2001 Volkswagen Passat Volkswagen Passat 2001

We are 103,000+ car owners sharing real-world car information.

Join Us

2001 Volkswagen Passat repairs by problem area

Engine (51%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (9%)

Brakes and Traction Control (10%)

Suspension and Steering (17%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (9%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (2%)

Other (2%)

Chart based on 100 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2001 Volkswagen Passat.

2001 Volkswagen Passat repair cost distribution

$2500+ (1%)

$1000 - $2499 (11%)

$500 - $999 (23%)

$100 - $499 (35%)

< $100 (29%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 82 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2001 Volkswagen Passat

Engine not specified

Volkswagen Passat in Colorado, United States
Jun 2014 - Jun 2015
Jun 2014

156000 mi

US $1800
Water pump and then along with the timing belt were replaced. 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Volkswagen Passat in California, United States
Dec 2007 - Jul 2022
Apr 2008

41000 mi

US $5
There are 4 3.5mm cloth-over-rubber vacuum lines on the 1.8T engine. So far, two of mine have ruptured where they are forced to make sharp bends, and I have replaced them, plus a third, with high temperature silicone, for what should be a lifetime fix. 
Jul 2010

48000 mi

US $50
PCV system -- pressure regulator, valves, and suction pump, to fix oil leak. 
Apr 2011

51200 mi

US $30
coilpack (one went bad, replaced all 4 @ $22 ea.) 
Jun 2011

52000 mi

US $20
Replaced fourth of four OEM 3.5mm vacuum hoses. (Intake manifold to diverter valve control port.) 
Nov 2011

52100 mi

US $113
Replaced forward O2 sensor Replaced O2 sensor 
Sep 2012

54000 mi

US $110
Replaced Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor. 
Apr 2013

55000 mi

US $25
ECU relay intermittent -- replaced 
Mar 2014

57000 mi

US $60
Oil cooler replaced. 
Oct 2014

58200 mi

US $98
ABS control module -- removed myself, sent out for resoldering of bond wires (well-known Bosch 5.3 module problem), replaced myself. 
Mar 2015

60000 mi

US $16
Blown fuse for security system prevented starting, as well as windows, mirrors, sunroof from operating. Required replacement of defective mirror control to prevent recurrence of fuse blow. 
Apr 2018

66000 mi

US $30
replaced tie rod ends -- just under an hour per side 
Jun 2018

67000 mi

US $30
replaced pressure regulating puck for crankcase / turbo 
Oct 2019

67000 mi

US $600
leaky valve cover gasket replaced leaky coolant temperature sensor housing replaced 
Jul 2022

70000 mi

US $10
Plastic clip in window mechanism broke (common problem). $5 part online. Secondary Air Injection Pump -- wrong airflow reported by engine control module 
Volkswagen Passat in Pennsylvania, United States
Dec 2011 - Jan 2012
Jan 2012

US $80
Flush the heater core, so the heater works well. 
Volkswagen Passat in Massachusetts, United States
Jun 2009 - Jun 2011
Aug 2010

130300 mi

US $250
Replaced 2 ignition coils 
Volkswagen Passat in California, United States
Feb 2010 - Feb 2013
Dec 2010

103000 mi

US $55
Coilpack failure. Diagnosed myself and replaced failed part. 
Jun 2011

108000 mi

US $357
Crankshaft sensor replaced 
Jul 2012

113000 mi

US $175
ABS control module failed. Removed module, sent it out for repair. Re-installed. 
Feb 2013

119000 mi

US $70
Transmission failed 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Wagon

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Passat in Virginia, United States
Feb 2010 - Nov 2018
Jul 2010

95000 mi

US $230
replaced right front control arm because of bad ball joint. 
Sep 2010

97000 mi

US $730
ABS sensor unit went kaput 
Dec 2010

100000 mi

US $250
right front CV joint and boot 
Mar 2012

109000 mi

US $100
replaced clouded front headlights with new units 
Jul 2012

109000 mi

US $360
replaced driver side CV boot and joint replaced hoses for air intakes 
Aug 2012

109000 mi

US $350
drivers door window regulator clips broke. this is a common problem replaced corroded brake hoses to comply with state inspection 
Jul 2013

111700 mi

US $850
replaced main fan bearing (involved removing the front bumper!) replaced motor mounts - they were leaking fluid 
Mar 2015

120000 mi

US $270
thermostat failed 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Wagon

190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Volkswagen Passat in California, United States
May 2010 - Jun 2011
Jun 2010

100000 mi
replace fuel pump after car died while being driven. drains connected to moonroof plugged, leaking into vehicle when it rains 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Wagon

190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Volkswagen Passat in Minnesota, United States
Mar 2013 - Dec 2014
Apr 2013

122500 mi

US $1400
Front brake lines were rotting and needed replacement 
Jun 2013

125000 mi

US $200
CV boot was torn Tie-rod end was worn and needed replacement 
Volkswagen Passat in Colorado, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2013
Sep 2013

128000 mi

US $2200
Replaced all suspension parts, windshield, egr 
Volkswagen Passat in Ontario, Canada
Dec 2013 - Nov 2020
Jan 2014

132980 mi

C $650
Replaced control arm 
Nov 2014

151900 mi

C $2600
replaced heater core, no heat coming into passenger cabin. replaced cam seals. Engine was leaking oil onto the engine block causing terrible burning oil odor and fumes 
Jan 2015

136480 mi

C $550
replaced both sides front tie rods. Drivers had to be replaced. Passenger was good for 50k more only. 
Jun 2015

170500 mi

C $1300
replaces all pads, rotors and 3 of 4 calipers 
Jan 2016

158660 mi

C $750
abs system 
Volkswagen Passat in Pennsylvania, United States
Dec 2010 - Jun 2015
Jan 2011

108000 mi

US $80
Car would not start until tried multiple times. Then it idled hard and surged. Temperature gauge replaced. 
Aug 2012

121300 mi

US $219
Exhaust leak in the flex pipe 
Dec 2013

136000 mi

US $900
Replaced heater core 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Wagon

190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Passat in Iowa, United States
May 2008 - Oct 2010
Oct 2008

37000 mi
Air conditioner intermittently not blowing cold air After ordering the part, they were unable to replicate the issue. No work done. 
May 2009

38000 mi

US $450
CV shaft needed to be replaced 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Volkswagen Passat in Pennsylvania, United States
Jun 2011 - Jul 2011
Jun 2011

154000 mi

US $90
Replaced 4 ignition coils 
Jul 2011

156000 mi

US $530
Replaced front and rear shocks 
Volkswagen Passat in Washington, United States
Jul 2008 - May 2012
Oct 2009

130000 mi

US $200
Replaced worn CV boots 
Dec 2009

133000 mi

US $400
Clean throttle body and some other fuel intake problems 
Feb 2011

150000 mi

US $400
Thermostat stuck and had to be replaced 
Aug 2011

153000 mi

US $400
Bad oil sensor was triggering low oil pressure warning 
Oct 2011

155000 mi

US $800
Oil cooler had a crack in it that caused oil to be fed back into the cooling system. Had to replace the oil cooler, replace the coolant reservoir, and flush the cooling system several times. 
May 2012

159000 mi

US $95
Drop in oil pressure over time of driving, assumed to be sludge or clogged intake. I ended up selling it as non-working to someone on Craig's List who was going to part it out. (Initially reported in March.) 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Volkswagen Passat in Romania
Mar 2015 - Apr 2015
Apr 2015

115940 mi

$1000
Bad engine 
Volkswagen Passat in Michigan, United States
Jun 2009 - Jun 2016
Jun 2011

70000 mi

US $1600
Thermostat failing. Also replaced timing belt, water pump, tensioner. 
Sep 2011

73000 mi

US $350
Grinding in transmission. Drained transmission fluid and found metal. Diagnosed probably failing. Play in ball joints. Wheel bearing going bad. PCV system clogged. 
Nov 2011

75000 mi

US $700
PCV system clogged. Cleaned part and replaced part. 
Jun 2012

80000 mi

US $850
Control arm bushing worn. Replace. Air not too cold. Fluid low. Topped up and monitor for leak. 
Aug 2013

91000 mi

US $120
Replace vacuum hose on secondary air pump 
Dec 2013

95000 mi

US $627
Oil cooler seal leak. Brake lines cracked. Outer CV boot torn. 
Sep 2014

100000 mi

US $85
Exhaust clamp rusting thru. 
Nov 2015

111000 mi

US $280
Flex joint damaged. Replaced. 
Volkswagen Passat in Oregon, United States
Jun 2008 - Oct 2010
Aug 2008

78000 mi

US $575
CEL for MAF - replaced buy independant shop. Upper control arms, front right side. 
Oct 2008

79000 mi

US $554
Breather tubes replaced/CEL now stays off. New rear shocks. 
Mar 2009

83000 mi

US $720
Tie rod ends replaces, front lower right control arms replaced. ABS module replaced. 
Jan 2010

89000 mi
Ignition coil went bad again 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Volkswagen Passat in Texas, United States
Nov 2010 - Jun 2018
Dec 2010

75000 mi

US $2147
Oil smell caused by oil leak - cam plugs on back of cylinder head leaking oil onto exhaust. Valve cover gaskets and tensioner seals. Plus Preventive replacement of timing belt and coolant system flush. 
Nov 2011

78000 mi

US $250
Air conditioning stalls on start up - have to turn it totally off and restart it to make it work. Told we had to replace 2 motor mount gaskets and alternator belt plus new fresh air sensor Dead battery. Replaced after 3 years. 
Dec 2012

81000 mi

US $275
Had it in to replace a headlight, turns out the entire housing had to be replaced as well because the seal melted - supposedly due to Texas heat. Replaced both. It's kept in a garage so material defects are a better explanation. Also dealer wanted to replace the front control arm lubrication bushings due to deterioration for a mere $1300. We passed on that. 
Mar 2016

91000 mi

US $2000
Leaking transmission fluid and bushings resulted in mis-alignment of tie rods which pulled the tires inward. Had to replace tires as well as a result (not included in the total cost) Total including tires, oil change, etc was $2,500 
Volkswagen Passat in California, United States
Sep 2011 - Mar 2017
May 2013

132000 mi

US $500
Coolant Leak was found coming from lower radiator hose where it connects to engine block via a split plastic fitting. Required removal of timing belt, so lots of labor!rnTHIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED!!! 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4dr Sedan

190-horsepower 2.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Volkswagen Passat in New York, United States
Nov 2013 - Jun 2018
Jan 2015

US $40
Oil leak at 2 year old valve cover gasket. 
Jun 2017

136000 mi

US $350
Replaced original front pads and rotors, finally worn enough to activate the pad light. Replaced rear pads and rotors as well. 
Volkswagen Passat in California, United States
Aug 2011 - Oct 2015
Nov 2011

133000 mi

US $150
Replaced some belt (not timing belt) 
Aug 2013

155000 mi

US $15
Mirror switch broke Window switch intermittently working. 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4-door

6-cylinder manual 2WD

Volkswagen Passat in New Jersey, United States
Jun 2009 - Dec 2009
Sep 2009

115000 mi

US $120
2 exhaust joints replaced.  
Oct 2009

116000 mi

US $490
Tie rod ends replaced $490.00 1 hour extra labor charged due to rusted frozen parts Also 4 wheel alignment ($150) 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4-door

6-cylinder automatic 2WD

Volkswagen Passat in Florida, United States
May 2008 - Aug 2008
Jun 2008

70000 mi

US $800
Gurgling sound behind the dash, then received "stop engine" warning and had a near-empty radiator. Dealer was unable to replicate. Occurred twice more before VW figured it out, replaced the radiator. 

Return to top

2001 Volkswagen Passat 4-door

5-cylinder manual 2WD

Volkswagen Passat in Great Britain
Jun 2009 - Apr 2011
Sep 2009

62000 mi

£500
CVT boot replaced front right 
Mar 2011

68000 mi

£200
Replace springs and check shock absorbers 

Return to top

See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans and Wagons.
See TrueDelta's information for all Volkswagen models.

2001 Volkswagen Passat Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2001 Volkswagen Passat problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.