Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10480812October 17, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (VOLKSWAGEN) THEY SAID IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME THEY QUOTED $900.00. I DID NOT HAVE IT DONE DO TO THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT TO AFFECT THE AIRBAG. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS VOLKSWAGENS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THEY DENIED. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE 80,000 MILE CHECK AND ONCE AGAIN THEY STATED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THEY QUOTED $750.00. ONCE AGAIN I TOLD THEM IT WAS VOLKSWAGENS PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS. ONCE AGAIN NO SATISFACTION (THE LIGHT IS STILL ON). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480185October 15, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2005 PASSAT IS LEAKING GAS, LOCATION IS CLOSE TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. I CALLED LOCAL VW DEALER (WHERE I PURCHASED CAR FROM ) ALONG WITH VW 800 NUMBER- BOTH TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL REPAIR PLACE WOODYS IN ANKENY, IOWA. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THAT HE DID BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL 26E5-R5. I CALLED BACK VW AND HE TOLD ME THAT INDEED THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL HOWEVER THE MECHANICS FIXED THE CAR PRIOR AND WOULD NOT FIX IT AGAIN. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL VW MECHANIC, PAY FOR THE TOW, PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TRUE GAS LEAK SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS RECALLED/FIXED, THEN VW WOULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER COVERING THE CHARGES. I'M LEFT PAYING FOR 2 TOWS NOW (ONE TO THE PLACE ITS AT SINCE THEY TOLD ME IN THE FIRST PLACE IT WASN'T COVERED) AND THEN A TOW TO VW, PLUS THE DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT, AND POSSIBLY THE ENTIRE COST TO FIX IT, IF VW DECIDES THEY DON'T WANT TO COVER THE COST AGAIN. THERE WAS A RECALL, THE RECALL OBVIOUSLY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED AND THEY DID A POOR JOB, MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL OUT OF IT (RAW FUEL) AND SMELLS HORRIBLE, AND THEY WANT ME TO 'CHECK' TO SEE IF THERE IS AN ISSUE AND POSSIBLY PAY TO FIX IT. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479429October 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN
CAR SHUTTERS AND JERKS IN ITS ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING TO AND FROM FIRST GEAR. IF CAR IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN STARTING IT WILL ROLL BEFORE IT IN GAUGES INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS ROLL OCCURS DURING THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED AND THE CAR IN GAUGES; MANY TIMES ROLLING OVER A FOOT BEFORE EITHER THE CAR'S WHEELS RESPOND TO THE ENGINE OR WE STEP ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE ROLLING. PARKING IS EXTREMELY HARD WHEN CAR JERKS AS YOU ARE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND OR WHILE YOU TRY TO ADJUST CARS POSITION IN PARKING SPACE. AT FIRST, WITH MUCH PRESSURE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CLUTCH PACK REPLACED; BUT SINCE THEN WE ARE TOLD WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST NOT TO REAR-END ANOTHER CAR BUT ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478307October 2, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND POURING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND WATER AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER LEGS DUE TO THE HOT LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,256.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10475910September 19, 2012
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS 00 VW PASSAT . THIS CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT RUNNING AND DRIVING CAR. I BOUGHT IT IN FEB 10 2012 . ON SEPT 17 2012 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO MY SONS FOOTBALL GAME WITH MY MOTHER IN LAW. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT SHUTTERED AND SHUT OFF . SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED AND WHEN SHE OPENED THE CAR DOOR THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SHE WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR AND HELPED HER MOTHER OUT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE SPREADING SO FAST THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THE CAR. BY THE THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AWAY FROM THE CAR THE WHOLE CAR WAS ON FIRE. AND WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT SOME MELTED THINGS IN THE TRUNK. I AM JUST HAPPY THEY MADE IT OUT OK BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR .I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH THIS 00 PASSAT. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES AND VIDEO OF THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME RESULTS. SO RIGHT NOW I AM AT A TOTAL LOSS THIS BEING A SECOND CAR I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ALL I CAN DO IS HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE AND IT SHOULD BE VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND WHO OWNS THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475982September 19, 2012
ENGINE
MY CAR IS EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING. THE ENGINE OIL PUMP BOLT FAILS AND BACKS-OUT, WHICH CAN SHEER OFF THE BOLT AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. MY EPC LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, AS WELL AS EXCLAMATION LIGHT ARE ON. THE CAR HAS VERY LITTLE POWER, AND ALTHOUGH IT DOES RUN, THE ACCELERATION NEEDED TO DRIVE THE CAR MAKES IT DANGEROUS. THE ISSUES HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY MANY CONSUMERS AND HAVE CONTACTED THE PERSON NOTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST: HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/74-VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-B6-DISCUSSION/327507-3-6-OIL-BOLT-FAILURE-REFERENCE-MATERIAL.HTML THE COST TO REPLACE THIS PART IS ON AVERAGE $2000.00. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PEOPLE. VW HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM AND I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM [XXX] OR [XXX] ABOUT THE ISSUE. 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
#10475700September 17, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING ON TOP NEAR THE VENT. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED LIQUID ON THE GROUND AND A FUEL SMELL NEAR THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V156000: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL IN 2008 WHERE THE DEALER INSTALLED ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS TO COVER THE DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH THE ENGINE WITH A PRECAUTIONARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO THERE WAS FUEL ODOR AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY REPAIRED THE RECALL PREVIOUSLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE AGAIN AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 229,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475311September 13, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS CRACKED AND LEAKING ON 2003 VW PASSAT 4MOTION/AWD (UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 08V156000). CONTACTED MULTIPLE DEALERS AND VW DIRECTLY AND DEALERSHIP/VW WILL NOT REPLACE FUEL TANK UNDER RECALL. BOTH STATED THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED IN 2009 HOWEVER WORK COMPLETED WAS ONLY ONE PART OF THE RECALL THAT INCLUDED ADDING ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDS. VW CUSTOMER CARE STATED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. CUSTOMER OBJECTED STATING THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. *TR *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475143September 12, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR ROOF HEADLINER HAD BECOME SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474393September 9, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY , THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN , I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I SEEN SMOKE I OPENED THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED POLICE AND FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THE FANS ARE MELTED AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS BURNED , I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE STARTED THE FIRE THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN CARE OF AND THERE'S NO WARNING LIGHTS ON , ON THE DASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474241September 7, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY 2003 VW PASSAT FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE THAT DISABLES THE ABS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474127September 6, 2012
PARKING BRAKE, SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE A VW PASSAT 3.6 AND AM ALWAYS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. CURRENTLY I AM UNABLE TO GET THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AND DON'T KNOW WHY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE ONLY PLACE I GO TO GET IT SERVICED IS VOLKSWAGEN. ON ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE NOR DISENGAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474137September 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
ACCELERATION HESITATION FOR 1-3 SECONDS WHEN THROTTLE ENGAGED AT LOW SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473779September 4, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE FUEL PUMP CUT OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. ALSO CUT OUT WHILE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF A VEHICLE NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473787September 4, 2012
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
LEFT REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AT THE SIDEWALLS , LEAVING 2 RUBBER RINGS AT EACH SIDE OF THE RIM, 3 INCH WIDE. CAR WAS GOING 65 MPH WITH NO LOAD, EXCEPT DRIVER. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS OR VISIBLE CRACKING. AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BEFORE TRIP AND FOUND IN COMPLIANCE WITH CAR SPEC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473624September 3, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
COMING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE MY WIFE NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE BACK SEAT. I REMOVED THE BACK SEAT TO SEE A ACCESS PANEL TO THE FUEL TANK. I REMOVED THE RUBBER CAP AND SAW THE TOP HOUSING OF THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS PLASTIC, HAD A CRACK AND FUEL WAS SPRAYING OUT OF THE CRACK. CALLED DEALERSHIPS IN AZ AND THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING, NO FUEL PUMPS AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY HAVE DISCONTINUED THE PART # 3C0919051AG AND REPLACED IT WITH 3C0919051AM. WHY DID THEY HAVE ALL DEALERSHIPS RETURN THAT PART AND NO RECALL WAS ISSUED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473202August 31, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE A WARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 277,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473061August 30, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING 45MILES ON THE ROAD WHEN MY 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T STARTED TO SHAKE LIKE CRAZY. THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING OUT..SMOKE CAME FROM MY HOOD. MY CAR STOPPED AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME SWERVED OUT THE WAY BUT CLIPPED ME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR MY OWN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471974August 23, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
DRIVING HOME WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT MY CAR FELT LIKE IT JERKED FORWARD THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I STOPPED MY CAR BRIEFLY TO GET DINNER, TOOK A PHONE CALL AND DECIDED TO LEAVE. I PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE AND IT WOULD NOT TRAVEL FORWARD. I PUT IT IN REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. I LOOKED AT THE DISPLAY WHICH INDICATED I SHOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, I DID. THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARED BUT THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT TRAVEL. I CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON, IT WAS ON. I DEPRESSED THAT BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. EVERYTIME I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE THE SAME DEPRESS THE BRAKE MESSAGE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS SUGGESTED I KEEP TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE. "THE CAR THINKS THE PARKING BRAKE IS ON" I HAVE NEVER USED THE PARKING BRAKE ON THIS CAR. IT CAME OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. FINALLY THE BRAKE DISENGAGED. MY SECOND STOP RESULTED INTO THE SAME SCENARIO. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM TAKING MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN A FEW HOURS IF IT WILL MOVE IN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IDEAL UP TO THIS EVENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471474August 19, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT AND SOMETIMES THE ANTI-SKID INDICATOR. THIS IS A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR VOLKSWAGENS FOR MANY YEARS: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=40&TSTART=0 VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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