Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10275601July 2, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2008 VW PASSAT. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 29K MILES, AFTER FREQUENT STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED, DIFFICULTIES CRANKING AND FREQUENT DISPLAY OF FUEL CAP LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275686July 2, 2009
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS LEADING UP TO 07-30-08, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. VW REPROGRAMMED KEYS BUT REFUSED TO COVER COSTS EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND APRIL 2009, VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS CRANKING AGAIN. VEHICLE WOULD START THEN THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DIE, BUT NOT EVERY TIME. CONDITION GOT WORSE AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT. THEY WERE FINE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE COMPUTER GAVE A "STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE" ERROR. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON 06-16-2009. THIS TIME THEY SAID STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO EARLIER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT DIFFERENT VW DEALER AT OWN COST. I KEPT THE OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275432July 1, 2009
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POLLEN FILTER AND/ OR SUNROOF DRAINS BECOME BLOCKED AND WATER LEAKS BEHIND BATTERY AND INTO CABIN OF CAR. THE WATER THEN POOLS UNDER AND BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT WHERE THE CONVENIENCE MODULE IS STORED. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE UNABLE TO START BECAUSE IT IS AFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE POOLING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT IS TROUBLING SINCE IT IS A HUB FOR INTERIOR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. THE CONVENIENCE MODULE IN MY CAR NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275498July 1, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FAULT FOUND WITH AIRBAG. CLOCKSPRING LOCATED IN STEERING WHEEL HAS CONNECTION FOR AIRBAG. IGNITER COULD CORRODE AND CAUSE AIRBAG TO FAIL IN EVENT OF HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275201June 29, 2009
STEERING
CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED. PROBLEM WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AT FIRST AND THEN BECAME MORE AND MORE COMMON. THEN SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START BUT STOP IMMEDIATELY. DEALERS AT FIRST TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BUT NOW STATE THAT THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275109June 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2004 VW PASSAT 1.8T. UPON STARTING CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AUTOBARN OF EVANSTON (IL) WHO REPLACED THERMAL SENSOR FOR $500. LESS THAN 2 MILES AFTER LEAVING DEALER, CAR RAN HOT AND A/C WENT OUT, HAD TO PULL OVER TO COOL. THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE PRIOR TO VISITING THE DEALER. RETURNED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED "THERMAL SWITCH" FOR $300. CAR STILL RAN HOT. DEALER NOW SAYS RADIATOR IS CLOGGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($700+). CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY PER VW, RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED 4,000 MILES AGO. CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. EITHER CAR IS DEFECTIVE OR DEALER IS RIPPING ME OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275114June 27, 2009
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE IN 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ABS AND BRAKE/STOP LIGHTS FLASH BUT BRAKES WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274951June 25, 2009
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,200. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH 30% OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274897June 24, 2009
STEERING
HAVING ISSUES WITH STEERING COLUMN LOCK, CAR NEVER STARTS, TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET IT TO START. SAVING MONEY TO PAY FOR 1500.00 REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON MONDAY JUNE 22 @ 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY DUE TO BEING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AT SUCH A SPEED. I ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FROM THERE TO START AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274546June 21, 2009
STEERING
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN CONTINUES TO PRODUCE WARNING LIGHTS AFTER BEING SENT IN FOR SERVICE. WARNING MESSAGE THAT ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK IS DEFECTIVE CONTINUES COMING ON. ERROR MESSAGE CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT START, SOMETIMES TAKING 2-10 RESTARTS TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. POWER ASSISTANCE AND ELECTRONIC STEERING CAN FAIL (ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL) IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO SELF AND OTHERS OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF THIS IS NOT FIXED. HAVE RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO HAVE DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY. ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,500-2,600. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE, AND MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IF NOT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274212June 18, 2009
STEERING
THE CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" WARNING APPEARED ON THE IN-DASH CONSOLE. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I REMOVED THE KEY AND TRIED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND THE CAR STARTED OKAY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE STRETCH OF ONE WEEK OR SO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274217June 18, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP FAILURE ON 2003 VW PASSAT. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND LOST POWER AND WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VW HAS A RECALL ON THIS PART BUT THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE (NHTSA 06V01700 AND 07V375000) IS NOT IN THE VIN RANGE COVERED. I FEEL MY FUEL PUMP SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN THE RECALL AS IT IS A DEFECTIVE UNIT AND NOT SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274113June 17, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2000 VW PASSAT WAS PARKED FOR APPROX. 45 MINUTES THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ONLY "PROBLEM" I HAD WITH THE VEHICLE WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LOCK IT WITH THE ELECTRONIC KEY IT WOULD NOT "BEEP". I MOVED CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE TWO TIMES AND ONLY THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAINTLY FLICKERED. NO BEEP. OTHER THAN THAT THERE WERE NOT PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND BROKE OUT THE WINDOWS. TIRES AND ENGINE MELTED. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274148June 17, 2009
VISIBILITY
HUMID DAY, BEGAN RAINING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT FUNCTION IN 2006 VW PASSAT. CAR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ON THIS ISSUE AND A MOISTURE KIT INSTALLED BY DEALER. NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273995June 16, 2009
STEERING
CAR WILL NOT START, DASHBOARD WARNING "STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE" I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH B6 PASSAT OWNERS. THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY FAULTY CONTACTS YET THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND COULD COST UP TO $2000.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274021June 16, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2000 PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273743June 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE: 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS SEDAN WITH 2.0 TDI MOTOR PROBLEM: CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP HAS SERIOUS VIBRATION. IT IS NOT ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE LIST OR THINGS TO CHECK DURING PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE. THE CAST METAL CHAIN TENSIONER CRACKS AND FAILS, CAUSING LOSS OF TENSION ON THE OIL PUMP DRIVE SPROCKETS WHICH LEADS TO : 1. WEAR ON DRIVE SPROCKETS. 2. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP. 3. COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED IN ANY TRAFFIC CONDITION. I DO NOT KNOW THE COMPLETE FAILURE RATE FOR THIS EQUIPMENT, BUT I DO KNOW THIS SETUP WAS SOLD ON APPROXIMATELY 20,000 2.0L TURBO DIESEL MOTORS, STAMPED BHW. THIS SETUP WAS ONLY SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER SIMILAR MOTORS IN EUROPEAN MARKETS HAVE A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP THAT DO NOT SHOW THE FAILURE RATE BEING SEEN IN THE N.A. MARKET. VOLKSWAGEN IN NORTH AMERICA HAS DISCONTINUED MAKING THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP, REPLACING IT WITH THE GEAR DRIVEN PUMP ORIGINALLY AVAILABLE ONLY IN FOREIGN MARKETS. VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES TO STAND BY THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH CHAIN DRIVEN PUMP, YET THERE A NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF FAILING TENSIONERS, CHAINS, SPROCKETS AND BALANCE SHAFTS (HEX SHAFT HOLDING THE DRIVEN SPROCKETS) DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION AND POOR DESIGN. EVERY CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP ON THE BHW MOTOR WILL FAIL. MILEAGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A DETERMINATION ON WHEN THIS WILL FAIL AS REPORTS OF WEAR AND FAILURE FROM 45,000 TO 180,000 MILES ARE BEING REPORTED ON INTERNET VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL FORUMS. FOR PHOTOS OF FAILED PARTS, SEE: SEE POST #743: HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=233651&PAGE=50 NOTE: THIS COMPLAINT DOES NOT REFER TO THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY OR TIMING BELT. IT REFERS SOLELY TO THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP AND BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY ON THE BHW TYPE TURBO DIESEL MOTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273572June 11, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. SHE REMOVED ALL OF THE FUSES, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATED. SHE FEELS THAT THE FAILURE WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273066June 8, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT, AMONG MANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR, THE MOST RECENT AND MY SERIOUS CONCERN FOR SAFETY IS THE ""STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" THE CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START AT ALL OR WILL START AND IMMEDIATELY DIE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF VW CUSTOMERS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET! THE COST TO FIX THIS IS IN THE UPWARDS OF $1500. ONE THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND TWO THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN HERE THAT THIS IS A VW DEFECTIVE ISSUE! THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I AM PREGNANT AND CAN'T EVEN GET HOME AFTER DRIVING TO WORK OR THE STORE! I FEEL VW HAS AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS RECURRING PROBLEM! I HOPE YOU CAN PURSUE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272942June 5, 2009
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER ENTERS THE FLOOR ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE DUCTS THAT DISTRIBUTE HEAT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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