Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10575783March 31, 2014
STEERING
WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, A LOUD STRANGE NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER WORK, AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR MY AIRBAG. AS MY HUSBAND DROVE US HOME, I SEARCHED THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THE ERROR MESSAGE IS TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND MAY NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD OR MAY DEPLOY WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT WARN OF AN ACCIDENT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING UNEXPECTEDLY WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE A CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE MCKINNEY, TX VW DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING. THEY SAID THE CLOCK SPRING HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY REPLACED THIS PART, BUT MY STEERING WHEEL STILL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. THIS IS THE SAME SOUND WE HEARD WHILE WE DROVE HOME THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AGAIN, BUT I AGAIN HEARD THE SAME CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE PASSATS MAKE THIS NOISE, AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. MY STEERING DID NOT MAKE NOISE THE FIRST 40,000 MILES I PUT ON THE CAR, SO I'M WORRIED THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I FOUND ONLINE THAT A LOT OF OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT, AND MANY OF THEM HAD CLOCK SPRINGS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. WITH SO MANY DEFECTIVE PARTS, THIS SEEMS WORTHY OF A RECALL SINCE THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575997March 31, 2014
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BACKUP CAMERA IS SLOW TO START. MAY TAKE FROM 5 TO 20 SECONDS TO BECOME OPERATIONAL AFTER START UP. THIS IS HAZARD WITH RESPECT TO RELIANCE ON BACKUP CAMERAS BY DRIVERS TO SEE OBSTRUCTIONS BEHIND THE CAR. FAILURE OF CAMERA TO START UP QUICKLY RESULTS IN REDUCED SAFETY BECAUSE DRIVERS WILL BACK UP WITHOUT CAMERA OPERATIONAL. I CAN START MY CAR AND BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND REACH THE CORNER OF MY BLOCK BEFORE THE CAMERA STARTS UP AND SHOWS ME THE ROAD DISAPPEARING BEHIND ME. A CAMERA DOES NOT REPLACE DRIVER OBLIGATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OBSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT BEHIND THEIR CAR, BUT THE CAMERA IS ALSO THERE TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE AND IT IS NOT RELIABLE AS A SAFETY FEATURE DO TO ITS EXTREMELY SLOW START UP. INDIVIDUALS DO NOT LIKE TO WAIT 30 SECONDS AT A STOP LIGHT MUCH LESS 20 JUST TO BACK OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA IS A RELIABLE SAFETY FEATURE AS IT WAS INTENDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575352March 28, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE IS DEAD THANKS TO VOLKSWAGEN WHO HAVE NOT MAKE A OFFICIAL RECALL OVER THIS DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP BOLT - LOTS OF PEOPLE MOST OF THEM GET THIS CARS OUT OF WARRANTY LIKE MY CASE WHO ARE GETTING THIS CAR PREOWNED WILL FACE SAME ISSUES UNLESS VW TAKE ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575360March 28, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTORS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575376March 28, 2014
ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 2013 PASSAT SE MAY 16, 2013, IT CURRENTLY HAS 28,000 MILES ON IT AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. 2 WEEKS AGO I JUST STARTED MY TRIP TO WORK (75 MILES ONE WAY / 95% HIGHWAY) WHEN THE GLOW PLUG INDICATOR CAME ON AND I IMMEDIATELY LOST MOST POWER. IT WAS ABOUT 7 DEGREES F, I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT TO A DEALER, WHO, AFTER CONTACTING VW TECHNICIAN SUPPORT DETERMINED MY TURBO WAS SHOT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SUPPORT TECH SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ONLY A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT SEEN AT MY DEALERSHIP, HE SAID THE REPLACEMENT WAS A LARGER TURBO, PUMP, PIPE, FILTERS AND EVERYTHING.IT TOOK A WEEK AND A HALF TO DO THE JOB MOST OF THE TIME WAS WAITING FOR PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575113March 27, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
JANUARY 2014: TURBOCHARGER FAILED ON MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CAR FAILED IN THE EVENING, BUT THAT MORNING WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK, THE TURBO MADE A SPLIT SECOND CHOO-CHOO TRAIN WHISTLE, BUT CONTINUED TO FUNCTION, ALTHOUGH IT FELT LIKE THE TURBO WAS FREE-WHEELING AND NOT REALLY IN SYNC WITH THE ACTUAL BOOST. WHEN IT FAILED, THERE WAS A MUFFLED BANG, FOLLOWED BY A LOCOMOTIVE TYPE BLACK OILY SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I WAS ONLY 2 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP, SO I DROVE IT THERE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN STANDING ON THE THROTTLE, IT SOUNDED LIKE A NUT RATTLING AROUND IN A CAN. DEALER REPLACED THE INTERCOOLER, EGR AND DPF. MARCH 24, 2014: TURBOCHARGER AGAIN FAILED AT 17,000 MILES. THIS TIME NO AUDIBLE WARNING THAT THE UNIT WAS FAILING, JUST INSTANT POWER LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575227March 27, 2014
STEERING, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SLOW TO START UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT WHEN TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT CENTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER REPLACED FOUR TIRES BUT THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS THEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575045March 26, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR WAS STARTED TO GO TO LUNCH, OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS +4. IT WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AT LOW SPEED TO THE INTERSTATE. AFTER ACCELERATING UP THE ON-RAMP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE TURBO FAILED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. LUCKILY THERE WAS ENOUGH MOMENTUM AND VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE ON IT'S OWN POWER AT THIS POINT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR EXTENSIVE REPAIRS, TAKING THREE WEEKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574848March 26, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHILE GOING AROUND A RIGHT CORNER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A DRY DAY AND OTHER VEHICLES GOING MUCH FASTER THAN MY VEHICLE. THE CAR APPLIED THE BRAKES IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER IN THE OPPOSING DIRECTION OF THE TURN AS IF IT WANTED ME TO GO STRAIGHT I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT THE ISSUE. I FIRST BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 1/13/14 AND WAS TOLD NO MALFUNCTIONS FOUND. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN ON 2/15/14 AND WAS TOLD VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN ON 3/14/14 TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY FOUND THAT THE TIRES WERE SET AT 41.5 PSI. THE RECOMMEND PRESSURE IS 30PSI. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH HIGHER PSI THE WHEELS WOULD BOUNCE AND COULD LOOSE TRACTION. I NEVER HAD TO A AIR TO ANY OF MY TIRES SINCE PURCHASE. DURING THESE OCCASION MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR A NUMBER OF REASON ALONG WITH A SQUEAKING SUSPENSION AND BACKUP CAMERA ISSUES AND AT NOT TIME NO ONE NOTICED THE ADDITIONAL 11 PSI. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WEEK IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON 3/21/14 EVEN AFTER THE TIRE PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. I AM SCHEDULE TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 3/27/14. ALL THIS TIME I'M LEFT TO DRIVE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE BECAUSE VOLKSWAGEN WANTS TO TRY AGAIN AND FIX THE PROBLEMS WITHOUT GIVING ME A LOANER TO AVOID THE LEMON LAW OF 30 OUT OF USE IN MARYLAND. SO FAR IT'S BEEN 20DAYS OUT OF USE BECAUSE OF THE REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574964March 26, 2014
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED WHEN A HIGH VOLTAGE OF HEAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT CUSHION UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM A BURN TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10575030March 26, 2014
ENGINE
HEARD A WHISTLE SOUND FOLLOWED BY SOME SORT OF PUFF AND LOSS OF POWER. TON OF WHITE SMOKE, THOUGHT CAR ON FIRE, PULLED OVER. PEOPLE PASSING BY CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. AFTER CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNED OIL, EXHAUST PIPE COVERED IN OIL, AND OIL DROPS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP NEW TURBOCHARGER IS NEEDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575039March 26, 2014
ENGINE
TURBOCHARGER FAILED. STARTED MAKING NOISES, THEN POWER LOSSES, THEN DASHBOARD LIGHTS. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED TURBOCHARGER FAILURE DUE TO 'INTERNAL MALFUNCTION' AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVING STYLE, EXTERNAL FACTORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574504March 24, 2014
ENGINE
AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED A TURBO FAILURE. DRIVING HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MINUTES INTO A TRIP AND THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 25% POWER AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. CALLED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID TO PULL OVER AND HAVE TOWED TO THE CLOSED AUTHORIZED DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574255March 23, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED SURGING AND REVVING HIGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EPC LIGHT CAME ON. ITS DRIVABLE BUT NOT SAFELY AND NEEDS FIXED ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574256March 23, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BULB HOLDER MELTED INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING IT NOT TO WORK AND HAVING ME BUY A NEW BULB SOCKET AND OTHER PARTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574104March 21, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN, VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE LOW POWER. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT VERY SLOWLY. A FEW MILES LATER, I HAD TO STOP FOR ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD STOPPED TO TURN LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AFTER THAT CAR HAD TURNED, I HAD NO POWER (VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING). I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT A VEHICLE COMING UP FROM BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR FROM BEHIND. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHICH CONFIRMED A FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER SYSTEM AND THEN REPLACED THE TURBOCHARGER UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT OF TURBOCHARGER APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573876March 20, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TURBOCHARGER FAILED. DEALER IS FIXING UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TURBOCHARGER FAILURES ON THE DIESEL TDI THAT THEY ARE NOW STOCKING ALL TURBO PARTS FOR REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573466March 19, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
DURING MY TRIP FROM CITY OF CHICAGO TO MY HOME MY CAR LOST POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET LEAVING ME STUCK AMONG MOVING TRAFFIC. I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE STREET AND ONTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. I HAD TO STOP THE INCOMING TRAFFIC SO I COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT. I ATTEMPTED TO START MY CAR COUPLE MORE TIMES AND STILL HAD NO SUCCESS. AT THIS TIME IT WAS ALMOST 9PM AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING DRAMATICALLY. I CONTACTED MY WIFE WHO MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A SITTER AND STARTED TO DRIVE TOWARDS ME. I WAS FREEZING AT THAT POINT INSIDE MY CAR AS THERE WERE NO VENUES OPEN AROUND ME. AFTER MY WIFE ARRIVED WITH TOOLS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT WE STILL HAD NO SUCCESS AND DECIDED TO HAVE OUR CAR TOWED TO OUR HOME OF RESIDENCE. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE CAR DUE TO NO AVAIL. I CONTACTED THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT TOWED THERE. THE VW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND CONCLUDED A COMPLETE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AS WELL AS THE FUEL LINES, FUEL FILTER AND ITS HOUSING, FUEL INJECTORS AND THEY FLUSHED THE FUEL TANK FROM ANY MERAL SHRAPNEL AND DEBRIS. THE VW OD AMERICA COVERED THE REPAIR WITHOUT ANY QUESTIONS. THEY ARE COMPLETELY AWARE OF HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS FAILING REGULARLY ON THESE VEHICLES BUT NO RECALL IS MADE AND CARS ARE DEALT WITH CASE BY CASE BASIS. I RECEIVED GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM THE DEALER AS WELL AS THE CORPORATE. BUT DUE TO HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS AMONG VW TDI CARS IT IS ALARMING THAT SUCH RISK OF CAR LOOSING POWER AS SUCH IN A MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC EXISTS. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND FOR OTHERS SAFETY BECAUSE NO GUARANTEE WAS MADE BY VW THAT THIS PROBLEM WONT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573575March 19, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES
I TOOK MY CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON AND WHY MY BRAKES WOULD FLUTTER AT TIMES WHEN USING THEM. I GOT ESTIMATE THAT MY BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS BAD AND THE SENSOR THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY TO DRIVE TILL I GOT FIXED IN A WEEK. I FAXED MY WARRANTY PAPERS TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS COVERED..ON SATURDAY 5 DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS DRIVING 35 MILES AN HOUR TRIED TO STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR HAD NOTHING TO STOP ME BUT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ISSUED A TICKET HAD MY CAR TOWED AND I. AM HAVING HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN WHICH I'M GETTING TREATED..I DON'T FEEL AS IF THAT CAR WAS SAFE TO NE DRIVING.. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572875March 17, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHEN I OPERATE MY CAR AND SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR I FEEL A NOTICEABLE STUTTER, THIS OCCURS AT AROUND 1200 RPM. I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS LINKED TO THE NUMEROUS TURBO FAILURES THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH THE 2012 AND 2013 TDI PASSATS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOTED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY A TURBO FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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