Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10494731January 25, 2013
ENGINE
VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT FOUR TIMES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASTIONS WHEN I COME TO A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND VW REPORTS CAR CHECKS OUT FINE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492881January 14, 2013
ENGINE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE INTERIOR HEATER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW MECHANIC OASIS AUTO CENTER IN REDDING, CA. HE SAID HE CLEARED THE COIL BUT THAT A VALVE MAY ALSO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER 2011. SINCE WE LIVE IN N. CALIFORNIA IT HAS NOT BEEN A BIG ISSUE SINCE IT IS WARM MOST OF THE YEAR. I DID HOWEVER SEE THIS IS A RECALL ITEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF WE CAN STILL GET THIS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492121January 10, 2013
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION, WHEELS
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE "WHEEL HOP" UPON STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ESPECIALLY ON A WET ROADWAY AND A HILL. THE TIRES JUST CANNOT GET TRACTION AND SPIN. AS WELL ONCE THE WHEELS START TO SPIN THE ECS (STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM) CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING WHICH HAS LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO ECS DISABLE SWITCH AS WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, SO I CANNOT TEMPORARILY DISABLE THE SYSTEM FOR TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE ISSUE. LOSING POWER WHILE PULLING OUT INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCING A POWER LOSS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR CAME WITH HANKOOK OPTIMA H426 TIRES AND I SWITCHED TO YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR (V RATED) TIRES BELIEVING THE ISSUE WAS THE TIRES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH 33 YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING FROM LIGHT ACCELERATION, FEATHERING THE ACCELERATOR, USING THE S MODE OF THE TIPTONIC TRANSMISSION AND USING THE TIPTRONIC CONTROL IN D MODE TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN THE LOWER GEAR AND TRYING TO START IN A HIGHER GEAR TO REDUCE THE TORQUE TO THE WHEELS, BUT THE TIPTRONIC WILL NOT ALLOW UPSHIFTING WHEN STOPPED. I RAISED THIS CONCERN WITH THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE WHEEL HOP CAUSING BANGING OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAINST THE TRAVEL STOPS. THIS THUMPING AND EXTREME MOVEMENT OF THE SUSPENSION CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATES "IT IS PERFORMING TO SPECS AS DESIGNED." WELL THEN I THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490708January 2, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490810January 2, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PURCHASED CAR USED. FIRST TIME I FILLED THE GAS TANK STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS WAS PRESENT DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL MILES OF TRAVEL. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE FROM PAYING FOR THE SECOND FILL UP THERE WAS A BIG PUDDLE OF RAW FUEL ALL OVER THE GROUND DIRECTLY UNDER THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH & DISCOVERED A MANUFACTURE RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. AFTER EXPLAINING MY DILEMMA TO THE APPROPRIATE CORPORATE DEPARTMENT I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD/WOULD DO TO REMEDY THIS VERY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. MY FEELING IS THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER PROPERLY ADDRESSED, IN SPITE OF THE RECALL, & IS THEREFORE STILL A HAZARD. I HAVE DISCOVERED BY KEEPING THE LEVEL OF THE GAS TANK BELOW 1/2 IT DOESN'T LEAK. OUT OF NECESSITY FOR TRANSPORTATION THIS IS HOW I'VE BEEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. DUE TO THE MAJOR EXPENSE OF PROPERLY REPAIRING THIS, AND THE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HAZARD IT PRESENTS, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COMPLETE, AND PROPER REPAIR OF THIS ADMITTED DEFAULT IN THE CAR. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489243December 19, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, HE WOULD HEAR A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE NOISE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488819December 14, 2012
SEATS
WHEN I TURN MY HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE PAST LEVEL 1, THERE IS ONE SPOT ON THE SEAT THAT GETS PAINFULLY HOT. I USUALLY TURN THE HEAT OFF AT THAT POINT. TODAY I WAS SO COLD THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN THE SEAT OFF, SO I PUT MY HAND BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY LEG. WHEN I TOOK MY HAND OUT, IT SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL ON THESE SEATS. I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT MAKE A CONCESSION SINCE IT IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488709December 13, 2012
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MADE A SHORT STOP AND BOTH SECTIONS OF THE BACK SEAT UNLOCKED AND CAME DOWN/FORWARD. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS SITTING IN THEM. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE TRUNK THAT WOULD HAVE SET OFF THE UNLOCKING BARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487555December 6, 2012
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE ON THE CAPITOL BELTWAY (495 INNER LOOP) I STARTED TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL. MOMENTS LATER WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND EXITED THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT AS A SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487158December 3, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN ACTIVATION, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY BECAME DIM. THE CONTACT DECELERATED TO 40 MPH DUE TO THE DISTORTION OF HIS VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES EXHIBITED A BROWN FILM AND OXIDATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486641December 1, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
PURCHASE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 23,2012 AFTER GETTING THE MECHANICS APPROVAL THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE (OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON) SUPPOSEDLY THE VEHICLE PASSED EMISSIONS,AND DROVE 17 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP APPLE AUTO IN WALLINGFORD,CT WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485895November 24, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE EVEN AFTER THE SIGNAL HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL ENTERS THE WHEEL CONSOLE. I BEGAN TO PULL OVER AT THE NEXT SAFE AREA AND BEFORE I COULD I NOTICED SMALL FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME AREA WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL ENTERS THE WHEEL CONSOLE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE SMOKE/FIRE SLOWLY SUBSIDED. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE TURN SIGNAL FUSE IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH NO RECALLS ISSUED YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485424November 21, 2012
SEAT BELTS
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY MY SON TUGGED ON HIS SEAT BELT AND IT CAME UNDONE. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO BUCKLE IT AT WHICH TIME I REALIZED THE LATCH WAS NOT WORKING. THE LATCH CLICKS SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SECURE BUT YOU CAN PULL THE BELT OUT WITH VERY LITTLE FORCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485111November 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY
POWER TRAIN ISSUE: BAD TORQUE CONVERTER (TC). WHY A SAFETY ISSUE? IT CAN FAIL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY SENDING DEBRIS INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. CAUSED BY A BAD SEAL GASKET. TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 2011908 ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN 2007. BUT THE TDIS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TB [SAME TC & TRANSMISSION], AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MANY VW, AUDI AND BMW VEHICLES, INCLUDING TDIS. E.G. VW & AUDI: HTTP://KANSASCITYTDI.COM/AUDIPASSAT-P0741-17125-CODE/ BMW: HTTP://FORUMS.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=1601642 WITH A P0741 ERROR: DTC RESULTS: 17125 P0741 003 TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH CIRC. PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF INTERMITTENT IF YOU DO A WEB SEARCH FOR: P0741 ERROR CODE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER THE RESULTS ARE STARTLING, IT SEEMS THAT VW, AUDI AND BMW ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH TCS, "MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE INTERNAL TC SEALS WERE NOT UP TO THE TASK ON THE ORIGINAL TCS OF THAT ERA. ...INCLUDING AUDI". HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=3036384&POSTCOUNT=5 "IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED THEN THE TRANSMISSION WILL OVER HEAT DUE TO THE SLIPPAGE AND YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION." HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=3038540&POSTCOUNT=11 IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULD OF BEEN FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR NON-DIESEL VEHICLES SERVICE BULLETIN: 2011908. THE TC IS THE SAME IN ALL B5 MODELS. HTTP://WWW.IMPORTDRIVETRAIN.COM/AUTOTRANSCROSSREF.HTML#VOLKSWAGEN SO WHY WAS THE TDI S NOT COVERED? ------------------------------------ BODY: DOORS: WON'T UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE BY REMOTE OR UNLOCK BUTTON FROM INSIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485005November 17, 2012
ENGINE
CAR HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY DROVE IT ONCE CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 4AM IN THE MORNING CAR TOTAL ALOT BURN BAD IN THE FRONT. I HAD NOTICE THAT SOME FEATURES WERE NOT WORKING BUT I DID NOT ATTRIBUTE IT TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPT WHO CAME TO PUT THE BLAZE OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484920November 16, 2012
ENGINE, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, AIR BAGS
WE PURCHASED OUR 2007 PASSAT 3.6L 4-MOTION WAGON AND HAD ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAGS FROM DAY 1 (LITERALLY), AND HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE SENSORS UNDER BOTH SEATS WITHIN THE FIRST THREE DAYS. WITHIN A MONTH, WE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. NEW TIRES FIXED THE TPMS ISSUE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, THEN WE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES AGAIN. A YEAR AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR, MY WIFE HAD AN ACCIDENT (REAR-ENDED SOMEONE), AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WE HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT-END REPAIRED - $10,237 WORTH OF REPAIRS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THERE WAS SO MUCH EXTERNAL NOISE THAN THERE WAS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. OVER THE NEXT 8 MONTHS, WE BEGAN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON (AND STAYING ON). WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF ONE DAY, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF (BUSY) TRAFFIC, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY TOOK OUR 2007 PASSAT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP, WHICH MADE A BLANKET STATEMENT THAT NONE OF THE EXISTING ISSUES WERE RELATED TO THE WRECK. THEREFORE, THE REPAIR SHOP WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING MORE TO FIX THE CAR, AND SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS EITHER. ON OCTOBER 29, 2012, 14 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AS IT HAD MANY TIMES BEFORE. HOWEVER, ON OCTOBER 30, 2012, THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY. WE'VE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARINGS ARE COMPLETELY GONE AND WERE TOLD IT WILL COST US $7,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T INCLUDE REPAIRS TO THE PREVIOUSLY EXISTING ISSUES WITH THE TPSM OR THE AIRBAG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10484727November 14, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE BULB ADAPTER. THE PLASTIC HAD MELTED WHICH PREVENTED ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOWING FROM THE HOUSING TO THE BULB. THE MELTED PLASTIC HAD CAUSED HAZING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT NO COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482672October 30, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
VEHICLE STALLED ON BUSY SURFACE STREET, LOST ALL POWER. REFUSED TO RESTART. TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS FAILED HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481336October 22, 2012
TIRES
I PURCHASED TIRES FOR MY 2008 VW PASSAT TURBO 4 DOOR SEDAN. I SELECTED FOUR COOPER CS4 TOURING TIRES. I BOUGHT THEM ABOUT A MONTH AGO, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE COOPER TIRES, I NOTICED A PULSATING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT; THE NOISE FREQUENCY IS A FUNCTION OF SPEED. SO, TWO DAYS LATER, I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. A MECHANIC CHECKED THE TIRES, WHEELS, AND MOUNTING; HE COULD FIND NOTHING OBVIOUSLY WRONG. SO, I TOOK THE MECHANIC FOR A RIDE. HE HEARD THE NOISE, AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER THE TIRES WERE BROKEN IN OR WORN IN. THE NOISE HAS SEEMED TO INCREASE OF LATE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES MAY BE DEFECTIVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481003October 18, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS DRIVING MY PASSAT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60MPH, SUDDENLY AN OTHER DRIVER CUT ME OFF. TO AVOID HIM I SWITCHED LANE BUT THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING SLOW AS I WAS APPROACHING A CONSTRUCTING SITE. I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHICH CAUSED OTHER 2 CARS AHEAD TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE DAMAGE WAS SEVERE AS THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS CRASHED INCLUDING THE ENGINE AND THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED, HE HAD A SHOULDER DISLOCATION. WHAT SURPRISED ME ARE THE AIRBAGS, THEY NEVER DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH. AFTER FEW DAYS VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE CAR. AFTER HE LEFT I NOTICED THE SEAT BELTS ARE LOOSE AND THE BOTTOM COVER IS OPENED, IT SEEMS LIKE HE DID IT IN PURPOSE. BEFORE HE CAME THE SEAT BELTS WERE FINE. WHAT MOST SURPRISED ME IS HIS DECISION THAT THE AIRBAGS CAN'T DEPLOYED IN THIS CASE. I SHOWED HIM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WHERE IS THE CHASSIS, IT WAS BENT FROM THE DIRECT IMPACT OF THE FORCES THAT CAME THROUGH THE BUMPER WHICH ALSO CAUSE THE FRONT BEAM TO TWIST, BUT NEVER GAVE ME A SATISFIED EXPLANATION. PEOPLE WHO TRY TO BUY THIS CAR AND HAVE KIDS PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE, MY FAMILY WAS BLESSED TO GET OUT OF THIS ACCIDENT JUST WITH A SHOULDER DISLOCATION, WHICH COULD BE WORST. MY NEXT STEP IS LAWSUIT AGAINST VW. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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