Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10281149August 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAULTY WIRING FOR TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHT, TURN LIGHTS. REPLACED FUSE, REPLACED BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS EIGHT TIMES, THIS CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR ONE DAY. BOUGHT NEW KIT TO REPLACE OLD BRAKE ,TAIL LIGHT , TURNING LIGHT. THIS WORKED FOR APPROX. TWO MONTHS NOW NOTHING WORKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280791August 18, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SIMILAR TO OTHER REPORTS, THERE IS APPARENTLY A COMMON DEFECT WITH OLDER VW PASSATS (MINE IS A 2000) FUEL LINES LEAKING GAS WHEN PRESSURIZED BY THE FUEL PUMP. THE GAS LEAK OCCURS IN THE RUBBER FUEL LINE NEAR THE GAS TANK AND FILTER. THE LEAK WAS VISIBLE IN FRONT OF THE REAR WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MECHANICS, INCLUDING THE DEALER HAVE TROUBLE LOCATING THE LEAK SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED FOR A MINUTE OR SO. THE LEAK IS SIGNIFICANT AND TYPICALLY INVOLVES ABOUT A CUP OF GAS. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL, BUT APPARENTLY IS NOT SINCE THE DEALER CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280633August 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT: FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT IN FLOOR BOARD DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. CAUSED BY WATER INTO VEHICLE AFTER HEAVY RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2000 AND HAS FAILED TO MAKE CHANGES. FAILURE OF THE CONTROL UNIT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT SHOULD THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEARS DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING OR A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280415August 14, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2001.5- 2.8 DOHC VW PASSAT WITH JUST OVER 106K MILES.AT AROUND 98K MILES I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE AND GOT MULTIPLE MISFIRES ON THE SCAN OF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, ALTHOUGH MOSTLY WHEN I START THE CAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE. FAST FORWARD 6 MONTHS, AFTER ALREADY REPLACING THE COIL PACK TWICE, I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER $600 DOLLARS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT "MIGHT" BE THE PROBLEM. THEY'RE STILL NOT SURE. IF ANYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU'VE FIGURED OUT WHAT IT IS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280222August 12, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I PUT GASOLINE IN MY CAR. I BEGAN SMELLING GASOLINE AND NOTICED THE FUEL METER HADN'T REGISTERED THE INCREASE IN FUEL. I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AT THIS POINT. I HEARD A BIG BOOM AND THEN PEOPLE AROUND ME WERE SHOUTING AT ME TO "GET OUT OF THE CAR". I LOOKED TO THE RIGHT AND NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING UP THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I JUMPED OUT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT TO SAFETY. A GOOD SAMARITAN WAS ABLE TO GRAB A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM A NEAR BY BUSINESS; AND ANOTHER PERSON CAME RUNNING OUT OF A NEARBY BUSINESS WITH ANOTHER AND THE WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE PRIMARILY UNDER THE VEHICLE AND TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON SCENE. MADE SURE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT; THEN PUSHED CAR TO SAFETY. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, AS MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY UN-DRIVABLE (ALL THE BELTS, HOSES WERE MELTED, INCLUDING THE BRAKE CABLE). THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER (ALSO A MECHANIC) TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR HAD EXPLODED. HE THEN SAID IT WAS A DEFECT; A MANUFACTURER ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280287August 12, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DRIVING 2002 VW PASSAT IN NORMAL WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS INCLUDING ROAD SALT CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF REAR BREAK CALIPERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280112August 11, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, PARKING BRAKE
VOLKSWAGEN 2006 2.0T PASSAT HAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I KNOW OF NUMEROUS PASSAT 2006 DRIVERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS UNSAFE AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN IT OCCURRED. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND I AM JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY. IT IS UNFAIR AND UNSAFE. IT HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY PASSAT DRIVERS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO TOW BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP ON THE CAR, COULDN'T PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, ALL WHEELS WERE LOCKED, BRAKES,ETC. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE KEYS ARE NOT BEING READ BY THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $1300. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A VW DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279780August 8, 2009
STEERING
2006 VW PASSAT 3.6 4-MOTION. 65K MILES. STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. WHILE ON MY HONEYMOON TRIP WITH MY NEW WIFE TO VANCOUVER B.C. MY CAR FAILED TO START AS USUAL. KEY IS PLACED IN DASH AND PRESSED INTO STARTING POSITION. CAR STARTS AND THEN ABRUPTLY ENGINE STOPS. VERY INTERMITTENT. PROBLEM IS WORRYING BECAUSE IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279643August 7, 2009
STEERING
2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T. STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279727August 7, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL INDICATOR WENT FROM HALF FULL TO EMPTY. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SMELLED GASOLINE. WITHIN SECONDS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED HIM A SETTLEMENT OF $2,700 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ADEQUATELY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY). THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. FIRE REPORT NUMBER E58424 WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279372August 4, 2009
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WITH THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND THROUGH HIS CLOTHING. HIS LEG WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10279383August 4, 2009
VISIBILITY
I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT. IT IS A DONNELLY MIRROR, PART 3BO857511E (ALSO HAS THE NUMBER 4231909 ON IT). THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUID SUDDENLY CREATED A BUBBLE AND LEAKED WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THESE MIRRORS WERE USED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CARS AND HAVE ROUTINELY FAILED AND MAY CONTAIN MERCURY AND OTHER VERY TOXIC SUBSTANCES. THIS PRESENTS A DEFINITIVE SAFETY HAZARD AS ONE DOES NOT EXPECT THEIR REAR VIEW MIRROR TO FAIL, ABSENT BEING STRUCK AND BROKEN, AND TO POSSIBLY LEAK TOXIC PARTICLES/FLUID INTO THE CAR OR THE AIR OF THE CAR. ALSO, ONE CAN'T SAFELY DRIVE WITHOUT THE MIRROR AND THEY OFTEN COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE (MINE WAS $227.30) AND MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY IF THE HEALTH HAZARDS ARE TO BE MINIMIZED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278967July 31, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T HAD FUEL LEAK. THE CAR HAD A FUEL LEAK IN THE GARAGE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AFIRE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I DID SOME READING AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE VW DEALER CHARLES MAUND VOLKSWAGAN INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278698July 29, 2009
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS A LEMON WHEN SHE PURCHASED IT IN 2002. WATER ENTERS THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUN ROOF WHENEVER IT RAINS. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN FIFTEEN TIMES, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 MILES. UPDATED 8/24/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE WATER LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE AFTER MARKET SPEAKER. THE HEADLIGHT TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE COOLANT BOTTLE HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK. THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE HAD A BLOCKAGE. THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A LARGE EVAP LEAK AT THE PURGE VALVE WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON. THE RIGHT SIDE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/26/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278728July 29, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE IN MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T APPEARS TO BE DEAD. OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T GO OFF. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE THAT THEY PROVIDED BAD INFORMATION ON OIL CHNAGE INTERVALS FOR THIS CARS, BUT STILL INSISTS OWNERS HAVE DOCEMENTS FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE EVER ON THE CAR. AS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PROVE. ALSO, I CHANGE MY OWN OIL, AGAIN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE THE INTERVALS TO THEIR SATISFACTION. MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT AT MINIMUM, THEY HAVE TO PULL THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP, BUT THAT THE ENGINE IS LIKELY SO FULL OF SLUDGE THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $8000. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS THEIR FAULT, LOOK FOR A MEMO TITLED: AUGUST 2004 SUBJECT: WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEDAN OR WAGON EQUIPPED WITH TURBO ENGINE NOTE THAT AFTER REPAIR THE OIL SPEC HAS CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL AND THE INTERVAL BETWEEN CHANGES IS SHORTER - AN OUTRIGHT ADMISSION THAT THEY DESGINED THE ENGINE INCORRECTLY IF EVER I'VE SEEN ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278501July 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 PASSAT 1.8T FOR A APPROXIMATELY 30, REACHING MY HOUSE THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND ACTING WEIRD. ONCE I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND OPEN THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE FOR THE FIRST 30 MINUTES AND THEN WAS ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278345July 26, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS/BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR HAS BEGAN FLASHING WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN CAR TO HAVE THIS VIEWED FOR SAFETY CONCERN & MECHANICS COULD NOTE NO FAILURE W/ THE ABS. STATES THIS MAY BE A MALFUNCTION & WOULD NEED A NEW MODULE. IF THE CAUSE OF THESE LIGHTS TO CONTINUALLY STAY ON WERE DUE TO ANY NEGLECT OF THE CAR ON MY BEHALF I THEN WOULD BE MORE COOPERATIVE IN REMEDYING THE SITUATION, BUT AS I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS NOTHING TO DO W/ANYTHING I HAVE CAUSED RATHER THAN POOR QUALITY OF THIS PART. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED NOT ONLY COULD THIS LOCK MY REAR WHEELS IN SUDDEN STOPPING, BUT COULD HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING AS WELL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE. NOW I AM REQUIRED TO FIX A PROBLEM AND AN EXPENSIVE ONE, THAT IS NOT DUE TO ANYTHING THAT I HAVE CAUSED, BUT RATHER THE MANUFACTURER. SO AT MY EXPENSE I WILL HAVE TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF. THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM AND I DO NOT FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS AND WOULD REQUEST SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TROUBLED WITH THIS AND YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANYTHING DONE TO HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. DOES IT TAKE AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT OR FATALITY TO OCCUR TO HAVE SOMEONE STEP IN AND GET SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED? A BAD ABS MODULE IN ALL OF THESE VEHICLES IS JUST NOT A COINCIDENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277530July 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS MODULE FAILURE, RANDOM DRIVING STYLE/CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277301July 18, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY
SUNROOF DRAINS/OR OTHER SOURCE ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK INTO CAR SATURATING THE INTERIOR CARPET UNDER LEFT DRIVERS SEAT AND FLOORBOARD AREA. CONVENIENCE MODULE WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY IN 2006, BUT WATER LEAK HAS RETURNED. THIS IS A GARAGED VEHICLE AND THIS WATER LEAK OCCURS IF CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE AT WORK (NO TREES OF LEAF DEBRIS) WITH ROOF CLOSED. DEALER WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ORIGINALLY IN 2007 AND SAID THE DRAIN HOSE WAS COLLAPSING ON ITSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275878July 6, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
HEAT SHIELD WAS REPLACED IN A RECALL DURING THE SUMMER OF 2008. A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR WE COMPLAINED OF A FIRE SMELL, RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. AT THE TIME THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEAT SHIELD AGAIN AND THE SMELL WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. A YEAR LATER, THE WE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK. AFTER INSPECTION THEY ADMITTED TO US THAT THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE HEAT SHIELD WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, WHICH CAUSED IT TO CATCH FIRE. THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE INSTRUCTIONS THEY WERE SUPPLIED BY VW WERE UNCLEAR. THEY ALSO ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW MANY HEAT SHIELDS WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT THEIR DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY RECEIVED THE CORRECTED OR MORE CLEAR INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MANY MORE DEALERSHIPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IF NOTHING ELSE, THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE ORDERED TO SEND OUT A LETTER NOTIFYING THEIR RECALL CUSTOMERS OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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