Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10235635July 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE OWNED 3 VWS AND HAVE ALWAYS MADE SURE TO STAY UP TO DATE ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. RECENT KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE LEAD US TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A REPAIR AT WHICH TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE HAD A MAJOR SLUDGE PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST ME $6900 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235533July 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT 4MOTION 1.8 TURBO. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY (WITHIN THE LAST MONTH) REPLACED THE #2 COIL. NOW TODAY EITHER ANOTHER COIL IS GONE OR THE SAME ONE. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT TO MY MECHANIC YET TO DETERMINE WHICH ONE IS BAD. BUT AFTER TALKING TO HIM HE RELATED TO ME THAT HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL # 2 COILS THIS YEAR ON THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE.. SO I AM JUST GUESSING THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM THIS TIME AROUND. MY VEHICLE HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT. IT WASN'T THE #2 COIL IT WAS THE #1 COIL. I AM GETTING REALLY DISGUSTED WITH THIS CAR AS FAR AS RELIABILITY IS CONCERNED. I AM PLANNING ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA IN THE FALL AND AM WONDERING IF I SHOULD TAKE A CASE OF COILS WITH ME. I WAS AT THE DEALERS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED & ASKED ABOUT RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY.. I THOUGHT IT A BIT ODD BECAUSE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS HAD SEVERAL COME THROUGH THIS YEAR WITH BAD COILS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235175July 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE LEAKED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL (~4 GALLONS IN 3 DAYS). NO FIRE, BUT THERE IS NOW A LARGE HOLE IN MY DRIVEWAY. SHOP SAYS LEAK IS FROM TOP OF ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235234July 21, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235047July 20, 2008
STRUCTURE
HEAT SHIELD IS HELD BY PLASTIC SCREWS WHICH EASILY BECOME DAMAGED, FALL OFF, OR ARE NOT REPLACED AFTER SERVICE. HEAT SHIELD WHICH PROTECTS THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE ENGINE FROM ROCKS AND OTHER DEBRIS, CAME OFF ON THE INTERSTATE. THE FRONT OF IT WAS SCRAPING THE PAVEMENT. I HAD PART REPLACED FOR $287.82. NOW VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PART, BUT ONLY FOR THE GASOLINE VERSION. SINCE I OWN A TDI, I AM OUT OF LUCK. IT IS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234877July 18, 2008
SEATS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
STARTED CAR UP FOR MORNING COMMUTE AND TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER TO 5. 5 MINUTES INTO THE COMMUTE A SMOKE SMELL FILLED THE CABIN. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I FOUND THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A DIME SIZE HOLE THROUGH MY CLOTH SEAT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE SINCE TAKING POSSESSION ON 2/14/04. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER THEY SOUNDED A BIT SURPRISED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVESTIGATE IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234655July 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THERE WAS PLASTIC COVERING THE REFLECTOR BOARD. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE WAS INFORMED THAT IF HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TOO HARD, IT COULD LOCK HIS WHEEL AND RESULT IN A CRASH OR HE COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234342July 15, 2008
TIRES
HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN 2006, TOOK CAR TO RECOMMEND INSURANCE SHOP. THEY REPLACE 3 TIRES, A WEEK LATER A BUBBLE POP UP ON THE OTHER TIRE. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE OTHER TIRE. YEAR LATER , LESS THAN 10,000 MILES, THE TIRE OUTSIDE WALL HAD SMALL CRACK AND GOT LARGER OVER TIME. I REPLACE THE TWO TIRES. WHILE REMOVING THE TIRES TO THE REAR. THE OTHER TIRE HAD A LARGE CRACK ON THE INSIDE UNKNOWN TO ME IF I DIDN'T REMOVED IT. DIDN'T CHECK THE OTHER TIRE AS OF YET. THE 3 TIRES ARE ROAD HUGGERS RADIAL GT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234469July 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER HITTING 100,000 MILES ON 2004 PASSAT, THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR LOW OIL PRESSURE. I TOOK IT IN TO VW AND THEY QUOTED ME $2,800 TO REPLACE ALL OIL LINES AND VACUUM LINES. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW ENGINES AND EVEN AFTER DOING THE $2,800 WORTH OF WORK, THE ENGINE WILL STILL FAIL WITHIN A YEAR. I HAVE GONE TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP TO PERFORM AN OIL FLUSH AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 500 MILES BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE GONE FOR 2 MORE OIL FLUSHES. NOW, THEY WILL DO 2 OIL FLUSHES EACH TIME. THE FIRST TIME, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SLUDGE THAT COMES OUT AND THE 2ND TIME IS CLEAR. THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE BUILD UP AND WILL EVENTUALLY RUIN THE ENGINE. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1.8T ENGINES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. IT IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL VW ENGINES, NOT JUST THE 1.8T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233777July 10, 2008
STRUCTURE
WATER LEAKED IN TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VW PASSAT. THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC CONTROLS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE FLOOR MAT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AUTO. THE WATER SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE TRANSMISSION DISABLING THE VEHICLE. A VW DEALER REPAIRED THE PASSAT BY REPLACING THE ELECTRONICS AT A COST OF $2250.00 TO US. THEY ALSO MODIFIED THE AIR INTAKE TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME WE HAD THE AUTO IN FOR CABIN WATER. THE SERVICE REP. TOLD ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CABIN AIR INTAKE AND THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL ON THE 2000, 2001 AND 2002 YEARS OF THE PASSAT. HE TRIED VW FOR WARRANTY BUT THEY DECLINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233795July 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND DRIVE SLUGGISH. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION AND THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITHIN MINUTES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A NEARBY VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO ITS PASSENGER SIDE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233800July 10, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE HAZARD LIGHTS ALSO STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND THE FAILURES WERE INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUE TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233661July 9, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP, COST $45. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP, COSTING ANOTHER $110 FOR THIS INFORMATION. A FEW DAYS LATER CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO VW DEALERSHIP, COST $155. THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE AND ALSO CHECK ALL OTHER RECALLS. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER THE DAY AFTER THE NO START. I AM ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR BOTH TOWS AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AS ALL COST INCURRED WERE DUE TO THIS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233674July 9, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER TO A LOCAL SERVICE STATION AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A REPRESENTATIVE AT THE SERVICE STATION. WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233507July 8, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8 TURBO. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233528July 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TURBO BOOSTER BECAME VERY HOT AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED A CERTAIN PART OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TURBO BOOSTER BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233531July 8, 2008
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS COME ON. FIRST CAME ON 10/2006 DEALER REPLACED MALFUNCTIONING R/FRONT SIDE AIRBAG, CONNECTERS TO HARNESS WERE FAULTY AS WELL. 1/2008 CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER REPAIRED FAULTY WIRING FOR PASSENGER SIDE. 5/2008 CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER DIO FOUND UPPER LIMIT EXCEEDED DRIVERS SIDE UNIT, FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING AGAIN. 6/2008 AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN, DEALER INSPECTION FOUND WIRES FOR DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR FAULTY/POOR CONTACT. 6/2008 TO PRESENT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN, HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN YET CAUSE I'M QUITE ANNOYED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND I PRAY TO GOD THAT IF I DO HAVE AN ACCIDENT ALL OF MY AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY BUT WITH ALL THE REPAIRS DONE I DON'T THINK THEY WILL. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233559July 8, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE DEALER WAS REPAIRING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THEY OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233579July 8, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2002 VW PASSAT INITIALLY BLEW THE #5 FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE A/C, STEERING WHEEL ITEMS (HORN, VOLUME CONTROL, ETC.) AND ITEMS ON THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AND SUBSEQUENTLY I EXPERIENCED SMOKING IN THE AREA OF THE SUN VISOR. REMOVING THE VISOR, I NOTICED FRAYED WIRING AND BURNT WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION THERE WAS SPARKING INSIDE THE ROOF AREA. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY CUT THE FRAYED WIRE AND TAPED IT UP, WITH A MORE COMPLETE REPAIR TO COME IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. DRIVING THE CAR HOME LATER THAT DAY THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AGAIN WITH THE ADDITION OF CRACKLING SOUNDS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER THAT EVENING. THE DEALER IS NOW LOOKING AT THE WIRING AND HAS FOUND AT LEAST ONE WIRE LEADING FROM THE VISOR AREA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FUSE BOX WHICH IS BARE BECAUSE IT'S INSULATION HAS BEEN BURNED OFF. THE FUSE THAT SHOULD HAVE BLOWN WAS MELTED INTO THE FUSE BOX. THE BURNED WIRE HAS ALSO BURNED OFF INSULATION ON OTHER WIRES WHICH WERE TOUCHING THE DAMAGED WIRE. THE DEALER IS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN ALL THE WIRES THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. CURRENT COST IS APPROXIMATELY $2400 WITH VOLKSWAGEN AGREEING TO PICK UP $900 OF THE COST. BASED ON INTERNET RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF FRAYED WIRING IN THE VISOR AREA OF THE 2002 PASSAT. I HAVE NUMEROUS POSTINGS BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BLOWN THE FUSE AND HAD THEIR VISORS REPLACED. OTHERS HAVE PULLED DOWN THE VISOR AND TAPED UP THE FRAYED WIRING IN THEIR VISOR. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW AND I BELIEVE THAT MY VISOR WIRING HAS BEEN FRAYING FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233357July 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN, AND THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, SO I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT OFF ONTO A SHOULDER. I HAVE ALSO BEEN BURNED MY THE HEATED SEAT WHEN THE WIRING OVERHEATS, AND IT HAS BOTH SHOCKED AND BURNED MY SKIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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