Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10114403March 21, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING DEVISE MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEATER BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, AND THROUGH MY SHIRT. AFTER 8 WEEKS, THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AND A "FIX" WAS DONE TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT. THE NEW SEAT DOES NOT HEAT WELL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115288March 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. BOTH THE ROTORS AND THE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME AT 9,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 17,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND MAKE A ROARING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THE PROBLEM MAY RECUR AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114178March 16, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD CRAKED REPEATEDLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE LOWER LEFT NEXT TO PASSENGER SIDE PILLAR, NEXT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALMOST IDENTICALLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY STONE, ETC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113936March 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON HAS FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE CAR AND WARRANTY COVERAGE IS DENIED TO THE TUNE OF $10,217.00. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, AND FEEL THAT THE DEFECT IS WITH THE ENGINE, NOT WITH MY TREATMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO NOISE WHEN THE "OIL PRESSURE! STOP!" LIGHT CAME ON, AND RAN FINE WHEN I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY NOW THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE IS 'LOCKED UP' AND WIL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE OIL PUMP, THE TURBO UNIT, ETC ETC. SINCE THE CAR WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE LIGHT POPPED ON, AND PRESUMABLY COULD HAVE 'LOCKED UP' AT 70 MPH, THIS IS, INDEED, A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115012March 11, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
A HOLE WAS BURT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112724March 8, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
MY WIFE AND I HAD MADE 2 SHORT DRIVES WITHIN THE SPAN OF ABOUT 1/2 HOUR WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER SET AT VARIOUS INTERVALS FROM 5 (HIGH) TO 3 (MEDIUM) AND THEN WE STOPPED TO EAT (~45 MINUTES). ON THE TRIP HOME, WITHIN 2 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER SET TO 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER LEG AND WE SMELLED SOME KIND OF ODD ODOR. SHE SHUT THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND MOVED OFF THE HOT SPOT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CLOTH SEAT HAD BEEN BURNED THROUGH. MY WIFE ALSO HAD A BURN ON HER LEG. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT VW HAS CHANGED MANUFACTURERS AND WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT AS THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL, THEY CANNOT REPLACE IT. I'M SURE A DRIVER'S SEAT GOING AMOK COULD CAUSE A CRASH. CONSEQUENTLY, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS AN EXTRA CHARGE ITEM ON THE CAR, WE'LL BE AFRAID TO USE THE SEAT WARMER FOR FEAR IT TOO WILL OVERHEAT AND BURN US. NOTE: NOT SURE IF "WAS THERE A FIRE" SHOULD BE YES. THERE WAS NO FLAME BUT THERE SURE WAS A BURN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10112579March 5, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVING MY 2003 VW PASSAT I HAD THE SEAT WARMER ON. I SIMULTANEOUSLY SMELLED BURNING AND FELT BURNING IN MY BUTT. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE AND 7 YEAR OLD SON. WE WERE NEAR AN EXIT AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE EXIT RAMP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. THE HOLE WAS A BIT SMALLER THAN A DIME. THE SMELL WAS PUNGENT BUT CLEARED OUT WHEN WE OPENED THE WINDOW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110805March 2, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMERS WOOL COAT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *JB SEAT COVER AND ELEMENT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111878February 21, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT SW. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED WHEN IT STARTED TO GET COLD IN THE WINTER THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE NOISES AS IF SOMETHING WAS GRINDING OR BROKE IN THE SUSPENSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO VICTORY VW IN HARRISBURG, PA IN THE LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER OF 03'. THEY ENDED UP CHANGING THE CONTROL ARMS THAT TIME I BELIEVE. WELL, THIS YEAR WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD THE NOISES CAME BACK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THE AIR TEMP HAS BEEN TOO WARM FOR THE NOISES TO BE REPRODUCED. I'VE LOOKED AROUND THE INTERNET ON VARIOUS VW BLOGS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION AS I AM. I ALSO FOUND THAT SOME ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION IN GENERAL. MY DILEMMA IS THAT THIS CAR IS GETTING READY TO GO OUT OF WARRANTY IN ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES AND I DON'T FEEL IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT HAS BEEN FIXED BY VW IN THE PAST AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE FIXED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS ISSUE IS APPRECIATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111913February 21, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER TURNED ON, NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT, AND IT STARTING FEELING LIKE IT WAS BURNING MY LEGS. SMELLED SMOKE, AND REALIZED THE SEAT WAS BURNING; THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THE SEAT UNDER MY LEGS AND WAS FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE. I MANAGED TO TURN THE SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH STOPPED THE SEAT FROM FURTHER BURNING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110718February 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1. COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP MORE THAN ONCE THAT VEHICLE STALLED, RAN ROUGH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, UNRESOLVED. 2. ENGINE STOPPED, DIED, QUIT RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. THE ONLY REASON I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I DISENGAGED THE DRIVETRAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. 3. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DETERMINED FUEL PUMP FAILED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, DO NOT HAVE OLD PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111572February 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED REPEATEDLY, AND WAS REPLACED. BUT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111426February 14, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND CONSUMER'S PANTS. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110432February 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A STINGING SENSATION IN THE REAR OF MY LEFT THIGH. I TOUCHED THE SEAT AND FOUND IT HAD BECOME VERY HOT C IN ONE SPOT AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER WHICH HAD BEEN SET ON "5". UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND THE HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER SAID NEW SEAT COVER AND PADDING WILL BE ORDERED FOR REPLACEMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110438February 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER SEAT FIRE. REMEMBER FIRESTONE, LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR AND KILL SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY AS THE ELECTRIC SHOCK FROM THE SEAT WAS UNBEARABLE - LET ALONE MY LEFT PANT LEG BURN THROUGH TO MY SKIN. IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT VW HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES WITH SAME HEATING ELEMENTS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR TO AN ELDERLY PERSON THINGS MAY NOT TURN OUT SO SUCCESSFULLY. PLEASE PUBLISH IMMEDIATELY! THANK YOU. DAVID M. GILBLAIR SR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10110450February 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT HEATER IN 2003 VW PASSAT WAS TURNED ON. APPROX. 3 MINUTES LATER THE HEATER BURNED MY JEANS, AND MY SKIN. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY SEAT. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOLDERING SEAT. WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART B/C THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE IN THE US RIGHT NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10109986February 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME MOVED AND WAS ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH OUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS STARTLED AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL AND ONLY THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED MY CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FOOT TO MAKE SURE I HAD HIT THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. NORMALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE HIT HARD THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DIPS AND THE SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE CAR JERKS THE DRIVER FORWARD. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED UNTIL MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109857February 4, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN I LEFT TO GO TO AN ATM AND SHE SWATTED OUT THE FLAME COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON POSITION 3 OF 5 FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108384February 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO 30000 MILES, "OIL PRESSURE" INDICATOR LIGHTED, IMMEDIATELY STOPPED VEHICLE. AFTER TOWING TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS "FULL OF SLUDGE" AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER UNLESS I HAD PROOF OF *EVERY SINGLE OILCHANGE* WITH VW SYNTHETIC OIL. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN REGULAR IN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER I LACK PROOF OF EVERY SINGLE ONE. AGAIN, ODOMETER ONLY 30000 MILES. RESEARCH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 1.8L ENGINES BETWEEN 1998 AND 2004.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111070January 31, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2003 PASSAT. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THERE WAS ALSO GRINDING IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT TWICE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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