Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10256897January 29, 2009
SEATS
I HAD A 2005 VW PASSAT HEATED LEATHER SEAT BURN MY LEG AND SEAT. CAUSED BY FAULTY SEAT HEATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256502January 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, AIR BAGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT APPEARS EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE BRAKE REPAIRS. DRIVER?S SIDE REAR UPPER BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED FOR 29TH TIME IN LESS THAN 2 YRS. MULTIPLE COOLANT LEAKS STILL PRESENT EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. RADIO/AMPLIFIER NOT FUNCTIONING EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT (RADIO WAS ONLY USED TWICE IN VEHICLE?S LIFETIME). DIAGNOSTICS SHOW AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. REGULATOR PIN ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW KEEPS BREAKING (3RD REPLACEMENT SINCE 2003). ENGINE COVER BELOW CAR KEEPS FALLING OFF DUE TO RUSTED BOLTS. HOMELINK SYSTEM KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING. FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT. DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS OUT (ODOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.). CCM MODULE KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. CAR NEEDS TO BE JUMPSTARTED WHEN NOT IN USE FOR OVER 48 HRS. CLIMATE CONTROL (A/C AND HEATER) WORKS ONLY SPORADICALLY. ALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BY VW DEALERSHIP, YET SAME ISSUES KEEP REAPPEARING JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPAIRS. REPAIRS PERFORMED IN PAST 2 YEARS: ECU UNIT REPLACED, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED 3 TIMES, A/C COMPRESSOR UNIT REPLACED, ABS MODULE REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10256267January 25, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OUR 2004 PASSAT'S BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT RECENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR OTHER PROCESS THAT TOLD US THE LIGHTS WERE OUT. WE WERE ALMOST IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND US DIDN'T SEE OUR BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT VW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IN 2007...BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED SUCH NOTICE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256227January 24, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE GAS TANK OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF 380 NEAR THE SCRANTON, PA. AT THE BEGINNING I DID NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I PARKED MY CAR IN THE CITY MALL NEARBY THE HIGHWAY. THE GAS LEAK WAS SIGNIFICANT. 10 GALLONS OF GAS WAS LEAKED OUT IN LESS THAN 15 MIN. THE FIRE-FIGHTER HELPED ME CLEAN THE PARKING AREA AND AVOID A POTENTIAL FIRE. BASED ON AN INSURANCE DAMAGE ADJUSTER'S INVESTIGATION, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM AN IMPACT OF A HARD OBJECT SUCH AS ICE OR A SMALL ROCK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GAS TANK IS GOING TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1400. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT GERMAN ENGINEERS HAVE NOT THOUGHT SUCH AN ACCIDENT DURING THE WINTER. OBVIOUSLY THE CHEAP MATERIAL OF THE GAS TANK AND LACK OF PROPER TANK SHIELD COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255944January 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2002 CAUGHT ON FIRE. I KNOW YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS SO I WANTED TO INFORM YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255877January 21, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I OWN A 2003 VW PASSAT. RECENTLY. I TOOK MY CAR FOR REPAIR AS MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING ON TURNS. THE VW DEALER INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE "ABS CONTROL MODULE" IS NOT COMMUNICATING FOR SOME REASON. THEY SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR AROUND $2,216 I CALLED VW AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND SEE IF THEY CAN COVER THE EXPENSES OF THE REPAIR SINCE THIS IS NOT A NORMAL TEAR AND WEAR ISSUE. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT SINCE THE CAR IS NOT WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY CANNOT COVER THE EXPENSES OF THIS REPAIR. I FEEL THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW OF AMERICA NEEDS TO COVER THE REPAIR FOR. IN FACT I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRO-ACTIVE AND INVESTIGATE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IN MY CARE AFTER THEY REPLACE IT TO SEE IF THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT CAN RESULT IN A RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT WITHIN WARRANTY; BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I THINK VW SHOULD COVER IT AND PAY THE REPAIR COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255782January 20, 2009
SEATS
TURNED ON DRIVER SIDE HEATER TO LEVEL 3. FELT A BURNING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR APROX 30 SECONDS AFTER STARTING CAR. STOPPED CAR AND FOUND A SMALL HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE. M2 RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN CHECKED AT THE DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255523January 19, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SUDDENLY FELT STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE (NOT A RESULT OF ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER OCCURRENCE.) THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FUEL TANK LEAK. THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VW DEALER IN SUNNYVALE, CA, REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE COSTLY REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255589January 19, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WE RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER FROM VW JUNE 2008, A WEEK AFTER WE SHIPPED OUR VW PASSAT TO GREECE FOR US TO USE WHILE WE ARE IN GREECE. WHEN I CAME HOME I OPEN MY MAIL AND FOUND THE RECALL LETTER. I IMMEDIATELY FAX IT TO GREECE FOR MY HUSBAND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CORRECTED THE PROBLEM I RECEIVED AN INVOICE FROM THEM WITH AN ITEMIZED DESCRIPTION. ( I KNOW A FEW OF THE CORRECTED ITEM ARE NOT IN THE RECALL LETTER WHICH I DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO PAY). THEY CALL ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE 4 TO 6 WEEKS FOR THEM TO PROCESS THE INVOICE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO SEND IT FOR TRANSLATION. SEVERAL WEEKS GO BY AND THEY CALL ME AND SAID THAT SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THE INVOICE WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY ME WHICH I AGREE, BUT THE REST IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT ANOTHER 3 WEEKS. NOW IT IS 3 MONTHS AND I CALLED THEM, THEY SAID NON OF THE THINGS I HAD CORRECTED WERE IN THE RECALL LETTER ACCORDING TO THE TRANSLATOR. I TRIED TO TELL YES IT IS AND I ASK THEM TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT, BUT THEY REFUSE AND THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE WORK. I FEEL THAT THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. I WOULD SOMETHING TO BE DONE. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255596January 19, 2009
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, SUSPENSION:REAR
GOSH WHERE DO I START VW PASSAT 51000 MILES ALOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG.. CAR STARTER VOLKS CAME OUT CAUSING THE STARTER TO BREAK MY TRUNK DOESN'T CLOSE POPS OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD/FREEWAY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE THING FROM MY TRUNK EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE FREEWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS DEFECTED DOES NOT LOCK I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS OF VW DEALER SHIPS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME CAUSE ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND FOR STEERING LOCK I WENT BEFORE WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 90 DOLLARS I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LYING AROUND I HAVE CAR PAYMENT. INS ECT... IM SCARED IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPENED WHILE ME DRIVING WITH MY KIDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255358January 16, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE BALANCE SHAFTS IN THIS ENGINE (2005 VW B5 PASSAT TDI) ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN OFF THE MOTOR WHICH ALSO DRIVES THE OIL PUMP. THIS UNFORTUNATE DESIGN SUBJECTS THE CHAIN TO STRESSES IT CANNOT WITHSTAND. OURS LET GO AT SPEED WITH MY FAMILY OF FIVE ON BOARD. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AT THE SUDDEN DECELERATION IN TRAFFIC. A FIX HAS BEEN MANDATED IN THE ECU BUT NOT IN THE US. THERE IS NO CURRENT OFFICIAL "FIX" FROM VW AMERICA. THE EXPECTATION IS THE ENGINE WILL SELF DESTRUCT AND THE CUSTOMER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE $5000-8000 MOTOR WITH A REPLACEMENT GEAR ASSEMBLY. VOLKSWAGEN TECHNICAL PRODUCT INFORMATION 016429. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255383January 16, 2009
PARKING BRAKE
THE VEHICLE I HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH IS A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L 55,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE. ON DEC 27 2008, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APROX 60MPH AND THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SPIN 180 AND I GOT HIT BY AN SUV DRIVING BEHIND ME ON THE SAME DIRECTIONAL LANE. AFTER THE INCIDENT I TRY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRAVEL LANE BUT THE WHEELS WERE STILL LOCKED. AFTER TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES I DRAGGED THE VEHICLE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING I WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND LEAVE THE SCENE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL I EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME LEFT AND BECAUSE I HAD MINOR DAMAGES AND I DECIDE NOT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE AUTHORITIES. IMMEDIATELY I CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND OPEN UP A CASE #80411298. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN NAPERVILLE IL AND AFTER 7 DAYS THE TECHNICIAN SAID: WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DOING A RESEARCH ON VW FORUM CALLED VW VORTEX, WWW.VWVORTEX.COM, I FOUND OUT THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS. THE REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND I SHOULD SAY I WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE I DID NOT GET HIT BY A HEAVY TRUCK, I DID NOT GET INJURED OR MAYBE KILLED. AS OF TODAY THE LOCAL DEALER DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WANT ME TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID IT?S SAFE TO DRIVE. I THINK YOU SHOULD INTERVENE AND ANALYZE THIS ISSUE AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION QUICK BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR MAYBE KILLED. PLEASE FELL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON MY EMAIL ADDRESS OR MY PHONE NUMBER AT ANYTIME I CAN ASSIST WITH MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255095January 14, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO 0 AND STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM ACCELERATING. THE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CULPRIT AND IT WOULD COST $1450.00 AND THERE WAS NO USED PART AVAILABLE AND IT IS A DEALER ONLY PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255101January 14, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, PARKING BRAKE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON,FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO 0 AND STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM ACCELERATING. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE IT CAN BE RESEARCHED ON HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&TSTART=0. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255023January 14, 2009
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HEATER CORE "DOORS " MELTED FROM THE R TYPE ANTIFREEZE BREAKING DOWN TO AN ACID. THIS CAUSE THE HEATERCORE TO BREAK, ANTIFREEZE ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS AND ALSO ODDLY ENOUGH FILLED THE GAUGE CLUSTER WITH STEAM FOGGING THE CLUSTER. IT'S $800 FOR A REPLACEMENT SO I BOUGHT A FITTING AND SOME HOSE CLAMPS AND BYPASSES THE HEATER CORE SO I COULD STILL OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WASN'T TOO COLD. HOWEVER WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER ALL THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE DOWN DUE TO YOUR BODY HEAT CAUSING ALL GLASS IN THE VEHICLE TO FOG. REPLACED THE HEATER CORE IN JANUARY, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AND INSTALLED REGULAR TYPE 50/50 ANTIFREEZE AND NOT THE VW R-TYPE FLUID TO PREVENT BREAK DOWN INTO ACID AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255026January 14, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN 75% OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO YANK THE HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO OPEN, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE, THE OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS LOCK MECHANISM SLOWLY RISES TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANY TIMES FAIL TO CLOSE. WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS THEY FLY BACK OPEN EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING OR WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. **THERE IS A SIMILAR COMPLAINT MISPLACED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER SECTION BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.** *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255042January 14, 2009
PARKING BRAKE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
5SP VRG PASSAT. EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED UNDER 40 DEGREES STICKS ON CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DRAG DOWN THE ROAD FOR UP TO A MILE BEFORE THEY BREAK LOOSE AGAIN AND MOVE FREELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255029January 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
BACKUP LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ACCENT LIGHTS (LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES, WINDOW, A/C & HEATER CONTROLS AND LOCK BUTTONS ETC.) WOULD TURN ON. ALSO IF THE CAR IF THE KEYS WERE TURNED TO THE FIRST NOTCH (STEERING WHEEL UNLOCK) AND THE HEATER VENTS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT NOT BLOWING (DUE TO NO POWER) WHEN YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AIR WOULD START BLOWING... I TRACED IT DOWN TO AN IGNORANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING THE CAR. THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE LOOMED ON TO THE TRUNK ARM, EVERYTIME THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED IT BENT THE WIRE CAUSING THE WIRE TO BREAK AND SHORT OUT OVER TIME, I FIXED THE WIRE AND REROUTED IT LOW AND BEHOLD THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE ACCENT LIGHTS AND THE A/C & HEATER CONTROLS CAUSING THOSE TO MALFUNCTION IF THE REVERSE WAS SHORTED, MY GUESS IS THEY MUST ALL SHARE A COMMON GROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254832January 13, 2009
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED AT HIGHWAY SPEED ( 1 2 ) CONSIDERED BUYING ONE OF THESE, BUT CONCERNED AFTER READING THIS FORUM POST FROM VW VORTEX. THE PASSAT HAS A ELECTRONIC/COMPUTER CONTROL PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM. IT ENGAGED AT 65MPH! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254746January 12, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF CAR TO REMAIN RUNNING WHEN STARTING; HAS HAPPENED FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW NOW. TWICE IN ONE DAY. START CAR AND THEN IT STALLS RIGHT AWAY. ALSO RECEIVE STEERING COLUMN ERROR SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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