One problem related to diesel engine has been reported for the 2002 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat based on all problems reported for the 2002 Passat.
In 2002, I bought my Passat new. At the end of December 2010, the stop oil light came on. Two weeks later, a recall letter arrived. I drove to pasadena and back to northern California February 2011. After a little malfunction on the freeway in livermore, I pulled into a gas station and the Passat started to sound like a diesel engine. Towed to dublin vw. They say the engine is fried and a new one would cost $6800. All this due to oil sludge issue.