Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10312289February 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2010 VW PASSAT WAGON WITH DSG IN DEC. '09. SINCE THE BEGINNING I NOTICED A STRANGE QUIVERING/SHUTTER AS IT GEARS DOWN FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR. I TOOK IT IN AT 1500 MILES AND A SERVICE COORDINATOR TOLD ME IT WAS "NORMAL". IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE AND BECAME A VIBRATING CLUNK WHEN GEARING DOWN. IT ALSO STARTED LURCHING FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I COULDN'T ACCEPT THAT THE CAR WAS ENGINEERED TO ACT THIS WAY. I TOOK IT BACK AT 4,000 MILES AND THEY DROVE IT AND AGREED THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND DUPLICATED IT DURING A DRIVE. THEY RESET THE ELECTRONIC SETTINGS TO FACTORY AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND IMMEDIATELY FELT THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CONSULT WITH VW FOR A FURTHER FIX. THEY GOT WITH VW AND CONCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A REPLACEMENT FRONT CLUTCH PACK. SO THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THIS WILL FIX IT SINCE I HAVE NEWLY LEARNED ABOUT ALL OF THE DSG ISSUES IN PREVIOUS MODELS WITH SAME TRANSMISSION THAT SEEM TO HAVE NO FIX. IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO PAY $32K FOR A CAR THAT IS BROKEN FROM THE BEGINNING. VW NEEDS THEIR FEET HELD TO THE FIRE JUST AS TOYOTA IS WITH THEIR QUALITY PROBLEMS. AT LEAST TOYOTA HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO ADDRESS THEIR WITH FINALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311920February 18, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 PASSAT WAGON, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE GETTING ON HIGHWAY DURING A COLD MORNING. BRAKES WERE NON-RESPONSIVE EVEN WHEN CAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, DRIVER PUT CAR INTO A LOWER GEAR WHICH SLOWED DOWN THE CAR A BIT AND FINALLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN "PARK". THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO EVENTUALLY STOP. TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, DRIVER SLOWLY DROVE OFF ONTO THE EXIT RAMP AFTER CALLING 911 AND BEING ADVISED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WHICH HAD NO SHOULDER. AFTER THAT THE CAR AND BRAKES APPEARED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE NEXT MORNING CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING DRAINED AND WAS TOWED TO VW MECHANIC. AFTER BEING INSPECTED FOR 2 DAYS THE MECHANIC DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BREAKS AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PEDAL GOT STUCK ON THE FLOOR MAT. NO ERROR CODES WERE FOUND ON CAR'S COMPUTER. WE HAD HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN A DASH MESSAGE INDICATING A BREAK FAULT WOULD OCCASIONALLY LIGHT UP ON COLD WET DAYS. THE VW MECHANIC COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BREAKS AFTER REPEATED VISITS AND ATTRIBUTED THE MESSAGE TO A COMPUTER GLITCH. AFTER THE INCIDENT WITH THE ACCELERATOR WE TRADED THE CAR IN FOR A NEW ONE OF A DIFFERENT MAKE SINCE WE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT, DESPITE ASSURANCES THAT NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS FOUND WITH THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311376February 17, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT. THE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE WINDOW DOES NOT GO DOWN WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2002 PASSAT AND HER PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS KEEP BREAKING ALSO. SHE HAS HAD THEM FIXED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HAVE NOT YET FIXED MINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310709February 16, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL SLUDGE, OIL PUMP FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE, NOW MY 2005 VW PASSAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE , THIS IS A VW MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 4 CYLINDER 1.8 TURBO ENGINE BECAUSE THE TURBOCHARGER GETS TO HOT AND CAUSE THE EXPENSIVE SYNTHETIC OIL BREAKDOWN AND IT SITS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN UNTIL IT GETS SUCKED UP BY THE OIL PUMP AND THIS CAUSES YOUR ENGINE TO FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310445February 15, 2010
SEATS
1)MY HEATED SEATS GOT SO HOT THEY BURNED A HOLE IN MY SEAT AND BURNED MY LEG. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED WITHOUT ME NOTICING, BUT IT DID. THE BURN WAS NOT SEVERE BUT IT DID HURT FOR A DAY OR TWO. 2. THE SEATS CONTINUE TO GET THAT HOT WHEN TURNED ON.... I NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET, I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW SEAT CUSHION, NEW CLOTH FOR THE SEAT AND HAVE SOMEONE FIX THE HEATED SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10310461February 15, 2010
SEATS
2002 VW PASSAT DRIVERS SEAT WARMERS BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED MY LEG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308686February 11, 2010
SEATS
I OWN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS. THE FACTORY INSTALLED SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED THE OTHER DAY PRODUCING SMOKE, BURNING MY BUTTOCK (AND FINGER WHEN I REACHED DOWN) AND BURNING TWO PEA SIZED HOLES ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE LOCAL VW DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I ALSO CALLED THE DISTRICT VW OFFICE AT 1-800-822-8987 AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY VW IS COVERING THE COST OF REPAIR ON SOME BUT NOT ALL VWS. I WAS TOLD THE 2005 PASSAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE DISTRICT OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE AND PROMISED TO GET BACK TO ME BY DAY'S END TOMORROW. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. OTHER THEN MINOR BURNS TO MY BUTTOCKS AND FINGERS, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE HEAT AND SMOKE WENT RIGHT AWAY. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY, THE VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I NOT USE THE HEATERS UNTIL THEY ARE REPAIRED. I ASKED ABOUT DISABLING THEM VIA A FUSE OF SOMETHING BUT THEY SAID UNFORTUNATE THE FUSE CONTROLLED OTHER FUNCTIONS IN THE CAR. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2005 PASSAT GLS. I'M OKAY BUT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. ALSO, I'M CONCERNED HOW THE VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED I JUST NOT USE IT AGAIN. WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE USES THE CAR AND I FORGET TO TELL THEM? THE REPAIR BILL WAS ESTIMATED AT $900+ FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT ONLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10308700February 11, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WINTER 2008-2009 HAD SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. BRAKES DID NOT HELP. ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO APPLY BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND PUT IN NEUTRAL, WHICH MAKES TAC GO OVER 7000 RPM'S. HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND RESET IN SPRING OF 2009 BUT PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN THIS YEAR. ON MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2010 TEMPERATURE WAS IN LOW TEENS. WARMED CAR FOR APPROX. 7 MIN. DROVE SLOWLY DUE TO BAD ROAD CONDITIONS AND AT APPROX. 3 MILES INTO DRIVE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AGAIN ON ITS OWN AND NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. HAD TO STOP IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION AND PRAY I WASN'T HIT BEFORE I COULD SAFELY START CAR AGAIN. FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE AFTER APPROX. 5 MIN. WITHOUT REVVING PROBLEM BUT APPROX. 2 MILES LATER CAR AGAIN ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY DID A GENERAL DIAGNOSIS WHICH SHOWED NOTHING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS TO DRIVE MY CAR. VW OF AMERICA STATES THAT MY CAR WAS NOT IN ANY RECALL AND THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND COULD NOT DIVULGE IF THEY RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308789February 11, 2010
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, A 2004 VW PASSAT GLS, TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER ON. ABOUT 2 MILES INTO MY DRIVE I COULD SMELL THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING BURNING OUTSIDE, SO I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN TO SEE IF THE OUTSIDE AIR SMELLED OF SMOKE. THE OUTSIDE AIR DID NOT SMELL OF SMOKE, SO I QUICKLY STARTED THINKING OF WHAT ELSE COULD BE BURNING. I ALSO HAD THE CABIN AIR HEAT ON, SO I DECIDED TO TURN THAT OFF AND ALSO TURNED MY SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH IS WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION AS THE LEFT PART OF THE SEAT BOTTOM AND SAW THE BURNING AREA, WHICH WAS CLEARLY BEING CAUSE BY A HEATING COMPONENT OF THE SEAT HEATER. I WAS TRYING TO PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING AND SMOKE WITH MY HANDS. I COULD TELL THAT MY LEATHER SEATS WERE STILL SMOLDERING/BURNING SO I PUT WATER ON MY HANDS FROM A WATER BOTTLE THAT I HAD NEARBY TO COOL THE LEATHER AND PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD OF THE SMOLDERING. NOTE THAT THIS WAS ALL WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, AND I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD FOR WHICH VW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308351February 10, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT, MY 2002 VW PASSAT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND CUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO LET IT COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT IN THE LANE OF AN EXIT RAMP FOR TRAFFIC EXITING THE HIGHWAY. I ENGAGED MY FLASHERS AND CALLED 911 AND A TOW TRUCK. I TRIED STARTING THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. ONCE THE POLICE CAME, HE PUSHED MY CAR INTO SAFETY AND AWAITED THE TOW TRUCK. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALER. THIS MORNING, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER WHO SAID THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE WAS INTERRUPTED AND CAUSED BY A INOPERATIVE FUEL PUMP. MY COMPLAINT IS WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE FOR RECALLS, I FOUND A RECALL THAT WAS POSTED IN SEPT 2002 FOR THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY CAR. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN FEB 2002 AND THE RECALL IS FOR 2003 MODELS. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE WITH THEM AND THE ONLY OFFER THEY GAVE ME WAS $1000 TOWARDS A NEW VW. UNBELIEVABLE! BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS FOR 2003 MODELS, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS A 2002. EVEN THOUGH I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE AS THE 2003 RECALL. THE DEALER QUOTED $589 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS STALL COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THAN IT WAS DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, NIGHT TIME AND THE EXIT RAMP. THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHICH CAUSES A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS FACED WITH LAST NIGHT. I AM NOT ASKING TO BE SINGLED OUT, BUT TO LOOK INTO THIS 6-MONTH GAP OF THE RECALL IN SEPT 2002 AND THE PURCHASE DATE OF MY VEHICLE FEB 2002. I WAS ALSO TOLD AT VW OF AMERICA THAT THEY COULD ONLY ASSIST ME WITH MY ISSUE IF MY VIN NUMBER MATCHED THE RECALLS. SO MY QUESTION, WHAT IF THE STALL OF MY VEHICLE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES WERE INVOLVED, WOULD VW LOOK INTO THE 2002 RECALL THEN OR JUST TELL THE FAMILIES, SORRY, YOU DIDN'T HAVE A 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308251February 10, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS BRAKING MODULE HAS PREMATURELY FAILED ON OUR 2000 VW PASSAT. MINE OCCURRED 6 MONTHS AGO. AS A 9 YEAR OLD CAR TO HAVE THE PRIMARY BRAKING SAFETY MECHANISM TO FAIL, IS DANGEROUS, SCARY AND ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. THE CAR ITSELF PROPERLY INDICATES HOW VITAL A FAILURE THIS IS BY SHOWING A GIGANTIC STOP BRAKE FAULT FILLING THE DASHBOARD FOLLOWED BY 3 EAR PIERCING BEEPS. IT APPEARS AS THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON VW AND AUDI FAILURES WHEN WE TALKED WITH THE DEALER AND LOCAL VW REPAIR SHOP AS WELL AS LOOKING ON THE FORUMS. IF YOU GOOGLE "STOP BRAKE FAULT VW" OR ANY SIMILAR TERM (AUDI, PASSAT), YOU WILL FIND HUNDREDS OF ISSUES REPORTED. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPAIR SHOPS SPECIFICALLY SETUP TO ADDRESS THIS TYPE OF ISSUE UNFORTUNATELY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. HOPEFULLY YOUR RESEARCH WILL ALSO SHOW THIS. WE DID HAVE OURS REPAIRED FOR $1000 AFTER 5 MONTHS OF LETTING THIS GO AS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PAY FOR THIS. THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS WHO CAN'T SCRAPE UP THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A REPAIR LIKE THIS. VW AND BOSCH SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THIS FIXED SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES: HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=173334 HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=280206 HTTP://WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM/UBB/FORUM2/HTML/000169.HTML A SMALL SAMPLE OF SITES SETUP TO FIX THIS TYPE OF REPAIR: HTTP://WWW.MODULEMASTER.COM/EN/INDEX.PHP HTTP://WWW.ABSFIXER.COM/ HTTP://WWW.AUTOECU.COM/ REPAIR GUIDES TO SHOW YOU HOW TO FIX THIS: HTTP://WWW.AUDIWORLD.COM/TECH/ELEC116.SHTML HTTP://WWW.BBA-REMAN.COM/CONTENT.ASPX?CONTENT=BOSCH_5.3_ABS_REMOVAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308290February 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
2008 VW PASSAT WAGON. THIS CAR WHILE PARKED, RUNNING AND OCCUPIED, IN A GARAGE HAD A FIRE WHOSE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE ACCIDENTAL MECHANICAL. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $200,000 ALSO ONE OCCUPANT OF THE HOME HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY EMS FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR STATED SHE TO LEAVE. SHE PLACED THE 5 YEAR OLD IN THE CHILD SEAT OF THE VOLKSWAGEN AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR. SHE STARTED THE CAR AND SMELT SMOKE. IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED THE HUSBAND. THE HUSBAND SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE SEAT HEATER, HAD HER TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND RESTART THE CAR. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR SMELT AND OBSERVED SMOKE AGAIN, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT AND SAW FLAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE REMOVED THE DAUGHTER FROM THE CAR AND TOOK HER OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY. SHE THEN WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND REMOVED A GAS CAN FROM THE AREA OF THE CAR/SNOWBLOWER. SHE AGAIN RE-ENTERED THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE OTHER GARAGE DOOR (BOTH NOW OPEN) OBSERVED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE CAR. SHE EXITED THE GARAGE THROUGH AN INTERIOR DOOR, CLOSING IT BEHIND HER. SHE THEN WENT UP INTO THE HOUSE REMOVED TWO DOGS TO A CRATE ON THE DECK. IN THE MEANTIME A NEIGHBOR HAD GRABBED THE LITTLE GIRL. WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THE MOTHER PLACED THREE FRANTIC 911 CALLS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR STATED HE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATED SEATS IN THE PAST AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. THE LAST TIME IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. THE DERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED ITS FIRE INVESTIGATION, AND THE CAR IS BEING TURNED OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (STATE FARM AND LIBERTY MUTUAL). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10308129February 9, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LEAVING MY HOME ON MY WAY TO WORK IN THE AM MY BRAKES FAILED THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN PANIC AND PUMPING THEY RETURNED BEFORE I REACHED THE STOP SIGN, THE 2007 PASSAT WAGON HAS NO EBRAKE JUST A BUTTON FOR THE PARKING BRAKE, WHICH I DID NOT USE. I DROVE THE CAR FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS WITHOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN, THEN AT THE SAME STOP SIGN (THE FIRST ONE I REACH WHEN I LEAVE MY HOUSE IN THE AM) IT HAPPENED AGAIN, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, PUMP,PANIC & JUST BEFORE THE INTERSECTION THEY WORK. THE WEATHER ON BOTH OCCASIONS WAS RAINY, AND ABOUT 38 DEGREES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, THE MECHANIC SAID IF I WAS DESPERATE I COULD PUSH AND HOLD THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON THIS WOULD LOCK THE CARS BRAKES AND PUT IT INTO A SKID. I AM STILL DRIVING IT WITHOUT ANY MORE FAILURES BUT I FEAR ANOTHER ONE WILL. THE ONLY REASON I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE A CRASH FROM THE FAILURES IS BECAUSE THIS IS RURAL DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307577February 8, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I WAS FILLING UP MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID AND WAS TRYING TO PUT THE CAP BACK ON MY 2002 PASSAT WHEN THE HOOD STRUT FAILED AND THE HOOD CRASHED DOWN ON MY FOREARM, PINNING MY ARM BETWEEN THE HOOD AND CAR FRAME. I SCREAMED OUT BOTH IN PAIN AND NOT BEING ABLE TO PULL MY ARM FREE AND HAD SOMEONE RUSH OVER TO ME WITHIN SECONDS. HOWEVER, THE HOOD LATCH HAD ENGAGED BUT WOULD NOT RELEASE SINCE THE HOOD WAS NOT CLOSED ALL THE WAY, MY ARM BLOCKING THIS FROM HAPPENING. THE FIRST GENTLEMAN TRIED TO ALLEVE THE PRESSURE ON MY ARM, WHICH HAD ALREADY STARTED GOING NUMB, WHILE HE CALLED OUT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO COME AND HELP AND BRING A HEAVY METAL BAR TO PRY ME OUT. THE SECOND GENTLEMAN CAME WITH A LARGE WRENCH AND WAS ABLE TO BEND THE FRAME ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL MY ARM OUT. MAJOR INDENT OF MY FOREARM HAD ME MAKE AN EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT. XRAYS SHOWED NOTHING WAS BROKEN THOUGH 1 WEEK LATER I AM STILL SWOLLEN AND SORE. ABOUT $1900 BODY DAMAGE TO CAR, AS WELL AS AT LEAST $250 MEDICAL. MY MECHANIC NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE HOOD STRUT, SO THIS INCIDENT CAME AS A TOTAL SURPRISE TO HIM. HE HAS ORDERED A REPLACEMENT STRUT TO BE INSTALLED TOMMOROW. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10307235February 7, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO I WAS CAUGHT IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM WITH MY 2002 PASSAT 1.8T. WATER FLOODED THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT DUE TO DRAINAGE HOLE LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY CLOGGED WITH LEAF DEBRIS. ALL POWER (STEERING, BRAKES, ETC.) WAS LOST AND CAR STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. NOW THE CAR'S BRAKES ARE MALFUNCTIONING IN FREEZING WEATHER. THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES; OTHER TIMES THE PEDAL IS VERY HARD AND MUST BE STOMPED ON TO STOP THE CAR. I CANNOT USE THE CAR UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AS IT IS TOO DANGEROUS. VW DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM AS RESULTING FROM FREEZING WATER IN BRAKE BOOSTER. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO VW CUSTOMER CARE. THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE DEALER'S $1600 FEE TO REPLACE THE BOOSTER, BOOSTER LINES AND VACUUM PUMP. WHY HASN'T NHTSA FORCED VW TO ISSUE A RECALL AS I'VE DISCOVERED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS? VW'S STANCE ON THIS WAS THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE NOTICED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEREFORE DOESN'T POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AS TEMPERATURES CAN CHANGE QUICKLY DURING A JOURNEY. WHY HAS NHTSA BACKED DOWN IN THE FACE OF SUCH A LAME RESPONSE? I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER VW CAR SINCE THEIR VAULTED SAFETY REPUTATION IS NOT DESERVED AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE STINKS. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305187February 4, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECALLED VW COIL FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305400February 4, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T WITH 30,000 MILES. I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST YEAR, KEY WILL NOT COME OUT IN PARK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, CAR CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, BUT WAS BRUSHED OFF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO "DO IT AGAIN." NOW THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT IS ON. VW DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. IF NOT REPLACED, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD FIX ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304177February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE TOLD ME LAST NIGHT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 2 CASES OVER THE YEARS WITH HER 2002.5 VW PASSAT WHERE HER GAS PEDAL ALSO STUCK AND HER CAR ACCELERATED TO 80MPH+ ON NJ RT 1 BEFORE SHE PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. SHE REMEMBERS THAT IT HAPPENED ON VERY COLD MORNINGS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT VW USES A SIMILAR DESIGN TO TOYOTA IN THESE CARS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304574February 3, 2010
STEERING
1ST OCCURRENCE, STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING CAME ON UPON IGNITION, IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE CAR. TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER "A" IN OCTOBER OF 2007, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR COMPLAINT, THEY TREATED IT AS AN ISOLATED EVENT. WE CONTINUED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT TO DEALER "A", WITHOUT RESOLUTION. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO DEALER "B", THEY REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. DEALER "B" ALSO STATED THAT THEY SEE 2-3 CARS A WEEK FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1500, DESPITE THAT WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A TEMPORARY METHOD TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE CAR IS STARTED WAS DISCOVERED ON A FORUM FULL OF HUNDREDS OF REPORTS FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3656214&PAGE=1) ADDITIONALLY, VW IRELAND HAS DEVELOPED A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED IN A MAJOR IRISH NATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATION, HOWEVER VW AMERICA DENIES SUCH A FIX EXISTS AND REFUSES TO COOPERATE WITH VW IRELAND OR LOCAL DEALERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WHEREIN AN INEXPENSIVE SOFTWARE FIX WOULD CAUSE VW TO EITHER LOSE OUT ON A $1500 MECHANICAL REPAIR AND HAVE TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE FIX. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PREVALENCE OF THE DEFECT WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304571February 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 VW PASSAT SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED IN THE GARAGE OF OUR HOME. THERE ARE NO EVENTS OF CONCERN LEADING UP TO THE FIRE. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE SINCE 5:00 PM ON JANUARY 9, 2010 AND THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED AT ABOUT 3:00 AM ON JANUARY 10, 2010. A NOISE FROM THE CAR ALERTED US AND UPON LOOKING IN THE GARAGE THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE UNDER THE CAR. THE FIRE TOTALED THE CAR AND CAUSED OVER $100,000. DAMAGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF OUR HOME. THE COST TO REPLACE AND REPAIR CONTENTS IS NOT YET KNOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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