Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10583913April 21, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES
DECEMBER 30, 2011, THE ENGINE EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO PEP BOYS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON BRAKES/EMISSION. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. COST $100. FEBRUARY 10, 2012, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID. I STILL EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 15 DEGREES AND WIND CHILL). VW SUGGESTED BRINGING THE CAR IN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE SAME AS THE TEMPERATURE THAT I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS MARCH AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER COLD DAYS. I BEGAN TO THINK THE CAR WAS A WARM WEATHER VEHICLE. COST $776. DECEMBER 14, 2012, THE VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. COST $377. DECEMBER 26, 2013, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED HOSE AND VALVE TO CORRECT A VACUUM LEAK (VALVE STUCK). THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID. COST $376. JANUARY 8, 2014, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND. I HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THE TOW DRIVER STATED IT WAS A BOOSTER PROBLEM. THE VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE FLUID. COST $848. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, THE BELLY PAN (BELLY SHIELD, SKID PLATE, LOWER ENGINE COVER) CAME OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS ON APRIL 21, 2012 AND APRIL 12, 2014. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND POP THE PAN BACK UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOPS TO HAVE IT REATTACHED. NO COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583614April 19, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
ON SEPT 20 2013 MY WIFE SHOWED ME A SPRING THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT . IRONICALLY THE NEXT DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT GO OFF . ABOUT A MONTH LATER A 2ND SPRING APPEARED IN THE FLOORBOARD .CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION . VW REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583709April 19, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS, I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MAJOR MECHANICAL AND NON-MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH MY VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT 2009, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2008. VW'S MECHANICS FOUND THAT MY CAR HAD DEFECTIVE PARTS IN IT, WHICH WERE THERE FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR THAT I DON'T TRUST IT, EVEN THOUGH VW'S MECHANICS SAID THEY'VE EITHER FIXED OR REPLACED THE BAD PARTS, BUT EACH TIME I'VE TAKEN IT IN FOR REPAIRS IN THE PAST, I'VE HAD THE SAME PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED OVER AND OVER. A SUMMARY OF THESE ISSUES: - REAR SIDE WINDOW SUNSCREEN HOOK - REPLACED DUE TO FALLING OUT ? YEAR 2009 - REAR WINDSHIELD SUNSCREEN - REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD BROKEN ? YEAR 2011 - ENGINE FAULT - CAR DIED AND RUNNING ROUGHLY EVER SINCE ? YEAR 2011 - ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON 4 TIMES ? YEARS 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 - DRIVER?S DOOR LOCK - HAD STOPPED LOCKING ? YEAR 2012 - ENGINE COVER - SCREWS FELL OUT OF THE REAR OF ENGINE COVER ? YEAR 2012 - 2 WATER PUMPS - REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT DRAINING COMPLETELY OUT OF THE RESERVOIR ? YEARS 2012 & 2013 - KNOB TO ADJUST SIDE MIRRORS CAME OFF AND NOW UNABLE TO ADJUST SIDE MIRRORS ? YEAR 2013 I HAVE PAID NEARLY $40,000 TO DATE ON THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND VW DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN PUT IN HARMS WAY AND INCONVENIENCED. I ALSO HAVE RELATIVES AND ASSOCIATES WHO'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SIMILAR MODEL VWS TOO, SO I KNOW I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THESE MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH A VW IN THE US. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO VW CORP. OF SOME SORT BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO UNCOVER THE DEFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION OF MY CAR AND OTHERS, SO ALL OF US WHO'VE SUFFERED THROUGH THIS WILL BE REDEEMED IN SOME WAY AND FUTURE CONSUMERS WILL BE SAFER BY VW IMPROVING THEIR VEHICLES' CONSTRUCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583385April 17, 2014
STEERING
CAR EITHER WILL NOT START OR SHUTS OFF. DISPLAY STATES "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT". THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP, THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN, AND HIGH PITCHED ALARMS SOUND. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN 4815, AT NO CHARGE. THIS HAPPENED IN 2011. THIS WEEK, IN 2014 THE SAME EXACT STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT REOCCURRED. DESPITE THIS BEING A KNOWN DEFECT AMONG VWS, AND THIS BEING A FAILURE OF THE PREVIOUS "FIX" VW REFUSES TO DO A WARRANTY REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS "OUTSIDE OF THE 12 MONTH 12,000 MILE" WARRANTY ON REPAIRS. THIS IS IN MY MIND, A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, PEOPLE WOULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10582934April 15, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT LOW BEAM LAMP REMAINS OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE BULB IS GOOD, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN REDUCED VISION. WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BACK OF THE BULB FIXTURE THE BULB ILLUMINATES BUT THEN TURNS OFF AGAIN ONCE THE PRESSURE IS REMOVED. THE CURRENT VW RECALL FOR THE SAME OR AT LEAST SIMILAR PROBLEM DOES NOT EXTEND TO THIS VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE HOOD HAS NEVER BEEN ROUGHLY CLOSED, UNLESS DONE DURING SERVICE AT A VW FACILITY. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579313April 12, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I RENTED A 4 DOOR VW PASSAT (LICENSE PLATE[XXX]; MVA #[XXX]) FROM AVIS AT THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014. TODAY, APRIL 11, 2014, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM NEW ORLEANS TO BATON ROUGE MY CAR ACCELERATED TO 80 MILES AND STAYED AT THAT RATE (WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE GAS), APPROXIMATELY 7 OR 8 TIMES. MY SPEED DID NOT GO DOWN UNLESS I PRESSED ON THE BREAKS, SIMILAR TO WHAT OCCURS WHEN SOMEONE ENGAGES CRUISE CONTROL (BUT I HAD NOT ENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL). ALTHOUGH THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I COULD NOT POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE MOVEMENTS NECESSARY TO RECREATE THE EFFECT. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT IT OCCURRED AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIMES (AND POSSIBLY EVERY TIME) WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING TO PASS A CAR *AND* MOVED TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. TOWARDS THE END OF MY DRIVE I MADE SURE TO ONLY BE TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE BOTTOM, THEREFORE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE THAT I ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA ANY OF THE SIDE LEVERS, AND ON MY MODEL THE ONLY BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF WERE FOR RADIO VOLUME AND STATION. I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT I COULD IMAGINE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES HAD THIS ISSUE ARISEN DURING DENSER TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578811April 10, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN A CAR TRIED TO MERGE INTO MY LANE. I TRIED TO BLOW THE HORN AND THE HORN FAILED TO WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT AT A POINT WHERE I HAVE BEEN THIS CLOSE TO BEING CRASHED INTO. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CHANGE TRACK AND VOLUME BUTTONS DO NOT WORK, AS WELL AS THE HANDS FREE CALLING BUTTON. IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL GOES DEAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578950April 10, 2014
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE "GLOW PLUG" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE NEARLY STALLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND THEN WOULD NOT OPERATE ABOVE 25-30 MPH. I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN BY FLAT BED TOW TRUCK TO THE VW DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "TURBINE SHAFT SEIZED" AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. REVIEW OF PUBLIC DATA REVEALS THIS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE PASSAT EQUIPPED WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578996April 10, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT A FLUID LEAK WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579043April 10, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAD MY VW PASSAT 2012 SERVICED IN SEPT, OF 2011 WITH 31,000 MILES ON IT FOR A HEADLIGHT FAILURE I HAVE THE INVOICE # [XXX] THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM WAS NOT WORKING, ( WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS AFTER I WAS STOPPED IN COCONUT CREEK FL ON ST RD. 7 BY THE POLICE, ON THAT MORNING FOR $125.00 OF WHICH I HAVE PAID A TRAFFIC TICKET, I HAVE THE PAID RECEIPTS FOR THAT AND TICKET COPIES ALSO) NOW AGAIN I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE HEAD LIGHT. MY CAR WAS MANUF. 09/2011 WHICH THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND IS STATED THAT WAY ON THE WEBSITE SAFECAR.GOV THERE TELLING ME AT VW COCONUT CREEK MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED AND I MUST PAY FOR REPAIR. WHY? 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
#10578450April 9, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE BULBS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V125000(HEADLIGHT). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,925.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578325April 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR COULD NOT DETECT WHEN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578417April 8, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS I WAS TURNING AND STILL IN THE INTERSECTION, THE CAR STALLED. I LUCKILY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CLEAR OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS EVEN AFTER BEING SEEN BY THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577296April 4, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
DRIVING FROM ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH SUDDENLY LOST ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND POWER STARTED DROPPING RAPIDLY AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED FLASHING. IT PUT ME IMMEDIATELY INTO A VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN RAPIDLY-MOVING, HEAVY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND CALL THE DEALER'S VW SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SERVICE. I WAS STRANDED JUST OFF THE FREEWAY IN THE NEXT TOWN, AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TURBO WAS BAD (THIS PART HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE, ABOUT 100 OR SO MILES EARLIER). HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY VW PROPERLY, AND WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR IT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY THIS TIME I WAS NOT AT HIGH SPEED, AND WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. THIS SITUATION WITH THE TURBO COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS OR EVEN DEADLY IF AT HIGH SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577106April 3, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE:BODY
DRIVING SOUTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 P.M. WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON THE SUNROOF POPPED OFF ONTO THE FREEWAY, WE DID NOT HAVE THE SUNROOF OPEN. WE ARE LUCKY IT DID HIT ANYONE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA & WAS TOLD TO TAKE CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SPOKE WITH [XXX] THE REGIONAL CARE MANAGER AND HE SAID THAT HE COULD ONLY OFFER $2000.00 TOWARDS A NEW CAR AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANYTHING TOWARDS A REPAIR. 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
#10577118April 3, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
SINCE AFTER THE DAY ONE OF THE PURCHASE MY CAR STARTED SHAKING, VIBRATING. I HAD TO HAVE COILS REPLACED. THE CAR STARTED RUNNING FOR 2 WEEKS THEN WHEN I WAS IN THE TRAFFIC IT STARTED SHAKING THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAD WIRING HARNESS AND COILS REPLACED AGAIN THIS TIME. THE CAR HAD STARTUP ISSUES AND THEN MECHANIC REPLACED CAMSHAFT SENSOR. AFTER 3 WEEKS SAME PROBLEM!!!! I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HAD TO BE TOWED. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COILS BUT AFTER 2 MONTHS OH MY GOODNESS SAME PROBLEM NOW THEY THINK ECU IS FRIED COILS ARE BAD MAYBE FUEL PUMP NO ONE IS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AND I CANT SPEND ANY MORE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A CAR IM STILL FINANCING. VERY DISAPPOINTED! I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL ON THE ROAD AND IM SCARED TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE STALLS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP! FEEL VERY UNSAFE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576748April 2, 2014
STEERING
STOPPED TO GET GAS CAME COME BACK OUTSIDE TO START THE CAR CAR WOULD NOT START INDICATOR ON DASHBOARD SAID THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAS LOCKED UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576214April 1, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,302.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576535April 1, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
WHINING SOUND WHEN DRIVING FORWARD NOT WHEN IT'S COASTING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SLIPPING. CAUGHT BEFORE COMPLETE TURBO FAILURE. CAUSE REPORTED BY DEALER: VERIFIED, FOUND METALLIC WHINE NOISE UNDER BOOS. RAN GFF AN FOUND P02900 - TURBO UNDER BOOST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576527April 1, 2014
ENGINE
HOT STEAM(COOLANT) CAME OUT OF VENTS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY AND MY DAUGHTER ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE STEAM FOGGED THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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