Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2001)

432 consumer complaints on file.

#10072406May 11, 2004
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6.5 MONTHS, THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON HAS SHATTERED. THE PREVIOUS TWO OCCURRENCES WERE REPORTED EARLIER. THIS TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND THE WINDOW WAS OPEN A FEW INCHES. UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR AFTER WORK AROUND NOON, I FOUND THE WINDOW SHATTERED AGAIN AND SHARDS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. AFTER THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT, THE VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A DEFECT IN THE CAR. HE FELT THAT OUTSIDE INFLUENCES CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THAT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072245May 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SHOOK AND LOST POWER. THEN STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH LITTLE ROOM TO REACH THE SHOULDER. TWICE VEHICLE STAALED ON THE HIGHWAY. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS CONSUMER COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND REPLACED THE ENGINE COIL AND THE BATTERY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073317May 4, 2004
SEAT BELTS
2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT NOTICE TO MANUFACTURER, MEMORANDUM OF FACTS AND REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION. (NAR). *MR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TOT HE CONSUMER AFTER SERVICE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERABLE. A MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE #4 COIL FAILED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068054April 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I TOOK MY 2001, VW PASSAT VR6 WITH 46K MILES ON IT FOR BODY WORK. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM DEALER WITH "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" LIGHT ON. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM TO FIND THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ("EMISSIONS WORKSHOP"). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068025April 28, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
UPPER CONTROL ARM ON BOTH SIDES WORN OUT. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I STARTED TO HEAR SQUEAKING SOUNDS WHEN I WOULD MAKE TIGHT TURNS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND VICE VERSA. HAD TO HAVE THEM BOTH REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067844April 26, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEAT EXCHANGER (HEATER CORE) FAILURE AT 50004 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067206April 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE O-RING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065724April 7, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER AND KNOW FROM CARFAX REPORT THE CAR WAS RECENTLY OFF LEASE. I PUT 15 MILES ON IT AND INTERNALLY INSIDE THE DASH BLACK SMOKE RADIATED FROM THE VENTS AND SPARKS FELL UNDER THE CAR. WITHIN SECONDS FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH. THE FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES BUT BY THEN THE CAR WAS AN INFERNO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064550April 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONTINUING OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS ON THE 2001 VW PASSAT. WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT IS REPORTED ON THE INTERNET. CAUSES PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO PREMATURE BURNING OF OIL. IN MY CASE, VW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065586April 5, 2004
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN A 5 MONTH PERIOD. THIS COMPLAINT IS FILED FOR THE MOST RECENT EVENT. THE FIRST EVENT OCCURRED ON 10/30/2003. THE FIRST TIME THE WINDOW SHATTERED IT WAS CLOSED. THE SECOND TIME IT SHATTERED,THE WINDOW WAS OPEN A FEW INCHES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059340April 1, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BURNED OIL TOO FAST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GASKETS WERE LEAKING. *NM CONSUMER MADE TWO OIL REPAIRS AND HEADLIGHTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT ON VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE'S REAR BRAKES NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064262March 31, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2001.5 VW PASSAT GLX 2.8LV6. INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. WORSE WHEN COLD OUTSIDE. TURN KEY TO START, NO CRANKING, DRLS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM (RELAY CUTOUT DURING STARTER OPERATION), BUT WILL NOT TURN OVER. LEFT ME STRANDED AT HOME. HAS ALMOST LEFT ME STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES, SOMETIMES IN TRAFFIC! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FAR FROM HOME (LONG TRIP). THIS IS NOT RIGHT ON A 2.5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IT IS UNSAFE. I AM SO CLOSE TO SWITCHING BACK TO JAPANESE BRAND CARS, THOUGH I LOVE THE INTERIOR AND DRIVING DYNAMICS OF MY PASSAT. $1200 IN REPAIRS IN TWO MONTHS FOR A STARTER AND IGNITION LOCK/SWITCH ASSEMBLY. WORKS FOR A FEW DAYS THEN THE PROBLEM COMES BACK! DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL PASSATS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. TODAY I WAS IN LINE FOR MY STATE EMISSIONS TEST AND IT WOUDL NOT START, TOOK 5 MINUTES, BLOCKING THE TEST LANE! MY 1978 LINCOLN IS MORE DEPENDABLE (BUT COSTS A FORTUNE TO DRIVE WITH GAS PRICES!). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062363March 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. FUEL GAUGE READS FULL AT ALL TIMES EVEN WHEN FUEL LEVEL IS LESS THAN FULL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062005March 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF IN MY 2001.5 PASSAT V6. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JAN 2001 AND CURRENTLY HAS 32K MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM A HALF DOZEN TIMES, IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, A COMUPTER CHIP WAS REPLACED (OVER $100), BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. EACH ADDITIONAL TIME, THE SERVICE DEPT. STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND RESET THE CAR'S COMPUTER. IT MAY BE A COINCIDENCE, TUT THE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON IN COLD WEATHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058569February 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR SHUT OFF TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH. I WAS TOLD BY A VOKSWAGEN WARRANTY SPOKESPERSON THAT IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER A SAFTEY ISSUE. I DIAGREE. I LOST ALL BRAKING AND TURNING POWER AND WAS GLAD THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR IT TO BE FIXED. I HAVE BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR A LOANER CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058454February 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, INTERIOR LIGHTING
UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES ARE WORN OUT. TIE RODS ARE WORN OUT ON BOTH SIDES. CATALYTIC CONVERTERS NEEDED REPLACED. I PAID FOR THE TIE RODS, WARRANTY COVERED CONVERTERS, AND I HAVE NOT HAD THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. OIL LEAKS ON ENGINE. INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT ACTIVATE WHEN DRIVERS DOOR IS OPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058151February 14, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT SMELT LIKE IT WAS BURNING AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKEOR HAZE APPEARED IN THE CAR. TURNED SEAT OFF AND IT DISSIPATED. IS THIS A MAJOR PORBLEM? ALSO ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES A CHEAP REPAINT PEELS OFF AFTER LESS THAN TWO YEARS. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IN ALL VWS, SO I LOOK AT THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM . WHEN I APPROACHED VW AMERICA, THEY OFFERED TO PAY HALF THE COST AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, HMMM. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058114February 13, 2004
INTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POLLEN FILTER SEAL FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED IN MANY INTERNATIONAL PASSAT OWNER GROUPS. THE SEAL AROUND THE POLLEN FILTER FAILS. THE CAR'S INTERIOR BECOMES FLOODED IN RAIN. ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT GET WET FAIL OVER TIME AT ACCELERATED AND UNPREDICTABLE RATE. SAFETY CONCERN: IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPERATE AUXILLIARY COMPONENTS (DEFROSTER, RADIO, ETC WHEN INTERIOR LIGHTS FAIL) EMERGENCY FLASHER AND ASR BREAKERS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO MOISTURE-RELATED ACCELERATED DECLINE AS A RESULT OF POLLEN FILTER LEAKAGE. OUR VW DEALER AND VWOA STATED THAT POLLEN FILTER SEAL FAILURE AND ASSOCIATED FLOODING DAMAGE AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE WERE PART OF "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". VW SERVICE ADVISORS IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA HAVE SAID THEY SEE "SEVERAL OF THESE EACH WEEK" IN RAINY SEASONS. THE FILTER DESIGNED TO REDUCE ALLERGENS IN THE AIR HAS THE PERVERSE CONSEQUENCE OF ACCELERATING THE GROWTH OF MOLD INSIDE THE CAR BECAUSE IT SEAL FAILS, CREATES (IN OUR CASE 2" OF STANDING WATER) MOISTURE IN THE CAR THAT PROMOTES UNPLEASANT, UNHEALTHY, EXPENSIVE-TO-REMIDIATE MOLD GROWTH IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057055February 12, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I HAVE A 2001 VW PASSAT. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER O ONTHE DIRVERS SIDE AND IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES THEIR WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE SEAT AND THE HEATING COIL HAD BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056918February 10, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS THE LETTER I SENT TO VW. THEY ARE MAINTAINING "THE VEHICLE NOW OPERATES ACCORIND TO MAUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS" AND ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING. HELP!!WHAT DO I DO NOW???*AK VW CUSTOMER CARE 3499 W. HAMLIN ROAD ROCHESTER HILLS, MICHIGAN 48309 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO OUR 2001 VW PASSAT, . IF YOU REVIEW THE FILE, YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS CAR HAS NOW FAILED THREE TIMES. THE FAILURES ARE SUCH THAT ALL POWER CUTS OUT AND CREATES A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATION. WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT SO FAR IT HAS NOT HAPPENED WHEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. IDEALLY, WE WOULD EXPECT REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND WIRE HARNESS. IF YOUR COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO COMPLY, WE WOULD LIKE A LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAST FAILURES AND OUR CONCERN THAT WE HAVE A VEHICLE WE FEEL IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FURTHERMORE, WE WOULD LIKE WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF OUR INFORMING YOU THAT WE HOLD YOUR CORPORATION LIABLE IF THE VEHICLE FAILS AND THE END RESULT IS AN ACCIDENT. FRANKLY, THIS IS A NIGHTMARE. WE ONLY WISH THAT WHEN WE HAD THE CHOICE OF TOYOTA, VOLVO OR VW, THAT WE HAD NOT CHOSEN VW. STEPHEN MCCHRYSTAL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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