2003 Volkswagen Passat: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Volkswagen Passat: 6 recalls, 634 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #02V026000 · 2002 · 487,284 vehicles
What's wrong: On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.
Why it matters: Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. Owner notification began June 13, 2003.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #06V017000 · 2006 · 74,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain vehicles produced from September 2002 - March 2003, equipped with 1.8l turbo, 2.8l v6, or 3.0l engines, a change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall.
Why it matters: If fuel flow to the engine is interrupted, the vehicle could stall without warning and thus present a potential risk of crash.
The fix: Dealers will install new fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2006.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #07V063000 · 2007 · 1,002,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch May malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Why it matters: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through September 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population May be involved in either this recall or…
Fuel system Vehicle recall #07V375000 · 2007 · 34,358 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain vehicles equipped with 1.8l turbo, 2.8l v6, or 3.0l engines, a change in the electrical motor components in the fuel pump can lead to an inoperative fuel pump and, ultimately, stoppage of fuel supply to the engine causing it to stall.
Why it matters: If fuel flow to the engine is interrupted, the vehicle could stall without warning and thus present a potential risk of crash.
The fix: Dealers will install new fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on September 28, 20007.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #08V156000 · 2008 · 412,000 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles May have an underbody heat shield that can become damaged. In addition, affected vehicles with automatic or manual transmissions May have a fuel line (1.8t engines only) or fuel tank ventilation valve (4motion/all wheel drive only) that can leak due to fracture.
Why it matters: A heat shield that May contact the exhaust system can result in a vehicle fire. In addition, a fuel leak from a fuel line or fuel tank ventilation valve, in the presence of an ignition source, can lead to a vehicle fire.
The fix: Dealers will install additional underbody heat shields on vehicles with automatic transmissions to cover the possibly damaged areas and flash all 1.8t engines with a precautionary software update. Dealers will also inspect and adjust the fuel line routing on 1.8t vehicles and the fuel tank…
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V406000 · 2018 · 2,564 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen passat sedan, jetta, jetta wagon, golf, eurovan, eurovan camper van and eurovan chassis vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure May cause the inflator to explode.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Engine & cooling Equipment recall #14E007000 · 2014 · 50 vehicles
What's wrong: These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi a4, 2000-2006 Audi tt, 1998-2005 Volkswagen beetle, 1999-2006 golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt May develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Why it matters: A failure of the timing belt May cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 94 mention a fire, 46 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Fuel system (137): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (48), leaks (23), warning light on (11).
- Engine & cooling (131): the most common themes are warning light on (42), stalls / loses power (28), fire / smoke (28).
- Seats (97): the most common themes are fire / smoke (53), electrical failure (9).
- Electrical (90): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (24), electrical failure (18), warning light on (15).
The 2003 Volkswagen Passat has 634 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 33 Passat model years for complaints (2.7× the average Passat year). Complaints peaked in 2007 (106 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 59,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (636 complaints, 3 recalls), 2004 (279 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 23 | Premium |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Premium |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Premium |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Volkswagen Passat problems?
Owners have filed 634 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are fuel system (137), engine & cooling (131), seats (97).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (1.8 L, Manual 5-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Volkswagen Passat repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.