Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10149748January 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 PASSAT TIMING BELT PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO DIE. *TS ***NO ANS REQUIRED*** *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148447January 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 30,100 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN HAS 4 YR/50000 MILES MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, AND AN 8 YEAR/UNLIMITED MILE OIL SLUDGE WARRANTY. WE BROKE DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER REQUIRED OIL CHANGES IN INTERVALS OF 5000 MILES. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 4000 MILES INSTEAD. THE SERVICE WRITER FROM DON JACOBS CALLED AND STATED THAT OUR VOLKSWAGEN NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE ALL OF OUR OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE. WE WERE SHOCKED, THIS WAS A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. A LONG STORY SHORT WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE 5 RECEIPTS. ONCE IT WAS CHANGED IN FLORIDA WHILE ON VACATION (NO RECEIPT),AND ONCE WE RECEIVED A FREE OIL CHANGE AT WAL-MART DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE WAIT (NO RECEIPT). THAT WOULD MAKE A TOTAL OF 7 RECEIPTS (ALL OF THEM).DON JACOBS WOULD NOT BEGIN THE WORK ON OUR CAR UNTIL WE COULD PROVIDE ALL OF THESE RECEIPTS INCLUDING THE 2 THAT ARE NON EXISTENT.THE CAR IS STILL UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY PERIOD,SO AGAIN WE WERE SHOCKED.NEXT THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THEY AND VW OF AMERICA HAVE DECIDED THAT OUR WARRANTY WOULD BE NULLIFIED DUE TO NEGLECT OF MAINTENANCE.THE FUNNY PART IS THAT THIS DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE WITHOUT EVER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD OF OUR VW.IT IS STILL IN THE SAME SPOT THE TOW TRUCK LEFT IT IN.BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO BELIEVE OR DISCREDIT OUR SIDE OF THIS STORY,OR MAYBE THINK THIS IS AN ISOLATED EVENT PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING SITES:WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM AND ALSO HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/VWSLUDGE/PETITION.HTML.I HAVE QUICKLY FOUND THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US IS LITTERALLY HAPPENING TO 100'S, AND PROBABLY 1,000'S OF PEOPLE IN THE US RIGHT NOW BY THEIR DEALERS AND ALSO VW OF AMERICA NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS. THE SIMILARITIES IN EVERYONES STORIES ON THE WEB ARE FRIGHTENING. .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148502January 24, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
IN MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THERE IS A CONTROL MODULE KNOWN AS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. I BELONG TO A NATIONWIDE PASSAT GROUP KNOWN AS WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS AND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. IT SEEMS IN EARLY MODEL PASSATS (1998-2001) THE ABS CONTROL MODULE GETS EXTREMELY HOT OVER TIME SINCE IT IS PLACED DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CAUSES THE UNIT TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS UNIT MALFUNCTIONS IT CAUSES THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM TO FAIL. ALSO, IT FLASHES MULTIPLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT ARE EXTREMELY DISTRACTING. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE THIS UNDER WARRANTY, OR RECALL. DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CHARGING 1,200$ TO REPLACE THIS UNIT THAT TAKES 20 MINUTES TO CHANGE OUT. THE HARD PART IS TRYING TO RE-BUILD THE MODULE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. ON OUR WEBSITE WE HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO'S ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, ALONG WITH THE DATE AND MILEAGE ON THEIR VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE THIS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148333January 23, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PASSAT 2003 GLX WITH 40437 MILES. WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS THE CAR STARTED SHUDDERING FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THE ENGINE THEN INSTANTLY SHUTDOWN. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS REPORTED AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE, AND REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148372January 23, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING UP HILL AT 25MPH THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PREVIOUSLY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE WAS VIBRATION AND GRABBING IN FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE FRONT ROTORS, THE REAR ROTORS AND BOTH CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS FOR TWENTY THOUSAND MILES AND HAS NOW RETURNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148415January 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PURCHASED A USED CAR FROM DAN PERKINS CHEVROLET, IN MILFORD, CT ON MARCH, 18, 2004.I WAS ADVISED BY THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA, THAT THE CAR CAME IN AS A TRADE FROM A GIRL WHO BOUGHT CARS FROM HIM ALL THE TIME AT DAN PERKINS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A COUPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THAT DAN PERKINS PURCHASED IT AT AN AUCTION. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON/THE LIGHTER DID NOT WORK/THE TIRES WERE BALD, AND THE 6 DISC CD CHANGER WAS NOT IN THE CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE SALESPERSON, JOHN ALMEIDA, AND THE USED CAR MANAGER, THEY STATED THEY FIXED EVERYTHING, BUT THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CD CHANGER, I WROTE A LETTER TO DAN PERKINS HIMSELF, AND HE GAVE ME A NEW ONE BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED WITH THE CD CHANGER. WHEN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON I BROUGHT IT TO CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN IN STRATFORD, CT. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A COPY OF MY CONTRACT FROM DAN PERKINS AND ANY OTHER PAPERWORK FROM DAN PERKINS. I CONTACTED THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA AND HIS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING A COPY OF ANYTHING. THEY DO NOT KEEP COPIES OF CONTRACTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. HE ALSO YELLED IN THE BACKGROUND THAT CURRAN VW WAS TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK AND THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK!!!THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO ENGINE!I AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT DOES NOT WORK, ON A CAR THAT I HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS!I CONTACTED CURRAN VW BECAUSE VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE ENGINE TO 8 YEARS, I ONLY FOUND THIS OUT BECAUSE I DID MY OWN RESEARCH ONLINE. VW OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM BECAUSE ONE OF MY MECHANICS, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER, HANDWROTE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGES.CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $12,074.60. THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE IS $8,000!!!!!VW OF AMERICA ADVISES THEIR CONSUMERS TO HAVE OIL CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES OR EVERY 6 MONTHS. I HAD MINE CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES.DAN PERKINS SHOWED ME NO VEHICLE HISTORY REPORTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148421January 23, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE A 1998 VW PASSAT THAT HAS HAD IT ABS SYSTEM GO OUT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WHEN THE ABS MODULE GOES ON THE CAR IT HAS A HARD TIME MODULATING THE BRAKES CORRECTLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WILL HAVE TO EITHER BUY A NEW UNIT OR SEND IT OUT AND HAVE IT REPAIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148314January 22, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO ENGINE WITH 71,000 MILES STOPPED SUDDENLY; THEN CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME & CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. CHECK-OIL LIGHT HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ON FOR 2-3 MILES PRIOR, BUT OIL WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS ACTUALLY OVERFULL. 803 MILES PRIOR, VW SERVICE DEPT HAD SERVICED CAR FOR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, AND REPLACED TURBO RECIRCULATION VALVE AND HOSE. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED, WITH 30,000 MILES, IN FEB. '04. VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ENGINE BECOMING OIL-STARVED DUE TO SLUDGE IN OIL TAKE-UP TUBE. SLUDGE CAUSED BY NOT USING SYNTHETIC OIL, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT REQUIRED. CAM GEAR WAS DAMAGED, LEAVING METAL PIECES THROUGHOUT ENGINE. ENTIRE ENGINE, TURBO AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. PARTS MAY STILL BE W/MECHANIC, I CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE FACILITIES OR DESIRE TO STORE AN ENTIRE RUINED ENGINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148319January 22, 2006
STRUCTURE
WE HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON. SEVERAL DAYS AGO, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON STEADILY & THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING SLUGGISHLY. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY. THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE POLLEN FILTER HOUSING WHICH HAD ALLOWED RAINWATER TO TRACK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, UNDER THE CARPETS. A NUMBER OF KEY ELECTRONIC MODULES ARE IN THIS LOCATION, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE. THESE UNITS HAD BEEN DESTROYED BY THE POOLING WATER AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PASSATS; FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS (SEE HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=12789&PAGE=1&PP=10). I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH PASSATS THAT CARRIES RISK TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS OF THESE CARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148281January 21, 2006
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148193January 20, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE COWLING DRAINAGE BECAME FILLED WILL DEBRIS CAUSING WATER TO ENTER THE TRANSMISSION MODULE. THE VEHICLE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED THE COWLING DRAINS, REPAIRED THE WIRING AND BATTERY. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE BOOSTER, THE TRANSMISSION MODULE AND THE CARPETING WERE REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148197January 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BOUGHT A 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T IN MAY 2005. SINCE THEN, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES NOW. THE CAR WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN START RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED A "DEFECTIVE" SPARK PLUG. WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF GETTING IT BACK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL THE SPARK PLUGS THAT TIME. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME AND THEY DID NOT TELL ME WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO THE CAR, BUT KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN (NOW FOR A WEEK AGAIN) BECAUSE IT BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, DEVELOPED A SLOW OIL LEAK, AND DOES NOT ALWAYS START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. I HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK EVERYTHING ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH VW OF AMERICA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148080January 19, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. AFTER COASTING DOWN A HILL APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, I EASED INTO THE ACCELERATOR TO CROSS INTERSECTION, ONLY TO EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VW DEALER DIAGNOSED ENGINE LOSS DUE TO FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND SAVED OLD PUMP AT MY REQUEST. OLD PUMP IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I CONSIDER ENGINE LOSS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MOST CARS THESE DAYS HAVE STEERING AND BRAKES THAT ARE POWERED BY THE ENGINE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR AND BRING IT TO A SAFE STOP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148089January 19, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILURE. SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE'S ON THIS COMPLAINT LIST. I'D LIKE TO ONLY ADD THAT I TOOK THE CAR IN TWICE ONLY TO HAVE THEM TELL ME THE SECOND TIME THAT THE PART WOULD TAKE TEN (10) BUSINESS DAYS TO ORDER BECAUSE OF THE APPARENT BACK LOG. THAT TELLS YOU THE PREVALENCE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. AND AS ONE VW SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME, "YOU CAN DRIVE AROUND WITH THE ABS LIGHT ON, JUST AVOID HARD BRAKING." THANKS FOR THE TIP. I WAS THINKING OF PURCHASING A VAN FROM VW...GUESS AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148001January 18, 2006
STRUCTURE
LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH HEAVY RAIN RESOLUTION PENDING PASSENGER AIR BAG CAN BE AFFECTED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147844January 16, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY VW PASSAT GLS 2001'S ABS/ASR LIGHT KEEPS ON AT ALL TIMES NOW. WENT TO THE TECHNICIAN TO PUT A REPAIR KIT SINCE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE MAIN COMPUTER. ON TRYING 3-4 DIFFERENT KITS, TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIPS, THE ERROR CODE SHOWED SENSOR FAILURE BUT ALL THE SENSORS WORKED FINE, ELECTRICAL WERE WITHOUT ANY OPENS OR SHORTS. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS TO COMMUNICATE. I AM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI ESPECIALLY THE BOSCH MODULES. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ABS DOESN'T WORK ON THIS EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147630January 12, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE THERMOSTAT ON THE VEHICLE TO GO ABOVE FREEZING THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DRAIN HOLES IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT HAD FILLED WITH ROAD DEBRIS. THIS CAUSED WATER TO GET TRAPPED IN THE COMPARTMENT AND FREEZE. THE MASTER VACUUM FOR THE BRAKES IS LOCATED IN THIS COMPARTMENT, AND THIS FREEZING CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEBRIS WAS CLEARED OUT AND THE MASTER VACUUM AND OTHER COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147641January 12, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EVERY TIME IT RAINS, REAR PASSENGER FLOOR IS FILLED WITH WATER. DEALER TRIED TO REPAIR LINE FROM SUN ROOF, BUT PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147412January 11, 2006
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT LOW MILEAGE OF 21,000 MILES. NORMALLY GARAGED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. AFTER RAIN, FOUND AN INCH OF WATER IN REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. TRANSMISSION NON-FUNCTIONAL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON. DEALER SAID THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL WAS NO GOOD AND THAT WATER LEAKED IN AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. COST OF REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $3,100. VW REFUSES TO COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR TWO YEARS. TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN ARE COVERED FOR 5 YEARS, BUT VW SAYS THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE". I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY ANGRY OWNERS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE LEAKS FROM THIS SEAL HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHECKING THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IS NOT PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK IT, YOU'D NEED TO DISASSEMBLE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW AN OWNER COULD POSSIBLY KNOW IF THE SEAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HE REPLIED "YOU FOUND OUT HOW". I AM CLEARLY NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM A PART THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY MAINTAINABLE (THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL) AND THAT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PASSAT THAT VW SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR. THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OWNER TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION -- IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. IT GOT TO DO WITH THE PASSAT LEAKING WATER AND THE LOCATION OF AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPONENT IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE AREA WHERE ANY WATER THAT LEAKS MIGRATES TO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147491January 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRYING TO GET THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY. THREE RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THE TIMING BELT WENT WELL BEFORE THE SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT,THUS DESTROYING THE ENGINE+.THE CAR HAS 83K MILES AND NOT RECOMMEND TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 105K. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES REPORTED ON THE WEB OF THE HAPPENING. MY CAR WAS IN FOR A SERVICE CHECK AT 78K AND OTHER PROBLEM ITEMS WERE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION; HOWEVER, A TIMING BELT PROBLEM WAS NOT. VOLKSWAGEN IS BLAMING THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE DEPARMENT IS BLAMING VOLKSWAGEN. SO FAR NO RESOLUTION. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF VW AND AUDI HAVING TIMING BELT ISSUES ON THE INTERENET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Passat