Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10072313May 9, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
FAILURE OF ALL BRAKE LIGHTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068017April 28, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
UNDER STANDARD DAILY DRIVING 50/50 LOCAL AND FREEWAY MILES, REAR BRAKE ROTORS WARPED BEFORE THE CAR HAD 14,000 MILES DRIVEN. REAR BREAK PADS ARE AT 6MM WHICH I AM TOLD IS JUST LESS THAN 50% OF MAXIMUM. ALSO BEEN TOLD VWOA WILL NOT REPLACE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL PADS ARE AT 2MM. WARPED ROTORS CAUSE PUMPING AND POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE DRIVING UNDER HEAVY BREAKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066276April 16, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, 2/29/04, 3/5/04, AND 4/15/04 MY 2003 VW PASSAT (6 CYL.) HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED POWER SUCH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME WITHOUT ENDANGERING MYSELF ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER'S SERVICE GROUP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THUS FAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066052April 13, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
IN 2003 VW PASSAT GLS WAGON, THE HEATING ELEMENT IN THE HEATED SEAT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC IN PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVER NOTICED BURNING SMELL AND TURNED OFF HEATER (WHICH WAS SET TO HIGHEST SETTING).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065743April 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I OWN A 2003 PASSAT (PURCHASED IN 8/2002) . IN THE BEGINNING OF MARCH 2004, A PEBBLE FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD AND PUT A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. ON APRIL 6, 2004, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD. I WOULD THINK THAT IT SHOULD WITHSTAND AN AIRBORNE PEBBLE. MY PASSAT HAS ONLY HAS 15000 MILES TO DATE. IF THE CAR WAS ON THE ROAD MORE OFTEN, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO MORE CRACKS? IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062202March 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I OWN A 2003 VW PASSAT, THE NEW STYLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USLESS IN SNOWY AND/OR ICY CONDITIONS. THE SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATEON THE WIPPING BLADE WITH NO WHERE TO DISCHARGE IT. THIS OCCOURS ON EVERY SWIPE NOT AFTER LONG TERM USE. I COMPLAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND VW AND WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT WAS TOLD THAT OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WIPERS. DURING SNOW CONDITIONS I HAVE TO DRIVE AT 20-25 MPH AND TURN THE WIPERS OFF. I NOTICED ON THE 2004 MODELS A SMALL CHANGE IN THE DESIGN OF THE WIPERS, THERE MUST BE A REASON WHY A CHANGE WAS IMPLEMENTED ON A ONE YEAR DESIGN, BUT VW WILL NOT ADMIT OR CHANGE MY WIPER. I AM NOT A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BUT COULD SEE THE PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN ONLY ONE HOUR AFTER CONSTANTLY STOPPING TO CLEAR THE ICE/SNOW OF THE WIPER BLADE. HOPE THAT SOMEBODY WILL LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061928March 11, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MANUAL FIVE SPEED 2003 PASSAT TURBO'S ENGINE SUDDENLY REVS UP TO 7500 RPM, AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD ABOUT 13 FEET AFTER STARTING FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION. *AK IT TOOK ABOUT 20 -30 SECONDS OF HARD BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE RPM DROPPED TO NORMAL AT THIS TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061935March 11, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON A SUPER HIGHWAY(315), COLUMBUS, OHIO,AT RUSH HOUR IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY JUMPS FROM ABOUT 3000 TO THE RED LINE AT 7500. THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATES TO ALMOST 100 MILES AN HOUR. I TRY TO PRESS THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I CAN, AND MANEUVER THE CAR TO AVOID COLLISION WITH SLOWER VEHICLES. IT TAKES ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES TO SLOW THE CAR TO A RELATIVELY SAFE SPEED. IN THE MEANTIME THE ENGINE IS REVVING AT 7500 RPM ALL THE TIME. I STOP THE CAR SAFELY AND WOTHOUT COLLISION. THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY UN-OPERATIONAL. THE CAR IS TOWED TO TO THE DEALER(MAG IN DUBLIN, OHIO). THE DEALER DIGNOSES DRIVER ERROR FOR CLUTH DAMAGE, AND NO FAULT WITH THE CAR. THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT I SIGN A LETTER ACCEPTING ALL THE BLAME. I REFUSE. THEY CHARGE ME $ 456.00 BEFORE RELEASING THE DISABLED CAR BACK TO ME. VW OF AMERICA CONFIRMS THE TWO FALSE DIGNOSES OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER IN WOLFSBURG IS NOT HELPFUL OR INTERESTED. I HAVE DRIVEN 7 MANUAL VW'S FOR 42 YEARS! I HAVE KEPT MANY OF THOSE CARS FOR 15 -20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCHES OR ENGINES BEFORE. THE CAR IS A MANUAL PASSAT, 2003 WITH 2400 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058936February 25, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W6 2.8L CAR WILL NOT START OR FAILS TO RUN PROPERLY DUE TO IGNITION MISFIRE OR EXCESSIVE FUEL FLOODING ENGINE. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT REPAIR. CAR HAS BEEN SEVICED WITH THE BEST SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS AND HAS HAD EXTREMELY GOOD CARE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THE REASON THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN WAS BECAUSE THE OIL NEEDED CHANGING DUE TO IT BEING LOADED WITH GASOLINE. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHECKED 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS AND WAS AT SATISFACTORY LEVELS AND CLEAN. THE CAR HAD 6700 MILES ON THE SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE AND WAS NOT DUE FOR A 3RD OIL CHANGE. THE CAR HAS 11813 MILES ON IT. THE RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVAL BY THE DEALER WAS 10000 MILES ON THE SYNTHETIC OIL. IF THE CAR IS FAILING TO RUN AND HAS ALLOWS SEVERE GASOLINE CONTAMINATION OF THE OIL THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE RELIABILITY OF THESE CARS AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER WEB SITES. THE ENGINE FAILING TO MAINTAIN OPERATION OR MISFIRING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR IF IT FAILS TO OPERATE IN AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT PROVES THIS VEHICLE TO BE A FAILURE IN ENGINEERING, AND RELIABILITY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059790February 25, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH BRAKES OPERATED POORLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058768February 23, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVING MY 2003 PASSAT FOR 1-2 MINUTES, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS GETTING EXTREMELY WARM. I CHECKED THE SEAT HEATER SETTING, IT WAS ON 1 (OF 5). I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF, BUT CONTINUED TO SMELL THE BURNING SMELL AND FEEL THE HEAT. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAT HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY PANTS AS WELL. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND PARTS WERE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE ELEMENT AND SEAT COVER. I ALSO REPORTED THE FAILURE TO VWOA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058770February 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I OBSERVED SMOKE BILLOWING IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND FOUND A FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH I EXTINGUSHED USING AN EXTINGUSHER. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED WHEN A PLUG AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE FELL OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE OIL TO EMPTY ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS WELL BELOW ZERO. I WAS TOLD THE PLUG IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE WAS MADE OF STEEL WHICH HEATS AND COOLS AT DIFFERENT RATES AND APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED THE PLUG TO FALL OUT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS PER MY INSURANCE AND VOLKSWAGEN. THE CAR IS A 2003 VW PASSAT WAGON GLX 4-MOTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055179January 29, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I HAVE A 2003 PASSAT SEDAN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR SLID TO A STOP WHILE TURNING IN AN ICY PARKING LOT. THERE WAS A SLIGHT IMPACT AT ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE THE CAR HIT A SNOW COVERED CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK AT ABOUT THE JACK POINT NEAR THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WHEEL. NOBODY WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR - EXCEPT TO THE INTERIOR AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED. IT WILL COST $3600 TO RE-INSTALL THE TWO AIRBAGS AND A LOT OF OTHER PARTS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A 5 MPH IMPACT THAT CAUSED NO DAMAGE! I AM HOPING THIS WILL BE SEEN AS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPOLYMENT AND COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IF NOT, VW NEEDS TO IMPROVE THEIR AIRBAG ENGINEERING BEFORE I'D CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055417January 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER MAKING A STOP AND RETURNING TO NORMAL TRAVELING 55 MPH OR AT HIGHER SPEED VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070705January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
FOLLOWING IS NHTSA COMPLAINT: MAKE: VOLKSWAGEN MODEL: PASSAT YEAR : 2003 CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 1 ODI ID NUMBER: 10023337 DATE OF FAILURE: JANUARY 18, 2003 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS DETAILS: THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD AIRBAG (AIR CURTAIN) OF A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8 SEDAN DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. I SUFFERED A PERMANENT WRIST INJURY AND AM SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME. THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE, WAS REPORTED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR WHICH I WAS WORKING AND TO VW OF AMERICA BY THE MANAGEMENT. I SENT A DETAILED INCIDENT REPORT TO BOTH VWOA AND VWAG (GERMANY) CEO'S. A VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMONISHED ME TO NOT MAKE A FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, SAYING IT WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OCCURRENCE AND ADVISED ME THAT MY LETTER TO THE VWOA CEO HAD BEEN RECEIVED BUT THAT HE HAD NOT READ IT. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME IN A SPECIAL MEETING THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY A VWOA MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAD MADE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW-UP BY VW AND THE MEANS OF ALERTING VW OWNERS ABOUT THE INCIDENT I WAS CONSIDERING. I LEFT THE MEETING BELIEVING MY JOB AND FUTURE IN THE CAR BUSINESS, AT LEAST SELLING VW PRODUCTS, WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF I TOOK ANY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH AS FILING THIS COMPLAINT. A PROMISE THAT I WOULD BE INFORMED BY VWOA OF THE REASON FOR THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANY VW REPRESENTATIVE IN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS. RECENTLY, I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE INCIDENT. I AM FILING THIS REPORT BECAUSE I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS EXPERIENCED THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IN A VW CAR AND I?M CONFIDENT THAT WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10049504December 10, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
ON A SAT. MORNING (NOV 22ND 10 AM) MY FIANCEE AND I GOT IN HER 2003 VW PASSATT. IT WAS A COLD DAY AND I WAS DRIVING. BOTH OF US TURNED THE SEAT HEATERS WITHIN HER LEATHER SEATS ON LEVEL 5 (HIGH). VERY SHORTLY AFTER, I FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT REAR END AREA. WE THEN SMELLED SMOKE. WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND I JUMPED OUT QUICKLY AS I COULD FEEL MY LEFT REAR END BURNING ONLY TO SEE THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND THROUGH MY PANTS AND BURNED MY REAR END! OUCH! NO JOKE! I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE SEAT, MY NYLON PANTS, AND MY REAR END! WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEILLAN VW OF BAY CITY MICHIGAN WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND SPOKE TO A SALESMAN. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED YESTERDAY. I WAS THEN GIVEN A COPY OF AUTOBEAT DAILY FROM WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10TH, 2003 AND ON PAGE 10 THERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH READS "NHTSA PROBES SMOLDERING VW SEAT WARMERS" I THEN THOUGHT I WOULD SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT FORMALLY TO INFORM NHTSA THAT THE ARTICLE READS THAT JUST 2002-2003 JETTAS WERE BEING PROBED. THIS HAPPENED ON A PASSATT AS WELL. THE VIN BELOW IS INCORRECT AS I DON'T HAVE THE VIN WITH ME AT THIS TIME. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10048882November 30, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON NOVEMBER 21, 2002, MY 2001 VW JETTA GLS 1.8 TURBO LOST THE OIL DRAIN PLUG ON THE HIGHWAY. I STOPPED THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ENGINE AND TURBO WERE DAMGED SEVERELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COST $6,500. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED. I REPLACED THE JETTA WITH A 2003 VW PASSAT W8. ON NOVEMBER 23, 2003 THE OIL WAS CHANGED BY THE DEALER AND THE DEALER CONTENDS THAT THE OIL DRAIN PLUG WAS TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS (20 NM), HOWEVER THE CAR HAD AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE DRAIN PLUG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLUG FREE OF CHARGE. HERE IS WHAT IS COMMON TO BOTH SITUATIONS: BOTH DRAIN PLUGS WERE TIGHTENED TO AT LEAST THE FACTORY SPECIFICATION (I CHANGED THE OIL AND ALWAYS USED A TORQUE WRENCH ON THE JETTA) AND BOTH HAD DRAIN PLUGS PULL AWAY FROM THE PAN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE WAS BUT I HAVE A HYPOTHESIS ON TWO IMPORTANT VARIABLES: (1) BOTH PANS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM, WHICH CHANGES SHAPE EASILY WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGE, (2) THE DRAIN PLUG IS MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WASHER (SEAL RING) CANNOT BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. IF THE SEAL WERE WARPED OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY (PERHAPS OVERTORQUING OR DROPPING THE PLUG) IT MIGHT NOT SEAL PROPERLY. WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME AS VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL (ESPECIALLY WITH THE JETTA).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045726November 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ONLY 300+ MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043387October 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CONTINUES TO MISFIRE, LOSES POWER AND STARTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING . FOUR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HAVE FAILED. PROBLEM PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044160October 17, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE DRIVER WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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