Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10230578June 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP STATING: STOP! BRAKE FAILURE. SEE SERVICE MANUAL. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY HAD MY BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR THE ABS. ACCORDING TO VW IT IS A ABS CENTRAL MODULE FAILURE. REPLACING IT WILL COST OVER $1000. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD CORRECT. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT VW IS ALLOWED TO SCARE ITS CUSTOMERS INTO THINKING THEY ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF BRAKE FAILURE JUST TO GET THEM TO CORRECT AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT. CHECKING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 PASSAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230432June 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PUMP BOLT FAILURE CAUSING COMPLETE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230511June 10, 2008
STRUCTURE
MY 2001.5 PASSAT HAS FLOODED THREE TIMES, TWICE THROUGH THE POLLEN FILTER AND ONCE THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID $6000 FOR THE LAST REPAIR. THE ELECTRICAL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED TWICE. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THE SUN ROOF OPENS ON ITS OWN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, ENGINE OFF. RAIN WOULD AGAIN DESTROY THE ELECTRICAL WERE THIS TO HAPPEN DURING A STORM. I CHECK ON THE CAR EVERY NIGHT TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE ROOF IS CLOSED. VW WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THE VERY WORST HAPPENING WAS WHEN I HAD HAD THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK AND ATTENDED A VERY TRAGIC FUNERAL. THE HORN STARTED BEEPING AS IF AT A WEDDING. I DROVE OUT OF THE PROCESSION AND TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I CALLED FOR TOWING. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I WANT VW TO HONOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR CONSUMERS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH COULD COST $1000, AND THEY WOULD THEN DECIDE WHAT TO DO. I HAD VW PICK UP THE CAR AND FIX THE SIDE AIR BAG STRIP THAT HAD FALLEN AND HUNG OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE'S WINDOW. THEY CLAIM THEY NEVER SERVICED THIS. THEY ARE NOT TRUTHFUL IN THEIR SERVICE TO ME. HOW FOOLISH IT WOULD BE TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO FIX ...LIKE GIVING A THIEF KEYS TO THE HOUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230298June 9, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE AND THE AIR CONDITIONING BEGAN TO BLOW HOT AIR. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED WATER LEAKING FROM THE UNDERCARRIAGE. HE BELIEVES THAT THE HEATER CORE MAY HAVE FAILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 157,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230005June 5, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE HARD LINE MOUNTED ON THE FIRE WALL THAT GUIDES THE THREE FUEL LINES BROKE OR FAILED. PLASTIC FUEL LINE WHICH CRACKS OR IS DEFECTIVE LOCATED AT THE SITE WHERE THE LINES ARE CLAMPED BY A PLASTIC HOUSING. GASOLINE SPRAYS ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230022June 5, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PUMP BOLT SHEARED, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE AND STOP RUNNING. WAS STRANDED. NO WARNING GIVEN. DEALER REPLACES OIL PUMP BOLT AND RELATED DAMAGED PARTS (OIL PUMP, TIMING CHAIN). OVER 30 PEOPLE AT THIS FORUM HAVE EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZERO THREAD?ID=3462993 PLEASE MAKE VW OF AMERICA ISSUE A RECALL TO PREVENT THIS BOLT FAILURE FROM AFFLICTING OTHER OWNERS OF 2006 - 2007 3.6L PASSAT CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229881June 4, 2008
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ALL HEADLIGHT BULBS ON VEHICLE DO NOT LAST LONG AND OR DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY DIRECTLY FOLLOWING INSTALLATION OF NEW BULBS. HEADLIGHT BULBS REQUIRE REPLACEMENT WEEKS AND SOMETIMES DAYS FOLLOWING NEW INSTALLATION. THERE IS A DEFECT IN WIRING. CERTAIN TIMES A HEADLIGHT BULB WILL WORK WHILE THE CAR IS COLD, BUT GO OFF WHEN THE CAR BECOMES WARM OR HOT. DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR DRIVER OF CAR WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. ROADS ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE, ROAD SIGNS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. OTHER DRIVERS DO NOT SEE VEHICLE WELL IN THE DARK. THIS DEFECT IS WITH ALL HEADLIGHTS - DAYTIME RUNNING AND NIGHT DRIVING HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS AN ONGOING INCIDENT CONCERNING EACH OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEREFORE DATES DO NOT APPLY TO THIS DEFECT IN WIRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229925June 4, 2008
STEERING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, PARKING BRAKE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A CAR BRAND NEW AND EVER SINCE 1700 MILES IT'S BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST IT STARTED WITH WINDOWS NOT WANTING TO ROLL UP, THEY'D ROLL DOWN FIRST THEN UP. MY RADIO WAS STUCK ON LOUD AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR DOWN OR CHANGE RADIO STATIONS. THE PARKING BRAKE (ELECTRICAL) ENGAGED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, A HOSE CAME UNDONE AT 18K MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSED HEAVY CONVULSING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK RANDOMLY HAD "ERRORS", THE AIRBAG HAS "ERRORS", THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED VERY ROUGH WHICH MADE ME JOLT IN THE CAR AND STARTED MAKING MY NECK SORE. FOR EVERY INCIDENT MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED, THEY FIX THE PROBLEM AND A NEW ONE HAPPENS A WEEK LATER. I AM A VALET AND OTHER VW OWNERS SAY THE SAME THINGS HAPPEN TO THEIR CARS. SO I KNOW I HAVE A LEGIT COMPLAINT HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229721June 3, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS I HAVE SMELLED GAS WHEN I FILLED MY GAS TANK PAST HALF FULL. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON YOUR WEBSITE LAST MONTH AN CAME ACROSS THE VW PASSAT FUEL TANK SAFETY RECALL. SINCE MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP TO TAKE CARE OF YET ANOTHER PROBLEM, I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY GAS SMELL PROBLEM AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE RECALL. I TOLD THEM THAT IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE GAS TANK IS PAST HALF FULL AND TOLD THEM TO PUT GAS IN IT AND TEST IT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR THEY HADN'T DONE THE GAS TANK TEST. THE SERVICE ADVISOR LOOKED UP THE RECALL AND FOUND INFORMATION ON THE GAS TANK SAFETY RECALL R5 AND PRINTED OUT A FAQ SHEET. HE INFORMED ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE NEW TANK FOR THE RECALL AND HE EXPECTED THEM ON MAY 30TH. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT HIM AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE TANK REPLACED ONCE THEY HAD THE PARTS IN. I CALLED THE DEALER ON MAY 30TH AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR TODAY JUNE 3RD. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER SERVICE ADVISOR AND SHE COULDN'T FIND ANY VOLKSWAGEN RECALL COVERING MY VIN. THE SERVICE ADVISER I SPOKE TO WHEN I HAD PICKED UP MY CAR AFTER THE REPAIRS I HAD DONE IN MAY CAME OVER. HE RECALLED OBTAINING THE INFORMATION AND SEARCHED FOR IT AGAIN AND IT WASN'T LISTED. THEY LET ME CALL VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THERE WASN'T A SAFETY RECALL ON THE MY VOLKSWAGEN W8. I TOLD HIM THAT IT SMELLS LIKE GAS WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED PAST HALF FULL. HE SAID HE WOULD CONTACT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS AT AND SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. I READ THE INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE INVOLVING THIS RECALL AND IT SEAMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT ANY 1999- 2005 MODEL YEAR PASSAT WITH A GASOLINE ENGINE IS COVERED. I HAVE A 2002 VW PASSAT W8 WITH 4MOTION. ONE OF THE RESPONSES FROM VW LISTS VIN NUMBER RANGES, BUT MINE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE WITHIN THAT RANGE. I THINK THAT VW ERRED IN THEIR INVESTIGATION AND DIDN'T LOOK INTO THE W8. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229638June 2, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V256000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AT THE COST OF $250. HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229669June 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
ENGINE STARTED FINE, AND LET IT RAN FOR A MINUTE OR TWO ON DRIVE WAY. THEN SUDDENLY IT DIED. COMPUTER SCREEN DISPLAYED "STOP", OILS PRESSURE CAN, AND LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229446June 1, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1999 PASSAT 4 CYL HAS A FLASHING BRAKE AND A CONSTANT ABS ALARM LIGHT ON ALMOST ALL THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229213May 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I DROVE ABOUT TEN MILES UP THE CANYON PARKED THE CAR. THEN GOT A CALL ABOUT 15 MIN LATER TELLING ME MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD PUT IT OUT. I AM STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AND INSURANCE. IT LOOKED LIKE THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229090May 28, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED A HAZE AND/OR A FROSTED GLAZE OVER HIS HEADLIGHTS. OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND AFFECTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229007May 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
A BOLT IN THE OIL PUMP FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE SHUT OFF AT SPEED IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229012May 27, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER DRIVING THE CAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN APPEARING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DENSITY INCREASED RAPIDLY AND OWNER DROVE INTO A SAFEWAY PARKING LOT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IMMEDIATELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED AND BROKE ALL WINDOWS CAUSING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO BE RELEASED. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE AND BLACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229048May 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RADIO NOT FUNCTIONING, AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AIRBAG MALFUNCTION RECOGNIZED, OPERATION UNIT IN STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONS, NO COMMUNICATIONS WITH BRAKE CONTROL UNIT, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAUSES DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. HORN NOT FUNCTIONING NEARLY CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS WITHIN A MONTH. I DROVE OVER AN ISLAND TO AVOID ONE COLLISION FROM THE OTHER NON-ATTENTIVE DRIVER AND ENDED UP SCRAPING THE TRANSMISSION PAN. COST OF REPLACEMENT: $550. AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND DIAGNOSTICS, VW DEALERSHIPS STILL UNABLE TO FIX ANY OF THE ABOVE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228908May 26, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VW PASSAT IN JANUARY 2007. SINCE THEN I HAD TO HAVE THE HID HEADLIGHTS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE NOW HAD THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AND THE PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT BURN OUT. THUS I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS ON VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND SHE IS ALMOST LEGALLY BLIND IN ONE EYE. IN MY OPINION THE CONSTANT HEADLIGHT FAILURES (ESPECIALLY BOTH IN A TWO WEEK TIME FRAME) REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I APPRECIATE YOU INVESTIGATION AND FEEDBACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228649May 22, 2008
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., EQUIPMENT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RADIO WAS MALFUNCTIONING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEREO FAILED DUE TO UNKNOWN CAUSES, AND THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228522May 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I OWN A 2003 PASSAT 4-MOTION. I PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER IN JULY OF 2005 WHEN IT HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED TWO THINGS ABOUT THE CAR: FIRST, IT SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND THEN WHEN IT DOES FINALLY TAKE OFF, IT "LEAPS" FORWARD. SECOND, WHEN SHIFTING DOWN SOMETIMES, IT DOES NOT DO SO NORMALLY BUT WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE CAR BADLY AND MAKE A "CLUNKY" SOUND, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRY AND ACCELERATE AGAIN, LIKE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS JUST A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE CAR AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. OVERALL I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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