Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10209363November 19, 2007
STRUCTURE
MY 2003 VW PASSAT WAGON FLOODED DURING A RAINSTORM BECAUSE THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL FAILED. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE COMPUTER IS MOUNTED ON THE FLOOR, THAT WAS DAMAGED AND THE BILL IS SIGNIFICANT. *TR MY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT REP (BOSTON VW) TOLD ME THAT HE RECOMMENDS CLEANING LEAVES OFF THE CAR 2 TO 3 TIMES PER DAY IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. THAT SEEMS LIKE AN UNREASONABLE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT TO PREVENT AN ISSUE THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN PREVIOUSLY WITH OTHER CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209201November 17, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
2004 PASSAT 1.8T CAUGHT FIRE AFTER A COIL PACK FAILED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED. I ONLY DROVE 5 MILES AFTER THE COIL PACK FAILED TRYING TO LIMP BACK TO THE DEALER WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. I PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209104November 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PAY $1500 FOR USED 2002 PASSAT VW TWO YEARS AGO NOW DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $ 6700 FOR NEW ENGINE. OLD ENGINE WAS DAMAGE DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE. I SUBMITTED REGULAR OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND WAS DENIED WARRANTY. MY PASSAT HAS 84,000 MILE AND ONLY TWO YEARS OF RIDING ENJOYMENT. MY CAR SITTING AT DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. PLEASE HELP CAR NEEDED FOR WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208907November 14, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SEAL TWICE. ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE BREATHER TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208680November 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 PASSAT 1.8L TURBO. CAR'S ENGINE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DWIGHT HARRISON VOLKSWAGEN. THEY CHECKED THE OIL PRESSURE AND SAID IT WAS FINE. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND SAID THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY NOT USING A VW OIL FILTER. NOT ONE MENTION OF THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PREVALENT WITH THIS ENGINE. DROVE THE CAR FOR AROUND 5000 MILES WITHOUT ANY MORE PROBLEMS. THEN THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOWED THE CAR INTO HERITAGE VW WHO SAID IT COULD BE AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM BUT THAT I'LL HAVE TO AUTHORIZE 5 HOURS OF LABOR TO TELL FOR SURE (ABOUT $500). I CANNOT FIND ALL OF MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND VW WON'T ADVISE IF THEY WILL COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR UNTIL I SPEND THE $500. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO AFTER THEY'VE TAKEN MY CAR APART AND I'LL ALREADY SPENT $500 GETTING A DIAGNOSIS? I NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER VW SAID THEY SENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2004. I'VE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT VW DEALERSHIPS AFTER THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM IN 2004 YET THE DEALERSHIP NEVER ONCE ASKED IF I'D LIKE TO PUT IN SYNTHETIC OIL. DON'T THEY HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE TURBO ENGINE? DON'T THE DEALERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEM WHEN YOU ARE GETTING THE OIL CHANGED? THIS IS TYPICAL OF VW DEALERSHIPS - THEY WANT YOU TO SPEND MONEY WHILE THEY HAVE A GUESSING GAME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY DID THIS WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAD, THE COOLING SYSTEM AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208727November 12, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T, A BRAKE FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEIR COMPUTER COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTROL MODULE AND IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO TROUBLESHOOT THE REASON. THEY SUGGESTED A BRAKE FLUSH AND I AGREED. I ALMOST ENDED UP IN AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY AND MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FULLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT DIFFICULTIES HAVING THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. TO MY SURPRISE, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. MORE TO MY SURPRISE IS THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL; I AM DISAPPOINTED IN VW AND AGENCIES PROTECTING OUR SAFETY ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208587November 10, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THERE IS AN UNSAFE THROTTLE LAG ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6 LITER. APPROX 4 SEC DELAY WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE CAR COMES TO A STAND STILL OR IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER, MERGING, PASSING AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU'VE DEPRESSED THE PEDAL APPROX. 3/4 TO AN INCH OF PEDAL TRAVEL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHES AND ACCELERATES AT WHAT FEELS LIKE HALF TO FULL THROTTLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208480November 9, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
KNOWN ISSUE "VIBRATING HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY", DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AT DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO VIBRATE CAUSING REPEATED HEADLAMP BULB FAILURE. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209397November 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CHECK ENGINE AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE MADE A WHINING NOISE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208467November 8, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FRONT END NOISE WAS DIAGNOSED BY VW SERVICE AS MISSING AND LOOSE RACK AND PINION STEERING BOLTS, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND NORMAL USE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THIS IS NOT COVERED. SUCH A FLAW IN STEERING INTEGRITY SHOULD GENERATE A RECALL - BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208164November 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1.8L TURBO ENGINE WITH 51,000 MILES, STILL UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. OIL PRESS/STOP ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY. FIRST TIME WAS THE SUMMER 07. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED CHANGING THE OIL, WHICH I HAD DONE 2K MILES AND 2 MONTHS PREVIOUS, BUT DID AGAIN. THAT WORKED, NO OTHER ADVISE BY DEALER. NO OCCURRENCE AGAIN UNTIL NOV 07. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION REVEALED SLUDGE AND COKING. VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY TYPE OF REPAIR WITHOUT RECEIPTS PROVING MAINTENANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL. I DID ALL MY OWN OIL CHANGES ON SCHEDULE BUT DID NOT KEEP RECEIPTS FOR OIL/FILTER. THE $130+ DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY EITHER. ADDITIONALLY, DEALER SAID THE WARRANTY WAS VOID BECAUSE I HAD AN OTHER THAN VW OIL FILTER ON. REPAIR ESTIMATE IS $3,000 TO REBUILD ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208205November 7, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FROM A STOP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND TO OTHERS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND OTHERWISE. THE DELAY IN THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IS TROUBLING ON NEW VEHICLES IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207950November 5, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT EVERY 15,000 MILES, WHICH IS ABOUT FOUR TIMES FASTER THAN A NORMAL VEHICLE. THIS IS UNEXPECTED ON A VEHICLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND COULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. IN FEBRUARY OF 2006, AT 25,359 MILES, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THIS POSSIBILITY. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,722 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,359.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207805November 3, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. BIG LETTERS SAYING TO STOP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207726November 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE REVS MORE THAN NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4800 AND IT HAPPENED AT 4780. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207536October 31, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WORD "STOP" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE ABS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207458October 30, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAULT LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207327October 29, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY CAR EXPERIENCED A FUEL PUMP FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN A RECALL NOTICE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE. THE VIN NUMBER OF MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE RANGE OF RECALLED VEHICLES. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (VW) THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. WELL, THE CAR SURE WAS AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207246October 28, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2000 VW PASSAT EBTCM (ABS MODULE) FAILURE @ 80K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206976October 26, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
AFTER RAINSTORM, OUR 2003 PASSAT WAGON BEGAN DEVELOPING A MUSTY ODOR WITH NO APPARENT WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE ALARM ALSO WOULD GO OFF FOR NO REASON. EVENTUALLY, THE ODOR SUBSIDED AND WE THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT UNTIL THE NEXT MAJOR RAINSTORM A FEW MONTHS LATER. AFTER THIS EVENT, WATER APPARENTLY LEAKED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR THROUGH A SUNROOF DRAIN AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR TO GO HAYWIRE. MY WIFE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR 20 MINUTES WITH OUR 4-MONTH OLD BABY WHILE THE ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF, LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF, AND ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GENERALLY GOING HAYWIRE. THE LOCKS CEASED TO WORK, THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE PUT UP, AND THE TRUNK COULDN'T BE OPENED. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY CLOGGING IN THE SUNROOF DRAIN, WHICH THEY SAID IS VERY COMMON. WHILE MY WIFE WAS AT THE DEALER, 3 OTHER PEOPLE CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. AS A RESULT OF THE WATER, THE COMFORT AND CONTROL MODULE IS BEING REPLACED. IT IS UNCLEAR YET WHETHER WE WILL ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE CARPETING FOR ODOR ISSUES. THE TOTAL COST SO FAR IS ABOUT $1,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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