Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10169747October 2, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A STREET, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169780October 2, 2006
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE
INTERIOR LEFT FRONT FLOOR OF CAR FLOODED WITH WATER AFTER VERY HEAVY RAIN. THERE WAS AN INCH OF STANDING WATER SITTING ON THE VEHICLE'S CARPET. THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT IN 5 WEEKS. AFTER A SIMILAR HEAVY RAINFALL IN AUGUST THE INTERIOR LEFT FRONT AND REAR FLOOR WAS FLOODED. STANDING WATER WAS IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON-LINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN ROOF DRAINS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169806October 2, 2006
TIRES
ON OCTOBER 2ND, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 85 IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA WHEN I HEARD A FAINT POP AND THEN FELT MY CAR TRANSFER WEIGHT FROM THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT. AS I LOOKED IN MY REVIEW I SAW A TIRE WITHOUT A RIM ROLLING BEHIND ME. I MERGED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND STOPPED UNDER AN UNDERPASS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED MY LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD BELT HAD BLOWN AWAY FROM BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER SIDE WALLS. THE TREAD BELT WAS STILL COMPLETELY INTACT, MAKING IT LOOK AS IF IT WERE A DONUT. THE INNER AND OUTER SIDE WALLS HAD REMAINED INTACT TO THE RIM. SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL OF THE VEHICLE HAD OCCURRED. SEEING AS THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2005, AND HAD LESS THAN 40,000 AND THEY'RE RATED FOR 80,000 MILES, I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS. THE TIRE BRAND IS GOODYEAR TRIPLE TREAD ASSURANCE. CURRENTLY THE CAR'S REAR TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FULL SIZE SPARE TIRE AND WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER TOMORROW TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169587September 29, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
CRUISE CONTROL AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE ON 2004 VW PASSAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169496September 28, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAULTY ABS LIGHT, FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR ANNOYING BEEPING, 2002 VW PASSAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169501September 28, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WITHOUT PRIOR ISSUES, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE TRIP COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STOP", "BRAKE FAILURE" AND "SERVICE MANUAL" LIGHTS, AND THERE WERE A SEQUENCE OF LOUD BEEPS. AFTER TALKING TO THE VW MECHANIC, WHO READ AND LOOKED UP THE DTCS, HE DISCOVERED IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THERE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR JUST THE CONTROL MODULE AND NOT THE ENTIRE ABS UNIT. THE VW DEALER CHARGES $716 FOR REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLATION, AND WILL TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK FOR THE PART TO BE ORDERED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT! IT IS A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169440September 27, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND I DIDN'T KNOW I DIDN'T HAVE BRAKES UNTIL SOMEONE AT A LIGHT TOLD ME. WHO KNOWS HOW LONG I'VE DROVE AROUND LIKE THAT. AND IT SEEMS VERY ODD THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TOO. I OWN TWO VW'S (2003 PASSAT & 2004 GOLF), BOTH HAVE HAD THIS SWITCH FAILURE. THE 2004 WAS REPLACED/FIXED UNDER WARRANTY; THE 2003 WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY & COSTS WERE EXORBITANT. THE SERVICE DEPT AND SERVICE MANAGERS BOTH ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND OFTENTIMES THEIR MECHANICS WILL BREAK THE NEW SWITCH WHILE INSTALLING IT. I BROKE TWO SWITCHES MYSELF ATTEMPTING A SIMPLE INSTALL. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WAS THAT THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED & YES I HAVE BOTH THE ORIGINAL BROKEN PART, PLUS ANOTHER NEWER REVISION OF THE SWITCH THAT I PERSONALLY BROKE, PLUS THE NOW WORKING SWITCH INSTALLED IN BOTH VW'S. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168938September 22, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
HELLO I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T WITH 36000 MILES. AFTER I DROVE IT HOME, TWO DAYS LATER MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI CARS, BUT MY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1500 FOR THE PART AND 2.5 HOURS OF LABOR + TX =$2000 OUT OF MY POCKET. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY ISN'T VW DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW AND GOVERNMENT FORM DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? HOW MANY DEATHS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL IT TAKE? PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168961September 22, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
MY 2003 PASSAT HAS APPROX. 34,000 MILES. THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE -- ONCE AT SOMEWHAT OVER 12K MILES AGO, AND THE OTHER VERY RECENTLY. THE MOST RECENT TIME, WE WERE TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER (BY THE DEALER) BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FIRST TIME, VW PAID FOR THE REPAIR, THIS TIME THEY WOULD NOT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, ONE WHICH I AM AFRAID WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE...I DO NOT HAVE THE EXACT DATE IN THE FIELD BELOW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168810September 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1998 VW PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS $1000 PART SEEMS TO BE A VERY CONSISTENT FAILURE AT VOLKSWAGEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168883September 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLANGING NOISE WHILE PULLING INTO A GARAGE. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND DID NOT ENGAGE COMPLETELY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WAS CONSULTED, AND DETERMINED THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED, AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TEST DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH. A SERVICE DEALER WAS CONSULTED BY THE PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V017000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170133September 20, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TIE RODS AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WERE BAD. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR IT'S 40000 MILES CHECKUP WHEN THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE INDEPENDENT TECH COULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG THEREFORE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT 1999 PASSATS WERE RECALL FOR TIE ROD ISSUES IN 1999 AND NOTIFICATION WERE SENT OUT IN OCTOBER 1999, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168627September 19, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HE SAID THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH COMBI VALVE, VACUUM HOSE AND SECONDARY AIR PUMP WHICH COSTS A TOTAL OF >1200$ IN TOTAL. LUCKILY, I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY 700$. THE CAR IS 2002 VW PASSAT GLS (1.8) AND HAVE ONLY 40K ON IT. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR REPAIR AND THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS SOME KIND OF CV JOINT ISSUE. ALL THIS PROBLEMS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL PASSAT OWNERS AND I WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT EVEN A RECALL FOR THIS. MAY BE THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND WANT PEOPLE TO GO AND PAY MONEY. ONE THING IS SURE. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST VW. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANY ONE TO BUY VW, BUT BETTER BUY CHEAP JAPANESE CARS LIKE MITSUBHISHI WHICH RUNS FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10168655September 19, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
A CHEMICAL SMELL PERMEATING MY ENTIRE HOUSE FOR 2 MONTHS. I HAD HOME GAS COMPANY COME OUT AND CHECK FOR A GAS LEAK,GAS COMPANY DID NOT FIND A GAS LEAK. THE SMELL WOULD BE WORSE SOME DAYS. A FRIEND FOUND MY TANK LEAKING . I TOOK MY CAR IN THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY P.M. TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BARON VW. THEY SAID IT WAS A NIPPLE ON A HOSE INSIDE THE TANK, AND THE WHOLE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, THAT THEY ARE ESTIMATING TO BE TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS JUST HAPPENED, WITH THE HOSE BEING INSIDE THE TANK, I THINK THIS IS A BAD PART. I HAVE FOUND OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS ONLINE , FOR THIS PARTICULAR 2002 PASSAT, WITH FOUR MOTION. I THINK IT IS A DEFECT OF THE PART AND IT IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN MUST BE REMOVED TO REPLACE IT. I AM HOPING YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK SOME PEOPLE WOULD EVEN NOTICE THEIR TANKS LEAKING. IF MY CAR WAS NOT STORED IN MY GARAGE EVERYDAY I WOULD HAVE NEVER NOTICED IT. IT COULD HAVE BLOWN MY HOUSE UP WHEN I TURNED MY HEATER ON FOR THE WINTER WITH THE FUMES THAT WERE IN THIS HOUSE, NOT TO MENTION DRIVING WITH A LEAKING TANK, AND THE CHANCE OF STATIC OR A CIGARETTE BUTT GETTING TOSSED MY WAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF MY GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND THE ATTIC FAN HAS BEEN ON UNTIL LAST NIGHT AND MY HOUSE STILL STINKS. I AM AFRAID NOW TO TURN MY HOME FURNACE ON. PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE CARS SHOULD BE WARNED TO CHECK THEM FOR GAS LEAKS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY KEEP THEM IN THEIR GARAGE. I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE TIMES I HAD MY GRANDSON STRAPPED INTO A CHILD SEAT RIGHT THERE OVER THAT LEAKING TANK. THE REASON THE SMELL WAS IN MY HOUSE STRONGER SOME DAYS WAS BECAUSE I WOULD LEAVE THE CAR OUTSIDE SOMETIMES AND I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND ATTIC FAN ON WOULD DRAW THE SMELL OUT. THE DAY I DISCOVERED IT WAS PARTICULARLY STRONG WAS BECAUSE I HAD PUT THE CAR BACK IN AND SHUT THE WINDOWS AND TURNED MY A/C BACK ON IN THE HOUSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168239September 14, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED . THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168302September 14, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS, OIL, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF OVER LAST FEW MONTHS WITH ALARM SOUNDS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY ALSO. TACHOMETER DROPS TO 0 WHEN THIS STARTS AND STAYS ON 0 AS LONG AS WARNING LIGHTS ON. OTHER TIMES NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING WHEN I START IT UP AND DRIVE FOR QUITE A TIME, THEN THEY START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO RUSTY WALLIS VW IN GARLAND, TX. THEY SAID ABS MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WAS MY PROBLEM===QUOTING $2687 TO REPLACE, AND IF I DIDN'T REPLACE IT, CHANCE WAS WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP IF I HAD TO BRAKE HARD. THEY DID ASK ME TO FILL OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE ON THIS ABS PROBLEM, LIKE "CONSTANT LIGHT" OR "INTERMITTENT", ETC. I THOUGHT THAT WAS CURIOUS. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SAME THING ON INTERNET, AUTOMOTIVE DISCUSSION BOARDS. I ALSO HAVE GATHERED VW IS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A VW PROBLEM (ALSO GATHER IT'S AN AUDI PROBLEM). IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE ALMOST $3,000 IN MY POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OWNED UP TO BY VW. IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH VW'S AND THIS ABS MODULE GOING BAD APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167935September 12, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, RECALL # 06V017000; FUEL PUMP (VW #M7) WAS RECEIVED IN THE 2ND WEEK OF MARCH 2006. WHEN THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR AN APPOINTMENT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FUEL PUMP WAS BACK ORDERED AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE PART WAS AVAILABLE. IN MAY 2006 THE PART WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167737September 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TRACKING NUMBER: [XXX] DATE: SEPTEMBER 09TH 2006 11:24:34 AM COMPLAINANT: [XXX] - RE: 2001 PASSAT VWS AND THE ONGOING SLUDGE PROBLEMS!!! *JB COMPLAINT: MY COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH REGARD TO VW PASSATS. SLUDGE!!!! I JUST SPENT $2000 TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT HE DID SOME RESEARCH AND THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEMS OF SLUDGE IN THESE CARS ESPECIALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY REFERRAL ATTORNEYS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE TO RENT A CAR AT $30 DOLLARS A DAY AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER IT. IF THIS IS BEEN GOING ON SO LONG, WHY IS THERE NOT A CLASS SUIT? IF YOU HAVE A NUMBER I CAN CALL FOR SAME, PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU, [XXX]. YOU CAN REACH ME BY PHONE AT EITHER [XXX] HOME, OR [XXX]I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM SOMEONE SOON, AND YOUR HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167597September 7, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON / 92350 MILES PLACED IN "PARK" ON A SLIGHT INCLINE (PARKING BRAKE NOT USED). ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS WERE REMOVED. DRIVER STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND A FEW SECONDS LATER CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS WITH CHILDREN (AGES 3 AND 10 MO) IN THE CAR. DRIVER JUMPED IN CAR TO SET THE BRAKE, BUT FELL ON STREET AS CAR ROLLED. CAR CROSSED STREET AND HEADED DOWN A STEEPER INCLINE HITTING BUSHES, CROSSING ANOTHER DRIVEWAY, AND FINALLY HITTING A ROCK WALL COMING TO A STOP. CHILDREN WERE OK. DRIVER HAD BRUISES / SCRATCHES FROM FALLING ON PAVEMENT. CAR SUSTAINED $3,400 IN DAMAGE. NEIGHBORS VERIFIED CAR WAS IN PARK, AND OWNER MANUAL STATES THAT KEYS CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT THE CAR BEING IN PARK ( KEYS WERE OBSERVED BY SEVERAL NEIGHBORS TO BE OUT OF THE CAR). VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ASKED ME TO GO TO A DEALER FOR PROBLEM DETERMINATION. DEALER TRIED PARKING THE CAR 5 TIMES ON UPHILL AND DOWNHILL INCLINES, AND PARK HELD. THEY ALSO CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO FAULTS. NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO CHECK THE INTERNALS OF THE TRANSMISSION, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE INCLINE WAS THE SAME AS THE DRIVEWAY WHERE IT OCCURRED, OR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE WAS A REASON FOR AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. VW OF AMERICA STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD FOUND THE CAR WAS IN SPEC (WITH THE 5 HILL TESTS AND COMPUTER CHECK), AND NO FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. VW STATED THAT WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN USING THE PARKING BRAKE ANY TIME WE PARK (WE DO ON STEEPER HILLS, BUT NOT ON HILLS AS SLIGHT AS OUR DRIVEWAY). NOBODY HAS EXPLAINED WHY PARK FAILED EVEN THOUGH THE KEYS WERE OUT OF THE IGNITION (AND OBSERVED TO BE BY OTHERS) -- I CONCEDE THE PARKING BRAKE SHOULD ALWAYS BE USED OUT OF EXTREME CAUTION, BUT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT ON SLIGHT HILLS -- PARK SHOULD NOT FAIL IN ANY CASE. WE FEEL WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THE CAR ASAP BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT BEEN EXPLAINED / ADDRESSED. OTHER CARS (LIKE 2006 BMW) HAVE RECALLS ON THE PARKING PAWL, BUT VW WILL NOT INVESTIGATE FURTHER. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167384September 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED PREMATURELY AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 105,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 91,000 MILES AT THE TIME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE WHEN TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT. UPDATED 09/19/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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