1992 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Recalls & Reliability

60 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1992 Volkswagen Passat, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 5/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1992 Volkswagen Passat has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

60Complaints
5/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Better year

Where 1992 sits among all Passat years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 18 complaints (30%)
Fuel system 8 complaints (13%)
Visibility & wipers 8 complaints (13%)
Transmission & drivetrain 7 complaints (12%)
Electrical 5 complaints (8%)
Brakes & stability 5 complaints (8%)

Recalls (1)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 92V131000 1992

THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE.

Fix: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.

Technical service bulletins

13 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and airbags — are on file for the 1992 Volkswagen Passat. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1992 Passat TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 25 in 20002007

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1992 Volkswagen Passat reliable?

The 1992 Volkswagen Passat drew 60 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 5/100, scored against the model's worst year (2003).

What are the most common 1992 Volkswagen Passat problems?

The top reported problems for the 1992 Volkswagen Passat are engine (18 complaints), fuel system (8), and visibility & wipers (8).

Does the 1992 Volkswagen Passat have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 1992 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1991 Passat All Passat years 1993 Passat →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.