Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10445005January 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE MALFUNCTION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445019January 24, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS EXTREMELY STIFF AND WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445093January 24, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT A STOPLIGHT CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER, I MADE IT HOME WITH THE CAR SHAKING THE ENTIRE TIME. HAD TO REPLACE COILS. HAVE BROKEN DOWN TWICE AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED SINCE THEN AND REPLACE COILS. NOT TOO MENTION THE OTHER SEVERAL TIMES COILS WERE REPLACED WITHOUT THE CAR ACTUALLY BREAKING DOWN. DUE TO THE COILS CONSTANTLY GOING BAD CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO GO BAD, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED MAY 2011 ALONG WITH THE COILS AND O2 SENSOR. BUT TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN DUE TO THE COILS. THEY WERE REPLACED, AND ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON THE CONVERTER DUE TO THE ISSUE WITH THE COIL PACKS! THE CAR NOW SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING WHEN ONLY DRIVING FOR 20-30 MINS. HAD TO GET A EMISSIONS WAIVER FROM THE DOT FOR 2 YEARS DUE TO THE PROBLEM SINCE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH MORE THAN JUST THE COIL PACKS THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED A DOZEN TIME, YET THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE WHOLE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WIRES, TOO PREVENT FIRE AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444616January 20, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT, CAUSING SMOKE TO BE RELEASED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ANTIFREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,980 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444350January 18, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BOLT FAILURE IN CAM SYSTEM, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "OIL PUMP BOLT FAILURE". THE "CHECK ENGINE" & "EPC" LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ENGINE WENT INTO IT'S "SAFE" MODE, LIMITING ACCELERATION AND POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY & TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE BOLT FAILURE AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AND COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH TO MAKE. MAJOR COMPONENTS REPLACED WERE AS FOLLOWS: 2 - TIMING CHAINS OIL PUMP GEARS OIL PUMP BOLT TIMING CHAIN COVER TENSIONERS SOFTWARE UPDATE THE REPAIRS REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF SOME MAJOR COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, VALVE COVER, TRANSMISSION AND SIDE COVERS. IN MY CASE, THE TIMING CHAIN COVER PREVENTED THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM FROM COMPLETELY FALLING APART. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. MY VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AND 2000 MILES INSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IN FACT, MY WARRANTY RAN OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443575January 12, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT OIL SLUDGE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE OIL TANK FRACTURED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE ERRONEOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COIL MISFIRED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,068.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443622January 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING, THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 PASSAT WAGON DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD, AND WILL NOT DEPRESS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC WHO HAS WORKED ON MY CAR FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER IN MY BRAKE LINES. THIS WATER MAY HAVE ENTERED THE BRAKE LINES FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER IN A MANNER DESCRIBED IN INCIDENT REPORT #PE07018. ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL SO FAR (WATER HAS BEEN DRAINED OUT OF SYSTEM, DRAINS HAVE BEEN CLEARED OF LEAVES AND OTHER DEBRIS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING). DOES VW HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS, I DO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING BRAKES (A RATHER DANGEROUS SITUATION, TO SAY THE LEAST). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443169January 9, 2012
SEATS
RECENTLY I DROVE SEVERAL NEW CARS (THE LATEST BEING THE 2012 PASSAT) AND FOUND ONE COMMON COMPLAINT: THE HEADREST ON THESE CARS ARE TILTED FORWARD WAY TOO MUCH WITH NO ADJUSTMENTS AVAILABLE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NHTSA REQUIRES VEHICLES HEADRESTS TO BE HIGHER AND CLOSE TO THE HEAD TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURIES. HOW DO YOU IMPROVE SAFETY IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION? THE NEW HEADREST REGULATION FORCES THE DRIVER TO SLOUCH FORWARD (AND LOOKING DOWN) WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING FATIGUE TO SET QUICKLY. FOR ME, THE ONLY WAY TO FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHILE DRIVING THESE NEW CARS ARE BY RECLINING THE SEAT BACK EXCESSIVELY (SO MY HEAD DON'T TILT FORWARD). THIS, IN MY OPINION, AREN'T SAFE SINCE THIS POSITION REDUCES THE DRIVER'S ALERTNESS. WITH THE ACTIVE HEADREST TECHNOLOGY, WHY CAN'T CAR MANUFACTURER'S SET THE HEADREST AT A NORMAL ANGLE? IN MY OPINION THE NEW HEAD REST REGULATION IS AN EASY AND LAZY WAY TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURY WITHOUT PROPER RESEARCH (I.E ONLY BASED ON MEASUREMENTS WITH NO REGARDS TO DRIVER'S COMFORT). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442436January 4, 2012
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE HEATER CORE STARTED TO LEAK AND MY WINDOWS FOGGED UP WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR CRASH BECAUSE I LOST MY VISIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441607December 29, 2011
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATER STOPPED WORKING AND BLEW COLD AIR. BROUGHT CAR INTO VW DEALER BE SERVICED. HEATING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED WITH CLEANER. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER "REPAIR," CAR WAS DRIVEN WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER ON AND A 1 1/4" HOLE BURNT THROUGH SEAT EXPOSING BURNT HEATING ELEMENT AND BURNT FOAM. HEATER STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER ABOVE "REPAIR." RETURNED TO DEALER TO REDO REPAIR AND REQUESTED THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT UPHOLSTERY LEATHER REPLACED. TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $1000.00 AND THAT IT WOULD BE THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. CLEARLY THE SEAT HEATERS ON THIS CAR MODEL ARE DEFECTIVE GIVEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND PRIOR RECALLS. VW REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WITH A RECALL...WHICH LEADS TO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: "WHY WEREN'T THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECALLED AS WELL?" WAS THIS A CALCULATION ON THE PART OF VW CORPORATE....THAT THE COST OF REPLACING THE DRIVER SEATS THROUGH A RECALL WAS LESS THAT THE LIABILITY DUE TO BURNS/ACCIDENTS/LOSS OF LIFE...BUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE PASSENGER SEATS THROUGH A RECALL WAS CALCULATED TO BE MORE THAN THE LIABILITY THERE? THIS DOES NOT SMELL GOOD. CLASS ACTION SUIT SEEMS APPROPRIATE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441520December 28, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PUMP CHAIN WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. KMJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440952December 22, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TRUNK WON'T LATCH WHEN COLD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440834December 21, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STARTED CAR 5 AM DURING WINTER MONTHS-CAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY DEPRESSED-BRAKES WERE UN USABLE. CAR WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER BRAKES COULD NOT BE USED AT ANY POINT. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUE AS ANY FREEZING TEMPERATURE WILL RENDER THE BRAKES UN USABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH. BROUGHT THE CAR TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT A P9 SERVICE WHICH SEALED POLLEN FILTERS TO PREVENT DEBRIS FROM ENTERING THE AREA SURROUNDING THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD BEEN DONE, BUT DEBRIS STILL ENTERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440876December 21, 2011
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE. HAD TO BUY A NEW SEATBELT FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440898December 21, 2011
STEERING
THE PASSAT HAS BEEN A WELL MAINTAINED FAMILY WAGON. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND HAS MOSTLY EASY HIGHWAY MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER ON A RAINY EVENING. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE LEFT PAST CENTERED. SHE STOPPED THE DISABLED CAR ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND CALLED ME AND THE TOW TRUCK. WHEN I ARRIVED I CONFIRMED HER ANALYSIS. THE TOW DRIVER HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE VW DEALER CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATED THAT THE STEERING RACK HAD FAILED. THEY ALSO REPLACED UPPER ARMS AND THE RIGHT AXLE. I SPENT $1950 FOR THE REPAIR AND ANOTHER $200 FOR THE RACK, IF NEEDED FOR ANALYSIS BY NHTSA OR OTHERS. IF THIS FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT PLACE OR AT HIGHER SPEED IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440596December 20, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440205December 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CHAIN DRIVE OF THE OIL PUMP AND TENSIONER WAS WORN, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CRANKCASE. AS A RESULT, THE CHAIN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A GEAR ASSEMBLY. ALSO, THE LOWER HOUSING, OIL PAN AND TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440206December 16, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
SAME TURN SIGNAL ISSUE AS 04V584000 RECALL - TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS WORKED PERIODICALLY. NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER.. NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 FOR OTHER VW MODELS OF THIS YEAR, BUT NOT PASSAT. IS COMMON FOR THIS YEAR OF VW PASSAT ALSO PER MY INTERNET RESEARCH. VW PASSAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439375December 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439303December 11, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HERE IS PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT THREE TIMES THIS YEAR . IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN 3 ACCIDENTS AND TO HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR LOCKS DOWN AND I CANT PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO TOW IT. IT TAKES AN EXPERIENCE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TO GET IN ON A FLAT BED WITH THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND THEY CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE, FROM THE FORUMS I HAVE BEEN READING VW TELLS EVERYONE THE SAME THING. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 2000 TO GET THIS CAR FIX AND VW STILL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT FROM WHAT I AM READING IT SOUNDS LIKE IT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE. VW NEEDS TO RECALL THIS, IT NOT MY FAULT THAT THIS CAR HAS THIS ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. EVERYONE DRIVING THIS CAR LIFE COULD BE AT RISK, THIS CAR SHOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT 70 MILES HOUR WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU... THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT AND IT WOULD BE VW FAULT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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