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2001 Volkswagen Passat Sedan

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Passat Sedan.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2001 Volkswagen Passat Sedan is a passenger car whose routine maintenance specs include a 3.9-quart engine oil capacity and approved viscosity grades of 5W-40, 5W-30, or 0W-40. In owner-reported reliability data, this model year registers 447 complaints, with Engine & Engine Cooling cited as the most common trouble area, and it carries four manufacturer recalls. That concentration of engine-related feedback, alongside the recall count, marks the 2001 Passat as a model year researchers should scrutinize for powertrain and cooling-system durability before turning to finer detail.

Model year2012 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.9 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-40 / 5W-30 / 0W-40OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 540 CCA battery, OE oil filter 06A115561B. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 540 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195-65HR15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	06A115561B alt 078115561J
Engine air filter	058133843
Fuel filter	1H0201511A alt 441201511C
Spark plug	101000063AA alt 101000035HJ
Battery	000915105AF alt 000915105AG
Front wiper blades	3A1955425A discontinued · alt 3A1955427A
Thermostat	038121119B alt 050121113C
Cabin air filter	8A0819439A alt 1H0819644B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	185 in
Overall width	68.9 in
Overall height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Track (front / rear)	59.4 / 59.4 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.9 qt of 5W-40 / 5W-30 / 0W-40 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	USE G012ABG-A1 COOLANT
Engine Oil	5W-40 · 5W-30 · 0W-40
Engine Oil Capacity	3.9 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	6.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE VW. PART NO. G002000

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	85 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-3-6-2-5
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	870 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	20 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	60 rpm

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	To November 2000, 1.43; from November 2000, models w/Denso 7SB-16C, 1.31; models w/Denso 7SEU16 compressor, 1.13. lbs
Oil Type	PAG
Oil Capacity	8.45 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	48 Ex. 4 Motion
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	570 Ex. 4 Motion cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance	13-19 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	17.4-23.2 psi @ idle, 39.1-65.2 psi @ 2000
Engine Oil Pressure	29 psi @ Idle, 43.5-79.7 psi @ 2000 rpm. psi
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in
Exhaust Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Application	LUCAS
Torque Caliper to Bracket	11 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs / 22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	92 ft-lbs / 89 ft-lbs / 70 ft-lbs
Other	TEVES
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.276; Rear: 0.276 specification
Brake Application	LUCAS
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.012 in / 0.02 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees
4	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	30 ft. lbs.	30 ft. lbs
2	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees
4	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	44 ft. lbs.	44 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees.	90 degrees
3	90 degrees.	90 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

44 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi.

Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Neutral Safety Switch (test) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 mi	Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Hinge (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
Every 40,000 mi	Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect) · Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 80,000 mi	Drive Belt (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Timing Belt Tensioner (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen Passat Sedan top in one area — the engine & engine cooling, 72 of 447 reports (16%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the engine & engine cooling are also the target of recall 14E-007 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 16 of the reports describe a crash and 15 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine & engine cooling pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

226

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

447

Owner complaints

16 involved a crash · 15 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 447 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling72

Electrical System48

Service Brakes, Hydraulic39

Visibility27

Fuel System, Gasoline24

Exterior Lighting23

Power Train22

Air Bags18

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14E007000Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 07/03/2014

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and… Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

08V156000Fuel System, Gasoline:DeliveryReported 07/04/2008

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH ALL 1.8T ENGINES WITH A PRECAUTIONARY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 226 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
V171901201285565	2023-08-21	Engine And Engine Cooling	Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
V171901201285562	2023-05-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
V171901201285560	2023-04-24	Engine And Engine Cooling	Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
V941901201152119	2022-12-12	Equipment	Update model year applicability to include 2023.
V271901201189422	2022-12-06	Electrical System	Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Passat Sedan. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 battery Vehicles taking 3.9 qt Engine oil filter 06A115561B Engine air filter 058133843 Fuel filter 1H0201511A Spark plug 101000063AA

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 Passat Sedan take?

3.9 qt of 5W-40, 5W-30 OR 0W-40 MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 Passat Sedan have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.