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1992 Volkswagen Passat

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 Passat.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1992 Volkswagen Passat is a passenger car paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, its engine calling for 4.2 quarts of oil in 20W-40, 20W-50, or 20W-20 API viscosity grades. EPA-rated at 18 city, 26 highway, and 21 combined mpg, it represents a reasonably efficient offering of its era, while 60 owner complaints — with engine and engine cooling as the dominant category and a single recall on file — direct a researcher's attention toward thermal management first. Within the broader 1990–2022 complaint history for the nameplate, the 1992 model year sits at the quiet end of the spectrum, its 60 issues a small fraction of the 747 logged in 2013 and modestly above the 11 reported in 2022. That positioning makes the early-1990s Passat a useful baseline reference — a comparatively low-issue chapter against which the more troubled middle years of the model can be measured.

Model year2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 1992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 20W-20 APIOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	179.9 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	2612 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	18 / 26 / 21 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	97 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Passat of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.7–10.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.70 sec — 1993 GLX V6 Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1993	GLX V6 Sedan 2.8L V6	7.70 sec	16.10 sec	172 hp	FWD
1990	GL Sedan 2.0L I-4	9.20 sec	17.00 sec	134 hp	FWD
1990	GL Sedan 2.0L I-4	10.90 sec	17.80 sec	134 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 20W-20 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	SYNTHETIC · 75W-90 · GL-4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	1.6 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	API · 20W-40 · 20W-50 · 20W-20
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE VW. PART NO. G002000

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 mi	Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Battery (inspect electrolyte level) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Assembly (inspect) · Door Stop (lubricate)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Oxygen Sensor (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.

In 1992 the Passat recorded 60 consumer complaints, the highest figure up to that point and well above the 45 complaints seen in 1990 and the 29 in 1991, while recalls remained low at a single event, matching the modest recall count of 1991. The number of Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) jumped to 16 in 1992, a sharp increase from 5 in 1990 and 17 in 1991, indicating a growing need for post‑sale fixes even as formal recalls stayed minimal. Compared with the subsequent years, complaints accelerated dramatically after 1992, peaking at 675 in 1999, and recalls rose to as many as 7 per year in the mid‑2000s, suggesting that 1992 sits at the early rise of a broader reliability trend. The top complaint areas for 1992 focus on Engine & Engine Cooling (22 reports), Visibility (7), Fuel System (7) and Power Train (5), with only four crash‑related and one fire‑related complaint, showing that serious safety issues were rare. Because 1992 marks the beginning of an upward trajectory in complaints and service bulletins without a corresponding spike in recalls, it is a relatively higher‑risk year within the early generation, and buyers should weigh the likelihood of more frequent maintenance needs before deciding.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

4 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91’92’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’22

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 60 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling22

Visibility7

Fuel System, Gasoline7

Power Train5

Vehicle Speed Control3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Seat Belts3

Electrical System3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

92V131000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 15/09/1992

THE VENTURI TUBE LOCATED IN THE THROTTLE VALVE HOUSING CAN BECOME LOOSE AND FALL AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE. Remedy: REPLACE THE PRESS-FIT VENTURI TUBE WITH A THREAD TYPE TUBE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
SM 33-2019	2019-03-27	Equipment	The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria…
SM 44-2017 EN	2017-06-28	Equipment	This special notice is to inform dealers to return all part numbers listed in the…
VHW-17-11	2017-06-22	Equipment	VAS 6154 Replacement Part Setup Guide
1-2017 Update	2017-02-01	Equipment	This communication is to update our ProFi dealers of the current status of the latest…
V691601 2010479	2016-10-31	Equipment	Update model year applicability to include 2017.

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. 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.

Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

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

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1992 Passat take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 68 degrees F: 40W API SL, 32 degrees F TO 86 degrees F: 30W API SL, ABOVE 14 degrees F: 20W-40, 20W-50 API SL, 14 degrees F TO 50 degrees F: 20W-20 API SL, BELOW 25 degrees F: 10W API (STARBU, per the factory manual.

Does the 1992 Passat have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Passat get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.