Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10252596December 22, 2008
STEERING
STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF VERY OFTEN. VW DEALER REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252063December 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS
DEC 12TH 2008 THE INTERIOR OF MY PASST WAS FLOODED WITH WATER, VW SERVICE REMOVED 10 + GALLONS OF WATER WHICH ENTERED FROM AIR PLENUM /POLLEN FILTER HOSING(CABIN AREA). SERVICE INFORMED ME OF THE P9 RECALL FOR THE PASSATS MANUFACTURED NOV '00 TO DEC '05. BUT, VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP ME THEY SAID MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE COMPUTERS ARE ON THE FLOOR OF CAR. AIR BAG IS IN DEFAULT DAMAGE FROM ELECTRICAL DAMAGE FROM WATER DAMAGE.. MY TRANS MOD IS WRECKED FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, JUST THE PART ALONE WILL COST $1,300. I HAVE LOST WORK AND CAN NOT DRIVE. THE MAKE OF CAR & YEAR IS IN RECALL SO WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED?! SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252121December 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STOP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WITHIN SECONDS, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A MASSIVE OIL DEPOSIT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251913December 16, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE TRUNK ON MY 06 PASSAT WON'T ALWAYS STAY CLOSED. NOTHING IN PARTICULAR PRECIPITATED THE FIRST EVENT. I HAVE TO SLAM IT SHUT EVERY TIME AND IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO CLOSE. I WAS REAR-ENDED IN MARCH 2008 AND THE TRUNK WAS REPLACED. THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK. THE ORIGINAL TRUNK WAS NOT WANTING TO LATCH PROPERLY AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK DOES THE EXACT SAME THING. IT MUST BE SOMETHING ABOUT 06 PASSAT TRUNKS. I DID NOTICE THAT BEFORE THE TRUNK HAD ISSUES CLOSING, IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN I PRESSED THE TRUNK BUTTON ON THE KEY. ONCE AGAIN, EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WITH BOTH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251930December 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VW PASSAT 2003, PURCHASED01/09/03, 4 MOTION SEDAN, FOR $32,766.50. ON 10/7/2004, I WENT THROUGH A 2" OR LESS, RAIN PUDDLE. BECAUSE OF THE AIR INTAKE ON THE PASSAT LOCATION BEING VERY LOW, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE WATER INTAKE IN THE AIR INTAKE PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND COST $11,077.53. THE CAR MILEAGE WAS 29,143. VW REFUSED TO PAY, SAYING IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFAULT IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO PAY THE $11,077.53 TO KEEP A VEHICLE THAT I HAD PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. IT WAS 1/3 THE COST OF THE NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 29,143 MILEAGE. THE AMOUNT OF RAIN CAN BE DETERMINED ON THE DAY IT HAPPENED, IN MIDDLEBURY, IN. I DID CONTACT CARTALK, AFTER NO RESULT FROM VW, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO POST A RECALL, BUT IT IS STILL SOMETHING I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED IN 2004. I DO STILL OWN THE CAR, BECAUSE OF MY INVESTMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER $44,000, BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE COMPARED TO THIS ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251963December 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
WE HAVE A 2002 AND A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEDAN AND WAGON. BOTH HAVE SUFFERED MOTOR MOUNT LEAKAGE AND BOTH HAVE BROKEN WATER PUMP DISPELLERS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP PARTS AND ARE SAVING UP TO REPLACE MOUNTS ON BOTH VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WEAK PART FOR VOLKSWAGEN. WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING TO GET SOMETHING FIXED WHICH IS NOT A TYPICAL REPAIR FOR AUTOMOBILES FROM OTHER COMPANIES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252040December 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NEED TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE BANK OF CAM ADJUSTER. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH PART. COST TO REPLACE @$6,000. NO HELP FROM VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251774December 15, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND TO A AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ABS MODULE IS BAD AND WILL COST AROUND $900.00 TO FIX. THE BRAKE LINES AND LEVELS ARE OKAY AND THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE GOOD AS WELL. IT SEEMS THAT THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODEL FOR MY YEAR AND MAKE HAS RECENTLY BEEN REPORTED AS FAULTY. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE 98-01 MODEL ABS MODULES SHOULD BE LASTING LONGER OR AT LEAST THE DURATION OF THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE BOSCH 5.3 AND 5.3I ABS MODULES IN THE PASSAT HAVE A SERIOUS INTERNAL DEFECT (BAD MANUFACTURING PROCESS) THAT WILL SURFACE AFTER 1-6 YEARS OF SERVICE. IF THE BRAKES AND ABS ARE ACTUALLY FINE, THEN VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE FAULTY ABS MODULES WITH UPGRADES. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT YOUR BRAKES MAYBE FINE BUT YOU CANNOT LEGALLY DRIVE BECAUSE OF A FAILED STATE INSPECTION. $900.00 IS THE WAY TO FIX IT SAYS THE DEALER. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES SERVICED ON THE REGULAR BY AND BEEN TOLD THAT THEY'RE FINE, BUT NOW THE ABS LIGHT IS SAYING OTHERWISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251871December 15, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND DROPPED DOWN APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS PINNED HALFWAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE OTHER HALF UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AND PASSED AWAY AT THE SCENE. THE OTHER PASSENGER, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, A CONCUSSION, AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED HIS BODY WITHIN THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT A FRIEND REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000. UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN UPDATED 02/04/09. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10251738December 14, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILED ABS MODULE AT 120,000 MILES. TYPICALLY A $1000+ REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251546December 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS REFERENCE A VERY SPECIFIC VEHICLE, I.E. NAMELY THE 2005-2005 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL) CAR, BOTH SEDAN AND STATION WAGON VERSION, WITH THE VW BHW ENGINE. WHAT STARTED OUT AS AN OCCASIONAL NEED TO REPLACE THE CHAIN THAT DRIVE THE OIL PUMP, BECAME A CERTAINTY THAT THE CHAIN WOULD BREAK. IF THE CHAIN BREAKS, YOU LOOSE OIL PRESSURE IMMEDIATE, AND THE ENGINE IS GOING TO SEIZE (NOT TO MENTION THE CHAIN ITSELF FLOPPING AROUND IN THE CRANK AREA WHICH COULD LODGE IN THE DRIVE SYSTEM AND DO THE SAME). IN ANY SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE ACCELERATING, THAT IS GOING TO BE CATASTROPHIC , AND CERTAINLY ANY HIGHER SPEED ON A FREEWAY/HIGHWAY BEING THE SAME) VW HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND HAS NOW ISSUED A TSB ON THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL. THE CHANGE IS TO REMOVE THE CHAIN DRIVE SYSTEM AND CONVERT THE ENGINE TO A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. WHAT THIS DOES TO THE COUNTER BALANCER SHAFT IS UNKNOWN (I.E. WHAT CAUSED WHAT TO FAIL HAS NOT HAD ANY INDICATION FROM VW). WW SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE MANDATED TO RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES WITH THE TDI BHW ENGINE AND OR ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN BEFORE THE 100K TIMING BELT CHANGE INTERVAL LISTED IN THE MANUAL AND HAVE THAT TSB CHANGED TO A RECALL AND SAFETY REPAIR. ANY OWNER HEARING THE SIGNATORY NOISE OF THE FAILURE DEVELOPING SHOULD HAVE THAT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NOT LATTER THAN THE 100K POINT. THIS IS BASED ON A SURVEY OF A FEW AT 40 TO 60K, MOST HAVE IT DEVELOPING BY 100K (IF NOT FAILED OR CLOSE TO FAILURE AT THAT POINT. ALL OTHER VW DIESEL ENGINE USE A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251558December 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2005 VW PASSAT GLS TDI SEDAN DIESEL AND THE OIL PUMP BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING OIL PUMP DRIVE CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND SPROCKET ARE BAD AND MAKING A HORRENDOUS NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 60,000 MILES BUT, IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. THE VW DEALER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAS NO IDEA OF SUCH A PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH HAS PROVEN OTHERWISE. IT IS SAID THAT IF SUCH A FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DISASTER COULD RESULT. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH ENTAILS THE REMOVAL OF THE WHOLE OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACING IT WITH A GEAR DRIVEN ASSEMBLY. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FACTORY DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE TO WHERE VW ISSUES AN IMMEDIATE SERVICE BULLETIN FOLLOWED BY A MANDATORY RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251443December 10, 2008
VISIBILITY
MY LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LIGHT KEPT CHIMING IN MY CAR EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR WAS SHUT. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VW PASSAT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A $400 COST. THE WIPER MOTOR THAT BROKE, WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE LOCK, WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I NOTICED RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART IN NEWER MODELS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251295December 10, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
DIESEL FUEL FILL BACK PRESSURE OVERFLOW. 2005 VW PASSAT TDI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251405December 10, 2008
VISIBILITY
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WINDOWS FALL DOWN DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC CLIPS BREAKING THAT NORMALLY HOLD THEM IN PLACE. WINDOWS FALL DOWN INTO DOORS DISTRACTING DRIVERS ATTENTION FROM ROAD AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER SECURITY IS NOT ASSURED WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED DUE TO THIS COMMON DEFECT. VW IS AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT AND FIXED ON SOME JETTAS BUT NOT PASSATS. NOR WILL THEY MAKE AVAILABLE A REPLACEMENT PLASTIC CLIPS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF YOU WANT THIS FIXED YOU MUST BUY THE ENTIRE WINDOW REGULATOR RATHER THAN THE SINGLE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT APPARENTLY BECOME BRITTLE WITH AGE AND FAIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251410December 10, 2008
VISIBILITY
ON RAISING THE WINDOW, THE GLASS FALLS INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH FRONT AND REAR DOORS, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. EACH TIME, THE DIAGNOSIS IS THE SAME: THE "REGULATOR" FAILED. REPAIRS COST APPROXIMATELY $400 PER WINDOW. MY WIFE AND I OWN IDENTICAL CARS AND OF THE EIGHT WINDOWS, FOUR HAVE FAILED. AFTER ROUGHLY $1600 FOR THE FOUR WINDOWS, I'M LOSING PATIENCE. A COWORKER OWNS A SIMILAR CAR AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251193December 9, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. HE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT RELEVANT RECALLS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NONE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP), BUT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251119December 8, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. LIGHTS FLASH ON DASH, NO ABS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250983December 7, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SPRING 2008, EXPERIENCED WATER IN CABIN DUE TO FAULTY SEALS/DRAINAGE. WINTER 2008, EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE RELATED TO PREVIOUS WATER INTRUSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250987December 7, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILURE OF ABS MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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