Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10284308September 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN A YEAR AND A HALF DUE TO THE OIL SLUDGE AND MISFIRING PROBLEMS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACKS WERE CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283895September 14, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I AM A THE OWNER OF A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4MOTION WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I AM CONTACTING YOU TO SEEK ACTION IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR A RECALL FOR FAULTY GAS TANKS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE IN 2004. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES WITH A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING LEAKING UNDER THE CAR, AND TOLD THERE WAS NOT A LEAK FOUND. AFTER SMELLING GAS, AND FINDING FUEL ON MY GARAGE FLOOR, THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED FUEL TANK, AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR $3000. AFTER COMPLAINING TO VW OF AMERICA, THE COSTS WERE COVERED AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE SAME ISSUE. NOW, ONE YEAR LATER, I AGAIN SMELLED FUMES, AND FOUND GASOLINE ON THE FLOOR. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM. VW OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. MY CAR IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE WHERE OUR GAS HOT WATER IS LOCATED. THE FUEL ON THE FLOOR WAS NO MORE THAN 15 FT FROM THE HOT WATER HEATER. HAD THERE BEEN A SPARK, I AM CERTAIN THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR FIRE, WITH POTENTIAL FATAL OUTCOMES. I WILL NOT BRING THIS VEHICLE BACK TO MY HOUSE FOR FEAR OF A REPEAT FAILURE. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS SELLING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE TO A 3RD PARTY KNOWING THE POTENTIAL SEVERE SAFETY HAZARDS. VOLKSWAGEN HAS CLEARLY DESIGNED A FAULTY PRODUCT THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND, AND AS A CONSUMER, I WILL HAVE TO INCUR A FINANICAL LOSS TO REPLACE THIS VEHICLE. THESE PROBLEMS STEM FROM NEGLIGENT DESIGN AND ARE A VERY SERIOUS POTENTAIL HAZARD. THE 4MOTION CARS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE AND COMPENSATIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OWNERS. I DESPERATELY SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE TO REVIEW WHETHER A SECOND RECALL MAY BE NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283810September 13, 2009
STEERING
DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MESSAGE KEEPS COMING UP ON 2006 VW PASSAT STARTED HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER NOW 1 1/2 MONTHS LATER IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283560September 10, 2009
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EXHAUST PIPE BROKE AT THE FLEX PIPE. HOT EXHAUST GAS BURNED THROUGH THE WIRING OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING RACK. LOST STEERING AND THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. EXHAUST PIPE, STEERING RACK & STEERING WIRING WAS REPLACED (WIRING NEEDS A HEAT-SHIELD TO PROTECT THE WIRING). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283595September 10, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBERT CAMPBELL AND I AM A THE OWNER OF A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4MOTION WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I AM CONTACTING YOU TO SEEK ACTION IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V156000, WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES A RECALL FOR FAULTY GAS TANKS ON THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL DUE TO FRACTURED VENTILATION VALVES. UPON PURCHASING THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE IN 2006, I HAD TO HAVE THE GAS TANK REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP DUE TO THIS VERY SAME DEFECT. THIS WAS COVERED BY THE TWO YEAR WARRANTY PROVIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. A WEEK AGO, MY GAS TANK STARTED TO LEAK AGAIN. FUEL IS NOW LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CREATING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER, THEY HAVE SURMISED THE SECOND TANK HAS ONCE AGAIN FAILED - DUE TO A FRACTURED VENTILATION VALVE. BOTH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN AND MY LOCAL DEALER ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TANK IF I AGREE TO REPAIR COSTS TOTALING $1,800. VOLKSWAGEN HAS CLEARLY DESIGNED A FAULTY PRODUCT THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND, AND AS A CONSUMER, I SHOULD NOT BE FINANCIALLY OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS THAT CLEARLY STEM FROM NEGLIGENT DESIGN. I DESPERATELY SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE AND WILL GLADLY OFFER MY FULL COOPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283406September 9, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2000 VW PASSAT ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ON. PROBABLY BAD ABS MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283455September 9, 2009
STEERING
1) THE CAR HAS 67,000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5,000 MILES AS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER. 2) THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND IT CAME UP WITH A WARNING MESSAGE THAT READ "STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE." IT CAME ONLY ONCE, BUT FAILURE OF THIS STATIONARY PART COULD RESULT IN LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. AS PER THOUSANDS OF BLOG THREADS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS. 3) THE PART HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER (VOLKSWAGEN) NO LONGER USES THE SAME PART. THEY USE A NEW IMPROVED PART THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283274September 8, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OUR 2003 PASSAT WAGON (4 CYL 1.8 ENGINE) HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE LAST WEEK. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND PARKING, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEN SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. HE WAS IN A PARKING SPACE AND DROVE IT A BLOCK TO A SERVICE STATION, WHERE THE MECHANIC PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE IGNITION COILS (WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 4/2003, BEFORE THE RECALL) AND WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT/REBUILDING OF THE ENGINE HARNESS. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283114September 7, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE TALKED TO, BLOGGED WITH, AND COMMUNICATED WITH VARIOUS VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OWNERS AND PREVIOUS OWNERS ONE COMPLAINT THAT HAS JUST BECOME MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT OCCURS AND EFFECTS THE OIL PRESSURE CENSOR IN THESE VEHICLES I OWN A 2002 PASSAT WAGON AND HAD A TERRIBLE OIL LEAK MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW MONTHS AFTER, I START BLOGGING AND INVESTIGATING ON MY OWN THE COST TO REPAIR THIS SO CALLED OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WHICH IS SO BAD IN THESE VEHICLES I AM TOLD THIS WILL COST $500-$2000 TO FIX! WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT COVERED OR HONORED BY VOLKSWAGEN OR EXTENDED WARRANTY BEEN RECALLED???? THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND THE FACT THAT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE SOUND BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN IT GOES IN THE SHOP FOR SUCH A COMMON DEFAULT IN THESE CARS...PLEASE HELP SHINE THE LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE I AM SURE IF IT IS INVESTIGATED BY YOU THAT YOU WILL SEE THE HARDSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM HOPEFULLY YOU AREN'T A PASSAT OWNER YOURSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283116September 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AT MOST OF THE TIMES IT STARTS AND DIES IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282740September 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM ENGINE - CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS NOISE HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND WILL LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. OIL WILL CEASE BEING FED TO THE ENGINE AND SEIZURE WILL OCCUR. AT 70 MPH THIS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO DEATH OF OCCUPANTS AND POSSIBLY OTHERS IN VEHICLES BEHIND MINE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282238August 29, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, MY 2008 PASSAT HAS SLID INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING. THE DISPLAY STILL INDICATES THE CAR IS IN 'DRIVE', BUT THE ENGINE RACES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. AFTER MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR, AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE, THE CAR WILL AGAIN GO INTO DRIVE GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281880August 26, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT SET OR WILL NOT RELEASE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT PROGRESSIVE, BEGINNING WITH FAILURE TO SET AND CULMINATING WITH FAILURE TO RELEASE, IN ONE INSTANCE TRIGGERING MASTER BRAKE FAILURE WARNING. FAILURE TO SET MAKES CAR ILLEGAL TO DRIVE AND DANGEROUS WHEN PARKED AS THERE IS NO BACK UP SYSTEM TO SET PARKING BRAKE. FAILURE TO RELEASE STRANDS DRIVER IN POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. VW SAYS IN THIS INSTANCE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO CALL FOR TOW. FAILURES MAY AT TIMES BE CLEARED BY RESTARTING ENGINE, BUT PROGRESSIVELY LESS SUCCESSFUL. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES SINCE PROBLEM AROSE. 3 DAYS IN JUNE, 2 DAYS IN EARLY JULY, AND MOST RECENTLY 35 DAYS AND COUNTING (SINCE JULY 22). DEALER HAS REPLACED MULTIPLE MODULES MULTIPLE TIMES, OVERLAID WIRING, ETC. WITHOUT SOLUTION. DESPITE A SENIOR MECHANIC BEING PLACED ON THE JOB, NO SOURCE OF FAULT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND BY ALL APPEARANCE LOGICAL DIAGNOSTIC WORK HAS CEASED AND HAPHAZARD PARTS REPLACEMENT HAS BEGUN, I.E., "HOPE" IS THE ONLY REMAINING CORRECTIVE STRATEGY. DEALER IS SYMPATHETIC BUT OF NO BENEFIT. VW CUSTOMER CARE CONTACTED BUT PROMISED FOLLOW UP BY THEM HAS NOT BEEN MADE. AS CAR CAN STILL BE OPERATED WHEN ELECTRONIC BRAKE FAILS TO SET, THIS CREATES A POSSIBLY WIDESPREAD PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE SINCE CAR CANNOT BE PROPERLY PARKED AND MUST RELY SOLELY ON TRANSMISSION HOLDING CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281534August 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2005 PASSAT TDI WAS LEAKING A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL SO I TOPPED OFF THE OIL AND TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. HE SHOWED ME A HUGE GASH IN THE OIL PAN, RESULTING IN THE LEAK. WHEN WE TOOK THE PAN OFF THE OIL PUMP CHAIN TENSIONER AND CHAIN CAME OUT IN PIECES. THE TENSIONER BROKE AND SLAMMED THE CHAIN INTO THE OIL PAN, MAKING THE GOUGE. WE REPLACED THE OIL PAN, CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND COMPLETED AN EARLY TIMING BELT CHANGE INCLUDING A WATER PUMP. THIS WAS AROUND $2000 TOTAL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BALANCE SHAFT MODULE / CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP SETUP ON THESE CARS. I FOUND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH I SPENT $2000 FIXING THIS I MAY NEED TO COMPLETE THE SAME REPAIRS AGAIN OR REPLACE THE BALANCE SHAFT MODULE WHICH WOULD BE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS UPGRADED THE DESIGN OF THE BALANCE SHAFT/OIL PUMP DRIVE SO OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM. I'VE READ THAT I WAS RATHER LUCKY, IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND HAD THE ENGINE SEIZE UP, WHICH COULD BE DEADLY. I'M BASICALLY JUST AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281577August 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BALANCE SHAFT MODULE, WHICH DRIVES THE OIL PUMP, HAS A CHAIN DRIVE. THIS DRIVE WAS GETTING VERY NOISY. IF THE CHAIN WERE TO FAIL THE ENGINE WOULD LOOSE ALL OIL PRESSURE. I HAD A SHOP REPLACE THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE OIL PUMP, WITH THE NEW AND IMPROVED GEARED BALANCE SHAFT MODULE. (OLD PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281620August 24, 2009
STEERING
EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, 'STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE' MESSAGE APPEARS ON 2006 VW PASSAT SCREEN, AND CAR WON'T START. AFTER 5 OR 6 TRIES THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS. I SEE POSTINGS SIMILAR TO THIS IN MANY INTERNET FORUMS REGARDING 2006 PASSAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281451August 23, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON AUGUST 22 ABOUT 2:45 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO WORK ABOUT3-MILES AWAY AND I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY CAR I GET OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND I NOTICE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT END UNDER THE HOOD. I PANICKED GRABBED MY BELONGINGS AND CALLED 911 THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281298August 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY FOSTER SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2001 VW PASSAT WHEN HE NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND THERE WERE FLAMES ENGULFING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FIRE AND POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT THE CAR LATER THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE COMPUTER LOCATED IN THE DASH AREA OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS WITH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT MELTED BEYOND REPAIR. WE HAVE A FIRE REPORT AND PICTURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281306August 21, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION AT 72 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECREASE SPEED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DRIVE INTO A MEDIAN; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO TWO METAL POLES CAUSING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES OF POWDER BURN FROM THE AIR BAG. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,800.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10281250August 20, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 101 IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WHEN MY CALL STALLED IN THE FAST LANE. MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT. THE 2003 PASSAT'S FUEL PUMPS WERE RECALLED JAN 2006 AND AUGUST 2007. AFTER MY CAR WAS MADE WHICH MAKES ME WONDER WHY MY CARS FUEL PUMP WASN'T RECALLED SINCE IT WAS MADE AFTER RECALL DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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