Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2000)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10348333August 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TODAY 8/9/10 IN MY 2000 V W PASSAT AND MY CAR STARTED SMOKING THROUGH THE VENTS. NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE SMOKE. FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD TOTALLY ENGULFING THE ENTIRE CAR WITHIN MINUTES RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS EVENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344739July 22, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY 2000 VW PASSAT V6 ABS BRAKE MODULE HAS FAILED AND I GET THE STOP/ABS LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY, ALONG WITH WARNING BEEPS. THIS MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND COSTS $1000+ TO FIX. VW NEEDS TO RECALL THESE MODELS IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341954July 8, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT. A WEEK AGO I THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. TODAY MY FRONT PASSENGER REGULATOR FAILED. THIS SEEMED LIKE A LITTLE MORE THAN BAD LUCK. IT TURNS OUT I'M NOT THE ONLY VW OWNER WHO HAS HAD EXTREMELY BAD LUCK WITH THEIR WINDOW REGULATORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335220June 8, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FUEL LEAK HAS RECURRED, ~18 MONTHS LATER. LEAK CAN BE SEEN WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND IS THEN BACKED OUT OF GARAGE DOWN INCLINED DRIVEWAY. FUEL IS LEAKING FROM PASSENGER REAR WHEEL AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335245June 8, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
AT AROUND 12:30 TODD MCFADDEN (STORE MANAGER OF DUNN TIRE LLC 1170 CENTRAL AVE. DUNKIRK, NY 14048) ADVISED TO [XXX] (TIRE TECH) TO APPLY A TIRE THAT HAD BEEN RUN ON FLAT FOR AN UNKNOWN DISTANCE ON A CUSTOMERS CAR WITH OUT THE CONSENT OR EVEN HAVING INFORMED THE CUSTOMER OF THIS 2000 VW PASSAT. [XXX] REFUSED SAID LABOR AND THE ORDER WAS CARRIED OUT BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OF THE COMPANY. [XXX] WAS DISMISSED FROM HIS DUTIES FOR THE DAY AFTER REFUSING THE LABOR. HE ADVISED TO THE STORE MANAGER AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT MANAGER THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS UNSAFE AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE DEADLY TO THE INSTALLER OF THE TIRE AS WELL AS TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF THE VEHICLE. BEING A NYS LICENSED SHOP THEY HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP THE CUSTOMER SAFE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES AND THAT DID NOT HAPPEN TODAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10328398May 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE FREEWAY WAS CONGESTED AND I HAD JUST ACCELERATED QUICKLY TO MOVE INTO THE LEFT LANE TO AVOID A SEMI TRUCK ENTERING THE FREEWAY ON MY RIGHT. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I IMMEDIATELY PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO APPLY CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM INCREASING SPEED. I THEN PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE TACHOMETER SHOWED THE ENGINE REVVING UP OVER THE RED LINE TO 7000 RPMS. FEARING THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT BE DAMAGED I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO GEAR AND CONTROLLED THE CAR BY APPLYING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. THE ACCELERATION SLOWED AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER 30 SECONDS OR SO TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A SUSTAINED 70 MPH WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. THIS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MILES AND EVENTUALLY THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. DURING THE LAST PORTION OF SUSTAINING 70 MPH I TRIED SWITCHING CRUISE CONTROL ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES BUT THIS HAD NO EFFECT. AFTER I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED, I CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND DID NOT OBSERVE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325733April 14, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2000 VW PASSAT 4 MOTION HAS 9K MILES. JUST RECENTLY THE ABS BRAKES LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR PUTS ON THE BRAKES BY ITSELF. YOU ARE DRIVING 65 MPH AND THE CAR SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE HIT A BIG HOLE IN THE ROAD, BUT ONLY WITH THE FRONT WHEELS. VERY SCARY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321067March 19, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE BEEN HAVING DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND OFF FOR THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10320212March 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE BLEW. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS MAKING A U TURN WHEN IT HAPPENED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE RUPTURE OCCURRED IN THE RUBBER LINING. HE WAS THINKING IT WAS THE STEERING OF THE FRONT WHEELS ALL THE TIME. THE LEFT SIDE ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF WEAR. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH LINES. I FELT IT WAS TO MUCH OF AN URGENT MATTER TO NOT LET PEOPLE KNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319965March 15, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS MODULE FAILURE. COMMON PROBLEM WITH UNIT. VW WANTS 1200 TO FIX BUT THEY REALIZE THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH ALL OF THE BOSCH ABS UNITS FROM THE PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308251February 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS BRAKING MODULE HAS PREMATURELY FAILED ON OUR 2000 VW PASSAT. MINE OCCURRED 6 MONTHS AGO. AS A 9 YEAR OLD CAR TO HAVE THE PRIMARY BRAKING SAFETY MECHANISM TO FAIL, IS DANGEROUS, SCARY AND ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. THE CAR ITSELF PROPERLY INDICATES HOW VITAL A FAILURE THIS IS BY SHOWING A GIGANTIC STOP BRAKE FAULT FILLING THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY 3 EAR PIERCING BEEPS. IT APPEARS AS THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON VW AND AUDI FAILURES WHEN WE TALKED WITH THE DEALER AND LOCAL VW REPAIR SHOP AS WELL AS LOOKING ON THE FORUMS. IF YOU GOOGLE "STOP BRAKE FAULT VW" OR ANY SIMILAR TERM (AUDI, PASSAT), YOU WILL FIND HUNDREDS OF ISSUES REPORTED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS SPECIFICALLY SETUP TO ADDRESS THIS TYPE OF ISSUE UNFORTUNATELY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. HOPEFULLY YOUR RESEARCH WILL ALSO SHOW THIS. WE DID HAVE OURS REPAIRED FOR $1000 AFTER 5 MONTHS OF LETTING THIS GO AS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PAY FOR THIS. THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS WHO CAN'T SCRAPE UP THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A REPAIR LIKE THIS. VW AND BOSCH SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS FIXED SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES: HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=173334 HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=280206 HTTP://WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM/UBB/FORUM2/HTML/000169.HTML A SMALL SAMPLE OF SITES SETUP TO FIX THIS TYPE OF REPAIR: HTTP://WWW.MODULEMASTER.COM/EN/INDEX.PHP HTTP://WWW.ABSFIXER.COM/ HTTP://WWW.AUTOECU.COM/ REPAIR GUIDES TO SHOW YOU HOW TO FIX THIS: HTTP://WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM/TECH/ELEC116.SHTML HTTP://WWW.BBA-REMAN.COM/CONTENT.ASPX?CONTENT=BOSCH_5.3_ABS_REMOVAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290933November 4, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE ON 2000 1.8 T VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 90K MILES. THE FAILURE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. INTERMITTENT FAILURE AT FIRST, THAT INCREASES OVER TIME. BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION AS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. BRAKES WILL STILL FUNCTION, BUT MAY LOCK UP IN THE EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, INCREASING STOPPING TIME AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING UNNECESSARY COLLISIONS. TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE, THE ABS CONTROL UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. PART NUMBER (VOLKSWAGEN) 8E0998375G. COST TO REPLACE THIS UNIT IS HIGH AT DEALER THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS QUOTED AT $1100. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283406September 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2000 VW PASSAT ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ON. PROBABLY BAD ABS MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280791August 18, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS, THERE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON DEFECT WITH OLDER VW PASSATS (MINE IS A 2000) FUEL LINES LEAKING GAS WHEN PRESSURIZED BY THE FUEL PUMP. THE GAS LEAK OCCURS IN THE RUBBER FUEL LINE NEAR THE GAS TANK AND FILTER. THE LEAK WAS VISIBLE IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MECHANICS, INCLUDING THE DEALER HAVE TROUBLE LOCATING THE LEAK SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED FOR A MINUTE OR SO. THE LEAK IS SIGNIFICANT AND TYPICALLY INVOLVES ABOUT A CUP OF GAS. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL, BUT APPARENTLY IS NOT SINCE THE DEALER CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278967July 31, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T HAD FUEL LEAK. THE CAR HAD A FUEL LEAK IN THE GARAGE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AFIRE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I DID SOME READING AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE VW DEALER CHARLES MAUND VOLKSWAGAN INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278345July 26, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS/BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR HAS BEGAN FLASHING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO HAVE THIS VIEWED FOR SAFETY CONCERN & MECHANICS COULD NOTE NO FAILURE W/ THE ABS. STATES THIS MAY BE A MALFUNCTION & WOULD NEED A NEW MODULE. IF THE CAUSE OF THESE LIGHTS TO CONTINUALLY STAY ON WERE DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OF THE CAR ON MY BEHALF I THEN WOULD BE MORE COOPERATIVE IN REMEDYING THE SITUATION, BUT AS I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS NOTHING TO DO W/ANYTHING I HAVE CAUSED RATHER THAN POOR QUALITY OF THIS PART. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT ONLY COULD THIS LOCK MY REAR WHEELS IN SUDDEN STOPPING, BUT COULD HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING AS WELL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE. NOW I AM REQUIRED TO FIX A PROBLEM AND AN EXPENSIVE ONE, THAT IS NOT DUE TO ANYTHING THAT I HAVE CAUSED, BUT RATHER THE MANUFACTURER. SO AT MY EXPENSE I WILL HAVE TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF. THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS AND WOULD REQUEST SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TROUBLED WITH THIS AND YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANYTHING DONE TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. DOES IT TAKE AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT OR FATALITY TO OCCUR TO HAVE SOMEONE STEP IN AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED? A BAD ABS MODULE IN ALL OF THESE VEHICLES IS JUST NOT A COINCIDENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275114June 27, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE IN 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ABS AND BRAKE/STOP LIGHTS FLASH BUT BRAKES WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274113June 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2000 VW PASSAT WAS PARKED FOR APPROX. 45 MINUTES THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ONLY "PROBLEM" I HAD WITH THE VEHICLE WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LOCK IT WITH THE ELECTRONIC KEY IT WOULD NOT "BEEP". I MOVED CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE TWO TIMES AND ONLY THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAINTLY FLICKERED. NO BEEP. OTHER THAN THAT THERE WERE NOT PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND BROKE OUT THE WINDOWS. TIRES AND ENGINE MELTED. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274021June 16, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2000 PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267867May 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8 MANUAL SMELLS STRONGLY OF GASOLINE ON A SEMI-REGULAR BASIS. DESPITE THE FACT THAT OTHER PASSATS FROM 1999-2005 ARE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, VW HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY CAR, BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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