Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10661954December 3, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGINE REVVED UP , CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND LOSS OF POWER TO THE MOTOR. TRIED TO RESET CRUISE CONTROL TO A LESSER SPEED AND WOULD NOT SET. CAR FELT LIKE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS (ACTED LIKE IT WAS A MANUAL DRIVE BEING WOUND TO TIGHT). DROVE FOR SEVERAL MILES THEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (GLOWPLUG INDICATOR). PARKED IN A SAFE LOCATION AND STOPPED CAR. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND NO WARNING FLASHED SO I BEGAN TO DRIVE CAR...WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP GOT REPAIRED (REPLACED TURBO CHARGER ALONG WITH OIL FEED AND RETURN LINES). PICKED CAR UP ON 11/26/14 DROVE FOR LESS THAN 30 MILES AND GOT A ENGINE OIL LIGHT AND WARNING MESSAGE: ENGINE OFF MANUAL. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY TALKED WITH MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A NEW TURBOCHARGER AND NEW ENGINE. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662103December 3, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661524December 2, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
ON NOVEMBER 19TH AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM, AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO MY HUSBANDS WORK BENCH WHICH WAS AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL. DAMAGING FRONT OF CAR,WINDSHIELD, WORKBENCH,STEEL STORAGE CABINET,ETC. *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661370November 30, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
OUR 2013 VW PASSAT TDI HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAIL AT 25,599 MILES. WHEN WE ASKED WHY THE PUMP WOULD BE FAILING SO SOON AND IF IT WAS COMMON, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER SOMEONE PUTS GASOLINE IN THE TANK. I CAN ASSURE 100% THAT GASOLINE WAS NEVER PUT INTO THIS CAR'S TANK. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE VW TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS A DESIGN FLAW OR IT CANNOT WORK CORRECTLY WITH AMERICAN DIESEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661192November 28, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED. OUT OF THE BLUE AND UNPROVOKED - THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS. THE MAJORITY OF THE GLASS FLEW OUT, BUT HAD THE INNER PLASTIC SUNROOF MATERIAL BEEN OPEN IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE INJURED THOSE INSIDE. ADDITIONALLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS I DID FIND DARK GLASS SHARDS IN MY HAIR THAT HAD CLEARLY COME FROM THE SUNROOF. MY STORY IS LUCKY, BUT EASILY COULD HAVE ENDED IN INJURY TO DRIVER FROM THE GLASS OR FROM INJURIES TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT PROMPTED BY THE SHOCK OF UNPROVOKED SHATTERING GLASS TO THE DRIVER. THE CAR IS NOT VERY OLD (2010) AND THE SUNROOF IS CERTAINLY NOT OVERUSED. THIS ABSOLUTELY CAN'T BE THE USERS' FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660486November 24, 2014
STEERING
STEERING LOCK DEFECTIVE - SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE PART OF VW - I HAVE A VW PASSAT 06 AND KEEP ON GETTING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659831November 20, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,850.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659390November 19, 2014
SUSPENSION
AT ABOUT 12000 MILES ON MY VW PASSAT CLUNKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP IN FRONT END OF CAR. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT INTO VW GARAGE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS AT 15000 MILES. THE TOLD ME THE SWAY BARS FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM. AFTER REPAIR THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED AND CAR IS WITHOUT NOISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658597November 17, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, ENGINE
SO I GOT REAR ENDED AT THE OTHER PARTY'S FAULT AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THEY NEGLECTED TO STOP PUSHING ME INTO AN INTERSECTION FULL OF TRAFFIC...NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED..AND SINCE MY HEATER DOESN'T WORK BUT PASSENGER SEAT HEAT BURNED MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS BUTT...ANYONE HELP? I JUST WANT HEAT FOR MY BABIES..BELOW ZERO HERE :( THANK YOU!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10655143November 14, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR WAS SIMPLY IDLING IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THE IDLE REV UP AND THE TACHOMETER WENT UP A FEW 100 RPM'S. I THOUGHT, HMM THAT'S STRANGE. THEN IT STARTED AFFECTING THE WAS MY CAR SHIFTS AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP. WHILE AT A STOP IN DRIVE I CAN FEEL THE IDLE IS ROUGH. I REPLACED MY MAF SENSOR, WHICH WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE, HOPING IT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEN WHILE RESEARCHING RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, I CAME ACROSS THIS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I NEVER GOT A NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALL. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANT AND I HAVE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS TIME. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE VERY MUCH, APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654219November 11, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON 11/9/14 THE TURBO FAILED ON MY 2013 VW PASSAT WITH THE TDI DIESEL ENGINE. VW KNOWS THEY ARE HAVING A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THEIR TURBOS ON THE TDI ENGINE (EUROPE CURRENTLY HAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THEM). IN AUGUST I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM VW EXTENDING MY WARRANTY ON THE TURBO TO 10 YEARS/120000 MILES. THEY ARE SIMPLY WAITING FOR THE TURBOS TO FAIL RATHER THAN REPLACING THEM ON ALL 2012 & 2013 PASSATS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, WHEN THE TURBO FAILS YOU LOOSE ALL ENGINE POWER (IE. GM IGNITION RECALL). THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION FOR VW TO PUT ITS CUSTOMERS IN WHO DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TO DO IN A SITUATION WHEN YOU LOOSE ENGINE POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MINE DID JUST THAT, IT FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN NO POWER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE VW RECALL THESE TURBOS AND REPLACE THEM IN ALL THE AFFECTED CARS BEFORE IT CAUSES A FATALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653837November 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS FAULT/FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653573November 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY DAUGHTER WAS HIT IN AN ACCIDENT THAT CRUSHED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE JAMMING THE FRONT DOORS AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSES GREAT CONCERN THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FAULTY IN THE 2013 VW PASSAT. THE CAR WAS SO SEVERELY DAMAGED SHE HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE BACK DOORS OF THE CAR AS THE ENGINE WAS SHOVED IN.....UPDATED 11/18/14 *BF UPDATED 8/12/2015*JS *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10653384November 7, 2014
STEERING
I PUT THE KEY IN IGNITION AND THE CAR DOES NOT START. TAKE KEY OUT AND PUT BACK IN AND THEN IT STARTS AND SAYS "STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE". I'VE READ FROM OTHER 2007 PASSAT OWNERS THAT THEY'VE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM TOO. THEY HAVE STATED THAT EVENTUALLY THE CAR STARTS SHUTTING OFF RANDOMLY WITHOUT NOTICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653034November 6, 2014
STEERING
WHILE MERGING ONTO AN ON-RAMP ON A TOLL ROAD, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING TRIED TO PULL THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE ONE I WAS TURNING. THIS WAS A "CLOVERLEAF" ON-RAMP, WITH A TIGHT TURNING ANGLE. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 30 OR 35 MPH, AS I WAS BEGINNING TO COME OUT OF THE TURN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TURNING THE RIGHT AND STEERING WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT FOR A SECOND OR TWO. I WAS FORCED TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE CORRECT DIRECTION AND AVOID CRASHING. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. IT ONLY SEEMED TO HAPPEN ON THIS ONE PARTICULAR ON-RAMP AT THE TIME. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER (ON A MONDAY, 10/20/2014), I WAS ON ANOTHER SIMILAR "CLOVERLEAF" ON-RAMP BUT AT DIFFERENT LOCATION AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT. LATER THAT DAY THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TURNING TO THE LEFT ON A LESSER EXIT RAMP, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "GLITCH" AND TRY TO PULL THE CAR TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. BEING AWARE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF TIMES, I WAS VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT MY SPEED ON THESE RAMPS. REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED, THE ISSUE WOULD STILL OCCUR. THE NEXT DAY, THE STEERING ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, THREE TIMES WHILE ON THE RAMP, PULLING THE CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SAME WEEK ON FRIDAY (10/24/2014). THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK REPLACED. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS GETTING WORSE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, I WAS FORCED TO HAVE THE REPAIR MADE, WHICH COST MORE THAN $1,700. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY ISSUE AND I WAS VERY AFRAID IT WOULD CAUSE ME TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652612November 5, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING 65 ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY RAIN, CAR MADE HORRIBLE SOUND AND LOST ACCELERATION POWER. ALMOST INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT , HOWEVER MANAGED TO PULL TO SHOULDER WHEN THE CAR THEN FILLED WITH A GAS SMELL. CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOWED 100 MILES BACK TO MY MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION, MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DISCONNECTED AT THE TURBO FLANGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD FIXED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN MY EXACT VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL THE WEEK PRIOR. CONTACTED VW TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE 80K MILES EMISSIONS WARRANTY, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IN CALIFORNIA THE WARRANTY ONLY GOES TO 70K MILES. THE ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1,150. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM VW WAS MUCH MORE STURDY THAN THE ORIGINAL INSTALLED , INDICATING THAT VW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, HE STATED IT WAS ODD THAT A CAR DEALERSHIP STOCKS THAT PART AS IT IS NOT TOO COMMON TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER 100K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651614October 31, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLENISH THE DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID, THE FLUID OVERFLOWED AND DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW IT LEAKED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED LUNG PROBLEMS. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE FLUID BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650914October 29, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, SUSPENSION
AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK I REALIZED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SLIGHT INCONVENIENCE TURNS OUT TO BE A MAJOR VISIBILITY ISSUE. I HAD NOTICED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THAT IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR CAUSES BLIND SPOTS. AT FIRST I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS BLOCKING THE UPPER SECTIONS OF MOST SEDAN TYPE VEHICLES. HOWEVER ON THE DATE IN QUESTION I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC THERE WAS A DELIVERY TRUCK WITH A HIGHER ROAD CLEARANCE. THIS VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING LEFT INTO MY LANE. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS BLOCKING MY ABILITY TO SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE DELIVERY TRUCK. AFTER NOTICING THIS ISSUE I TOOK GREATER CONCERN WHEN DRIVING AND LOOKING AT THE VISIBILITY. THEN ON THE 27TH WHILE DRIVING TO A LOCAL PARK THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR ONLY ALLOWED ME TO SEE ABOUT A SMALL PORTION OF THEIR LOWER TORSO. THE CYCLIST WAS IN THE BIKE LANE JUST OFF MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THIS WAS STILL THE ISSUE WHEN THE CYCLIST WAS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF MY CAR. IF THE CYCLIST HAD SIGNALED HE WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE FOR THE UPCOMING INTERSECTION I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE HAND SIGNAL. LUCKILY BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS A BLIND SPOT BASICALLY IN FRONT MY CAR I WAS ABLE TO AVOID ANY INCIDENT. THESE ISSUES WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE AN ISSUE AS MOST REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAVE BOTH THE ABILITY TO TILT (UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT) HOWEVER ALSO CAN BE MOVED AROUND TWO INCHES UPWARD, DOWNWARD , LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE BALL JOINTS AT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER (BASE) OF THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR. HOWEVER ON A NUMBER OF VW VEHICLES THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LOWER (BASE) BALL JOINT. THUS I AM UNABLE TO POSITION THE INTERNAL REARVIEW MIRROR TO AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION. HOPEFULLY I CAN HAVE THIS RESOLVED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650430October 27, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I'M HAVING CONCERNS WITH OPEN ROAD VOLKSWAGEN OF BRIDGEWATER NJ IN REFERENCE TO WHAT I BELIEVE WAS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. MY CAR WAS SERVICED IN JUNE 2014 AND THEN AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2014. ON OCTOBER 13TH, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM STATING MY TRANSMISSION WAS GONE AND WOULD COST $10,000 TO REPLACE. THIS PRICE IS EXTREMELY HIGH! AFTER THAT NEWS, WE WERE TOLD THAT MY CAR HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES IN JUNE WHEN IT WAS SERVICED, BUT THE OPEN ROAD VOLKSWAGEN OF BRIDGEWATER DID NOT TELL US "BECAUSE THEY KNEW I WOULDN'T PAY." SO, INSTEAD OF TELLING ME IN JUNE 2014 WHEN I COULD HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUE FOR LESS THAN $10,000, THEY TELL ME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE COST IS HIGH. NOT TO MENTION I COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND INJURED MY FAMILY OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT IN THIS MATTER. I WROTE A LETTER TO THE GENERAL MANAGER, [XXX]. AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO ASSIST HIM WITH RESOLVING THIS MATTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649618October 24, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I DRIVE A 2013 VW PASSAT TDI SE. YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARD/OUTWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE WEATHER WAS NOT EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD. WE WERE ON A "LONELY" STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 40 JUST EAST OF WINSLOW, AZ. THIS OCCURRED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, NOT DURING THE HOT, MIDDLE OF THE DAY. NO OBJECTS STRUCK OUR CAR/SUNROOF, IT JUST BLEW UPWARD LEAVING A LARGE HOLE IN THE GLASS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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