Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10597138June 9, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596971June 8, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PROBLEM STARTED OFF SMALL. MY PASSAT ONE DAY STARTED AND SHUT OFF. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS THE PROBLEM GOT MUCH WORSE. FIRST IT TOOK A COUPLE TRIES TO START AND NOW TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO START. THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT POPS UP AND THE CARS WARNING STATES "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE". TODAY 6/8/14 I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLS. LUCKILY WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WITH A CRYING BABY IN THE BACKSEAT, I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO START AFTER 2 HOURS OF TRYING! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596865June 7, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON CONNECTICUT RTE 15 AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 8, 2014, WHEN MY ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AND I LOST POWER TO THE DRIVE (FRONT) WHEELS. I COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE; I COULD ONLY COAST. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO-LANE ROADWAY. I HAD TO COAST BETWEEN VEHICLES IN THE RIGHT LANE, OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AND MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK. ONCE I CAME TO A STOP IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT THE LEFT AXLE HAD POPPED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND THAT BOTH AXLES HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOTE THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT OF ANY KIND THAT PRECIPITATED THE AXLE'S POPPING OUT. ALSO NOTE THAT I HAD ALWAYS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596425June 5, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THIS INCIDENT HAD TO HAPPEN TWICE FOR THE DEALER TO SEE THE ISSUE. ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT A LIGHT WHEN I REACHED 3000 RPM THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON PROBLEM WAS GONE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY ISSUE. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN BUT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CAR OFF OR EVEN SHIFTING OUT OF D. I DROVE THE CAR WITH THAT CONDITION DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND INSTRUCTED ONE OF THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO GET IN THE CAR AND TAKE A RIDE WITH ME. HE SAW THE ISSUE AND THIS TIME BELIEVED ME AND THEY INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. MY SEAT FRAME WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY TWICE. MY NAVIGATION UNIT REPLACED TWICE AND VW STILL IGNORING THE LAG AND FREEZING OF THE UNIT. WHY PAY 5000 MORE FOR A NAVIGATION AND CAMERA FOR THEM NOT TO FUNCTION RIGHT. A SECTION OF MY MUFFLER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AS WELL. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE KEY FOB. I FOUND OUT IT IS EFFECTED VERY EASILY BY INTERFERENCE AND WHEN YOUR KEY FOB IS IN THE CAR IT CAN SAY KEY FOB NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS VEHICLE, I THOUGHT VW HAD BETTER QUALITY STANDARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595853June 3, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE TIMING BELT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595866June 3, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
PARKING BRAKE (BUTTON PUSH) RANDOMLY ENGAGES WITHOUT THE BUTTON PUSHED. SOMETIMES I ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN I PARK THE CAR, BUT WHEN I COME BACK TO THE CAR AND TRY TO DISENGAGE IT, IT WILL NOT DISENGAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595856June 3, 2014
STEERING, STEERING:COLUMN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUM LOCK DEFECTIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595954June 3, 2014
ENGINE
THERE WAS A WHINE BY THE TURBO THEN BLACK SMOKE. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE TURBO WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE BLEW. NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR HAD OIL. VW SAYS PAY 12K FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND TURBO. THEY WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I MISSED THE 10K SERVICE. WE LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA BUT I HAD ADDED APPROVED FACTORY OIL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT AN OIL CHANGE HAS TO DO WITH A TURBO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595517June 2, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A 2006 PASSAT 3.6 ON FEBRUARY 20TH,2014 AND MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. TWO WEEKS LATER I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE IDLE WAS UP AND DOWN. THEY CHARGED ME $700 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS AS IS. ONCE I GOT THE CAR BACK I STARTER SEEING THE EPC LIGHT WHICH IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND NOW THE CAR WONT GO OVER 40MPH , TWO WEEKS AGO I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I CANT LOCATE ANY TYPE OF LEAK. HERE A LINK OF OTHER PASSAT OWNER WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND AS OF NOW THERE'S NO RECALL ON IT, I AM BEGGING FOR YOU GUYS HELP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/PASSAT/2006/DRIVETRAIN/POWER_TRAIN.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594456May 28, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STALLED FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED ON SLOW SPEED CITY STREETS. THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DIAGNOSIS BY DEALER IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE. THE DIAGNOSIS AND RESOLUTION OF THE ABOVE ISSUE TOOK 2 WEEKS TO RESOLVE. HOPEFULLY IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594541May 28, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V017000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594245May 27, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I JUST BROUGHT MY 2010 VW PASSAT TO THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE WHY MY GAS TAKE HAS TROUBLE FILLING. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VENT SYSTEM IN THE TANK FAILED AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK TO FIX IT. THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND THE TANK SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE IF I KEEP DRIVING IT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594094May 26, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
WHEN I START THE CAR, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PROCEED TO PUT THE CAR IN D (DRIVE) OR R (REVERSE). THE CAR ACCELERATES IMMEDIATELY EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IS TO ALLOW THE CAR TO WARM-UP FOR 30 TO 45 SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD AS LONG AS IT DOES GO OVER 11 RPMS IT SHOULD BE OKAY. THEN WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. SEVERAL TIMES, I HAVE FORGOT TO LET THE THE CAR WARM-UP AND ALMOST RAN INTO MY GARAGE DOOR OR WHATEVER OBJECT THAT WAS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. ALSO, BECAUSE MY SPOUSE DOES NOT DRIVE THE CAR OFTEN, HE TENDS TO FORGET TO LET THE VEHICLE WARM-UP AND AS A RESULT ALMOST HIT A CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIM. IF I LET ANYONE DRIVE THE CAR, I TELL THEM TO LET THE CAR WARM-UP BEFORE THEY DRIVE OFF. I DO THIS BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER WILL BE OVERCOME BY THE IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION AND LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY AND SHOULD BE RE-EVALUATED. ALSO, THE BRAKES SQUEAK AND I HAVE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THEM OUT EVERY TIME I TAKE THE CAR FOR THE 10K MAINTENANCE. EACH TIME, THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR. I HOPE THAT IF THERE IS A DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM, IT CAN BE RESOLVED. IF NOT, I WILL TRADE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WOULD HATE FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE TO BE SOLD TO ANOTHER CUSTOMER WITH THE EXISTING DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593955May 25, 2014
WHEELS, TIRES
I WAS TRAVELING ON I-70 EAST 25 MILES EAST OF DENVER AT MILE MARKER 133, WITH THREE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HEARD A NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND BRAKE WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, SPINNING ME OUT TO THE LEFT ACROSS BOTH TRAFFIC LANES, TOOK ME IN A 360 DEGREE CIRCLE AND THEN INTO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS ONLY AN INSTANT FROM FIRST NOISE TO BEING SPUN OUT OF CONTROL - NO WARNING. BECAUSE I WAS SPUN OUT TO THE LEFT, I WAS NOT HIT BY THE SEMI DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RAN AHEAD OF MY CAR FROM THE POINT WHERE I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT REPORT: COLORADO STATE PATROL #[XXX]. OFFICER ON SCENE EXAMINED TIRE AND SAID IT WAS AN "INSTANTANEOUS SEPARATION" OF TREAD FROM SIDEWALL AND POSSIBLY FAULTY TIRE MANUFACTURE. HE ALSO SAID WE SHOULD HAVE ROLLED BUT MY CAR'S LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY SAVED US. WE WERE UNHURT BUT TRAUMATIZED. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED 1-30-14, 3-1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND WAS IN LIKE-NEW CONDITION. PURCHASED FROM DISCOUNT TIRES ON LAKE MEAD IN LAS VEGAS, MANUFACTURED BY GT RADIAL, GITI TIRE (USA) LTD., 10404 SIXTH STREET, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730-5831, PHONE (909) 980-0968. CAR HAD BEEN COMPLETELY GONE OVER TWO DAYS BEFORE WHEN I DEPARTED ON TRIP, TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE, AND A VISUAL CHECK WAS DONE BEFORE I GOT ON THE ROAD THAT DAY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED OR UNDERINFLATED IN ANY WAY. I BELIEVE UTTERLY THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND AM CONSIDERING A LAWSUIT DESPITE FACT THAT WE WERE UNINJURED. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT AND ONE WHICH COULD HAVE TAKEN THE LIVES OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE AND MFGRS ARE USING OLD "DRY" RUBBER AND/OR INEFFECTIVE ADHESIVE. I TRUST YOU WILL PURSUE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593014May 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ROLLED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. CAR BURST IN TO FLAMES. TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593055May 20, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VEHICLE THREW A WARNING LIGHT " OIL PRESSURE, PLEASE SHUT OFF CAR IMMEDIATLEY". ONCE CAR WAS SHUT OFF IT NEVER AGAIN STARTED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VW DEALER IN ARKANSAS AND I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND IT WOULD COST 7,600 TO REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592205May 18, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MY 2000 VW PASSAT SINCE 2006 AND HAVE HAD ONLY REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR UNITL ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. I WAS DRIVING ON 95 IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FL MOVING AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND PUSHING BRAKES TOOK ALL I HAD TO TRY AND SAFELY STEER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP CROSSING OVER 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE BREAK-DOWN LANE. ONCE I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. ASIDE FROM THE ENGINE, STEERING AND BRAKES ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS WERE OR AT LEAST SEEMED TO STILL BE WORKING (IE: DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, WINDOWS) THE VEHICLE DID THIS 4 MORE TIMES WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I TESTED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY ALL WERE IN WORKING ORDER AND THE NEXT SET OF SYMPTOMS OCCURRED A WEEK LATER. I WAS TRYING TO UNLOCK THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE AND THERE WAS NOT CONNECTION BEING MADE BETWEEN THE KEY AND THE CAR, I MANUALLY UNLOCKED THE DOORS AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE DIDNT START OR EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE ON AS WELL AS THE RADIO, HOWEVER, I HAD LOST THE POWER WINDOWS, LOCKS, TRUNK, GAS LID AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHT FUNCTIONS. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE BEING LOOKED AT AND HOPE TO GIVE AN UPDATE WHEN I FIND OUT THE ISSUE. UPDATED 12/1/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588625May 15, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, ENGINE
TURBO FAILED ON VEHICLE. BEGAN AS WHINING NOISE. VEHICLE THEN SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE ABOVE 1ST GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588629May 15, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
TURBO FAILED FOR SECOND TIME AND AFTER ONLY 4,000 MILES. BEGAN AS WHINING NOISE. VEHICLE THEN SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE ABOVE 1ST GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588687May 15, 2014
ENGINE
TURBOCHARGER FAILURE ON A TDI ENGINE. ENGINE DIED WITH VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT-MOST LANE OF 3 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. RESULTED IN VEHICLE STRANDED IN EMERGENCY LANE AWAITING A TOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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