Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10207215October 26, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2003 VW PASSAT WITH FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE RENTAL VEHICLE, WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB IN THE BEGINNING, VOLKSWAGEN TOLD THE CONSUMER HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, VOLKSWAGEN EXTENDED THE RECALL WHICH INCLUDED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207035October 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT IS COMMON IN VOLKSWAGEN 1.8 4 CYLINDER ENGINES HAS HAPPENED TO OUR CAR. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BUT VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE JUMPED THROUGH EVERY HOOP THEY CAN THINK OF. THE LAST ONE IS THAT THEY WANTED THE VIN NUMBER PRINTED OUT ON EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206922October 25, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V414000 (STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING). SHE FELT THAT HER VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,740.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206934October 25, 2007
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES HAVE A SPECIALIZED ATTACHMENT AND ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN NEW CAR DEALERS. THE BLADES ARE ALSO EASILY BENT BY SNOW BRUSHES, SCRAPERS AND THE LIKE. THE DIFFICULTY AND INCONVENIENCE OF OBTAINING REPLACEMENTS OF THIS CRITICAL SAFETY PART CAUSES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF WRECKS. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT IS THE APPROXIMATE DATE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206535October 22, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE INCREASED TO 900 RPMS OR MORE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THE RPM'S WERE NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.M UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206578October 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A VW PASSAT 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE THAT HAS SLUDGE IN IT CAUSING MY OIL PRESSURE TO BE LOW WHICH THREW MY TIMING OFF. LUCKILY STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BEFORE IT LOCK UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206358October 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ABS, BRAKE, AND OIL LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT STARTED TODAY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE FROM MY RESEARCH IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL I SPEND CLOSE TO 2K ON AN ENTIRE MODULE WHEN ONLY ONE SMALL CHIP SOLDER FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206373October 19, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2002 PASSAT 4-MOTION V6 CAR. GAS ODOR ENTERED MY HOUSE FOR 2 WEEKS AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE GAS COMPANY TO SEE IF I HAD A GAS LEAK WITH MY FURNACE. THE GAS COMPANY CAME AND TESTED BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FURNACE OR EQUIPMENT USING NATURAL GAS. I DECIDED TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE AND BEGAN RULING OUT POSSIBILITIES. I OBSERVES THE GAS SMELL WAS IN MY GARAGE. I OBSERVED WHENEVER MY GAS TANK WAS FILLED, MORE ODOR CAME INTO THE HOUSE. I FILLED THE GAS TANK ON 10/1/07 AND PARKED THE CAR OUT ON THE STREET. ON 10/2/07, WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR IN THE EARLY AM HOURS, THE GAS SCENT MADE ME THROW UP AND I BECAME DIZZY. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG AND I DROVE - WHILE PRAYING - THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF THERE WITHOUT FINDING OUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE VERY STRONG GAS ODOR. I WAS LATER TOLD IF ANYONE HAD THROWN A CIGARETTE BY MY CAR, IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE! THE CAR WAS DRIPPING GAS AS I DROVE TO THE DEALER! THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE BY A LEAK ON MY FUEL TANK. A NEW FUEL TANK WAS NEEDED - THAT IS THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED. I REQUESTED MY OLD TANK AND SAID IT HAS TO BE BROUGHT AND SHOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY OVER TRANSPORTATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE I COULD HAVE DIED AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS A FAULTY MANUFACTURER'S PART. THE OLD TANK SHOWS 3 PLASTIC TUBES USED ON THE GAS TANK THAT DRAINS THE GAS! PLASTIC ! ONE OF THE PLASTIC TUBES BROKE OFF CAUSING THE GAS LEAK! I VISITED A WEBSITE AND FOUND SO MANY OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND VW IS DOING NOTHING TO CHANGE THE DESIGN! I SPOKE TO VW AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND I HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE REPAIR! I AM ASKING YOUR OFFICE TO INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL PASSAT OWNERS! I HAVE MY OLD GAS TANK AND WILL BE HAPPY TO BRING IT TO YOUR OFFICE . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10206379October 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 26, 2006 I DROVE MY 2003 VW PASSAT AT SHORT DISTANCE (APPROX) 3 MILES. AS I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION AND PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE THE CAR DIED ON ME. THERE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING THAT PRECIPITATED THE FAILURE. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED BUT I SOON BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, FACING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE FIRE WAS LOCATED TOWARD THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER OF THE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE WAS FAIRLY FAR ALONG BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. ULTIMATELY, THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE LOCAL POLICE, A CLAIM WAS FILED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PROPERTY. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 27,500 MILES. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATION CLEARED ME OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY BUT DID NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THE FIRE. I EVENTUALLY SETTLED WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TURNED THE CAR OVER TO THEM. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FURTHER UNTIL A FRIEND GAVE ME AN AP ARTICLE FROM 10/4/07 THAT REPORTED NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS OF ENGINE FIRES IN PASSATS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206169October 18, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
VEHICLE SUBFRAME BOLT FAILURE. LOS ANGELES AREA DEALER NETWORK HAS ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE FAILURE BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS HAD SUBFRAME BOLTS RETORQUED SUBFRAME WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD TO VEHICLE SAFETY. SUBFRAME BOLTS ARE STRETCHABLE COMPONENT TO THE SUBFRAME ASSEMBLY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED RATHER THAN RETORQUED WHEN REMOVED OR LOSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207130October 18, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
2005 VW PASSAT WITH RECALL FOR A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR OVERSEAS. HE STATES THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *KB THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM IN EUROPE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206194October 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STAY ON ALL THE TIME IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206227October 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. MESSAGE SECTION DISPLAYS STOP, BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PRICE QUOTED WAS $1,000. APPARENTLY, A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW AND AUDI CARS. VW OWES US A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206235October 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY 2004 VW PASSAT: WAS DRIVING WHEN NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CAR. THE CAR STALLED, HEARD A POP SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY SAW SMOKE/ORANGE FLAME -THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206011October 17, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE BULBS WERE BURNED OUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HARNESS MELTED. SHE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON OLDER MODELS OF HER VEHICLE MAKE, BUT NOT FOR HER YEAR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205724October 15, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRASTICALLY DECELERATE AND THEN COASTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRESENT. TEN SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205750October 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE VENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205622October 14, 2007
POWER TRAIN
OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OF LEASING MY NEW 2006 VW PASSAT, FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN THE CAR DOWN SHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR IT MAKES A VERY NOTICEABLE "HARD" DOWN SHIFT. THE NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HARD DOWN SHIFT IS VERY STARTLING -- IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS COMING THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR CONDITION THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO DO THIS...IT SEEMS RANDOM..IT ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN DULLES, VA AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205630October 14, 2007
TIRES
1) WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY I-10 AT THE SPEED OF 50 MILES/HOUR, THE CAR IS SHAKING AND THEN AFTER A MINUTES. 2) THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLOWED OUT AND HITS A HOLE IN THE CAR. AT THE SAME TIME, REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. 3) I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRE IN THE HIGHWAY AND DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, I CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE. MY MECHANIC FIXED THE REAR BUMPER, AND HE TOLD ME THAT ONE OF MY BRIDGESTONE TIRES INSIGNA 195/65 IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT (ACTUALLY THE TIRE SHOWS TIRE TREAD SEPARATION), THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF TREAD LEFT ON ALL OF 4 TIRES, 'CAUSE I JUST DRIVE OCCASIONALLY. ONE OF 4 TIRES FOUND OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205392October 11, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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