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1999 Volkswagen Passat Sedan

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Passat Sedan.

The 1999 Volkswagen Passat Sedan is a model whose engine lubrication requires exactly 3.7 quarts of oil, accepting 5W-30, 5W-40, or 10W-30 viscosity grades. Within the model's reliability history, this specific year represents a notably troubled vintage, having generated 675 total owner complaints and 6 official recalls. Researchers evaluating this vehicle should be aware that the Service Brakes, Hydraulic system is the top complaint area, marking it as a critical vulnerability and a primary focus for any maintenance assessment.

Model year201220102009200820072006200520041999

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30OEM · 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 Note the factory front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 size195-65HR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06A115561B alt 078115561J
Engine air filter058133843 alt 8D0133843
Fuel filter1H0201511A
Spark plug101000035HJ alt 101000051AA
Battery000915105AF alt 000915105AG
Front wiper blades3A1955425 discontinued · alt 3A1955425A
Serpentine belt06B903137E discontinued · alt 058145271
Thermostat078121113G alt 078121113F
Cabin air filter8A0819439A alt 8D0819165B

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width68.5 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3122 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 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 FluidDOT 4
Engine CoolantUSE G012ABG-A1 COOLANT
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-50 · 10W-50 · 10W-60
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · 10W-30 · 10W-40 · 5W-50 · 10W-50 · 10W-60
Engine Oil Capacity6.3 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE VW. PART NO. G002000

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts89 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub85 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-4-3-6-2-5
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

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Oil Capacity8.45 oz
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance13-19 ohms
Engine Oil Pressure17.4-23.2 psi @ idle, 39.1-65.2 psi @ 2000
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationLUCAS
Torque Caliper to Bracket11 ft-lbs / 92 ft-lbs / 22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle92 ft-lbs / 89 ft-lbs / 70 ft-lbs
OtherTEVES
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.276; Rear: 0.276 specification
Brake ApplicationLUCAS
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.012 in / 0.02 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 9074 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages
130 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
244 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
390 degrees.90 degrees
490 degrees.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
290 degrees.90 degrees
390 degrees.90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
144 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9044 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.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 miBrake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Neutral Safety Switch (test) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Windshield Washer System (inspect fluid level)
Every 20,000 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Door Stop (lubricate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (read dtcs) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Timing Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miTiming 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 1999 Volkswagen Passat Sedan lead in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 149 of 675 reports (22%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 6 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 11 of the reports describe a crash and 13 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic 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.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
120
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
675
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 13 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 675 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic149
Suspension98
Engine & Engine Cooling67
Steering50
Electrical System32
Service Brakes, Air31
Vehicle Speed Control26
Visibility20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

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…

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 120 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
V1719012012855652023-08-21Engine And Engine CoolingUpdate to Volkswagen engine oil standards
V1719012012855622023-05-30Engine And Engine CoolingVolkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
V1719012012855602023-04-24Engine And Engine CoolingEngine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
V9419012011521192022-12-12EquipmentUpdate model year applicability to include 2023.
V2719012011894222022-12-06Electrical SystemBattery 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 batteryVehicles taking 3.7 qtEngine oil filter 06A115561BEngine air filter 058133843Fuel filter 1H0201511ASpark plug 101000035HJ

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 Passat Sedan take?

3.7 qt of ENERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-30, 5W-40, 10W-30 OR 10W-40 MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, EXCEPT ENGERGY CONSERVING OILS: 5W-50, 10W-50, OR 10W-60 MEETING VW SPECIFICATION VW50200, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 Passat Sedan have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.