Volkswagen Passat: Timing Belt Or Timing Chain? (1998 - 2022)

The Volkswagen Passat has had both timing belts and timing chains over it's lifespan. Check the table below to see the data for your model year.

Scroll down to see detailed timing belt data for your particular model year of the Volkswagen Passat.

Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Year	Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference
2009-2010, 2018 - 2022	2.0L Gas	Timing Chain	Interference
2012 - 2018	3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference
2004 - 2005, 2012 - 2015	2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference
2014 - 2017	1.8L	Timing Chain	Interference
2012 - 2014	2.5L	Timing Chain	Interference
1998 - 2005	2.8L	Timing Chain	Interference
1998 - 2005	1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference
1998	1.9L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference
2002 - 2004	4.0L	Timing Chain	Interference

Check out the Belt Or Chain specifications for other makes and models.

2022 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2022 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2021 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2021 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2021 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2020 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2020 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2019 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2019 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2018 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2018 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2018 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2017 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2017 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2017 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
1.8L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2016 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat has a timing chain and an interference engine.

2016 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
1.8L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2015 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2015 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L and 3.6L engines have a timing chain while the 2.0L diesel engine has a timing belt. They are all interference.

2015 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
1.8L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2014 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2014 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L, 2.5L and 3.6L engines have a timing chain while the 2.0L diesel engine has a timing belt. They are all interference.

2014 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
1.8L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2013 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2013 Volkswagen Passat 2.5L and 3.6L engines have a timing chain while the 2.0L diesel engine has a timing belt. They are all interference.

2013 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2012 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat Passat 2.5L and 3.6L engines have a timing chain while the 2.0L diesel engine has a timing belt. They are all interference.

2012 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.5L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2010 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2010 Volkswagen Passat engines have a timing chain are interference.

2010 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2009 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat engines have a timing chain are interference.

2009 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime

2008 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L engines have a timing belt while the 3.6L engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2008 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2007 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L engines have a timing belt while the 3.6L engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2007 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2006 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2006 Volkswagen Passat 2.0L engines have a timing belt while the 3.6L engines have a timing chain. Both are interference.

2006 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
3.6L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.0L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2005 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2005 Volkswagen Passat engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2005 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2004 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L, 2.0L Diesel and 2.8L engines have a timing belt while the 4.0L engines have a timing chain. All are interference.

2004 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
4.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
2.0L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2003 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2003 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L and 2.8L engines have a timing belt while the 4.0L engines have a timing chain. All are interference.

2003 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
4.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2002 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2002 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L and 2.8L engines have a timing belt while the 4.0L engines have a timing chain. All are interference.

2002 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
4.0L	Timing Chain	Interference	Lifetime
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	90k

2001 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2001 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L and 2.8L engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2001 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k

2000 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 2000 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L and 2.8L engines have a timing belt and are interference.

2000 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k

1999 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 1999 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L and 2.8L engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1999 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k

1998 Volkswagen Passat - Timing Belt Or Chain

The 1998 Volkswagen Passat 1.8L, 1.9L Diesel and 2.8L engines have a timing belt and are interference.

1998 Volkswagen Passat Timing Belt Or Chain

Engine	Belt Or Chain	Interference or Non-Interference	Replacement Interval (miles)
2.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k
1.9L Diesel	Timing Belt	Interference	60k
1.8L	Timing Belt	Interference	60k

Timing Belt Basics

The primary purpose of the timing belt or timing chain is to maintain the timing (syncronization) between the crankshaft and the camshaft(s).

A timing belt is made of a rubber compound while a timing chain is made of chain similiar to a bicycle chain.

A timing belt wears out over time and must be replaced at the manufacturer's specified interval. Timing belt failure can result in serious engine damage.

Although a timing chain will wear over time it is usually good for the lifetime of the engine but it should be routinely inspected.