Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10193538June 17, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I'M RELIGIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE OIL IN THE CAR, ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF IT. I LOVE MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I HAD THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ONCE OR TWICE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT ALWAYS TOOK IT INTO A SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE LIGHT ALWAYS WENT OFF AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE, DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS. SO MUCH SO THAT THE OIL PUMP WAS BLOCKED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AS A RESULT. I HAD THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING COME ON THE DAY MY CAR DIED. IT WAS A FEW MILES AFTER IT WENT ON IT STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PUSH MY CAR INTO IT'S PARKING SPOT AT HOME. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS @ THE BURNSVILLE LOCATION TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD STARTED WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE PASSATS, BUT THAT IT HAD BECOME COST INEFFECTIVE AND SO CUT THE WARRANTY TO 50,000. MY CAR SEIZED AT UNDER 87,000. I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX IT, AS YET. HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND SO MY PAYCHECK WAS GREATLY REDUCED. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE CAR PAYMENT ON IT EITHER, AS A RESULT, WHICH HAS A BALANCE OF NEAR TO $10,000.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193378June 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHUTTER. THE CONTACT SMELLED RUBBER BURNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED IGNITION COIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 56,010 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,955.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193152June 13, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 00V414000 NOR # 99V248000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193032June 12, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER I SHUT OFF THE CAR, GET OUT, AND LOCK THE DOOR. THERE HAS BEEN A JETTA RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO ASK ABOUT THE ISSUE IN REGARD TO PASSATS, I WAS ASKED FOR MY VIN, THEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS "NO CAMPAIGN" (I.E. NO RECALL) FOR MY CAR AT THIS TIME. FURTHER, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW OF THIS BEING AN ISSUE FOR PASSATS. YET I JUST RAN A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND SAW BULLETIN BOARD POSTINGS FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF IT'S DANGEROUS FOR JETTAS, IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS FOR PASSATS. VW DID THIS BEFORE WITH ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL--SAME KIND OF CORPORATE IRRESPONSIBILITY, WAITING UNTIL THE NHTSA GOT INVOLVED. THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE! AGAIN, IF THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS FOR JETTA OWNERS, THEN IT'S DANGEROUS FOR PASSAT OWNERS WHO ARE CLEARLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193036June 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COMPLETE/CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT APPROX 1,800 MILES. DEALER STATED BOLT RELATING TO TIMING CHAIN FAILED, CAUSING SERIOUS INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. VEHICHLE WAS REPLACED, BUT NEW VEHICLE HAS SAME ENGINE, AND MANY OTHERS WITH SAME ENGINE ARE HAVING SIMILAR FAILURES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192883June 11, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND FAIL TO DIM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,346 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192913June 11, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (NHTSA ACTION # PE07024). THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192704June 7, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE FAILED- CLOUDING THE WINDOW TO A DEGREE THAT WE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE WE COULD GET THE CAR PULLED OVER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192541June 6, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT CONDUCTED RESEARCH ON HIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE FUEL PUMP FOR THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE RECALLS APPLIED TO VEHICLE'S MADE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2002 THROUGH MARCH 2003. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS MADE IN APRIL, THEREFORE EXCLUDING IT FROM THE RECALL. HE BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,00 UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192479June 5, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
CAR ABS BRAKE MODULE QUITE WORKING CAUSING TIRES TO LOCK UP AND LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192485June 5, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALERSHIP REPLACED FUEL PUMP TO REMEDY FAILURE. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192357June 4, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS INTO THE CAR UNDER THE PASSENGER DASH OVER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192334June 3, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
STEERING: CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 34K MILES. SERVICE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY OWNER AND/OR INDEPENDENT REPAIR. AT APPROXIMATELY 50K OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE THAT BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER CHOSE NOT TO DO THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME. DURING 2005 OWNER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT A RECALL ON THE AFFECTED PART(S). TWO LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE BUT DENIED TO DO THE WORK UNDER THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. BOTH GAVE JUSTIFICATION THAT BECAUSE THE OWNER COULD NOT DOCUMENT SERVICE CHECKS AT THE RECOMMENDED FACTORY INTERVALS THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY WOULD NOT PAY FOR PARTS OR SERVICE. OWNER CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY DIRECTLY AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE VERIFIED THE POLICY. OWNER HAS SINCE REPLACED ONE CONTROL ART, HOWEVER THE OTHER SIDE ALSO NEEDS REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192341June 3, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STALLED AT VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT START. HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD THROUGH TRAFFIC AND TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $900.00 WITH COST OF RENTAL VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192098May 31, 2007
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ON MAY 28, 2007, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUNROOF EXPLODED, SPLATTERING GLASS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,805 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,749.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192202May 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I FINANCED A 03 PASSAT GLS 1.8T IN JAN OF 05 A YEAR LATER IT STOPPED RUNNING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IT WAS OIL SLUDGE. THE ENGINE HAS A WARRANTY FOR SLUDGE FOR UNLIMITED MILEAGE FOR 8YRS. THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO THE SLUDGE. VW REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE STATING THAT I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PROOF OF MAINTENANCE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. WHICH STATEMENT IS FALSE. THE VEHICLE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE DONE IN THE TIME THAT CORRESPONDED, I HAD PROOF OF THEM WHICH I SUBMITTED. THEREFORE I HAVE SPENT 4 MONTHS MAKING PAYMENTS TOWARDS A VEHICLE THAT CAN NOT BE USED. NOW I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE MYSELF SINCE VW REFUSED TO SOLVE THE SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191812May 27, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, LONG ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPSONSE FROM A STANDING START OR ROLLING START. TRYING TO MOVE INTO TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS, PRESS ON THE PEDAL EVEN FLOOR IT AND NOTHING HAPPENS, STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION COMING INTO TRAFFIC, THEN EVENTUALLY, ALL 280 HP COME ON AND THE CAR ALMOST GETS OUT OF CONTROL IF TURNING. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THIS IS A NEW CAR, I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 4/14/07 AND FINALLY TAKING IT TO THE DEALER NEXT WEEK TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191792May 26, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WITH JUST 12,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6L 4-MOTION WAGON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A BLOCK FROM THE HOUSE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE NEXT MORNING. TURNS OUT THAT MY CAR'S ENGINE HAD A FAIRLY RECENTLY DISCOVERED KNOWN ISSUE WITH SOME SORT OF BOLT IN THE OIL PUMP THAT IS SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAINS. APPARENTLY, IT'S A NEWLY DISCOVERED DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWS THIS BOLT TO BACK ITSELF OUT AND CREATE BIG PROBLEMS - EVEN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AT FIRST, THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED A REPLACEMENT OIL PUMP AS A FIX BUT THE MASTER TECH WHO WAS WORKING ON MY CAR WAS CONCERNED THAT OTHER UNSEEN DAMAGE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE AN APPEALED TO VWOA FOR A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. VWOA MUST HAVE AGREED WITH THE VALIDITY OF HIS CONCERNS AND AUTHORIZED A FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. MY CAR'S BUILD DATE WAS 11/05 . I HAVE ALSO READ FORUM POSTS FROM SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3193697). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191749May 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS TRAVELING FROM GA BACK TO TAMPA WHEN THE MESSAGE OF "STOP OIL PRESSURE, STOP MOTOR" APPEARED ON THE DASH. OF COURSE I WAS TERRIFIED BECAUSE THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND HAD A GENTLEMAN TO CHECK MY OIL. I KNEW THERE WAS OIL BECAUSE I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ON MAY 3, 2007. THE GENTLEMAN STATED THERE WAS OIL AND TO ALLOW MY CAR TO COOL. I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE GENTLEMAN CHECKED MY OIL AGAIN AND IT READ THE SAME.I PRECEEDED TO TRY TO REACH TO INTERSTATE TO GO HOME AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THE MESSAGE WAS "STOP, STOP MOTOR AND CHECK SERVICE MANUAL". NOW I'M REALLY TERRIFIED. I PULLED INTO AN ADVANCE DISCOUNT AUTO SHOP AND CALLED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD MY CAR TOWED FROM GAINESVILLE, FL TO TAMPA (APPROXIMATELY 145 MILES). I COST ME $227.00. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED $100.00. THE FULL PRICE WAS $327.00. MONDAY MORNING I CALLED KUHN VW AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IN MY CAR. I WAS INFORMED BY A LADY (WHO WAS TAKING MY INFORMATION) THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS RAN ($94.00). I WAS TOLD THAT SULDGE WAS IN MY ENGINE AND THAT A FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC NEEDED TO BE RAN WHICH WOULD COST $282.00. TO DE-SLUDGE THE ENGINE WOLUD COST $2,788.00 PLUS TAX. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I INSTRUCTED THEM TO PUT MY CAR BACK TOGETHER. I CALLED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I HAVE MY CAR AT A MECHANIC WHO "DE-SLUDGED" MY ENGINE FOR $450.00. THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND WITH FURTHER EXAMINATION IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PUMP WAS THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC IS TRYING TO FIX THE OIL PUMP AND THEN WILL I TRADE IT IN FOR ANOTHER CAR. MY CAR IS FIVE YEARS OLD. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2002, FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE HAD ALL OF MY SERVICES COMPLETED BY THE DEALERSHIP; EXCEPT FOR TWO. I HAVE ALL OF MY RECEIPTS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS DEFECT UNTIL NOW AND I'M VERY UPSET AND CONCERNED THAT A COMPANY CAN PUT PEOPLE'S LIFE IN DANGER. MY CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 77,360 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191671May 24, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LINE ON FIREWALL CRACKED AND SPRAYING FUEL OVER ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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