Home / Volkswagen / Passat / 2003
Model Year Problem Record
The complete public record for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.
Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.
The join between complaints and recalls for this model year, system by system. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.
180 complaints; 4 recall campaigns cover this system. Campaigns: 02V026000, 06V017000, 07V375000, 08V156000.
156 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
98 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
95 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
45 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 07V063000.
45 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
35 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
30 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
23 complaints; 1 recall campaign covers this system. Campaigns: 18V406000.
22 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
14 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
12 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
12 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
11 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
8 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
5 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.
Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.
Fuel and Propulsion System. Recall covering the fuel and propulsion system system, reported to NHTSA on January 25, 2002. The campaign covers an estimated 487,284 vehicles across all affected models.
Fuel and Propulsion System. Recall covering the fuel and propulsion system system, reported to NHTSA on January 23, 2006. The campaign covers an estimated 74,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Lighting. Recall covering the lighting system, reported to NHTSA on February 20, 2007. The campaign covers an estimated 1,002,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Fuel and Propulsion System. Recall covering the fuel and propulsion system system, reported to NHTSA on August 28, 2007. The campaign covers an estimated 34,358 vehicles across all affected models.
Fuel and Propulsion System. Recall covering the fuel and propulsion system system, reported to NHTSA on April 7, 2008. The campaign covers an estimated 412,000 vehicles across all affected models.
Air Bags. Recall covering the air bags system, reported to NHTSA on June 13, 2018. The campaign covers an estimated 2,564 vehicles across all affected models.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.
ENGINE STALLING. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 08V156000.
PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. Resulted in recall campaign 08V156000.
Engine Compartment Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Engine Compartment Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
PASSENGER/ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
FUEL TANK LEAK. Resulted in recall campaign 08V156000.
FUEL TANK LEAK. Resulted in recall campaign 08V156000.
Engine Compartment Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
Engine Compartment Fire. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.
When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.
Data as of October 30, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.