2001 Volkswagen Passat Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 2%of 430 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the seats of the 2001 Volkswagen Passat, 2% of the 430 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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.
“My 2001 vw Passat gls was hit in the rear by a large 89 chevy van. The seat that I was sitting in reclined almost all the way back to the back seat so that I was looking up at the roof. My seat belt cut my head and wrist of my left arm as I fell back. I know it was the seat belt because there was skin on the shoulder portion of it. After the accident I looked at the totalled car and noticed that the seat had shifted. The front thigh support portion came up, and the back support went down. …”
NHTSA complaint #10000255, filed 2002-12, 46,000 miles“The front driver seat smelt like it was burning and a small amount of smokeor haze appeared in the car. Turned seat off and it dissipated. Is this a major porblem? Also on interior door handles a cheap repaint peels off after less than two years. I see this problem in all vws, so I look at this as a major problem . When I approached vw america, they offered to pay half the cost as the car is out of warranty, hmmm. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #10058151, filed 2004-02“I have a 2001 vw Passat. I turned the seat heater o onthe dirvers side and in about 5 minutes their was smoke coming from the seat and the heating coil had burned a hole in the seat.”
NHTSA complaint #10057055, filed 2004-02“The contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Passat. She stated that while driving with the heated seats on, she began to feel extremely hot. Upon further inspection, she noticed a hole in the driver seat. The dealer stated that she would have to pay $500.00 - $600.00 to replace the seat . No repairs were made. The failure and current mileages were 115,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10285518, filed 2009-09, 115,000 miles“I was driving my 2001 Passat when the driver's seat started moving and moved to the backmost position. I was unable to reach the gas or brake pedal with the seat in that position. I had just gotten off of an interstate highway when this happened. I was on a residential road and was able to pull off to the side of the road. I could not readjust the seat. I took the car to the dealership and they have seen the seat move, but do not know what is causing the problem. I cannot drive the car until it is repaired as this problem with the seat moving is a serious safety hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #10049529, filed 2003-12Related service bulletins
- 10242997Dec 15, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 8% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 3 | 0% |
| 2012 | 3 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 3 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 5 | 1% |
| 2005 | 13 | 9% |
| 2004 | 34 | 12% |
| 2003 | 97 | 15% |
| 2002 | 15 | 2% |
| 2001 | 7 | 2% |
| 2000 | 3 | 1% |
| 1999 | 10 | 2% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1990 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2001 Volkswagen Passat
92 complaintsElectrical system
73 complaintsBrakes
63 complaintsFuel system
44 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
34 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
31 complaintsExterior lighting
30 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsSuspension
25 complaintsBody and structure
23 complaintsVehicle speed control
19 complaintsSteering
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Volkswagen Passat
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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