Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10212042December 16, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
MY ABS LIGHT ON MY 1999 PASSAT 1.8T COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND STAYS ON. WHEN IT DOES, THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO FLASHES. I CAN PARK MY CAR OVERNIGHT. WHEN I RESTART IT, IT IS OFF. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT WAYS, IT WILL COME ON AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211971December 15, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TIE ROD ENDS EXCESSIVE WEAR. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF NYS INSPECTION @60K IN 07. TIE RODS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER RECALL IN 2001@ 19K. DIFFERENT RECALL IN 05 @ 50K FOR INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT OF CONTROL ARMS RESULTED IN INSPECTION ONLY. DEALER DID NOT FIND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF CONTROL ARMS OR TIE ROD ENDS. I DOUBT DEALERS INTEGRITY OR THAT THE SERVICE TECH WAS AWARE OF PREVIOUS TIE ROD REPLACEMENT. OBVIOUSLY THE ACCEPTABLE WEAR WOULD BE GREATER HAD THE PARTS BEEN IN SERVICE LONGER. DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS LEAD TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE STEERING LINKAGES AND BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE AND HAS BEEN USED LESS THAN 6K A YEAR SINCE PURCHASE IN 05. COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT WAS $150 PARTS (MOOG TIE ROD ENDS), $90 LABOR, $75 FOR THE REQUIRED ALIGNMENT AND NYS TAX = ~$330. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN AND EXCESSIVE WEAR FOR A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST A 60K LIFE EXPECTANCY. IT WOULD BE NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE TO TRAVEL 20K BETWEEN INSPECTIONS. FOR THE DEALER TO OK AT 50K AND AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION FACILITY TO CONDEMN AT 60K IS SUSPICIOUS. THE PARTS WERE VISIBLY WORN AND DEFECTIVE BY PERSONAL INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211928December 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 VW PASSAT 1.8L TURBO HAS CAUSED IRREVERSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211870December 13, 2007
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT WORK. ON FOGGY AND RAINY DAYS AIR CONDITIONING IS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN A GOOD VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL 2006 AND 2007 VW PASSAT MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211536December 12, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1) BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED IN WET CONDITIONS --- ONCE IN POURING RAIN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE, AND ONCE DURING THE FIRST DRIVE ON A COLD MORNING (JUST BELOW FREEZING) AFTER AN INCH OR TWO OF SNOW. 2) IN BOTH CASES, THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVED ONLY A LITTLE (AN INCH OR TWO PERHAPS?) AND THEN BECAME VERY HARD, NOT MOVING ANY FURTHER WITH ADDITIONAL PUSHING, AND PROVIDING VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER (PERHAPS 5% OF NORMAL BRAKING?). FORTUNATELY BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEED, AND THE HAND BRAKE WAS NOT AFFECTED. IN BOTH CASES, THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AGAIN BY THE TIME WE HAD ORGANIZED OURSELVES TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE --- BOTH TIMES, THIS WAS DAYS LATER (THOUGH WE HAD NOT DRIVEN THE CAR); IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, WE LEFT THE CAR ON THE STREET OVERNIGHT BEFORE PUTTING IT IN OUR DRIVEWAY THE NEXT MORNING, AND THE BRAKES WERE STILL NOT WORKING AT THAT TIME. 3) IN THE FIRST INCIDENT (OCCURING IN AUGUST '07?), WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AT A SERVICE STATION, LEARNED OF A VW RECALL INVOLVING WATER LEAKING THAT COULD AFFECT THE BRAKES AND LEAK WATER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (WHICH WAS ALSO HAPPENING DURING HEAVY RAIN), AND THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (PIAZZA ACURA/VW OF ARDMORE, PA) FOR SERVICE --- THEY REPAIRED THE LEAK PROBLEM AND CLEANED THE INTERIOR, BUT I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THEY DID ANYTHING ABOUT THE BRAKES (WE MAY NOT HAVE MENTIONED THIS SPECIFICALLY TO THEM, SINCE IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL). THE CAR SEEMED FINE AFTERWARD. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT (ON 12/6/07), WE ARE ONCE AGAIN HAVING THE CAR CHECKED OUT AT OUR REGULAR SERVICE STATION (WE HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED BY THEIR DIAGNOSTIC SKILLS IN THE PAST). SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY BRAKE PROBLEM, AND WE PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NEXT IF OUR REGULAR STATION MECHANICS CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211253December 9, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE FAILED. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED REGULAR ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECS. THE COST IS $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. IT FAILED ON A VERY COLD NIGHT TRAVELING THROUGH A WINTER STORM. TRY DRIVING A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. WRECKED DUE TO THE INABILITY TO SEE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211046December 6, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S SON HEARD METAL RUBBING NEAR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER LINKS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,490 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211082December 6, 2007
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, TIRES:SIDEWALL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
I'VE SPENT OVER $8000 TOWARDS VW DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE HORN, RADIO, HOMELINK, CLIMATE CONTROL (A/C AND HEAT) REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, HEATED SEATS, DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS, AND DEFROSTER FLAP. VW REPLACED ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT MODULE, BUT ONLY FIXED THE HORN. VW STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE EVEN AFTER I PAID FOR THEM TO FIX THE ABOVE PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE STILL UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. I REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM VOLKSWAGEN FOR THE REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND RELATED EXPENSES. CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE: 127,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210944December 5, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
FLASHER SWITCH IS FAILING. TURN SIGNALS BLINK ONCE OR TWICE AND THEN STOP. SAME WITH HAZARD LIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210841December 4, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS MODULE HAS FAILED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ($1400 FOR THE PART (!) PLUS LABOR) FOR A SAFETY-RELATED FEATURE. IN CHECKING AROUND THE INTERNET I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (VW PASSAT, LATE 1990S MODELS). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210280November 29, 2007
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT. I'VE HAD TWO LEAKS INTO THE FRONT RIGHT FLOORBOARD IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS FROM EITHER A SUNROOF DRAIN LINE OR A AIR CONDITIONER. THE LEAKS HAVE PRODUCED SO MUCH WATER THAT IT HAS GONE TO RIGHT BACK FLOORBOARD. THE PLASTIC ON THE INTERIOR IS WORN OFF. THE ASHTRAY FELL APART. THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE ALIGNMENT RIGHT SO I KEEP GOING THROUGH TIRES AND THE TIRES I DO HAVE SOUND UNEVEN WHEN I ROTATE THEM, MAKING ME THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM. HOVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES IN 1 AND 1/2 YEARS. THERE'S A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO FIRES IN THE ENGINE AND A RECALL ON OIL SLUDGE. THIS CAR IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S VERY POORLY ENGINEERED. ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. VW HAS ON A BUNCH OF RECALLS ALREADY ON THIS MODEL, TO MANY FOR ME TO FEEL SAFE WITH. I'M ABANDONING THE CAR TODAY, TRADING IT IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN. NO CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES. AND THE ISSUES CONTINUE TO ROLL IN. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON...ANOTHER THING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210348November 29, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
AT APPROXIMATELY 9:35 PM, NOVEMBER 29, 2007, I ENTERED MY 2003 VW PASSAT AND STARTED THE ENGINE. THE AIR TEMPERATURE SHOWED 39 DEGREESF SO I SWITCHED ON THE CONTROL FOR THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO HIGH. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE CAR IT SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I AM A NON-SMOKER. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SMELL WAS FROM INSIDE THE CAR AND I BEGAN TO EVALUATE POSSIBLE SOURCES FOR A FIRE SINCE THE SMELL SEEMED TOO CLOSE TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BEGAN TO FEEL AROUND THE SEAT SINCE I KNEW THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON AND SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT AN AREA UNDER MY LEFT THIGH WAS HOT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION, WITH MY HAND, REVEALED THAT MY COAT FELT BURNED OR MELTED AND THE SEAT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE AREA SEEMED TO COOL OFF SLIGHTLY SO I CONTINUED HOME - ABOUT A 10 MINUTE DRIVE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME I CHECKED THE SEAT AND MY COAT. THE SEAT WAS STILL WARM TO THE TOUCH 25 MINUTES AFTER THE SWITCH HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. THERE IS A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER, WITH FLECKS OF BLACK SOOT AROUND THE EDGES, ABOUT 4.75 INCHES FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT AND 2.5 INCHES IN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. MY COAT HAS AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 0.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER THAT IS EITHER MELTED OR THE SEAT IS MELTED ONTO MY COAT. THE INCIDENT WILL BE REPORTED TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER ON 30 NOVEMBER 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210215November 28, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARMS MAKING NOISE.. NEEDS REPLACEMENT..WV MANUFACTURING DEFECT... MOST SUCH VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM AND ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. WV NEED TO DO A RECALL IN THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210117November 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 VW PASSAT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHICH SHUT DOWN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V256000 I WAS INFORMED BY VW CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VIN#, DESPITE IT BEING A 1996 PASSAT. I THINK IT SHOULD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209899November 26, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. AS OF NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V375000). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,716.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209930November 26, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A THIRD IGNITION COIL FAILURE IN 18 MONTHS, THE LAST ONE ALLOWING RAW GASOLINE INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE, DESTROYING THE TURBO AND CAUSING A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLACK SMOKE. I LOST POWER WHILE DRIVE, WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN A SAFE MANNER AND EVENTUALLY SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION. ALL COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10209972November 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WE WERE DRIVING UP TO THE BASE OF THE PALM SPRINGS TRAM ON A COOL DAY AT A RELATIVELY SLOW RATE OF SPEED AND PARKED AT THE VALLEY STATION. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS APPARENTLY OPERATING NORMALLY DURING THE ENTIRE DRIVE. A FEW MINUTES AFTER PARKING, WE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR, AND UPON OPENING THE HOOD DISCOVERED THE FIRE. SINCE TRAM SECURITY WAS THERE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY QUICKLY. THE INSULATION WAS BURNED AND THE CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER. IT WAS TOWED TO INDIO, CA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209976November 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209867November 25, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
ALL 4 UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT 62,500 MILES. OEM CONTROL ARMS ARE UNFIT FOR PURPOSE AS DESIGNED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY VWOA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209303November 19, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS WISH FOR VW OF NORTH AMERICA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, ETC. (THE WHOLE FRONT SUSPENSION OF PASSATS) DUE TO THE OBVIOUS FAILURE OF THESE SYSTEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF A MECHANIC IN STOUGHTON, WI WHO HAS REPLACED THIS SYSTEM ON 3 PASSATS THIS MONTH ALONE AND MY CAR IS NEXT. WE'RE TALKING TO THE TUNE OF $1800.00-$2000.00 FOR PARTS ALONE. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONE IS COMPLETELY HANDCUFFED BECAUSE ONE'S CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IF THIS ISSUE IS NEGLECTED. FURTHER, WHEN ONE CONTACTS A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (ZIMBRICK VW OF MADISON, WI) AND INQUIRES ABOUT THIS KIT TO REBUILD THE FRONT END, THE PARTS MANAGER ADMITS THAT THEY KEEP MANY OF THESE KITS IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. SO, WHY IS VW OF NORTH AMERICAN IGNORING THE OBVIOUS? COULD IT BE THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT A HANDSOME AMOUNT OF MONEY? BETTER TO LET THE CONSUMER TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS ISSUE AND HOPE IT EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY? PLEASE HELP!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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