Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10511419May 10, 2013
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED ON THIS SITE AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THE BACK-UP CAMERA IS RIDICULOUSLY SLOW TO COME ON. MOST TIMES, I CAN BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, STOP, AND BE GOING FORWARD DOWN THE STREET BEFORE THE BACK-UP CAMERA EVEN COMES ON. AT THAT POINT, I'M DRIVING UP TO A BLOCK AWAY WITH MY BACK-UP CAMERA STILL ON. WHILE MOST OF THE TIME THIS IS SIMPLY AN ANNOYING INCONVENIENCE, IT IS ALSO A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE. ONE OF THE REASONS I BUY CARS WITH BACK-UP CAMERAS IS TO MAKE SURE I'M ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING SMALL (LIKE A CHILD, BIKE, ETC.) BEHIND THE CAR WHILE BACKING THAT MY MIRRORS WON'T SHOW. MY LEXUS ALSO HAS THIS CAMERA (AS DID MY PRIUS THAT I TRADED FOR THE PASSAT) AND IT CAME ON WITHIN ONE SECOND OF PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE PASSAT IS ROUTINELY TAKING 6-8 SECONDS, AND HAS TAKEN AS LONG AS 15 SECONDS TO TURN ON. I'VE NOTICED THAT IT IS NOT JUST THE CAMERA THAT IS SLOW. MANY OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE TOUCH SCREEN ARE ALSO SLOW TO REACT. THE VW DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAYS THAT VW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT IT IS SIMPLY A SLOW PROCESSOR SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511014May 7, 2013
ENGINE
ENGINE LOST POWER AND BEGAN MISFIRING. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER TELLS ME TWO DAYS LATER THERE IS CARBON BUILD UP AND NEEDS MANUAL DECARB. COST IS 1K. ENGINE HAS RUN ON PREMIUM FUEL AND HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION FOR A VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510560May 3, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED A LEAK FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE LEAK WAS NOTICED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510360May 2, 2013
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, EQUIPMENT
THE BACKUP CAMERA IS VERY SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE (15-25 SECONDS). FREQUENTLY, THE CAMERA WILL NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETED BACKING UP AND THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HAVING IDENTIFIED IT IN A VW TECHNICAL BULLETIN. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE IN AUBURN, MI, ABOUT RESOLVING THE ISSUE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM[XXX], DATED 22 APRIL 2013, WHICH STATED: ". . . YOUR VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS PER ITS DESIGNED INTENT. AS SUCH, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A REPAIR TO [THE] SYSTEM." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 05/05/14.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510307May 1, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. FUEL WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE DIESEL FUEL. NO OTHER FUEL HAS EVER BEEN USED OR PUMPED INTO THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509823April 29, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509501April 25, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THAT WAS OUT OF ORDER. THE DRIVER OF THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND I ASSUMED SHE WAS GOING TO SUBSEQUENTLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, SO I INSTINCTIVELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR TO EASE FORWARD. UNFORTUNATELY, I MISCALCULATED AS THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. AS A RESULT OF MY ACTIONS, I REAR-ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH. MY CAR SUSTAINED ABOUT 90% OF THE DAMAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE DEPLOYMENT OR LACK THEREOF OF THE AIRBAGS. THEY NEVER DEPLOYED. MAYBE I WAS WRONG TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD DEPLOY ON SUCH A LOW SPEED. PLEASE ADVISE AS THE IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT WAS RATHER STRONG. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508635April 18, 2013
STEERING
AFTER STARTING CAR IT WOULD IMMEDIATELY STALL THIS WOULD HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT WOULD START DURING THIS TIME I WOULD SEE ON THE CARS DISPLAY A WARNING THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES THE KEY WILL GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND UNTIL YOU GET IT OUT IT WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TRY AND RESTART THE CAR. THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED BY PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE GEAR SHIFT THREE TIMES IN SUCCESSION. I FOUND THAT BIT OF INFORMATION ON A CAR FORUM BUT NOT IN THE VW MANUAL. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE VW PASSAT SPANNING SEVERAL YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508435April 16, 2013
STEERING
CAR HAS CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. DRIVING REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE TO THE LEFT ON STEERING WHEEL. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR ALIGNMENT AND ALTHOUGH THEY ADJUST IT, RIGHT PULL PERSISTS. SOMETIMES, STEERING HAS A FEEL AS THOUGH CAR IS ERRATIC. CAR NEVER SETTLES INTO TACKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHICH SEEMS VERY ODD AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505973April 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM THERE IS A SCREEN THAT WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS WRONG. WHEN IT GETS MORE THAN 65 DEGREES OUTSIDE THE SCREEN QUITS WORKING, IT GOES BLANK. FIRST TIME I HAD PROBLEMS MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING, IT WAS BEEPING AT ME. I COULDN'T MAKE OUT WHAT IT WAS SAYING ON THE SCREEN. I HAD TO PULL OVER CUFF MY HANDS AROUND THE SCREEN TO SEE STOP OVER HEATING. I LOOKED AT MY DASH SAW THAT IT WAS OVER HEATING. THAT HAPPENED TWICE OFF AN ON WITH IN A FEW WEEKS. MY DAD AN I FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING. ANOTHER TIME WAS JUST RECENT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AN ONCE AGAIN COULDN'T READ THE SCREEN. I CUFFED MY HANDS AN WAS ABLE TO SEE EMISSION CHECK. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BUT WHEN MY CAR OVER HEATED I USED GOOGLE TO SEARCH THIS SCREEN PROBLEM. TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS ON RECALL OR ANYTHING,THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE.THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM I THINK VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD PAY THE $400 IT TAKES TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THEIR PRODUCT THAT IS DEFECTED! WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR PROBLEM, SOME POINT THE LACK OF THIS WORKING COULD HURT SOMEONE. I'M WRITING TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507244April 5, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507306April 5, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
ON 3/23/13, WHEN TURNING LEFT IN TRAFFIC, THE "SEALED FOR LIFE" 5-SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION MADE AN INCREDIBLY HARD SHIFT, BEGAN SLIPPING BADLY, AND QUICKLY LOST 3 FWD SPEEDS, "LIMPING" IN FOR SERVICE. NORMALLY, A TRANS FAILURE AT 143K WOULD NOT PROMPT AN NHTSA COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT THE CAR, BUT RATHER VWOA AND ITS DEALER NETWORK, THAT ARE THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK AUTO TRANS FLUID LEVEL, AND WOULD ONLY GRUDGINGLY DO A FLUID CHANGE IF I WANTED, FOR AN EXTORTIONATE $700, STEADFASTLY MAINTAINING THAT NEITHER WAS NECESSARY. VWOA TODAY 4/5/13, IRONICALLY, CRITICIZED ME FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDATION OF CHECKING FLUID EVERY 40K MILES. LOCAL DEALER WANTED OVER $4400 + MISC FEES & TAX TO REPLACE THE TRANS. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY INDICATED MY NEW TIRES WITH 500 MILES ON THEM WERE IN A MARGINAL TREAD WEAR CONDITION. DITTO THE RECENTLY RENEWED (AT THE SAME DEALER!) REAR BRAKES. BTW, THE TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURER, ZF, RECOMMENDS COMMUNICATING TO CUSTOMERS THE BENEFITS OF FLUID CHANGES AT 50K MILE INTERVALS. VW WON'T LISTEN TO EITHER CUSTOMER OR TRANS MFR. TRANS WAS REBUILT AT QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT SHOP. THERE WAS ALSO AN EARLIER RECALL (THANKS, NHTSA!) OF CERAMIC GLOW PLUGS THAT WOULD FALL INTO CYLINDERS AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD THE REPAIR DONE INDEPENDENTLY, AS THIS CONDITION WAS KNOWN FOR AT LEAST 2 YRS BEFORE VW'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE. VW DID COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS, BUT I WONDER HOW MANY $9K ENGINES WERE DESTROYED WHILE VW CONTEMPLATED ITS COLLECTIVE NAVEL. BTW, AFTER THE OFFICIAL VW FIX (DONE AT DEALER), THE CAR STARTS IN WINTER LIKE A 1980 RABBIT DIESEL. I FITTED A ZEROSTART AS CORRECTIVE MEASURE. VW ALSO REFUSES TO DISCUSS THE BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN DRIVE ISSUE WITH ME. A TICKING TIME BOMB AT 143K. THEY KNOW IT. I KNOW IT. NHTSA, PLEASE TAKE VWOA TO TASK! AS FOR ME, I'M NOW SHOPPING COMPETITORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507059April 4, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKING ASSIST SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM LINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505576April 3, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWELVE TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507005April 3, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
ON OR ABOUT FEB. 1, 2013, I STARTED MY MANUAL-TRANSMISSION 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS (V6) AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AND DID NOT START UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE ACCELERATOR COULD HAVE BECOME LODGED UNDER THE FLOORMAT, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE; NOR WAS IT THE CASE IN AT LEAST FOUR OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS. TWO OF THESE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE AS I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE, SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK THE CAR. HOWEVER, I FEAR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS INCIDENT RECURRED WHEN I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, RAILROAD CROSSING OR CROSSWALK. DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS, MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE INCIDENT OR IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504999March 29, 2013
STEERING
GOT WARNING MESSAGE THAT 'STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE'. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504362March 25, 2013
ENGINE
OIL BOLT FAILURE ON 3.6L ENGINE RESULTING IN COMPLETE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF ENGINE. COST OF REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $6000 WHICH IS NOT COVERD BY ANY WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE WHICH VW DID NOT RECALL, BUT RECOGNIZED BY MAKING MADE SPEC CHANGES IN 08. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504475March 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE REAR VIEW CAMERA TAKES 10-15 SECONDS TO START UP NEGATING THE SAFETY IT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE. VW USA NOTIFIED AND WERE NOT HELPFUL AND SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504325March 24, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SENDING THIS E-MAIL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ABS MODULE ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THEY ARE NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD BE OUT , I BELIEVE ITS A DEFECTIVE PART, SHOULD LAST LONGER OTHER PEOPLE I TALK WITH SAY THEY HAVE BEEN THRU THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ABS MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504217March 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
METALLIC CLICKING, LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, ALWAYS IN REVERSE AND CONSTANT (FORWARD AND REVERSE) WHEN WET OR COLD. ONLY LESS FREQUENT IN WARMER TEMPS. ON 3RD SERVICE VISIT TO HAVE NOISE CHECKED, VW ISSUED WARRANTY CLAIM AND THEN DENIED REPAIR SAYING NO FIX AVAILABLE. I APPEALED TO NO AVAIL. NOISE IS EXCESSIVE AND PROBLEMATIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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