Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2006)

576 consumer complaints on file.

#10355857September 15, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS I'VE BEEN RECEIVING SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES FROM THE HUD / HEADS-UP DISPLAY: "DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN LOCK" AND "IMMOBILIZER ACTIVE". THIS IS ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY THE CAR FIRING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN STALLING OUT. ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR AGAIN IMMEDIATELY ONLY RESULTS IN A STRANGE AND LOUD ON/OFF "CLICKING" TYPE SOUND (AS IF IT'S TRYING TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND FAILING TO DO SO). WAITING 2-3 MINUTES AND TRYING AGAIN USUALLY SEEMS TO DO THE TRICK, BUT TODAY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED-- NEARLY $2000 IN REPAIRS. OF COURSE, CURIOSITY GOT THE BEST OF ME, AND I DECIDED TO RESEARCH INTO THIS A BIT MORE. TURNS OUT THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POSTS ONLINE OF VW CUSTOMERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL. IT'S SORT OF INSULTING, ESPECIALLY LEARNING THAT VW INITIATED A RECALL IN IRELAND FOR THE SAME ISSUE, JUST NOT IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS HAS CLASS-ACTION LAW SUIT WRITTEN ALL OVER IT. OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT HARMED BY THIS DEFECT, BUT I CAN SEE HOW IT *COULD* HARM SOMEBODY, AND READ OF SEVERAL OTHER VICTIMS WHO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. IT'S JUST SAD THAT IT TAKES SOMETHING AS AWFUL AS PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE BEFORE SOMEBODY STEPS UP AND TAKES ACTION. THIS IS NOT RIGHT... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352743August 30, 2010
STEERING
ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR WOULD NOT START, WOULD TRY OVER AND OVER AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. EVENTUALLY IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. WAS TOLD I HAD A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A RECALL AND I WOULD BE REIMBURSED THE $2000 I HAD TO SPEND TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352132August 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
2006 VW PASSAT. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING RATTLING AND LOUD POPPING NOISE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE LEAVING WORK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ON, THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE RIGHT AXLE HAD BROKEN. PRIOR TO THE AXLE FAILING, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKE BOOSTER PIPE TO MELT, WHICH LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH NO BRAKES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349705August 16, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAT SHIELDS ON THE TURBO FAILED, CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE CONTACT'S FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347776August 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN AIR IIS ON AND WE ARE DRIVING FOR ONLY 10 MINUTES THE CAR RACES WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT AND FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL ACCELERATE BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. VERY SCARY AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347861August 6, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING
THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY, YET SPORADICALLY, NOT START. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO START BUT IT STALLS. THE ERROR MESSAGE SOMETIMES SAYS STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, INCLUDING WHEN I LEAVE FROM WORK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND ONCE AFTER AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346747August 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T . CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM . CAR WILL NOT START, SUNROOF OPENS ON ITS OWN, DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE WIRELESS TRANSMITTER . HAPPENS DAILY SINCE ABOUT MARCH 2010 . CAR PARKED NOW AWAITING REPAIRS DUE TO UNRELIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THIS MALFUNCTION . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346144July 29, 2010
STEERING
STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE: SIGNALS WARNING MESSAGES, PREVENTS VEHICLE STARTING, SHUTS VEHICLE OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345974July 28, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2006 VW PASSAT BOUGHT 14 MONTHS AGO IN SHOP 3 TIMES, THERMOSTAT FIXED MY EXPENSE, COILS REPLACED VW EXPENSE, CAR HAS 90000 MILES AND AM BEING TOLD CAMSHAFT NEEDS REPLACING ALONG WITH FUEL PUMP - NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. P2293 CODE ON AND OFF FOR 3 MONTHS VW IS NO HELP EXCEPT FOR PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344555July 21, 2010
STEERING
2006 PASSAT WITH 54,000 MILES, SUDDENLY AM HAVING TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE. GOT STRANDED ON DOWNTOWN FLINT, MICHIGAN (NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AFTER 7:00PM AT NIGHT!). CAR JUST WOULD NOT START, THEN DISCOVERED THAT MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL ALLOWED CAR TO START. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, AND TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MAKING IT VERY HAZARDOUS TO PULL CAR TO SHOULDER. AFTER TALKING WITH THE DEALER, WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE COMFORT SENSOR FOR $1,600! I CALLED VWUSA, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT WAS 4,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, I WAS ON MY OWN! THIS IS NOT ONLY A DESIGN FLAW, BUT IS PROVING TO BE HAZARDOUS AS IT IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344564July 21, 2010
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE COMPRESSOR CREATED METAL PARTICLES THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE COMPRESSOR DEFECT THE REPAIR REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343115July 14, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY SOMETIMES WHEN I PUSHING ON THE GAS, IT WILL JUST DIE, I HAVE TO EITHER FLOOR IT TO GET IT BACK AND GOING OR RELEASE THE GAS ALL TOGETHER AND THEN PUSH ON IT AGAIN FOR THE CAR TO PICK UP SPEED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY AND I CANT AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO GET FIXED. I AM ALSO GETTING THE AIR BAG FAULT AND I HAD GOTTEN IT FIXED ONCE BEFORE FOR ABOUT $300 AND THEN A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON. THE WAY IT CAME BACK ON IS AFTER I REPROGRAMMED MY KEY BECAUSE THAT WASN'T WORKING EITHER... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342852July 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN BRAKING OR IDLE, MY 2006 VW PASSAT (3.6L) WILL IDLE AT AN INCREASED RPM (JUST LESS THAN 1000, TYPICALLY IT IS AT 600-700 WHEN RUNNING CORRECTLY). THIS WILL MAKE THE CAR DIFFICULT TO BRAKE AND HOLD STOPPED AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO IDLE AT THIS HIGHER RPM UNTIL YOU BEGIN DRIVING AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WILL LIKELY OCCUR AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL UNDER THIS INCREASED ENGINE IDLE AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY FREQUENT WHEN UNDER HOT TEMPERATURES OR WHEN THE AC IS BEING RUN. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING FROM OTHER DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341969July 8, 2010
STEERING
2006 VW PASSAT STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE DUE, EVIDENTLY TO COMPUTER MODULE MALFUNCTION INSIDE STEERING COLUMN WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING RELIABLY. NOT COVERED BY RECALL OR WARRANTY. DEALER WANT $2,000 FOR NEW STEERING COLUMN, NEW STEERING COLUMN, LOCK, NEW STEERING COLUMN MODULE AND THEN THE CONVENIENCE MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED TO SYNC THEM. WITH 8-10 HOURS OVER LABOR OVER 2 DAYS ESTIMATE IS $2,000. ALL BECAUSE THEIR CRAPPY DESIGN PUT THE DEFECTIVE COMPUTER MODULE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEY WON'T UPDATE THE SOFTWARE OR REPLACE THE MODULE. THEY REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341926July 7, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 PASSAT PURCHASED OCTOBER 2009 WITH 48,000 MILES, ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAR NOW STARTS AND CUTS OFF IMMEDIATELY AND HAS CUT OFF AROUND 6 OR 7 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY! I HAVE TO PULL OFF SAFELY BUT IN A HURRY TO AVOID POSSIBLE COLLISIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO START A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST VW FOR NEGLIGENCE. THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE THESE MODELS HAVE. I'M GOING TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR THIS. IF NOT I WILL SUE MYSELF TO RECOVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. TO ALL THE OTHER OWNERS, BE SAFE!! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10341727July 7, 2010
STEERING
MY 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T SEDAN REFUSES TO START GIVING A "DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN DEFECT" ERROR. THE FIRST ERROR WAS ON THE 18TH OF MAY, 2010. IT HAPPENS AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES PER WEEK. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO START IT FINALLY STARTS. 3-15 ATTEMPTS STARTS THE CAR. DEALER HAS QUOTED ME $1800 TO REPAIR, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY IS THEIR RESPONSE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE AND VW HASN'T DONE MUCH ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341023July 1, 2010
STEERING
IN APRIL 2009, WHILE DRIVING, THE "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT" MESSAGE APPEARED. AS DIRECTED, TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP. AFTER SERVICE, THEY INDICATED NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. AFTER THIS, I WOULD HAVE THIS SAME ERROR MESSAGE APPEAR WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. MANY TIMES, IT WOULD TAKE 5-10 MINUTES OF TRYING BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. HAD IT IN FOR OTHER SERVICE OVER THE PAST YEAR & EACH TIME RELAYED THE PROBLEM. THEY NEVER COULD DIAGNOSE IT & SAID IT WAS PROBABLY JUST AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER. IN APRIL OF 2010, THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING MORE & MORE FREQUENTLY. IN LATE MAY 2010, COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO START AFTER SAME STEERING COLUMN LOCK MESSAGE. THEN COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. FINALLY GOT THE KEY OUT; HOWEVER, THE DASH AND INTERNAL LIGHTS STAYED ON AND RAN DOWN THE BATTERY. WAS ABLE TO GET A CHARGE TO THE BATTERY BUT THEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IMMOBILIZER ENGAGED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE. AFTER A YEAR OF REPEATEDLY TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT IS NOW BACK THERE BUT IT HAD TO BE TOWED. DOING RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR; HOWEVER, NO RECALLS, ETC. HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND OBVIOUSLY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE/FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAME TO THE POINT OF THE CAR BEING TOTALLY UNUSABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340312June 27, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
ON HOT DAY (90 DEGREE +/-) THE 3.6 ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY BEGIN TO IDLE AT 1000 RPM AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. IN MY LATEST EPISODE, I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO CITY TRAFFIC FOR 30-45 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RACE. THE FIRST NOTICE IS WHEN YOU ARE STOPPING OR STOPPED. WHEN STOPPED IT TAKES EXTRA BRAKE. PRESSURE AND CONCENTRATION TO KEEP THE CAR BRAKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT, I ONLY RECENTLY LINKED THE CAR'S BEHAVIOR WITH THE HIGH AIR TEMPS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DID NOT DETECT ANY ERROR CODES WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339822June 24, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN BRAKING OR IDOL, MY 2006 VW PASSAT WILL HAVE AN ENGINE SURGE THAT AMOUNTS TO A SUDDEN INCREASE IN RPM. THIS WILL MAKE THE CAR DIFFICULT TO BRAKE AND HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN A ACCIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO IDOL AT THIS HIGHER RPM UNTIL YOU BEGIN DRIVING AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM WILL LIKELY OCCUR AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL UNDER THIS INCREASED ENGINE SPEED AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. MY WIFE STRUGGLES TO KEEP THE CAR STOPPED FOR 3 MINUTES AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH AMOUNTS OF FORCE REQUIRED TO KEEP THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY FREQUENT WHEN UNDER HOT TEMPERATURES OR WHEN THE AC IS BEING RUN. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR YEARS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING FROM OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER 4 TIMES TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND CAN EASILY REPEAT IT BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT. THIS CAR IS NOW DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR MY WIFE. PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339281June 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HE BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE KEY FAILING TO SEND AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL TO THE VEHICLE TO INDICATE THAT THE OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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