2004 Volkswagen Passat electrical system problems
Owners reported electrical system problems in 24 complaints for the 2004 Volkswagen Passat, 7% of the complaints on file.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 24 7% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 57,000 miles 18 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When electrical system problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 18 electrical system complaints that report mileage, the median is about 57,000 miles, and 61% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 7 fires, 1 injury.
What owners wrote
I own a volkswagen passat 2004 model. On november the 11th 2008 after working the night shift at mbusi in vance, alabama, I got in my car to go home. I turned on the heated seat just as I have done for the past 4 years only this time I got more heat than I wanted. My heated seat caught fire and burned my leg. In attempt to extinguish the fire, I wrenched my back by stomping out the fire with my foot. I did not have anything close to me to use with my hands so they would not get burned.
I had been driving my car for fewer than 15 minutes with the seat heating element on. I noticed an acute burning heat near my upper left leg, and shortly thereafter noticed a hot/burning/melting smell. I immediately turned off the driver's side seat and pulled into a parking spot. After being turned off for 10 minutes, the burning smell was still hanging in the car and my seat was still extremely hot to the touch.
Other problems reported for the 2004 Volkswagen Passat
- Engine 74 complaints
- Fuel system 62 complaints
- Seats 35 complaints
- Transmission 31 complaints
- Air conditioning & heating 20 complaints
- Lighting 19 complaints
- Brakes 16 complaints
- Body & structure 16 complaints