Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2001)

432 consumer complaints on file.

#10190280May 9, 2007
TIRES:SIDEWALL
TIRES EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL SEPARATION AFTER LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD THIS SEPARATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189756May 4, 2007
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING ISSUE: IN THE SUMMER OF 2006 MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS GOING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FAN AND IT APPEARED TO ALL WORK. THE SUMMER OF 2007, (NOW) MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN WITH AC PROBLEMS THAT CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND AN ERROR CODE. WHEN THE AIR WENT OUT, THE LCD READINGS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM LOOKED LIKE SCRAMBLED DIGITS. DOESN'T WORK, AND THE SHOP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189098April 27, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY
1) WYNCOTE, PA, APRIL 16, 2007, HEAVY RAIN 2) WATER ENTERS THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR FLOOR BOARD. ELECTRONIC MODULES LOCATED ON THE FLOOR AND WIRING HARNESS DAMAGED. VW DEALER CLAIMS TO NOT KNOW HOW WATER ENTERED MY VECHICLE. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PROBLEM. VW CORPORATE SUGGESTS THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR OIL CHANGES THE DEALER WOULD HAVE CLEARED DEBRIS FROM DRAIN HOLES AS PART OF REGULAR SERVICE. WITHOUT REVEALING MY CONVERSATION WITH CORPORATE I ASK THE DEALER IF THEY DO ANY CLEANING OF DEBRIS AT ANY POINT ON THE CAR DURING AN OIL CHANGE SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T. RESEARCH ONLINE REVEALS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TELLING MY STORY. I HAVE ALSO FOUND INFO ON A CLASS ACTION SUIT BEING FORMED FOR THOSE WHO AGAIN TELL MY EXACT STORY. 3) VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANY PART OF MY DAMAGES. I HAVE RECIEVED NO REASON FROM THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND ASSUME THAT I AM IN FOR THE SAME DURING THE NEXT HEAVY RAIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188342April 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTING FLASHING THE "ABS" LIGHT AND BEEPING LOUDLY, THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED "BRAKE FAULT", THEN "STOP" IN LARGE LETTERS. I CHECKED MY BRAKES AND THEY STILL WORKED. THEN THE BEEPING AND DISPLAY MESSAGES STOPPED, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IN 98-01 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES STILL WORK, BUT THE ABS MAY FAIL TO ACTIVATE IN A PANIC STOP. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONICS IS $876, AND THE NEW UNIT IS NOT AS PRONE TO FAILURE AS THE ORIGINAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186521March 29, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY 2001 PASSAT IS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINK AND THERE ARE 3 BEEPS. THE SCREEN ON THE DASH SAYS BRAKE FAILURE AND SERVICE MANUAL. NOW RIGHT NOW IF SOMETHING WHERE TO HAPPEN TO MY ACTUAL BRAKES I WOULD NOT KNOW AND I BELIEVE THAT COULD BE SERIOUS. I HAVE READ MANY SITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ABS MODULE. VW HAS SAID THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $1500. I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE $1500 TO JUST GO OUT AND SPEND NOR DO I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DUE TO THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THIS PROBLEM. HERE IS A FORUM WEBSITE THAT I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF MY INFORMATION FROM HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=127734. ALSO, YOU CAN CHECK AROUND THAT WEBSITE AND FIND MORE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186519March 29, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BLINK. THERE IS ABOUT 3 BEEPS AND THE SCREEN ON DASH SAYS BRAKE FAILURE SEE SERVICE MANUAL. HAVE TAKEN IT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE OR PUMP IS BAD. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE INTERNET FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A NATION WIDE PROBLEM AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. VW DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM 1500 TO 200 DOLLARS. NOW MY CAR IS HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALL OUT OF WACK. I HAVE CONNECTED IT TO THE INFAMOUS VAG-COM AND THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT COMES UP IS THE ABS NOT COMMUNICATING OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT. I DON'T HAVE 2000 DOLLARS TO SHELL OUT AND DON'T FEEL AS IF I HAVE TO IF THIS IS AS BIG AS A PROBLEM AS I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE. HERE IS A LINK TO JUST ONE OF THE SITE THAT HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=127734. YOU CAN ALSO JUST DO A SEARCH ON THE FORUM SITE TO FIND MORE PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186231March 26, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TOOK CAR FOR STATE INSPECTION. MECHANIC FOUND BOTH LEFT AN RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BOTH TIE RODS DEFECTIVE AT 53,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186084March 24, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
ENGINE SLUDGE IN ENGINE LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP AND THE TURBO. IN ADDITION, ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ,AND TIE-RODS REPLACED , AND EVEN NOW THERE WERE STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THESE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH MANY PASSAT OWNERS. I STILL RECALL THE MAJOR ISSUE / RECALL OVER THE IGNITION COIL FAILURES AND HOW VW OF AMERICA DENIED THERE EVER WAS A PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE CAR SHOULD BE DECLARED A LEMON !!!! THE OIL PUMP FAILURE LEADING TO FAILURES OF THE TURBO, AND SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE SHOULD BE PROOF ENOUGH THAT THIS CAR HAS TOO MANY MAJOR PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185490March 19, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT DURING A CRASH. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A COLD DRY DAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND SHE HIT ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 85,580 . *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10184566March 8, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*- THE CONTACT TOOK THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TO A DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ALL 8 TIE RODS AND THE ONE LINK ARM WERE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 79200.*AK THE RIGHT OUTER CV BOOT WAS TORN AND THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END WAS WORN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182314February 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND THE CHECK OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY. THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE. WE HAD AN OIL CHANGE THE DAY BEFORE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THIS COMES THREE MONTHS AFTER WE HAD TO SEND IT TO VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE A COOLING PROBLEM WORKED ON WHICH COST OVER 3,000. THEY WERE TOLD TO FIX ANYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182056February 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2001 VW PASSAT THAT I PURCHASED A 18 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED VW AND HAD A WARRANTY EXTENDED TILL 74,000 MILES. AT 70,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING I HAD THE STOP LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COME ON- IT WAS TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE SO I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FOR THE DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NO ISSUE WAS FOUND. NOW AT 75,500 MILES THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN- THIS TIME MORE ISSUES. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO FIND THAT ALL MY OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE CAR. TOWED VEHICLE TO CLOSEST VW DEALER AS I WAS 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS WERE LEAKING OIL BADLY AND THE COST TO FIX IS $2,600. - CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND HOPEFULLY NO MORE PROBLEMS WILL BE FOUND. 1,500 MI OUTSIDE WARRANTY AND VW CAN DO NOTHING TO HELP LOWER THE EXPENSE- EVEN THOUGH I HAD A ISSUE W/ LOW OIL WHILE WITHIN MY WARRANTY PERIOD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10180686January 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WITH JUST ABOUT 70000 MILES ON THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, THE ENGINE STARTED LEAKING OIL FROM 4 AREAS: CAM SEALS, VALVE GASKETS AND SOME LEAKS ON TOP OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE OILS LEAKED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING TOXIC FUMES. THE PROBLEM RECURS CONSISTENTLY EVEN AFTER FIXING IT. THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2001 MODEL IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITH SUCH RUDIMENTARY ENGINE PROBLEMS AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE DEATH. THERE IS NO CLEAR DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT PARTS ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AVAILABLE TO THE CUSTOMER. WITH THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP 30 MILES AWAY, IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER EVERYTIME THIS HAPPENS JUST TO CHECK IF THE PARTS WILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IT COSTS NEARLY $3000 TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179205January 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED ON FREEWAY, UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178149January 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HAVING AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH A 2001 1/2 MODEL YEAR VW PASSAT WITH A 1.8T ENGINE. RECENTLY HAD A LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT COME ON, REQUIRING THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS AN OIL PUMP PROBLEM, MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. IF IT IS CAUSED BY OIL SLUDGE, THEN ENGINE DAMAGE IS LIKELY TO BE FOUND AS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BASED ON WEB FORUM POSTINGS BY OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS UNOPERABLE AT THIS TIME. VW IS REFUSING TO COVER TO THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT DOCUMENTATION OF OIL CHANGES. ALL VW SERVICE INTERVALS WERE COMPLETED FOR THE VEHICLE INCLUDING ALL OIL CHANGES AND ARE BACKED UP WITH DOCUMENTATION. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION FROM VW AS TO WHY THE DOCUMENTATION IS CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENT. VEHICLE HAS 99,004 MILES ON IT. OIL CHANGES PRIOR TO 30,000 SERVICE INTERVAL WERE COMPLETED AT VW DEALERSHIPS AND INCLUDED VW APPROVED NON-SYNTHETIC OIL. OIL CHANGES FROM 30,000 MILES/JANUARY 2002 FORWARD WERE COMPLETED USING SYNTHETIC OIL. VW RECOGNIZED THE SLUDGE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION IN AUGUST 2004 ALONG WITH REQUIREMENT TO USE SYNTHETIC OILS (NHTSA TSB #10009888 AND #10009873). A PREVIOUS PROBLEM OCCURED AT 78,400 WHERE A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED. DURING THAT SERVICE THE HEAD GASKET, OIL COOLER, OIL PUMP, AND ASSOCIATED PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BASED ON WEB POSTINGS FROM OTHER OWNERS THIS MAY ALSO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177303December 29, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 VW PASSAT WITH 65,000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED APPROX 6 - 7 CARS IN MY LIFETIME AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THEM THE SAME. NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED THIS WITH A DEALER WHO REQUIRES ALL RECEIPTS. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE 2 RECEIPTS AND THEREFORE WAS GIVEN THE VERDICT OF A $9000 BILL TO REPLACE THE 1.8 TURBO ENGINE. I AM SERIOUSLY APPALLED. MY FEELING THAT THAT THE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM NEED TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBLITY RATHER THAN POUR THIS IN THE LAP OF THE OWNER. I WOULD EVEN THINK THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER 50 TO 70% OF THE BILL. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR THEREBY HAVE TWO CAR PAYMENTS BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD $9000 AND NEEDED TO GET TO WORK AND CHILD TO SCHOOL, ETC. I WILL NEVER SUGGEST THIS CAR TO ANYONE!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175719December 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2001 VW PASSAT, 1.8L 4 CYLINDER. AT 89,000 MILES ON MY ODOMETER, I AM NOW RECEIVING A STOP, BRAKE FAULT, SEE SERVICE MANUAL WARNING, WITH THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ALSO. IN REVIEWING THE VW OWNERS FORUMS AND OTHER INFORMATION ONLINE, IT SEEMS THIS IS A LIKELY FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE -- WHICH IS SAID TO COST $1,500 FOR THE PART ALONE. THIS IS SAID TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE....*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174805November 30, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAD A SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT, NOVEMBER 7,2006 AT HERITAGE VW (DEALERSHIP) AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 22,2006 THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED STOP WITH AN OIL ICON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL. THERE WAS OIL IN THE CAR BUT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR, THERE IS PROBABLY SLUDGE IN THE CAR. I TOWED IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW OIL PUMP WITH A NEW OIL SCREEN AND IT DID HAVE SLUDGE. THIS REPAIR WAS $1267.00. I WAS NOT OFFERED ANY WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT AT THAT TIME. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH VW. WHY DID THEY NOT SEE THE SLUDGE WHEN THEY DID THE OIL CHANGE NOV 7,2006? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172261October 31, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG INFLATER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 10/31/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171806October 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10/24/06 MY 2001 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT HAS A STOP WARNING LIGHT COME ON STATING LOW OIL PRESSURE. COME TO FIND OUT THE 1.8 LITRE TURBO ENGINE WHICH MY CAR HAS IS NON TO HAVE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND THAT VW IS AWARE OF THIS. I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THEM STATING THIS OR THE FACT THAT I SHOULD USE SYNTHETIC OIL. CALLED THE HUNTSVILLE, AL VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT UNLESS I HAVE PRISTEEN SERVE RECORDS THEY WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT AT A COST TO ME OF OVER $1800. MY HUSBAND CHANGES THE OIL IN MY CAR SO OF COURSE I DO NOT HAVE THE SERVICE RECORDS VW IS REQUIRING. I HEAR THE NO LONGER MAKE THE 1.8 LITER TURBO BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO HONOR FIXING A PROBLEM WE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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