (A/C) was on & continued to pour out of vents without A/C on. My 'low coolant' indicator light (red LED in instrument cluster) also began flashing. …”
NHTSA complaint #10204707, filed 2007-10, 115,500 miles“I haven't experience a failure yet, but I have a 1997 Passat vr6 and it seems that many people with my model have experienced heater core failures, especially while driving. I'm filing this report as a preemptive mechanism.”
NHTSA complaint #10114422, filed 2005-03, 136,000 miles“Heater core failed spontaneously, causing massive amounts of sweet smelling white/grey smoke and hot mist to fill the passenger compartment, causing a total visual obstruction to the driver and choking/coughing of a 5 year old passenger. The driver, my daughter, manager to pull safely off the busy road (us rt 1), but she and her child were very shaken by the event. The failure of the heater core could have caused a fatality! I have reported the incident to vw of america. I expected to hear back today from the vw dealership, but did not. I requested that they pay in entirety for the repair. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070948, filed 2004-01, 158,000 miles“Sunroof suddenly and loudly exploded outwards from cabin after about 10 minutes of driving with heat on high/medium high at approx 65 MPH. Sliding sunroof partition was open. Only a few pieces of glass fell into cabin, but entire sunroof was shattered into thousands of uniform pieces, expanding outward from cabin and remaining in a slightly outwards expanded shape.”
NHTSA complaint #10060591, filed 2004-03, 80,418 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10122956May 8, 2015Tech Tips (Heated Rear Window, One or More Lines Inoperative): To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open…
- 10239789Jan 24, 2014To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine…
- 10122240Jan 24, 2014Tech Tips (Heated Rear Window, One or More Lines Inoperative): To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open…
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 6% |
| 2019 | 1 | 8% |
| 2017 | 6 | 5% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3% |
| 2015 | 12 | 5% |
| 2014 | 16 | 3% |
| 2013 | 23 | 3% |
| 2012 | 6 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 6 | 4% |
| 2007 | 8 | 3% |
| 2006 | 21 | 4% |
| 2005 | 4 | 3% |
| 2004 | 13 | 5% |
| 2003 | 22 | 4% |
| 2002 | 27 | 4% |
| 2001 | 31 | 7% |
| 2000 | 26 | 5% |
| 1999 | 33 | 5% |
| 1998 | 27 | 8% |
| 1997 | 16 | 43% |
| 1996 | 12 | 30% |
| 1995 | 20 | 22% |
| 1994 | 2 | 8% |
| 1993 | 17 | 25% |
| 1992 | 7 | 18% |
| 1991 | 6 | 25% |
| 1990 | 8 | 24% |
Other parts of the 1997 Volkswagen Passat
13 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsTires
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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