Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10262042March 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MY 2003 VW PASSAT FOR 7 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES. RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A VW DEALERSHIP THE TURBO WENT OUT. I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT. I THEN DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 150 MILES FOR A TOURNAMENT AND WHEN ALMOST THERE A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING TO STOP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS COVERED BY VW. IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SLUDGE FROM OIL. GOT IT BACK AND 3 DAYS LATER A LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS THE MIL LIGHT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. STILL WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THIS TIME. I HAVE NOW HAD MY OIL CHANGED 3 TIMES IN 5 THOUSAND MILES DUE TO REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR SO FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261759March 13, 2009
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
IN APRIL 2008 MY 2004 VW PASSAT SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED A CRACK, GRADUALLY LENGTHENING, IN THE WINDSHIELD. I REPLACED IT WITH AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WINDSHIELD, AND NOW, IN MARCH 2009, THE WINDSHIELD HAS AGAIN SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED A LENGTHENING CRACK. IN NEITHER CASE WAS THERE ANY CHIP OR "DING" OR ANYTHING SUGGESTING ANY IMPACT OF ANYTHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261782March 13, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURE AT APPROX. 35,000 MILES. THEN A LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AT 95,000 MILES. OLD CONTROL ARM IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261619March 12, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE R5 RECALL CAMPAIGN. SHE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER ONLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FLEX PIPE MUST BE DISENGAGED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. IF ANY DAMAGES OCCUR DURING THE DETACHMENT OF THE COMPONENT, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE RECALL REMEDY COULD POSSIBLY BE EXPENSIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,803. UPDATED 04/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/27/09.8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261575March 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM OIL PUMP, CHAIN UNIT, AND CHAIN (AND POSSIBLY BALANCE SHAFT) DUE TO ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DESIGN. I BELIEVE A FAILURE IS IMMINENT AND WITHIN 100 MILES. FAILURE OF THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, BROKEN OIL PAN, BROKEN FRONT ENGINE SEAL FLANGE, AND DAMAGED CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN TRAFFIC, IT CAN LEAD TO A COLLISION WITH INJURIES OR DEATHS. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR THAT THE EXTENSIVE PARTS AND LABOR TO REPAIR WILL BE CORRECTED BY VW DEALER DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBER OF VEHICLES SUCH AS THIS IN NORTH AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261393March 10, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR: 1. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE & PERIODICALLY WILL NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. 2. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING BRAKING MY CAR IS SLIPPING AND TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY A RECALL ON OTHER VW PASSATS BUT NOT ON MY MODEL PASSAT BUT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MY MODEL AS WELL. BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTED TO GET THIS LOOKED AT WITH DEALER BUT WANTED YOU TO HAVE A RECORD OF THIS AND INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261394March 10, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TIMES DOES NOT DISENGAGE OR ENGAGE. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WAIT A WHILE AND SOMETIMES IT DOES AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT ENGAGE/RENGAGE. GIVES ME A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261044March 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY, WHEN THE ABS LIGHT ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THINKING MY BRAKES ARE WORN OUT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE PERFECT AND THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS NOT WORKING. I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR A REASONABLE PRICE TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260996March 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
DRIVE THE CAR FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THE OUTSIDE START SMELL LIKE OIL IT BE SMOKING. THE EMISSION WORKSHOP LIGHT IS ON AND SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE HEAT AND AIR BE OFF AND DRIVE THE CAR FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME HEAT START COMING OUT. ALSO WHEN DRIVE ALONG TIME THE NUMBERS IN FRONT BROAD START LOOKING LIKE IT GOING WAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260783March 5, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR A 2003 VW PASSAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260796March 5, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A POTENTIAL ISSUE HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME ENGINE PARTS RELATED TO THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN FAIL AS EARLY AS 45,000 MILES. AND IF THE FAILURE OF SAID COMPONENTS DO FAIL, SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE CAN EASILY OCCUR FORCING THE DRIVER, AT MINIMUM, TO PAY AN UNREASONABLE AND VERY COSTLY SERVICE BILL. IF A DRIVER EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE DURING A TYPICAL HIGHWAY PASS OR MERGING ON A ROADWAY, THE COST WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE PERTAINING TO THE LOSS OF LIFE, FAR SURPASSING THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE ENGINE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS COME UP WITH A FIX BY CHANGING THE CHAIN TO A GEAR. THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AS YET, EVEN WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING FAILED. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TO EVERY 2004 PASSAT WITH THE BHW ENGINES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT STEPS VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS TAKING TO INFORM 2004 AND 2005 PASSAT TDI OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP WOULD DICTATE A PROBLEM OF THIS SEVERITY SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE OWNERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE ENGINE FAILURES COULD LEAVE MOTORISTS STRANDED UNDER DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260690March 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
THE FAILURE IS WITH (1) THE BALANCE SHAFT OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE SYSTEM ON THE VW PASSAT 2.0 TDI DIESEL AUTOMOBILE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIME TO OTHER VW OWNERS AND PRESENT AN IMMINENT THREAT TO VEHICLE SAFETY SHOULD SUCH FAILURE OCCUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. (2) CERAMIC GLOW PLUGS FOR THE TDI DIESEL ENGINE HAVE A TENDENCY TO BREAK OFF AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO A RUNNING ENGINE. BOTH DEFECTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY VWOA AS EVIDENCED BY UPGRADES MADE TO THEIR EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS. HOWEVER VWOA IS TOTALLY IGNORING THE AMERICAN CUSTOMERS AND RESULTING IN EXORBITANT REPAIR PRICES. VW CONTINUES TO VIOLATE EPA RULE BY NOT RELEASING ECU REFLASH DATA TO NON VW SERVICE FACILITIES, HERE AGAIN CAPITALIZING ON A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. LET IT BE KNOW THAT ONLY THE SYMPTOMS OF THESE IMPENDING FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT THIS POINT IN TIME. JUDGING FROM REPORTS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED ALREADY THIS VEHICLE IS IN IMMANENT DANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260550March 3, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT ENDED UP NEEDING A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PLUNGER FAILED AND SENT METAL INTO THE ENGINE DESTROYING IT. VW REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260499March 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE UNDER WARRANTY COMPLAINED TO DEALER OF NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE NOISE WAS COMING FROM BUT SAID NOT TO WORRY PROBLEM WAS NOTED AND WOULD BE COVERED IF/WHEN SOMETHING FAILED. OUT OF WARRANTY NOW, DEALER STATES POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS REPLACING, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED, NOT BY DEALER BUT SEVERE WINE REMAINS. WAS TOLD IT IS PROBABLY AC PUMP. HAD BELT TENSIONER REPLACED ALSO WITH NO RESOLVE. NOISE IS A LOUD WINE, CONSTANT VARIES SLIGHTLY WHEN AC IS ON. HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PASSATS WITH SAME NOISE. NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260517March 2, 2009
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC SPORT VEHICLE THROUGH BOARDWALK VOLKSWAGEN OF RICHARDSON TEXAS, WHO HAD THE CAR SHIPPED TO THEIR LOCATION FROM TYNAN'S VW IN COLORADO. I PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC SPORT VEHICLE WITH 24 MILES ON THE AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2009. ON SUNDAY, AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND FUMES STARTED COMING OUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT AND SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE RENDERING THE CAR A SAFETY HAZARD AND FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO BOARDWALK VW, WHICH UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION LINES MISPOSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE COOLING FAN MOTOR CUT THE LINES OPEN CAUSING CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH POTENTIALLY FLAMMABLE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUN WITH EXTREMELY LOW LEVELS OF FLUID BY THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE TO GET IT ON AND OFF THE TOW VEHICLE, SERIOUSLY REDUCING THE MARKET VALUE AND SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE COMPROMISED VEHICLE WITH THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTING AND ANOTHER PASSAT CC VEHICLE WITH THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTING. TO SEE THE PROBLEM, THE CAR WAS RAISED, AND THE UNDERSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER WAS TAKEN OFF. IN THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION, THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE ROUTED IN FRONT OF A RADIATOR TUBE, LEAVING THEM IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROTATING RADIATOR FAN, WHICH EVENTUALLY CUT OPEN THE LINES CAUSING THE LEAK. THE FLUID LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS BLOWN INTO THE ENTIRE ENGINE BY THE RADIATOR FAN. IN THE OTHER VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE ROUTED BEHIND THE RADIATOR TUBE, WHICH SHIELDS THEM FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FAN. THIS CAN BE USED TO START A RECALL ON ALL PASSAT CC MODELS TO HAVE THEM CHECKED FOR INCORRECT ROUTING OF THE TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CUSTOMER PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260338March 1, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN DRIVE IN THE BOTTOM END OF OUR 2004 PASSAT TDI HAS STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. THEY WILL ALL FAIL. I AM A CAR ENTHUSIAST AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THROUGH THE PAINS OF MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THEIR FAILED OR FAILING CHAIN DRIVEN BALANCE ASSEMBLY, MANY BREAK APART COMPLETELY, AND CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO QUIT TURNING AND THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP SUDDENLY. VW HAS COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS, TO RETROFIT A GEAR DRIVEN UNIT, BUT AS OF YET HAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MORE TIMES THAN NOT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE 60 TO 80K MILE RANGE. THE COST TO REPAIR PROACTIVE IS ABOUT $2500, BUT IF THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED, THE COST IS ABOUT $9000. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY SEIZE WHILE UNDERWAY! CURRENTLY THERE IS NOT EVEN A WARNING OF ANY KIND FROM VW TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. IF NOT FOR AN INTERNET FORUM, FRED'S TDI CLUB.COM, I LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO STILL ARE, WOULD BE COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THIS SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260360March 1, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY FAILS. HAS BEEN REPAIRED OVER FIVE TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260227February 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN A 1999 VW PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING, I HAD TO TOGGLE THE FAN SWITCH TO GET THE FAN TO TURN OFF. THIS SLIGHT MALFUNCTION WAS FOLLOWED BY A PUFF OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE CENTER DASHBOARD VENT, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY MORE AND MORE SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AT A AUTO DEALERSHIP/SERVICE STATION AND ASKED EMPLOYEES FOR ASSISTANCE. BY THE TIME THEY BEGAN SPRAYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER INTO THE VENTS (ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER THE INITIAL PUFF OF SMOKE), FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE CENTRAL DASH VENT. THE FIRE MELTED THE A/C BLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLY, 3 ELECTRICAL PIGTAILS AND SOME CONNECTORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260246February 27, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2000 VW PASSAT DEVELOPED FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULATOR. CAR HAS HAD A SINGLE OWNER AND ALL RECOMMENDED FACTORY MAINTENANCE AT AUTHORIZED DEALERS. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE WHOLE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260253February 27, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL PUMP SLUDGE ON MY VOLKSWAGEN 2002 1.8T PASSAT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE QUITE WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT ONLY HAD 54,818 MILES. I HAD TO PAY 10,000 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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