Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10210280November 29, 2007
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT. I'VE HAD TWO LEAKS INTO THE FRONT RIGHT FLOORBOARD IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS FROM EITHER A SUNROOF DRAIN LINE OR A AIR CONDITIONER. THE LEAKS HAVE PRODUCED SO MUCH WATER THAT IT HAS GONE TO RIGHT BACK FLOORBOARD. THE PLASTIC ON THE INTERIOR IS WORN OFF. THE ASHTRAY FELL APART. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE ALIGNMENT RIGHT SO I KEEP GOING THROUGH TIRES AND THE TIRES I DO HAVE SOUND UNEVEN WHEN I ROTATE THEM, MAKING ME THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM. HOVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES IN 1 AND 1/2 YEARS. THERE'S A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO FIRES IN THE ENGINE AND A RECALL ON OIL SLUDGE. THIS CAR IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S VERY POORLY ENGINEERED. ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. VW HAS ON A BUNCH OF RECALLS ALREADY ON THIS MODEL, TO MANY FOR ME TO FEEL SAFE WITH. I'M ABANDONING THE CAR TODAY, TRADING IT IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN. NO CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES. AND THE ISSUES CONTINUE TO ROLL IN. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON...ANOTHER THING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210348November 29, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
AT APPROXIMATELY 9:35 PM, NOVEMBER 29, 2007, I ENTERED MY 2003 VW PASSAT AND STARTED THE ENGINE. THE AIR TEMPERATURE SHOWED 39 DEGREESF SO I SWITCHED ON THE CONTROL FOR THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO HIGH. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE CAR IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I AM A NON-SMOKER. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SMELL WAS FROM INSIDE THE CAR AND I BEGAN TO EVALUATE POSSIBLE SOURCES FOR A FIRE SINCE THE SMELL SEEMED TOO CLOSE TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BEGAN TO FEEL AROUND THE SEAT SINCE I KNEW THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON AND SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT AN AREA UNDER MY LEFT THIGH WAS HOT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WITH MY HAND, REVEALED THAT MY COAT FELT BURNED OR MELTED AND THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE AREA SEEMED TO COOL OFF SLIGHTLY SO I CONTINUED HOME - ABOUT A 10 MINUTE DRIVE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I CHECKED THE SEAT AND MY COAT. THE SEAT WAS STILL WARM TO THE TOUCH 25 MINUTES AFTER THE SWITCH HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER, WITH FLECKS OF BLACK SOOT AROUND THE EDGES, ABOUT 4.75 INCHES FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT AND 2.5 INCHES IN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. MY COAT HAS AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 0.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER THAT IS EITHER MELTED OR THE SEAT IS MELTED ONTO MY COAT. THE INCIDENT WILL BE REPORTED TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER ON 30 NOVEMBER 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209899November 26, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS OF NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,716.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209930November 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A THIRD IGNITION COIL FAILURE IN 18 MONTHS, THE LAST ONE ALLOWING RAW GASOLINE INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE, DESTROYING THE TURBO AND CAUSING A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLACK SMOKE. I LOST POWER WHILE DRIVE, WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN A SAFE MANNER AND EVENTUALLY SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION. ALL COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10209972November 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE WERE DRIVING UP TO THE BASE OF THE PALM SPRINGS TRAM ON A COOL DAY AT A RELATIVELY SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND PARKED AT THE VALLEY STATION. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS APPARENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY DURING THE ENTIRE DRIVE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER PARKING, WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR, AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD DISCOVERED THE FIRE. SINCE TRAM SECURITY WAS THERE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY QUICKLY. THE INSULATION WAS BURNED AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER. IT WAS TOWED TO INDIO, CA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209363November 19, 2007
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 VW PASSAT WAGON FLOODED DURING A RAINSTORM BECAUSE THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL FAILED. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER IS MOUNTED ON THE FLOOR, THAT WAS DAMAGED AND THE BILL IS SIGNIFICANT. *TR MY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT REP (BOSTON VW) TOLD ME THAT HE RECOMMENDS CLEANING LEAVES OFF THE CAR 2 TO 3 TIMES PER DAY IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. THAT SEEMS LIKE AN UNREASONABLE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT TO PREVENT AN ISSUE THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN PREVIOUSLY WITH OTHER CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208907November 14, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SEAL TWICE. ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE BREATHER TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208467November 8, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FRONT END NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED BY VW SERVICE AS MISSING AND LOOSE RACK AND PINION STEERING BOLTS, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND NORMAL USE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED. SUCH A FLAW IN STEERING INTEGRITY SHOULD GENERATE A RECALL - BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208164November 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1.8L TURBO ENGINE WITH 51,000 MILES, STILL UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. OIL PRESS/STOP ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY. FIRST TIME WAS THE SUMMER 07. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED CHANGING THE OIL, WHICH I HAD DONE 2K MILES AND 2 MONTHS PREVIOUS, BUT DID AGAIN. THAT WORKED, NO OTHER ADVISE BY DEALER. NO OCCURRENCE AGAIN UNTIL NOV 07. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION REVEALED SLUDGE AND COKING. VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY TYPE OF REPAIR WITHOUT RECEIPTS PROVING MAINTENANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL. I DID ALL MY OWN OIL CHANGES ON SCHEDULE BUT DID NOT KEEP RECEIPTS FOR OIL/FILTER. THE $130+ DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY EITHER. ADDITIONALLY, DEALER SAID THE WARRANTY WAS VOID BECAUSE I HAD AN OTHER THAN VW OIL FILTER ON. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $3,000 TO REBUILD ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207327October 29, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY CAR EXPERIENCED A FUEL PUMP FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN A RECALL NOTICE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE VIN NUMBER OF MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE RANGE OF RECALLED VEHICLES. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (VW) THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. WELL, THE CAR SURE WAS AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206976October 26, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
AFTER RAINSTORM, OUR 2003 PASSAT WAGON BEGAN DEVELOPING A MUSTY ODOR WITH NO APPARENT WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE ALARM ALSO WOULD GO OFF FOR NO REASON. EVENTUALLY, THE ODOR SUBSIDED AND WE THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT UNTIL THE NEXT MAJOR RAINSTORM A FEW MONTHS LATER. AFTER THIS EVENT, WATER APPARENTLY LEAKED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR THROUGH A SUNROOF DRAIN AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR TO GO HAYWIRE. MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR 20 MINUTES WITH OUR 4-MONTH OLD BABY WHILE THE ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF, LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF, AND ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GENERALLY GOING HAYWIRE. THE LOCKS CEASED TO WORK, THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE PUT UP, AND THE TRUNK COULDN'T BE OPENED. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY CLOGGING IN THE SUNROOF DRAIN, WHICH THEY SAID IS VERY COMMON. WHILE MY WIFE WAS AT THE DEALER, 3 OTHER PEOPLE CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THE WATER, THE COMFORT AND CONTROL MODULE IS BEING REPLACED. IT IS UNCLEAR YET WHETHER WE WILL ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE CARPETING FOR ODOR ISSUES. THE TOTAL COST SO FAR IS ABOUT $1,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207215October 26, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2003 VW PASSAT WITH FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL VEHICLE, WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB IN THE BEGINNING, VOLKSWAGEN TOLD THE CONSUMER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, VOLKSWAGEN EXTENDED THE RECALL WHICH INCLUDED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206578October 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A VW PASSAT 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE THAT HAS SLUDGE IN IT CAUSING MY OIL PRESSURE TO BE LOW WHICH THREW MY TIMING OFF. LUCKILY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BEFORE IT LOCK UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206379October 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 26, 2006 I DROVE MY 2003 VW PASSAT AT SHORT DISTANCE (APPROX) 3 MILES. AS I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE THE CAR DIED ON ME. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING THAT PRECIPITATED THE FAILURE. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED BUT I SOON BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, FACING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE FIRE WAS LOCATED TOWARD THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE WAS FAIRLY FAR ALONG BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. ULTIMATELY, THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE LOCAL POLICE, A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PROPERTY. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 27,500 MILES. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATION CLEARED ME OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY BUT DID NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THE FIRE. I EVENTUALLY SETTLED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TURNED THE CAR OVER TO THEM. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER UNTIL A FRIEND GAVE ME AN AP ARTICLE FROM 10/4/07 THAT REPORTED NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS OF ENGINE FIRES IN PASSATS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205750October 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE VENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205414October 11, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS RECEIVED TOO MANY RECALL NOTICES ON HER VEHICLE. SHE HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF THREE NOTICES WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. THE RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED10/26/07.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205356October 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ENGINE IGNITION COILS FAIL, CAUSING A HESITATION IN ENGINE, WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC. THE COILS DO NOT FAIL ALL AT ONCE, AND VW WILL ONLY REPLACE IF THEY FAIL. ONE OF THE COILS FAILED AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO COIL DROPPING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. VW REFUSES TO REPLACE ANY FURTHER IGNITION COILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205274October 9, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE M-7 FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204307September 27, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG GASEOUS ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND ADJUSTED THE FUEL CAP. THE SMELL STILL LINGERED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE GARAGE AND PARKED IT ON THE STREET. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK VALVE FAILED AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,703 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,670. *UPDATED 12/27/07 *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PAID IN FULL BY THE MANUFACTURER ON OCTOBER 8, 2007. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204101September 25, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STALLING CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS NOT DISTRIBUTING THE FUEL. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED IN 2005 UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,300. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB UPDATED*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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