Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2000)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10193928June 21, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT READ THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A FUEL SENDER MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFERENCED RECALL # 01V157000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THEY STATED THAT ONCE A RECALL REPAIR IS PERFORMED, THEY DO NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192913June 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (NHTSA ACTION # PE07024). THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191369May 21, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CAR IS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN W PASSAT,V6 ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH 68000 MILES ON IT. ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILED. REPAIR COST WAS $1000. WEB AND FORUM SEARCHING SHOWED THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI. SEE TP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA? *THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0 FOR NUMERIOUS EXAMPLES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190269May 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, TIRES
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASING OF CAR ~ ELECTRA AUTO SALES WAS AWARE OF THIS AND NOTED THIS WAS THEIR RECORDS THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY ENGINE SYSTEM. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO ALMOST BEING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING AND ROUGH IDLIING ~ PAUL VARGAS OWNER OF ELECTRA AUTO SALES HAS NOT RETURNED ANY CALLED BACK . AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188849April 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IT WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON, AND WHEN SHE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE AIR PUMP AND FUSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE RISK INVOLVED SINCE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,971 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75200. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186455March 29, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 2000 PASSAT V6 GLX WAGON. IT HAS 94,000 MILES. THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO CERTIFIED IMPORT MECHANICS, WHO STATED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR BRAKE FUNCTIONS. I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW ARE WE AS CONSUMERS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHEN TO TAKE THE WARNING LIGHT SERIOUSLY? IN MY ONLINE INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY VOLKSWAGEN. THEY WERE CHARGED THOUSAND OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND VOLKSWAGEN NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL POPPED UP RANDOMLY. CONSUMERS PAY FOR A FEATURE SUCH AS ABS BRAKES FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR OWN SAFETY, BUT THIS VOLKSWAGEN SITUATION WAS DISCONCERTING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186383March 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
PURCHASED MY 2000 PASSAT IN 2003, HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING ON THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS, O2 SENSORS, TWICE, BELTS, STEREO DIDN'T TURN ON, ALL NEW HOSES RIGHT AWAY, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, AND NOW TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE ABS LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. MY HUSBAND HAS A 2000 AUDI A4, VIRTUALLY THE SAME CAR, AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SAME THINGS. THE ABS SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1800 TO FIX IT. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER, (BOSCH OR VOLKSWAGEN, SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE AUGUST 2006 BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT! I AM COLLEGE STUDENT. HELP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186094March 25, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
1) RAIN WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE , 2000 PASSAT, 6CYLINDER, AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION AND POOLED APPROXIMATELY 2-3 INCHES) IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SOURCE OF LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS WERE CLOSED. *AK 2) THIS LED TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, WHICH IS HOUSED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE, TO BECOME WET AND MALFUNCTION. THE TRANSMISSION THEN BEGAN SHIFTING UP, AND DOWN ERRATICALLY, WHILE DRIVING. 3) THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1351 DOLLARS FOR THE PART AND $250 FOR LABOR. RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S AND IS LIKELY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN CERTAIN DRAIN HOLES BECOME CLOGGED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185648March 20, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ABS, ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER MODULE STARTED WITH THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON OR FLASHING FROM TIME TO TIME, THEN, ALL THE TIME, AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, WARNING - STOP SIGN CAME ON, AND THE TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO. NEVER HAPPENED ALL THE TIME, BUT IT DID GET MUCH MORE FREQUENT , PROBABLY ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185442March 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:INTERCONNECTING ASSEMBLY(WIRING), SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
MY 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT HAS STARTED REPORTING ERRORS, INCLUDING BRAKE FAULTS, ABS ERRORS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SIMPLY RESET THE CODES AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING AND THE ERRORS COME BACK. ALL THE ERRORS ARE INTERMITENT. IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND VW ONLY SAYS THAT OUR MODEL YEAR DOES NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO WARRANT A RECALL. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS WITH THESE SYMPTOMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185147March 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
TURBO STARTED SUCKING UP OIL, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181006January 29, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THE HEATER CORE BROKE ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING A FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED A FOG ON THE WINDOWS REDUCING MY VISIBILITY SEVERELY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER QUICKLY. THE SMOKE HAS AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE AND IN FACT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE ANTIFREEZE AND IT HAD DROPPED TO HALF OF WHAT IT WAS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AT VOLKSWAGEN WHOSE ONLY RECOURSE IS THAT I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS ENTIRE EXPERIENCE IS THAT AFTER NEARLY CRASHING MY CAR I HAVE TO PAY $1200.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178984January 17, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
ABS MODULE FAILURE: THIS PROBLEM INITIALLY AROUSED IN 2004 WHICH WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE CODE WHICH MADE THE BEEPING STOP AND MADE THE LIGHT DISAPPEAR TEMPORARILY. WHEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER, I CONTACTED THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED ME THAT SINCE "IT'S NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, I DIDN'T NEED TO GET THAT PROBLEM FIXED RIGHT AWAY." IN THE BEGINNING, THE ABS LIGHT WAS TEMPERAMENTAL. IT WOULD COME ON AND OFF BUT IT HAS BEEN ON CONSISTENTLY SINCE APRIL/MAY 2005. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT FIXED A FEW TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME NEARLY $2000 OUT OF POCKET. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I BECAME AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BUT VW OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND CONSUMERS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, I FILED AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS (BAR) WHO ATTEMPTED TO ADVOCATE ON MY BEHALF BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS WELL. I WAS TOLD BY THE BAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE VW OF NORTH AMERICA YET. VW OF NORTH AMERICA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACT RESPONSIBLY TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE TRAGEDY HITS. IF GOVT ENTITIES SUCH AS NHTSA AND OTHER ORGANIZATION CANNOT FORCE VW TO ACT THEN THE VW OWNERS NEED TO CONSIDER FILING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND I FOR ONE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN LOOKING IN TO THIS OPTION. I AM TIRED OF DEALING WITH VWOFA AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTION. PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO READ COMPLAINTS REGISTERED BY OTHER VW OWNERS. HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?MESSAGE ID=261419 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178845January 16, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT, THERE WAS A 1 TO 2 SECOND DELAY IN BRAKING POWER. THE ROADS WERE WET AND THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WET DUE TO LACK OF SHIELDS TO PREVENT WATER FROM MAKING THE BRAKE ROTORS WET. THE 1-2 SECOND DELAY (FROM THE TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKE) CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO NOT STOP IN THE TYPICAL STOPPING DISTANCE AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO IMPACT ANOTHER VEHICLE. VW PASSATS FROM 2003-NEWER SEEM TO ALL HAVE THESE BRAKE ROTOR SHIELDS "SPLASH SHIELDS", BUT NOT THE OLDER 1998-2002 PASSATS. A CALL TO THE VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE HOTLINE (800-822-7661) DID NOT ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT TO MY SATISFACTION. THE AGENT KEPT SAYING "THERE'S NO CURRENT OPEN CAMPAIGN FOR YOUR VEHICLE". I KNOW OF NUMEROUS VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178176January 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A SMELL, THEN HE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH VENTS. HE THEN SAW FIRE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOTWELL AREA. THE FIRE WAS FIRST OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR WHERE IT SLOPED UPWARD, WHERE THE PASSENGER WOULD PLACE THEIR FEET. HE PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND THREW SOME SNOW ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FLOOR AREA. HE OPENED A REAR DOOR AND TOOK SOME PERSONAL BELONGINGS OUT AND THEN OBSERVED THE DASH BREAK OUT INTO FLAMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177864January 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
OWNER HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN STOPPED AND WAS SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY USING HER CELL PHONE WHEN SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAW FIRE. EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD OVERHEATED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD AND MATERIALS ON THE FLOOR PAN JUST ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177866January 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME OUT, AND OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. HEAT SHIELD ABOVE RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MELTED AND SOME WIRING IN THE DASH WAS BURNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177870January 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. SHORTLY AFTER HE WENT INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSED SEVERE SCORCHING TO THE FRONT OF THE FLOOR PAN. EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD MELTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177873January 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, PARKED IT, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE A RESTAURANT TO PICK UP A PIZZA. WHILE OWNER WAS INSIDE, THE VOLKSWAGEN CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED CARPET IN FRONT CENTER OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, PLASTICS IN FRONT CENTER OF DASH. ALL DAMAGE ABOVE LOCATION OF EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177733January 4, 2007
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
AM I FILING THIS REPORT IN THE CORRECT PLACE? I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT. THREE OF THE 4 WINDOWS HAVE DROPPED INTO THE DOOR. OPTIONS: COSTS $350 EACH TO FIX OR $60 TO HAVE MECHANIC FREEZE WINDOW IN PLACE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. MANY MAY GO THIS ROUTE AS THEIR ONLY OPTION. CONSIDERING IT MYSELF. THE REGULATOR IS THE SAME ONE USED IN THE VW JETTA AND THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE PASSAT NEED TO BE RECALLED ALSO. CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TEENAGE DRIVERS WHO MAY NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW (FRONT PASSENGER) IN TIMES OF POOR VISIBILITY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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