Problems · by component

2004 Volkswagen Passat engine and engine cooling problems

59 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Passat cite engine and engine cooling, 21% of all 283 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
59
21% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“POSSIBLE CAM TENSIONER THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO MAKE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS A RESULT. TOOK IT TO 3 MECHANICS AND DID A DIAGNOSTIC BUT COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HELP ME PLEASE! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2014Engine and engine coolingODI 10627448
“I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH THE VENT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGID FUEL LINE HAD CRACKED WHERE IT PASSED THROUGH A MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE UPPER REAR OF THE ENGINE BAY. THE CRACK WAS EMITTING A STEADY FLOW OF FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER AND HAD THE LINE REPAIRED WITH A PATCH OF FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE MATERIAL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10626953
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE TIMING BELT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2014Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 10595853
“I WAS DRIVING INSIDE TOWN APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH AND WAS STOPPING IN THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AFTER THE STOP LIGHT TURNED GREEN I RELEASED BRAKE AND THE SHAKE WAS NOT THERE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS GONE. I WENT FEW MILES TO PICK MY DAUGHTER AND AFTER PICKING MY DAUGHTER AND LESS THAN A MILE ON ROAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THERE IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED ON. I'M YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANY FACTORY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2013Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10546821
“2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST 8,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. SHE DISCOVERED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR WAGONS FOR ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE DEALER THEN STATED, THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MILEAGE WAS WELL WITHIN RANGE, FOR THE ENGINE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE 65,000 MILE WARRANTY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2013Engine and engine coolingODI 10536638
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SMOKE AND FLAMES BEGAN TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED WITHIN THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 05/11/12*LJ UPDATED 06/01/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10454373

Showing 6 of 59 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. 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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 7, 2014NHTSA 14E007000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.