Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

1995 Volkswagen Passat: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Volkswagen Passat, most recently filed September 1995. Owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 Volkswagen Passat. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 1995 Volkswagen Passat. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 95V178000 Filed Sep 20, 1995

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Engine and engine cooling · cooling system · fan
Official NHTSA text
Summary
IMPROPER MATERIAL WAS USED IN MANUFACTURING THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAUSING THE SHAFT TO WEAR AND BECOME NOISY.
Consequence
A WORN AND NOISY FAN MOTOR SHAFT CAN SEIZE RENDERINGTHE FAN MOTOR INOPERATIVE, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL. A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COMPLETE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY ON VEHICLE HAVING THE POTENTIAL SHAFT MATERIAL PROBLEM. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FAN BLADE INCLUDING A NEW LOCK NUT ON VEHICLE WITH LOOSE FAN BLADE LOCK NUTS.
Repair progress not yet reported34,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 95V178000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (93)

93 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility is mentioned most often.

3involved a crash
1involved a fire
3injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1995 Volkswagen Passat, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 93.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 1995 compares with other Passat years

Best and worst Passat years →
1991199219931994199519961997199819992000
This year (1995)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined

21
mpg combined
18
city
27
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,200
CO₂ tailpipe
423 g/mi
EPA class
Midsize Cars

What it costs you to run

$3,110per year
$259per month
714gallons a year

Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

1995 Volkswagen Passat configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive18 / 27 / 21$3,200423
2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive18 / 25 / 20$3,350444
2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 19$3,550468
2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 18$3,700494
2.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive16 / 23 / 18$3,700494

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 1995 Passat for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Passat years

Where to next

1995 Volkswagen Passat FAQ

How many recalls does the 1995 Volkswagen Passat have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 95V178000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 1995 Volkswagen Passat problems?

Owners filed 93 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility (20), Engine and engine cooling (19), Electrical system (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 1995 Volkswagen Passat get?

EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 18 city, 27 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 1995 Passat compare with other years?

Among the 1991–2000 Volkswagen Passat model years at least five years old, the 1991 drew the fewest complaints (24) and the 1999 the most (664). The 1995 drew 93. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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