Vehicle Data Hub

2002 Volkswagen Passat fuel system problems

78 complaints about fuel system have been filed for the 2002 Volkswagen Passat, which is 10% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
78 10% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
90,000 miles 65 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
0 and 3
Injuries and deaths
1 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When fuel system problems show up

Fuel system complaints by mileage, 2002 Volkswagen Passat Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 90,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 6 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 3 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 6 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 11 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 11 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 9 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 13 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 2 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 2 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 2 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 90,000 miles
Based on 65 complaints that include mileage. 23% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles6
20k to 40k miles3
40k to 60k miles6
60k to 80k miles11
80k to 100k miles11
100k to 120k miles9
120k to 140k miles13
140k to 160k miles2
160k to 180k miles2
180k to 200k miles2
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 65 fuel system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 90,000 miles, and 23% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 fires, 1 injury.

What owners wrote

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. She pulled over to a local service station and noticed that the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished by a representative at the service station. Weeks later, the contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). She is in the process of notifying the manufacturer.

June 2008 Fire

My 2002 VW passat 4 motion developed a severe fuel leak from a defective fuel tank which ruptured along the top and was leaking in 3 places. Vehicle has not been involved with any collision. VW refused to cover the repair due to my vehicle having 65000 miles. Dealer mechanic said he has seen several other passats with 4 motion have the same problem. Repair cost estimate is 3000.00.

Reported at 65,000 miles, March 2006

Other problems reported for the 2002 Volkswagen Passat

Fuel system problems in other years

Fuel system problems across all Volkswagen models