Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10254749January 12, 2009
PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE. HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED FIRST TIME. THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED AGAIN AND THE BRAKE DID RELEASE. HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BRAKE REPLACED. ALSO, PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED BY ITSELF ONCE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING THE CAR OFF AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254369January 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN
2004-2005 PASSAT TDI W/ BHW ENGINE CODE. THE BALANCE SHAFTS IN THIS ENGINE ARE DRIVEN BY A HEX SHAFT OFF THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS UNFORTUNATE DESIGN SUBJECTS THE CHAIN TO STRESSES IT CANNOT WITHSTAND. ON VARIOUS TDI FORUMS, ESPECIALLY TDICLUB.COM, THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHAIN FAILURES BEING REPORTED. OF COURSE, WHEN THE CHAIN DRIVING THE OIL PUMP FAILS, THE ENGINE IS STARVED OF ESSENTIAL LUBRICATION. IF THE FAILURE OF THE CHAIN CAUSES ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY, OR PASSING ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS CONDITION COULD EASILY CAUSE DANGER TO ALL CITIZENS NEARBY, POSSIBLY LEADING TO DEATH. WHEN THE CHAIN FAILS, THE PARTS TO REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $1800 PLUS APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER $1500 IN LABOR BILLS TO HAVE THE PARTS INSTALLED. IF THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED, IT WILL COST THE OWNER APPROXIMATELY $8000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254227January 8, 2009
STEERING
BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2008, I WAS HAVING MINIMAL ISSUES WITH HAVING THE KEY STICK INTO THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE EASILY PUSH THE KEY IN AND TAKE IT BACK OUT WITHOUT A PROBLEM. AROUND DECEMBER 2008 I HAD A "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD AND MY CAR SHUT OFF. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE EVERY 10 TIMES I TURN THE CAR ON. I TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMFORT SYSTEM MODULE. TOTAL COST: $1,500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254072January 7, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL LINE ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SIMPLY BROKE AS I WAS DRIVING. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT OCCURRED. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPAIRED AT A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN GLASTONBURY, CT. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I AM NOT GETTING A SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO WHY THIS PROBLEM IS NOT BEING HANDLED THROUGH A RECALL EARLIER THIS YEAR OF 412,000 1999-2005 PASSATS AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254074January 7, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 79000 MILES, IN MAY OF 2008 WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS AWAY AT SCHOOL THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SHE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND I SPENT OVER $300 IN DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES I WAS ADVISED OF VW'S TSB 10 07 13, 2013233, PUBLISHED AUG 17, 2007WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE AND THE "MAGIC FLUSH". HAD THE CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE FROM MD TO NJ. VW AGREED WITH THE DIAGNOSTICS AND PERFORMED THE FLUSH. SINCE THAT TIME (<8 MONTHS) THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ADDITIONAL RELATED OIL ISSUES. THE LATEST >6K DUE TO THE TURBO FILLING UP WITH OIL, CAN AND CRANK SEALS LEAKING, VALVE COVERS LEAKING, PREMATURE CRACKING CAUSED BY THE OIL IN THE TIMING BELT, ETC. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AS WELL AS THE DEALERS MECHANICS AGREE THAT THIS CAN BE A RESIDUAL EFFECT FROM THE OIL SLUDGE. VW OF AMERICA WOULD NOT LISTEN TO THE FACTS AND HAVE LEFT ME HOLDING THE BAG. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN DONE EVERY 3500 MILES, WITH RECEIPTS. VW SHOULD BE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE, THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE 1.8T IN THE PASSAT. I THINK THAT THEY INTENTIONALLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT ON THE CONSUMER SO THAT THEY GIVE UP. ANY ADVICE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254178January 7, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1. SLOWING TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. 15 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED, AND WITH MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE REVVED TO TOP SPEED AND THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR. I BUMPED THE STOPPED CAR, PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. 2. NO DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR. POLICE WERE CALLED AND CAME OUT UNTIL TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE THE CAR (9 MONTHS OLD AND 11000 MILES) WAS PURCHASED. 3. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR THE WEEK. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR SO THEY OFFERED TO TRADE IT IN ON A NEW ONE AND THAT IT HAD DEPRECIATED 50% IN 9 MONTHS. VW CORPORATE OFFERED A $1000 REBATE ON A NEW CAR. 4. I CALLED VW CORPORATE TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE DEALER WAS "EMPOWERED" TO MADE DECISIONS. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254182January 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. DEFECTIVE ABS ELECTRICAL MODULE. STANDARD BRAKING SYSTEM STILL FUNCTIONAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254530January 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH RECALL FOR FUEL TANK INSPECTION. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAD GOTTEN THE COMPONENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE BEFORE THE RECALL. HE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT. *KB VOLKSWAGEN STATED THE REPAIR INVOICE THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED DID NOT CONTAIN THE PARTS THAT MATCHED THE PARTS IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253964January 6, 2009
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2004 MODEL. ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH 2008 AFTER WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT AT MBUSI IN VANCE, ALABAMA, I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME. I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT JUST AS I HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS ONLY THIS TIME I GOT MORE HEAT THAN I WANTED. MY HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED MY LEG. IN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, I WRENCHED MY BACK BY STOMPING OUT THE FIRE WITH MY FOOT. I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING CLOSE TO ME TO USE WITH MY HANDS SO THEY WOULD NOT GET BURNED. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW FAST MY CAR FILLED WITH WORST SMELLING SMOKE I HAVE EVER SMELT. THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE PARKING LOT. IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED TWO MINUTES TO TURN ON MY SEAT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON INTERSTATE 20/59 DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COVER ON THE CAR, REPLACE MY PANTS AND PAY MY MEDICAL BILLS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SEAT I WILL CONTINUE TO SIT ON, AND MY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM HORRIFIED TO THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR RECURRENCE AND I CANNOT OVERCOME MY ORDEAL I AM DEVASTATED AND HAVE LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESSES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10254014January 6, 2009
VISIBILITY
FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST/DEFOGGER NOT OPERATING/BLOWING ON WINDSHIELD. IF WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO FOG OR FROST, THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH AIRFLOW TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. MANUFACTURER REFUSING TO FIX UNDER SAFETY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253781January 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. INTERMITTENT BUT OFTEN. SEEMS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY ISSUE IN VW PASSAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253800January 5, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION COIL FAILED AND WILL MAKE THE REPAIR AT THE COST OF $250. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY TRADED IN HIS VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DUE TO THE IDENTICAL COIL FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253543January 2, 2009
STEERING
2006 VW PASSAT WITH STEERING ISSUE. MESSAGE IN DASH INDICATES "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE." LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SAYS ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH 69,000 MILES. COST OF REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $2,000. THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING DAILY BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. AFTER SEARCHING VARIOUS INTERNET SITES IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER 2006 PASSAT OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, TRYING TO HAVE THEM COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE/DEFECT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON TREND FOR THE 2006 MODEL AND SHOULD POSSIBLY BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253448January 1, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE 2000 WITHOUT ISSUES. 2. IN MARCH 2004, SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND DIDN'T TURN OFF. 3. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACED IT FOR $1500. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULES. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DO GET A LOT OF THEM BUT VW HASN'T YET ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PART. I ALSO CALLED VW AND THEY DECLINED TO COVER THE PART. I'VE RECENTLY LOOKED INTO THIS AND APPEARS THAT IT'S HAPPENING TO MORE AND MORE PASSATS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253155December 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WENT TO START MY 05 PASSAT AND GOT SEVERAL ERROR WARNINGS: AIRBAG FAULT, ESP, CHECK ENGINE, ABSORBER INTERMITTENT WARNINGS. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) GOT WET FROM A (KNOWN BY VW) WATER LEAK PROBLEM FROM THE SUNROOF AND HVAC SYSTEM. VW HAS A RECALL TO TRY AND SEAL THE LEAKS, BUT WILL NOT FIX RESULTS OF THE LEAKS. I AM LUCKY I WASN'T GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TCM MALFUNCTIONED. I'VE RESEARCHED, AND THIS PROBLEM IS A RECURRING ONE WITH NOT ONLY PASSATS, BUT ALSO GOLF AND JETTA MODELS FROM THE LATE 90S TO 2005. A MALFUNCTIONING TCM ISN'T THE ONLY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY THE WATER LEAK. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE CAN ALSO GET WET AND MALFUNCTION, CAUSING SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES IF THIS OCCURS WHILE MOVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253167December 30, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS BRAKE FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253041December 29, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED IN HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STUTTERED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, STALLED, AND THEN COMPLETELY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED FOR A FEW SECONDS, BUT THEN LOST POWER AGAIN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALERS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,455 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,440.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252948December 28, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2000 PASSAT 4 MOTION BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE HAS FAILED. 82,000 MI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252954December 28, 2008
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY VW PASSAT 2006 2.0T TODAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE STOPPED FOR A SHORT BREAK. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I GOT THE "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" MESSAGE ON THE CAR COMPUTER. AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE. WHEN I CHECKED THE PASSAT OWNERS FORUM, I REALIZED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I DECIDED TO INFORM NHTSA ABOUT IT. I WILL SEE THE DEALER TOMORROW TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252967December 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IN THE 2004 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL ENGINE) THE BALANCE SHAFT & OIL PUMP ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN. THE CHAIN FAILED AT 101,000 MILES AND STOPPED ENGINE LUBRICATION INSTANTLY. REQUIRED UNSAFE MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC TO GET OFF ROAD TO A SAFE STOPPING SPOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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