Home › Vehicles › Volkswagen › Volkswagen Passat › 1998-2005 VW Passat Wheel Bearing Part Numbers
The short version
- A 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing is 510020 on the 4 cylinder car or 510019 on the 6 cylinder car.
- The rear runs a single number, 512187, across the entire 1998-2004 span.
- 2005 has no documented listing at either end; match the old part or run the VIN.
- The Passat sold into 2005, but the catalogs stop writing numbers down at 2004.
Volkswagen sold this Passat generation from 1998 through 2005. A 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing is a clean example of the engine split that runs through most of that window. Cylinder count, not trim, decides the front number.
VW Passat wheel bearing numbers at a glance
A 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing is 510020 on the 4 cylinder engine or 510019 on the 6 cylinder engine, both press in ball bearings.
The rear is 512187 for every engine from 1998 through 2004. That listing stops after 2004.
VW Passat wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Front and rear | not documented, match old part or VIN |
| 1998 to 2004 | Rear | 512187 check price |
| 1998 to 2004 | Front, 6 cylinder | 510019 check price |
| 1998 to 2004 | Front, 4 cylinder | 510020 check price |
Price links lead to Amazon searches for that number. As an Amazon Associate this site earns from qualifying purchases.
Lookups run through the cross reference page.
This page covers the 1998-2005 VW Passat: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. Other years live on the main VW Passat wheel bearing page.
Cylinder count decides a 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing, a split that most listings bury under a single generic row.
The catalogs stop at 2004 even though these cars sold into 2005. On a 2005 car, match the old part or run the VIN.
Year by year
1998 through 2004 share the same engine split up front, 510020 for 4 cylinder or 510019 for 6 cylinder, plus the same 512187 rear.
A 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing sits comfortably inside that stable window.
2005 has no documented number at either end, so the old part or the VIN decides the listing that year.
Where this Passat sits in the lineup
This generation runs 1998-2005. The next one starts fresh in 2006, covered on the 2006-2010 VW Passat wheel bearing page with its own numbers.
A later Passat, built 2012-2017, has its own separate listing on the 2012-2017 VW Passat wheel bearing page.
None of these three tables share numbers, so stay on the page that matches the model year in hand.
Diagnosing a VW Passat wheel bearing
- Listen for the noise. A worn bearing usually growls or hums, and the pitch tracks road speed, not RPM. Wheel bearing noise on turns covers the pattern.
- Rule out the tires. Uneven tread wear can sound like a bad bearing on a car this age. Tire noise or wheel bearing separates the two.
- Check for play. With the wheel off the ground, rock it top and bottom to feel for looseness. How to check a wheel bearing covers the routine.
- Confirm the engine before ordering the front. 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder Passats take different front numbers.
- Match the old part on a 2005 car. With no documented listing for that year, pull the old bearing’s markings or run the VIN.
Common questions
What wheel bearing does a 2003 VW Passat use?
A 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing is 510020 on the 4 cylinder or 510019 on the 6 cylinder, and the rear is 512187 either way.
What wheel bearing does a 2005 VW Passat use?
A 2005 VW Passat has no documented front or rear listing. Match the old part or run the VIN instead of using the 2004 rows.
Does the front bearing change with engine size?
Yes. A 2003 VW Passat front wheel bearing is 510020 on the 4 cylinder engine and 510019 on the 6 cylinder engine, a split many listings miss.
Does the rear bearing change with engine?
No. The rear stays 512187 across every engine from 1998 through 2004.
Why does documentation stop at 2004?
The catalogs we hold simply do not carry a 2005 row, even though the Passat sold that year. Match the old part or the VIN instead.