2002 Volkswagen Passat Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 3%of 636 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat, 3% of the 636 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2002 w-8 Passat four times this weekend would not disengage the cruise control when stepping on the brake. The brake feels very solid and cannot be depressed until a very quick & hard quick pressure is put on it about 3-4 times. I noticed after that incident (frightening) that it does not happen going down hill, only uphill or even a slight incline.”
NHTSA complaint #10341681, filed 2010-07, 154,450 miles“I was driving the car about 30 minutes prior to incident traveling at approximately 45 MPH with my child in the car and without warning of any kind my car shuts off and I almost got rear ended . I was able to coast to the side of the road put the vehicle in park tried starting the vehicle and it started right away . I drove vehicle home without incident . I took the vehicle to a mechanic and they couldn't find a problem no engine codes where present . …”
NHTSA complaint #10664459, filed 2014-12, 125,000 miles“While driving automobile accelerated to 7000rpm and to 50 MPH from 35 MPH. Foot was not on accelerator. I pulled over to the side of the road and placed the auto into park. After a few seconds the engine again raced to 7000 RPM wiithout having me place my foot on the accelerator. This is very dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #10072781, filed 2004-05, 29,555 miles“Approximately 2 years ago, or slightly less, I was driving my wife's 2002 vw Passat when the car began to accelerate without apparent cause and we could not stop the acceleration. I turned the ignition key off, and leaving the car in park, re-started it, only to observe the engine again racing. We eventually figured out that the floor mat was the cause of the problem and removed it. My wife sometime later replaced the mat and had no recurrence, but when I drove the car, it happened twice more before we permanently removed the mat. …”
NHTSA complaint #10303860, filed 2010-02, 80,000 miles“While accelerating to pass another car, I fully depressed the gas pedal and upon releasing it, noticed it was stuck in the fully depressed position. Upon putting the car in neutral and hitting the gas pedal while it was it the stuck position, it became dislodged and was functional again. This is the second time this has happened to my car while driving it, the first time being in mid-november 2011. When the car is off and in park I am now able to recreate the pedal getting stuck, as it gets stuck about 25% of the time when fully depressed. I have not yet had a mechanic look at the pedal.”
NHTSA complaint #10459512, filed 2012-05, 113,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10236450Feb 17, 2016Corrosion on hood edge.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 9% |
| 2017 | 3 | 3% |
| 2016 | 11 | 10% |
| 2015 | 10 | 4% |
| 2014 | 13 | 2% |
| 2013 | 15 | 2% |
| 2012 | 14 | 3% |
| 2010 | 3 | 2% |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% |
| 2008 | 4 | 2% |
| 2007 | 7 | 3% |
| 2006 | 32 | 6% |
| 2005 | 5 | 3% |
| 2004 | 6 | 2% |
| 2003 | 14 | 2% |
| 2002 | 16 | 3% |
| 2001 | 19 | 4% |
| 2000 | 15 | 3% |
| 1999 | 32 | 5% |
| 1998 | 3 | 1% |
| 1996 | 2 | 5% |
| 1995 | 5 | 5% |
| 1994 | 1 | 4% |
| 1993 | 1 | 1% |
| 1992 | 4 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat
220 complaintsEngine cooling
135 complaintsFuel system
73 complaintsBrakes
72 complaintsExterior lighting
32 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsEquipment
17 complaintsSuspension
16 complaintsSeats
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 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