Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10244587October 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, INTERIOR LIGHTING, TIRES:TREAD/BELT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:TANK ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION = 2004 VW PASSAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORT SEVERAL FUEL CONSUMPTIONS PROBLEMS AT HOY FOX VW AND GAS ENDED UP LEAKING OUT OF FUEL TANK AND CAUSE A SPILL IN MY GARAGE AND DRIVE. HAZARD WAS INHALATION GAS IN A CLOSED IN AREA CAUSED HEAD ACHES/ NAUSEA/DIZZINESS/ FOR MY FAMILY AND I I HAVE HAD MUTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE THEN HAS BROKE DOWN ON ME TWICE IN LESS THAN 1 DAY'S TIME. ON 01 SEP 08 MY WIFE NOTICED AND OIL SPOT IN DRIVEWAY AFTER I LEFT TO GO OUT OF TOWN GRANTED WE HAVE BRAND NEW HOME AND THE VW WAS ONLY VEHICLE PARKED IN THAT SPOT SHE COULD REACH ME BECAUSE NO SERVICE WITH MY CELL PHONE BUT I ENDED UP BROKE DOWN OUTSIDE BIG SPRING ,TX THE CARE WAS SLUGGISH AND LEAKING OIL THIS TIME AND ON 03 SEP08 IN /TEXARKANA AFTER BEING IN SHOP ALLDAY 2SEP08 IT BROKE DOWN FOR A PREVIOUS CONDITION WITH IGNITION COILS. HOY FOXVW NOT ADMITTING THAT MAY HAVE PUT THE NEW OIL FILTER TO TIGHT TO CAUSE TO BREAKDOWN AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGE ON 28AUG08/29AUG08 FOR OTHER NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER I'M SURE IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE THEY TRYING TO ASSUME BECAUSE IT JUST HAD WENT OUT WARRANTY. THE ENGINE OIL COOLER WAS DAMAGED AND BURSTED WHEN PUT ON AT HOY-FOX VW BY A VW TECHNICIAN AFTER PUTTING THE OIL FILTER ON ENTIRELY TO TIGHT. LEAKED IN YARD AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AND THE SPILLED OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE VEHICLE (OVERHEATED) WHICH MAKE IT HARD FOR ME STOP WHILE DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SLICKNESS OF MIXTURE BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND OIL. ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BUT ENDED UP SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND LETTING COAST OVER TO MEDIAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244626October 7, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A BUS AND STRUCK A CURB INSTEAD. AS A RESULT, THE REAR AXLES WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE CRASH AND HE WAS UNINJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SALVAGEABLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE REAR AXLES WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244662October 7, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE INSTALLED FROM FACTORY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244558October 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD RELAY SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING, NO TURN SIGNALS...FIND OUT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE 2002 JETTA AND GOLFS BUT NOT ON THE PASSAT, SAME SWITCH IN ALL THE CARS MADE BY VW...THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD, WHY HASN'T VW RECALLED THE 2002 PASSATS AS WELL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244424October 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR DRIVEN TO AIRPORT PARKING ON 9/26 RUNNING FINE. CAR PICKED UP AT AIRPORT PARKING ON 10/4. ENGINE RUNNING A BIT ROUGH. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. WITHIN FIVE MILES, THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE BEHIND ENGINE BY FIREWALL LOW. BEFORE EMERGENCY/FIRE PERSONNEL COULD ARRIVE, CAR FULLY ENGULFED AND TOTALLY DESTROYED. CAR REGULARLY MAINTAINED. NO OIL/FLUID LEAKAGE. RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO EIGHT DAY IDLE IN PARKING GARAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244284October 3, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
IN WET WEATHER, MY ABS MODULE GOES HAYWIRE. WHEN TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, THEY STATE THAT MY BRAKES ARE FINE AND THAT THE CONTROL MODULE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS USE TO ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE, BE IT IS STARTING TO BECOME MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244179October 2, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED ON MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2000. EACH TIME IT FAILS, MY BRAKES EXPERIENCE A MASS OF MALFUNCTIONS WHICH INCLUDE RANDOM LOCK-UPS, BRAKE SHUDDER, ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10244213October 2, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MONTH BEFORE BUYING MY PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2000 VW PASSAT THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE FAILED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ALL OTHERS WHO TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTES AS I DO. I HAVE HELD OFF COMPLAINING, BUT OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF MEMBERS WITH THE EXACT ISSUE. OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY ONLY CONSTITUTES A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PASSAT OWNERS, YET WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAVEN'T KNOWN WHERE TO TURN. I PURCHASED THE PART ALONE FOR $1200 AND THEN HAD TO PAY ADDITIONAL LABOR COSTS. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A SCAM ON THE PART OF VW. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244263October 2, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T BEGAN EXHIBITING A FLASHING/BEEPING RED LIGHT TO INDICATE A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS FAILURE IS FAIRLY COMMON ON 1998-2001 PASSATS, BUT NO ACTION HAS EVER BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAD THE ABS MODULE REBUILT AND DID THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION WORK MYSELF; THE RESULT WAS $220 OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT DEALERSHIP SERVICE WORK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE SPENT WELL IN EXCESS OF $1,000. GIVEN THE APPARENT FAILURE RATE OF THIS MODULE AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A CORE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL (INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE THE REPAIR). THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244268October 2, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T BEGAN EXHIBITING A FLASHING/BEEPING RED LIGHT TO INDICATE A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE LIGHT ACTIVATES EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR, BUT DOES NOT TURN ON UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE WARM. THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONAL IN THIS STATE, WHICH MEANS THE CAR IS DRIVABLE, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SAFE UNDER PANIC STOP OR REDUCED TRACTION CONDITIONS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON ON 1998-2001 PASSATS (AND AUDI A4S) WITH THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE. HOWEVER, NO ACTION HAS EVER BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. I MAY OPT TO HAVE THE ABS MODULE REBUILT BY A THIRD PARTY, AND DO THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION WORK MYSELF; THE RESULT WOULD BE AT LEAST $200 OUT OF POCKET. OUTRAGEOUSLY, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT VWOA DEALERSHIP SERVICE WORK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $1,000. THE APPARENT FAILURE RATE OF THIS MODULE, AND THE FACT THAT IT DEGRADES THE OPERATION OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL SAFETY FEATURE OF A CAR (THE BRAKES), MAKE IT MY OPINION THAT IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. RECALL ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE COMPENSATION FOR OWNERS WHO HAVE UNDERTAKEN REPAIRS, AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY MODULE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244123October 1, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS / BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ON DASHBOARD. IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, BUT IT GETTING MORE COMMON. IT IS NOT A CONSTANT WARNING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ON EVERY DRIVE OF THE VEHICLE. HAVE READ THAT IT IS COMMON ON THIS ERA OF VEHICLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244177October 1, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS MODULE IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T HAS GONE BAD. THIS FAULT CAME WITHOUT NOTICE OF ANY SYMPTOMS AND COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED. THE WARNING LAMP AND TONE APPEAR EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY INDEPENDENT VOLKSWAGEN MECHANICS AND MANY PASSAT OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244001September 30, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE "IMPORTANT STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WITHOUT MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244071September 30, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AT NO WARNING AND UNEXPECTED. EACH TIME IGNITION TURNED ON IT BEEPS 3 TIMES AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON. THIS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING THIS BAD. I JUST GOT THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 10 MONTHS WITH 106,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE 2ND OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243870September 29, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNKNOWN DEFECT MY LIFE WAS IN BIG DANGEROUS.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243901September 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I STARTED MY VEHICLE, AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS I SMELLED BURNING. I SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND NOTICED SMOKE BELLOWING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. I LIFTED HOOD AND FOUND AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS ON TOP OF ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND MELTING. I WAS ABLE TO BORROW PLIERS FROM SOMEONE AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING STATING THAT THE COIL HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT. I ASKED THEM HOW I CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN PARTS ARE REPLACED AND THERE REPLY WAS " THIS IS VERY RARE". I HAVE A BABY LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND IT SCARES ME TO DEATH TO THINK WHAT MAY OF HAPPENED IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243619September 27, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I HAVE A '00 VW PASSAT, AND BELONG TO PASSATWORLD.COM I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2000, AND NOW THE CAR JUST HAS 90K ON THE ODOMETER. MY ABS CONTROL MODULE JUST WENT BAD, AS MANY MANY VW AND AUDI OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. I THINK THIS IS WAY TOO SOON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, HAVE KEPT THE CAR IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, HAVE FOLLOWED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES, ETC. FOR SUCH A POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT (ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL, WHICH THE MODULE CONTROLS,) YOU'D THINK VW WOULD USE A LONGER LASTING PART THAT IS NOT PRONE TO EARLY FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243527September 26, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS HAD HIS AIR BAGS REPAIRED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER. THE CONTACT HAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER EVERY TIME THE ILLUMINATION OCCURS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243564September 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE "STOP VEHICLE DO NOT DRIVE", AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE ENGINE. THE PREVIOUS REPAIR REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN AT THE DEALER FOR ONE MONTH. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. IN ADDITION, DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, FIVE INCHES OF WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL. THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE WATER LEAKAGE THAT CAUSED GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT CONSISTS OF INSTALLATION OF A DRAINAGE FILTER AND FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THESE MALFUNCTIONS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243465September 25, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED 3 TIMES, TO WHICH I ADHERED. TWO MONTHS AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, WITH 45,000, THE ABS SENSOR MODULE FAILED. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FAILED AS THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS INFREQUENTLY RETURN TO NORMAL STATE; WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM, ONLY TO RETURN TO ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, STOP, SERVICE MANUAL, LIGHTS FLASHING. VW OF AMERICA OFFERED $300 TOWARDS A $1024.00 REPAIR ONLY TO RETRACT OFFER WHEN I VOICED I COULD NOT BUY ANOTHER VW NOR RECOMMEND TO ANYONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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