Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10184625March 9, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NON-FUNCTIONING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184653March 9, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO WEAVE IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07.*J
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184682March 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE BATTERY GOES DEAD IF CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 3 DAYS WITHOUT BEING STARTED. ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACE 5 TIMES IN 6 MONTHS. DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT IS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND INSISTS THAT "NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL (EXCEPT FOR A DEAD BATTERY) FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. "JUST START THE CAR EVERY 1-2 DAYS" IS THEIR REMEDY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING SO LAME IN MY LIFE!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184566March 8, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TL*- THE CONTACT TOOK THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TO A DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ALL 8 TIE RODS AND THE ONE LINK ARM WERE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 79200.*AK THE RIGHT OUTER CV BOOT WAS TORN AND THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END WAS WORN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184288March 6, 2007
SUSPENSION, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HEADLIGHTS FAILS PROPER FUNCTION. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. SEAT BELTS AND SUN ROOF DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. ENGINE REPLACED; STEERING WHEELS - CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVERYTIME AN ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AND THEY CALIBRATED THE WHEELS. - PROBLEM CONTINUED - THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE TIRES TO BE DESTROYED IN A FEW KMS - LESS 20 000; WATER INFILTRATION - FOR NOW IT IS FIXED; TRUNK WAS HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE - PROBLEM FIXED. FRONT DOORS VIBRATED - THE RUBBER OF THE DOORS ARE BEING EXHIBITING SIGNS OF DAMAGE; THE FRONT GLASS ( WINDSCREEN ) ISN'T FROM THE SAME YEAR OF ALL THE OTHERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184333March 6, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT WITH A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. VW RECENTLY RECALLED 790,000 CARS (BUT NOT THE PASSAT MODEL) FOR FREE REPLACEMENT. MY REPAIR SHOP AND SEVERAL WEB SITES VERIFY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE PASSAT ALSO. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION WHICH COULD LEAD TO A REAR IMPACT CRASH. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AT A COST OF $110. I FEEL VW SHOULD EXTEND IT'S RECALL TO ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184134March 4, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER'S HEATED LEATHER SEAT BURNED LEATHER SEAT AND MY SKIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10184144March 4, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I BROUGHT MY 2003 PASSAT GLX SEDAN INTO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE CAR WAS JERKY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CAR HAS 41,214 MILES ON IT, 90% HIGHWAY. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH PADS. DEALER INFORMED THAT PASSAT ROTORS COULD NOT BE TURNED IN LIEU OF REPLACEMENT. FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS I VIEW, IT APPEARS THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE ROTORS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184098March 3, 2007
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED DRIVER SEAT BURNED THROUGH SEAT COVER AND THE OCCUPANTS COAT BEFORE SMOKE AND HEAT ALERTED OCCUPANT TO TURN OFF THE SEAT. OCCUPANT TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO CLEAR SMOKE. INITIAL REACTION OF DEALER WAS TO SCHEDULE SERVICE ONE WEEK OUT DUE TO THEIR SCHEDULED VOLUME OF SERVICE BUSINESS NEXT WEEK, AS IF BURNING SEATS ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183767February 28, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS INDICATION LIGHT WAS ON CONSISTENTLY. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINT EXISTED REGARDING THE ABS CONTROL UNIT BUT NOT YET HAVE THE VM/AUDI RECALL ACTION ACTIVATED. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND NOTED "FOUND NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED". WAS CHARGED FOR OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND IT IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THE CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183824February 28, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
I HAVE A 2002 VW PASSAT. IN OCTOBER 2006, WITH APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED LIGHTING UP AT ALL. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AND NOW MY LIGHTS OPERATE NORMALLY. VW HAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE PASSAT. IN MY CASE, IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT MY 2002 PASSAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS RECALL AS WELL. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW MODELS IN THIS YEAR, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS (WHEN THE SWITCH FIRST FAILED), THEN PAY OUT-OF-POCKET TO FIX A KNOWN FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183838February 28, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 75K MILES. MY VIN IS WITHIN THE RECALL RANGE FOR 06V017000 BUT I WAS REFUSED RECALL SERVICE AS VW CLAIMS MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. I CONTACTED VW WHEN THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED AND WAS INFORMED OF THIS FACT. THE VW DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BUT INFORMED ME AGAIN THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED. AS A FUEL PUMP SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN 75K MILES, I FEEL THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MISIDENTIFIED AND SHOULD BE COVERED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183611February 27, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON GLX HAD A BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THAT FOUND ON THE NEW (FEB 07) VW RECALL FOR SEVERAL OTHER MODELS. HOWEVER, THE PASSAT WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON AT RANDOM TIMES AND WITHOUT WARNING, OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. NHTSA AND VW SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER RECALLING THE PASSAT ALONG WITH THE OTHER VW MODELS BECAUSE THE PASSAT HAS THE SAME SAFETY CONCERNS. I TRADED MY CAR IN BUT OFFER THIS INFO TO HELP OTHER VW OWNERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183642February 27, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX, FUEL PUMP FAILED ON 02/23/07. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH ON CLEAR DAY IN THE CENTER LANE THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESSWAY AND COULDN'T GE THE VEHICLE TO START BACK UP. HE AND OTHER WITNESS HELP PUSH VEHICLE UP THE HILL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO HAVE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WITH CAMPAIGN# 06V017000 FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CHECKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VIN DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE SERVICE MANAGER DID INFORM HIM THAT THEY WILL COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS, BUT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF LABOR $200.00, AND A DIAGNOSTIC COST OF ABOUT $150.00. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE FUEL PUMP THAT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183679February 27, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO (NOT AT MY VW DEALER), I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIE ROD ENDS WERE "LOOSE" AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THREE WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO MY DEALER TO HAVE THE CV JOINTS REPLACED, AND TO HAVE THE TIE ROD ENDS INSPECTED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS, ADDING THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE NOW "DANGEROUSLY LOOSE." I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $700 INCLUDING THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT THAT NECESSITATED. I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS HAD HAD TWO RECALLS FOR MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME UNEQUIVOCALLY "THERE WAS NO RECALL" ON MY TIE ROD ENDS FOR THIS VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE REVEALED THAT MY VIN NUMBER FALLS SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGES COVERED BY THE TWO RECALLS. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND AS A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE, IT SEEMS UTTERLY UNREASONABLE FOR SUCH A CRITICAL (STEERING) COMPONENT TO HAVE FAILED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A REVIEW OF THE FACTS INVOLVED IN THE ABOVE RECALLS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT VW'S DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE FOR THE RECALL CLASS, AND CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE REMAINED DEFECTIVE ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL VIN RANGE COVERED UNDER THE RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY, I FAILED TO HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE ME WITH THE REPLACED COMPONENTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10183584February 26, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183591February 26, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE BRAKE LIGHT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO PASSAT MODELS (OURS IS 1999). WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON, TRIGGERING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON ALSO. AFTER 3 ACE MECHANICS REVIEW THE PROBLEM, THEY ISOLATED IT TO THE SAME PROBLEM THAN THE RECALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCED TODAY. THIS PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AGO AND WE DON'T KNOW IF A BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURRED HOW IT WILL SHOW SINCE THE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183592February 26, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1. WHEN CAR IN FRONT OF THE PASSAT SLOWED, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS LIGHT AND ASR LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE PASSAT WAS NOT GOING QUICKLY AND HAD SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE SO THE CAR HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP. THE PASSAT DID NOT STOP, HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF IT. 2. THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE PASSAT TO REAR-END THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR SUSTAINED WHIPLASH INJURIES AND 600 USD TO HIS CAR. HE IS IN TREATMENT WITH THE COST OF TREATMENT UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE PASSAT SUSTAINED 3000 USD IN DAMAGE. THE DRIVER OF THE PASSAT WAS NOT INJURED, WAS TICKETED, LOST HALF A DAY'S WAGES IN COURT, AND DOES NOT TRUST HIS VEHICLE. 3. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICALLY FAULTY. MALFUNCTIONS WERE STORED IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH GAVE AN IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL, SPORADIC. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE FAULT MEMORY OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS ERASED AND RESET. THE DRIVER OF THE PASSAT CONTACTED VW ASKING ABOUT THE FAULT(S) AND EXPRESSING HIS DOUBT IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE PASSAT FELT VW'S DEFECTIVE PARTS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT AND VW SHOULD COVER THE COST. VW'S ANSWER IS THAT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. TONIGHT'S PAPER HAS ISSUED INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL OF THIS PART HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT PASSATS IN THIS RECALL. PASSATS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, TOO. WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION OR WE WOULD HAVE CONTACTED YOU MONTHS AGO. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10183157February 21, 2007
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR STALLED OUR AND WOULD NOT START. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT. THE CAR HAD 58K MILES. THIS HAPPENED JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER AN ENGINE COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED. I NO LONGER OWN A VW.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183172February 21, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS AND THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY, MY DRIVEWAY GOES UPHILL AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE TREE DEBRIS CLOGGED A TRAY AND THE RAIN WATER OVERFLOWED INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND FREEZED. AND THIS FREEZING CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEBRIS WAS CLEARED, AND THE MASTER VACUUM AND OTHER COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED AT COST OF $780.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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