Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2000)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10239408August 22, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,456 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,440.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238963August 19, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PREMATURE ABS ELECTRONICS FAILURE, DISABLING THE ABS SYSTEM. VEHICLE IS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238580August 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2000 VW PASSAT WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT $900 BY VW DEALER. HUNDREDS OF PAGES ON FORUMS ACROSS THE WORLD EXIST ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIRTY-ONE PAGES ALONE CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0. HUNDREDS MORE CAN BE FOUND BY SEARCHING "PASSAT" AND "ABS". ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, APPARENTLY, THERE'S A 2005 VW SERVICE BULLETIN #0517 AND NHTSA ITEM 10016037 ACKNOWLEDGING THE LONGEVITY AND FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM. ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, FLASHING LIGHTS WARN DRIVERS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY AND THE MANUAL SAYS THAT REAR BRAKES MAY LOCK UP AT ANY MOMENT, VW AND NHTSA HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTION TO MAKE THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE THE MANDATORY RECALL AND REPAIR IT WOULD SEEM TO BE. IS THERE SOME REASON WHY THIS HASN'T TAKEN PLACE YET? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238450August 15, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY ABS SENSOR FAILED AT 130K MILES. THIS CAUSES A ANNOYING FLASH ACROSS THE DASH AND SOUNDS THAT BEEP LOUDLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237054August 5, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROLLER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237057August 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ALARM IN HER VEHICLE WOULD GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE HAD TO UNPLUG THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE ALARM. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOORS OR THE WINDOWS GOING UP AND DOWN. THE ONLY WINDOW SHE COULD CONTROL WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THERE WAS ALSO APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES OF WATER UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS COLLECTIVE RAIN WATER THAT DID NOT DRAIN, BUT RATHER ESCAPED INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $4,000. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM WHY IT WOULD COST SO MUCH FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT'S CASE WAS FILED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SHE ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUES WERE COMMON AMONG VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235234July 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233212July 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 VW PASSAT WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE. THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE SERIOUS SLUDGING ISSUES. THIS WAS UNKNOWN TO ME. TWO MONTHS AGO MY OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIT UP. I COULD NOT FIND ANY OIL PRESSURE ISSUES SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 45 MILES AWAY. THEY "INSPECTED" THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THE ENGINE WAS SLUDGED UP. APPARENTLY VW HAS A WARRANTY REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT ONLY IF YOU CAN PRODUCE EVERY RECEIPT OF EVERY OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE HAS EVER HAD FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED FROM VW. PROBLEM: I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I CAN NOT PRODUCE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM I PURCHASE MY OIL AND FILTERS BY THE CASE TO LAST ME SEVERAL YEARS. I DO NOT HAVE THOSE RECEIPTS OF THOSE PURCHASES ANYMORE. I CHANGED THE OIL ACCORDING VW SPECIFICATIONS LOCATED IN THE MANUAL. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE VW DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OWNERS MANUAL TO STATE THAT SYNTHETIC OIL MUST BE USED INSTEAD OF REGULAR MOTOR OIL, BUT DID NOT INFORM ME OF THIS. VW WILL/HAS CONTACTED ME AS THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR REGARDING RECALLS BUT WOULD NOT INFORM ME OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE CHANGE THAT COULD DESTROY MY ENGINE. NOW VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER $4,000 TO PUT A NEW "OIL SLUDGING KIT" ON MY CAR TO COMPENSATE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT SIMPLY BECAUSE I CAN NOT PRODUCE RECORDS TO SHOW THAT I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY THREE MONTHS AND THAT I USED SYNTHETIC OILS INSTEAD OF REGULAR OIL AS THE OWNER MANUAL STATES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233128July 3, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1,300 REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 143,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE ABS MODUEL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKES GOING OUT. UPDATED 08/01/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233137July 3, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
HEAT SHIELD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM CARMAX WHO HAD LIED ABOUT THE AUTO FROM THE BROKEN SEATBELTS FORWARD ON THE DAY OF SALE. VW DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AUTO AFTER FIRE BUT ANOTHER MISHAP WITH HEATSHIELD WHEN IT FELL OFF AND UNDER THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE @ 65 MILE PER HR, WHILE DRIVING DOWN TURNPIKE. I WAS NOT INJURED THANKS TO A TRUCK DRIVER WHO ASSISTED MY NAVIGATION TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CUT OFF THE SHIELD SO I COULD RETURN HOME. THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, SINCE THE FIRE THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME AND HAS BEEN A HAZARD, STALLING ON A BELTWAY, ETC... NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS WAS FOUND ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AS IT HAS BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES..IT IS WHEN THE EMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AND A BAD SENSOR NEEDS REPLACED OR SWITCH. BUT NOTHING FIXES THIS CAR FOR LONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232927July 1, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS /BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES. FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE ABS PUMP SEEMS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT KNOWN AS THE EBCM. I REALIZE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, OTHERWISE VW WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESSURED TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STATE OF NJ WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IN REALITY IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING IN THE PRE-ABS DAYS. SO, THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY $1500-$2000 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. OF COURSE VW AND BOSCH, WHO MADE THE FAULTY COMPONENT, GET OFF THE HOOK AND IN FACT PROFIT THIS EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE. WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232790June 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2000 PASSAT -OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND A BIG STOP LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR ANYTHING WRONG. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WAITED ABOUT 1 HOUR THEN DROVE 1 MILE HOME. NEXT DAY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS TOLD BY VW MECHANIC HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL ME BUT MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS YEAR. WANTED $9500 TO REPLACE ENGINE (ONLY 52K MILES) I STILL OWED $7500 ON THE CAR. REPLACED ENGINE AT ANOTHER GARAGE FOR $5400 THEN HAD TO REPLACE TURBO FOR $2000. OIL IS NOW LEAKING AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CALLED VW. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IF I COULD PRODUCE EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT. THE GARAGE WHERE I GOT MY OIL CHANGED ONLY KEEPS RECORDS IN THE COMPUTER FOR 6 MONTHS THEN THEY ARE PUT IN BOXES IN STORAGE. VW BASICALLY SAID "TOO BAD". I HAVE HAD 2 JETTAS AND NOW THIS PASSAT. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTAS. IF THEY HAVE "KNOWN PROBLEMS" WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLS? VW COULD NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232270June 25, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4MOTION WAGON. THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON US 80 NEAR AUBURN. MY LIFE WAS SAVED BECAUSE A COUNTY SHERIFF WAS TRAVELING BEHIND ME AND SUMMONED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AS I HURRIED TO EXIT CA 49 AT AUBURN, CALIFORNIA. FLAMES AND SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHICH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FLOODED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, NOT TO DESTROY THE CAR FOR PARTS IN LIGHT OF THE VW SAFETY RECALL 26E5/RF (1999-2002 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND PASSAT WAGON.) I INCURRED CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE (CAR RENTALS OVER THE SIX MONTHS THAT AAA INSURANCE TOOK TO SETTLE THE CLAIM). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AT A COST TO ME OF MORE THAT $25,000 OVER THE PAID CLAIM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE WHOLE, FOLLOWING THIS COSTLY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AAA DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT BEGAN IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MARY COADY *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232184June 24, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS MODULE FAILED AT APPROX 80K MILES. REPAIRED BY DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231920June 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
2000 PASSAT AUTO TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO CATCH ON FIRE NEAR ENGINE AND WHERE EXHAUST MEET. MY SON AND A FRIEND BOTH 20YRS OLD WERE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I THANK GOD IT DID NOT END TRAGICALLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230578June 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP STATING: STOP! BRAKE FAILURE. SEE SERVICE MANUAL. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY HAD MY BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR THE ABS. ACCORDING TO VW IT IS A ABS CENTRAL MODULE FAILURE. REPLACING IT WILL COST OVER $1000. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD CORRECT. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT VW IS ALLOWED TO SCARE ITS CUSTOMERS INTO THINKING THEY ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF BRAKE FAILURE JUST TO GET THEM TO CORRECT AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT. CHECKING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 PASSAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225717April 25, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE FRONT END MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225202April 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
LIT ABS WARNING LIGHT AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. ON A 2000 GLS PASSAT AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY ABS MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222606March 28, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT FELT AS IF THE REAR TIRES WERE LOCKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE WITH THE ABS AND THE ENTIRE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,978.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214736January 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. FIRST THE FUEL TANK DOOR SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE FORCING ME TO REMOVE THE OPENING MECHANISM WHICH ALLOWED ME TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. TWO DAYS LATER THE ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND ON IT'S OWN, AND DID SO FOR AT LEAST 8 HOURS OR MORE. BY THE END OF THE NIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ALL THE FUNCTIONS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS WELL AS THE ALARM, CEASED TO OPERATE APART FROM THE LOCKS. I HAD TO REMOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND CARPET TO ACCESS THE CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE AND SUBSEQUENT WIRING, WHILE UNDERNEATH THE CARPET I TRIED TO SUCTION UP AS MUCH MOISTURE AS I COULD OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR AND OUT OF THE PADDING. AS OF KNOW I AM QUOTED TO PURCHASE A NEW CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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