2002 Volkswagen Passat problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2002 Volkswagen Passat have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2002 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2002 Volkswagen Passat get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2002 Volkswagen Passat at about 22 mpg combined (18 city / 27 highway).

Q: How much is a 2002 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Comparable 2002 Volkswagen Passat listings run roughly $800–$3,000, typically around $1,825 (from 92 vehicles).

2002 Volkswagen Passat at a glance

Safety recalls4

Owner complaints652

Combined22 mpg

Typical price$1,825

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2002 Volkswagen Passat recalls 4

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine NHTSA Campaign #14E007000 · 07/03/2014

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 i…

Fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery NHTSA Campaign #08V156000 · 07/04/2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. 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…

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 VENTILAT…

Tires NHTSA Campaign #03V154000 · 22/04/2003

CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L W8 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRES OF THE MAXIMUM LOAD RATING INDEX 93H; HOWEVER, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH TIRES WITH THE LOAD RATING INDEX 97H.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES WITH THE PROPER SIZE TIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap NHTSA Campaign #02V026000 · 25/01/2002

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.

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. OWNERS W…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2002 Volkswagen Passat common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 652 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Fuel/propulsion System

Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Structure

Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

2002 Volkswagen Passat MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg

City18 mpg

Highway27 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,538

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2002 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Low

$800

Typical price

$1,825

High

$3,000

From 92 comparable 2002 Volkswagen Passat listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Volkswagen Passat costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$17,690

Depreciation (5 yrs)$1,250

Total$18,940

Per mile$0.25

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($1,825) with the same model 3 model-years older ($1,084), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2002 Volkswagen Passat trims & engines on record

Trims

GLS 1.8T · GLX · GLX 4Motion · GLS V6 · GLS V6 4Motion · W8 4Motion · GLS

Engines

1.8L 4-cyl 170 hp · 2.8L 6-cyl 190 hp · 4.0L 8-cyl 271 hp

2002 Volkswagen Passat vehicles on record

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B02P444430

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63BX2P227239 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B12E413019

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLXWVWRH63B62P247453

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4MotionWVWXH63B82E146367

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX 4MotionWVWYH63B52E388165

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B32P292224

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B32P365186 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63BX2P433015

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B02P288244

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLXWVWRH63B42P349303 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLXWVWRH63B12P247862

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLXWVWRH63B22P287433

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B32P138578

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX 4MotionWVWTH63BX2P037508

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B82P176758 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLXWVWRH63BX2P124450

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWVD63B62E021855

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX 4MotionWVWTH63B12P176801 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B22P012762

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLXWVWRH63B92P355081 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWVD63BX2E372316

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8TWVWPD63B82P070293

2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6WVWVH63B22E252255

Other Volkswagen Passat model years

2002 Volkswagen Passat — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Volkswagen Passat have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2002 Volkswagen Passat. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Volkswagen Passat?

Based on 652 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are fuel/propulsion system, service brakes, air bags.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Volkswagen Passat get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2002 Volkswagen Passat at about 22 mpg combined (18 city / 27 highway).

How much is a 2002 Volkswagen Passat worth?

Comparable 2002 Volkswagen Passat listings run roughly $800–$3,000, typically around $1,825 (from 92 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.