2004 Volkswagen Passat: engine overheating

7 of the 279 complaints about the 2004 Volkswagen Passat describe engine overheating.

owner complaints: 7
of this car's complaints: 3%
typical mileage: 63,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 48 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Engine overheating by model year

2015
2
2014
7
2013
6
2012
2
2011
1
2010
1
2009
2
2006
3
2005
1
2004
7
2003
18
2002
4
2001
5
2000
3
1999
2
1997
2
1996
1
1995
4
1993
3
1992
3
1990
3

What owners say

Filed Nov 6, 2020 · Seats · 132,400 miles · NY · 1 injury

While driving on a highway, the driver seat suddenly overheated (the seat warmer was turned on). It started with a burning smell. Excessive heat burned my leg a bit (some skin redness), before I realized what is happening and turned the seat warmer off. The seat leather now appears stiff and wrinkled (not soft and smooth like the rest of the leather) in the area where I felt the heat.

Filed Nov 8, 2016 · Seats · 170,000 miles · CA

My car was part of a recall because the drivers side seat heater was overheating and melting through the seat. I took my car in for the recall and this issue should have been resolved. But yesterday I had that exact issue - within 4 to 5 minutes of turning on my drivers side seat heater it burned/melted through the seat and burned me.

Filed Feb 19, 2016 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

My vehicle has been nothing but a nightmare! First the thermostat housing broke got that fixed and then everything else went down hill! Oil pressure light started going and then it started overheating. The hoses all break and leak the coolant out plus the transmission code p742 which the transmission is stuck off is on . I can't afford the car worst car ever. It is fine if idle but once your driving everything starts beeping and when I'm turning you hear a noise on the side that your turning!

Filed Dec 27, 2010 · Seats · VA

Heated seat coils overheated and burnt seat on driver side.

Filed Oct 7, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · 55,999 miles · TX

Incident description = 2004 vw passat had been previously report several fuel consumptions problems at hoy fox vw and gas ended up leaking out of fuel tank and cause a spill in my garage and drive. Hazard was inhalation gas in a closed in area caused head aches/ nausea/dizziness/ for my family and I I have had mutiple problems with vehicle since then has broke down on me twice in less than 1 day's time. On 01 sep 08 my wife noticed and oil spot in driveway after I left to go out of town granted we have brand new home and the vw was only vehicle parked in that spot she could reach me because no service with my cell phone but I ended up broke down outside big spring ,tx the care was sluggish and leaking oil this time and on 03 sep08 in /texarkana after being in shop allday 2sep08 it broke down for a previous condition with ignition coils. Hoy foxvw not admitting that may have put the new oil filter to tight to cause to breakdown after having the oil change on 28aug08/29aug08 for other neglected maintenance. Please look into this matter I'm sure it's not just my vehicle they trying to assume because it just had went out warranty. The engine oil cooler was damaged and bursted when put on at hoy-fox vw by a vw technician after putting the oil filter on entirely to tight. Leaked in yard and I was not aware of it and the spilled out all over the ground at a high temperature vehicle (overheated) which make it hard for me stop while drive because of the slickness of mixture between the coolant and oil. Almost ran off the road but ended up shifting to neutral and letting coast over to median.

Filed Jul 8, 2008 · Engine · 63,000 miles · VA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 volkswagen passat. While driving 40 MPH, the turbo booster became very hot and the engine warning light illuminated. The first time the failure occurred, the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer replaced a certain part of the vehicle, which temporarily corrected the failure. Less than two months later, the turbo booster began to overheat again. The contact believes that the vehicle has a manufacturer defect. The vehicle is currently located at the dealer being repaired. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 63,000 and current mileage was 68,000.

Filed Nov 17, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · 42,000 miles · FL · fire

2004 passat 1.8t caught fire after a coil pack failed and the catalytic converter overheated. I only drove 5 miles after the coil pack failed trying to limp back to the dealer when the fire started. I put the fire out myself.