2002 Volkswagen PASSAT WAGON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
105,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 42.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Service Brakes: 3; Engine: 2; Air Bags: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10473787 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)
LEFT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALLS , LEAVING 2 RUBBER RINGS AT EACH SIDE OF THE RIM, 3 INCH WIDE. CAR WAS GOING 65 MPH WITH NO LOAD, EXCEPT DRIVER. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS OR VISIBLE CRACKING. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BEFORE TRIP AND FOUND IN COMPLIANCE WITH CAR SPEC. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509823 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563783 · 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING UP SOMEWHAT OF A HILL AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO A BIT OF TRAFFIC FLOW. I HAD REALIZED I WAS A LITTLE CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT SO I BRAKED A LITTLE HARDER THAN USUAL. MY BRAKES WERE GRABBING ON TIGHTLY TO THE GROUND LIKE THEY SHOULD BUT THEN SEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN OUT AT THE LAST COUPLE SECONDS. MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTING IN BOTH MY FRONT AIRBAGS GOING OFF. THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SWUNG OUT AND HIT MY RIGHT HAND, RESULTING IN SOME MINOR BURNS AND SCRAPES. I THEN STARTED GOING BACKWARDS AFTER THE CAR IN F…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10726421 · 2015-06-21 (June 21, 2015)
MOTOR VEHICLE LIGHT: ABS BRAKE LIGHT ON. MECHANICS TELL ME THESE COMPUTER ARE ALWAYS DEFECTIVE. REPAIR COST 750.00. MILEAGE 235,000. LOTS OF COSTLY REPAIRS. LIGHT CANNOT BE RESET SO I HAVE TO PAY THE ABOVE AMOUNT TO FIX IT AND BE ABLE TO RESELL IT. THIS ABS HAS BARELY BEEN USED. COMPANY SHOULD FIX IT [XXX]/ [XXX]@AOL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 235,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957389 · 2017-02-27 (February 27, 2017)
ENGINE FAILURE, CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECT NO PROBLEMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTS VIBRATING AND SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. CALLED MY MECHANIC HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT BY, I STARTED ON MY WAY TO DRIVE TO THE SHOP SO HE COULD TAKE A LOOK. CAR DIED 1 MILE FROM SHOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING 45MPH WGEN IT FAILED, I HAD TO GET OUT THE CAR PUSH IT OUT OF TRAFFIC BY MYSELF. A VW PASSAT WAGON! HEAVY? YES VERY MUCH SO. GOT IT TOWED MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WASNT GETTIN ENOUGH OIL.
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958738 · 2017-03-06 (March 6, 2017)
DIDNT EXPLAIN FULLY THE FIRST TIME, SO HERE GOES. MY VW HAS ENGINE FAILURE, VW HAD A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM SOME YEARS BACK BECAUSE OF A ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE RAN HOT BECAUSE IT WAS A TURBO POWERED ENGINE, PLUS NOT HAVING ENOUGH OIL TO KEEP IT COOL. CAUSING THE OIL TO BREAKDOWN AND MAKE SLUDGE WHICH CLOGGED UP THE OIL PUMP AND STARVED THE ENGINE OF OIL LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS WHAT IM EXPERENCING RIGHT NOW, I HAVE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE. VW LOST THAT LAWSUIT AND STILL WONT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIGN FLAW, IM STILL MAKING …
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958738 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073872 · 2018-02-20 (February 20, 2018)
FUEL LEAKING FROM FITTING ON TOP OF TANK NEAR FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073872 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.