2003 Volkswagen Passat Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 2%of 628 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 132,249miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the other or unknown of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, 2% of the 628 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 132,249 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.
“Car loses power and stalls out after coming to a stop. Epc light illuminates and car must be put in park and started up again to move. Today, it stalled as I pulled out to make a left turn and I was stuck in the middle of road with oncoming traffic coming at me.”
NHTSA complaint #11092505, filed 2018-05, 138,718 miles“Due to a design flaw with all passats 1998 and up they are prone to having major failure of TCM transmission control module as in cases of heavy rain water will leak into passenger floor area and fill the TCM with water hence locking transmission into park and no longer allowing vehicle to be shifted...”
NHTSA complaint #10388617, filed 2011-03, 163,012 miles“At around 85,000 miles ABS/traction control lights turned on and parking brake light started flashing. I took it to the dealership and was told that the ABS module faulted and needed to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10376471, filed 2011-01, 85,000 miles“Coils for cylinders 2-4 inexplicably failed as well as the plugs and need to be replaced in order to repair misfire code. Engine purge valve also needs to be replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10418850, filed 2011-08, 132,249 miles“My Passat had two previous instances of water leakage in the floor of the back seat, where the computer is housed. This resulted in a short-circuit in the cars computer in the fall of 2005, causing the car to slow in traffic and ultimately stop when I reached dealership. Maroone Volkswagen of delray beach addressed these two instances under warranty by focusing on the pollen filter and pollen filter caging. On the third occasion, I again took it to maroone Volkswagen on september 6, 2006 since this seemed to be another recurrence of the same problem. Dealer would not fix under warranty. …”
NHTSA complaint #10170708, filed 2006-10Related service bulletins
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Other or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 8% |
| 2021 | 1 | 5% |
| 2020 | 4 | 22% |
| 2019 | 1 | 8% |
| 2018 | 3 | 7% |
| 2017 | 22 | 20% |
| 2016 | 13 | 12% |
| 2015 | 40 | 16% |
| 2014 | 59 | 10% |
| 2013 | 77 | 10% |
| 2012 | 31 | 6% |
| 2011 | 2 | 13% |
| 2010 | 13 | 8% |
| 2009 | 9 | 6% |
| 2008 | 13 | 8% |
| 2007 | 9 | 3% |
| 2006 | 13 | 2% |
| 2005 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 9 | 3% |
| 2003 | 13 | 2% |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% |
| 2001 | 9 | 2% |
| 2000 | 12 | 2% |
| 1999 | 11 | 2% |
| 1998 | 5 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 5% |
| 1996 | 1 | 3% |
| 1995 | 1 | 1% |
| 1993 | 1 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat
169 complaintsEngine cooling
131 complaintsSeats
97 complaintsElectrical system
90 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaintsAir bags
23 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 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