NHTSA Complaint #10259772 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING issue reported to NHTSA

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10259772
Vehicle	2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
Component	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Date of Incident	February 24, 2004
Date Filed	February 24, 2009
Mileage	80,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	IN

Consumer Description

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH THE B5 FORUMS AT WWW.TDICLUB.COM THAT ALL 2004-2005 VW PASSAT TDI ENGINES HAVE BEEN OUTFITTED WITH A FAULTY CHAIN DRIVEN OIL-PUMP (AKA BALANCE SHAFT) ASSEMBLY THAT HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE OIL-PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS PROVEN TO CAUSE MULTI-THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR BILLS FOR OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. A BULK OF THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ON 04-05 PASSAT TDI'S WELL BEFORE THE CARS REACH 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS TO OIL PUMP FAILURE OTHER THAN LOUDER THAN NORMAL ENGINE NOISES. VW HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE OIL-PUMP ASSEMBLY TO INCORPORATE A GEAR-DRIVEN MECHANISM THAT ISN'T PRONE TO FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY VW HAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE THOUSANDS OF PASSAT TDI OWNERS THAT ARE BEING FORCED TO UPGRADE THEIR CARS ON THEIR OWN DIME. THE UPGRADE COSTS ~$2,500 (PARTS & LABOR). IT IS OF MY OPINION (AND THE THOUSANDS OF FELLOW PASSAT TDI OWNERS) THAT THIS FAULTY DESIGN SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN OIL-PUMP FAILURE CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR DEATH IS EMINENT. *TR

Related Complaints for the 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Other ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Complaints

#10627448 — August 22, 2014 — POSSIBLE CAM TENSIONER THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO MAKE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS A RESULT...

#10626953 — August 21, 2014 — I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH THE VENT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK U...

#10595853 — June 3, 2014 — TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALL...

#10546821 — October 5, 2013 — I WAS DRIVING INSIDE TOWN APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH AND WAS STOPPING IN THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE CA...

#10536638 — August 26, 2013 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSH...

Recent Complaints for the 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

#11677910 — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — August 1, 2025 — A fuel leak has developed from the top side of the fuel tank on the drivers side of me vehicle. A fuel leak in this m...

#11662869 — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — May 23, 2025 — There was a recall reported by the manufacturer, Volkswagenm in 2008. There were multiple Fuel System issues: A Heat ...

#11433670 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE — September 20, 2021 — The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that there was gasoline leaking in his driveway where t...

#11396511 — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — February 16, 2021 — WHEN YOU FILL UP THE FUEL TANK IT LEAKS IT LEAKS A QUARTER OF A TANK OF FUEL ROUGHLY 4 TO 5 GALLONS OF FUEL DRIP OUT ...

#11395719 — SEATS — February 11, 2021 — A COIL FOR HEATED SEATS HAS MELTED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THIS CAUSED PAIN AND CONFUSION WHILE DRIVING ON ...