Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1996)

142 consumer complaints on file.

#849411September 30, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING 60MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED FOR NO REASON. THIS CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD. HAD NO WARNING. TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO DEFFECTIVE. BOTH ALTERNATOR & BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING. WAS GIVEN NO REASON CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#845918August 26, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#845552August 20, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND THE ABS SYSTEM IS LOCKING UP. ALSO, HORN KEEPS GOING OFF, AND CRUISE CONTROL KEEPS COMING ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#845183August 17, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ABS LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL COMES ON, AND THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKS UP. WHEN CONSUMER GETS OUT OF VEHICLE, HORN WILL KEEP BLOWING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#842247July 13, 1999
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SHIFTS GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706860May 25, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE VACUUM HOSE BROKE AT 55000 MILES, WAS REPAIRED AND FAILED AGAIN AT 60000. SINCE A DEALER WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME IT WAS REPAIRED WITH DUCT TAPE. (THE DUCT TAPE PROVED TO BE MORE RELIABLE). THE HOSE WAS THEN REPAIRED AT 70000 MILES AND FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME AT 72500 MILES. IT IS CURRENTLY REPAIRED WITH DUCT TAPE. THIS PROBLEM IS FURTHER AGREVATED BY THE FACT THAT NONE OF THE THREE DEALERS I HAVE CONTACTED HAVE HAD THE PART. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN RAPID CITY, SD. THE DEALER THERE DID NOT HAVE THE PART AND THE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR DID NOT HAVE THE PART. ONE WAS FINALLY LOCATED IN TEXAS AND FED-EXED TO RAPID CITY. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED IN NORTHERN CALIF. THE DEALER IN PALM SPRINGS DID NOT HAVE THE PART AND THE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTOR DID NOT HAVE THE PART AND HE COULD NOT LOCATE A DEALER THAT HAD ONE. I DROVE BACK TO FL WITH THE DUCT TAPE REPAIR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER IN TALLAHASSEE, FL HE DID NOT HAVE THE PART BUT HE ORDERED ONE FROM JACKSONVILLE. I RETURNED TO THE TALLAHASSEE DEALER AFTER THE THIRD FAILURE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HE DID NOT HAVE THE PART AND COULD NOT GET ONE UNTIL THE NEXT TUESDAY. I HAVE NOT RETURNED! I ACTUALLY FEEL SAFER WITH THE DUCT TAPE THAN I WOULD WITH THEIR REPAIR PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#706754May 22, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON THIS MODEL VW--I.E., DIESEL, FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH RESULTS IN PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER BRAKING, HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION--THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PROBLEM WAS CALLED TO MANUFACTURER'S ATTENTION VIA LETTER AND VIA BRINGING INTO A VW DEALER FOR REPAIR. DEALER WAS NOT SELLING DEALER MENTIONED ABOVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#705840April 21, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ON TUESDAY, OWNER NOTICED THAT THE DRL WERE NOT WORKING AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR A/C FAN. DRIVER HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY DEALER TO 'JIGGLE' SWITCH IN ORDER TO GET BOTH WORKING. INSTRUCTIONS DID NOT MAKE EITHER TO WORK. DRIVER SWITCHED OFF ENGINE WHILE MOVING, TRYING TO GET EITHER TO WORK. AFTER TRYING THIS SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK, ONE INCIDENT CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO 'SET'. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL EITHER BY SWITCH, BRAKE PEDAL OR CLUTCH PEDAL. DRIVER ENDED UP TURNING OFF CAR IN ORDER TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER LETTING CAR SIT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, BOTH ITEMS WORKED AGAIN, BUT AFTER THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT, BOTH ITEMS DID NOT WORK AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835778March 12, 1999
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LOCKING MECHANISMS ON VEHICLE IS BAD. ALL FOUR DOORS GET STUCK. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO GET A MECHANIC TO GET THE DOORS OPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835534March 8, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, CAUSING THE SPEED OR FUEL NOT TO REGISTER, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS BECAME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703865February 28, 1999
POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER REPLACED: NEW MILAGE IS ZERO(0): USED-CAR BUYERS BEWARE OF THIS PROBLEM... INACCURATE MILAGE READINGS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835109February 22, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON, AND NOW THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD DON'T WORK, INCLUDING THE SPEED GAUGE/GAS GAUGE, AND ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE OPERATED BY THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#543780February 9, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED INTERMITTANTLY CAUSING LOUDNESS AND VIBRATION, MAKING CAR UNDRIVABLE AND TO FAIL STATE INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#702929February 4, 1999
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
GAUGE CLUSTER AND HVAC CONTROL UNIT BOTH FAILED AT STARTUP. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE CAUSE OF FAILURES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#702402January 20, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
ALL DOORS AT 32 DEGREES AND BELOW INTERMITENTLY WILL NOT STAY CLOSED/ INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITENTLY WOULD NOT SHOW MILAGE 1 YEAR AGO BUT NOW THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INCLUDING SPEED,FEUL LEVEL, AND TACH DO NO WORK AT ALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#833623January 15, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
"O" RING AND SEAL WERE CRACKED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGES. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED PARTS FOR NO CHARGE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#833011January 5, 1999
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT ALWAYS CLOSE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR PASSENGER'S DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DOOR LATCH ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS REPLACED IN DEC OF 1996. THE MANUFACTURE/DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH DOORS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM IN THE COLDER MONTHS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#830963November 18, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE OFF POSITION THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#780452September 18, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#540416August 30, 1998
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
RIGHT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT DOOR LOCK AND LATCH HAS FAILED. THE DRIVER AND FAMILY WENT OUT OF TOWN WHEN THE RIGHT REAR DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ON A BRIDGE, ON A MIXMASTER ABOUT 75 FT. IN THE AIR. THE DRIVER PULLS THE CAR OVER TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND THE DOOR CAME OPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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