Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10147359January 10, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 MY VW PASSAT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COME ON. MY LOCAL DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $2000 TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THAT THE PART WAS NOT EVEN AVAILABLE. AFTER A SIMPLE SEARCH UNDER "VW ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE" IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. IT GOES TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AS WARNING LIGHTS INDICATE "BRAKE FAILURE" AND STOP IMMEDIATELY. FROM THE MANY THREADS, AND MY EXPERIENCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT VW IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT DOES NOTHING. WHY ARE THEY NOT FORCED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT EFFECTS THE SAFETY OF MY CAR? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147255January 9, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 REGARDING THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND REPAIRED AS INSTRUCTED IN THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2005 - THE TURN SIGNAL MADE A TICKING NOISE ALTHOUGH IT WASNT ACTIVATED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147323January 9, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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, I 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, MODEL NUMBER 8E0-998-375-G, AVAILABLE FROM THE VW DEALER FOR $686 PLUS LABOR COSTS TO INSTALL. STILL, MY CAR ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT!! IT IS A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147179January 8, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146852January 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ALEXANDRIA VW DAMAGED MY ENGINE AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVING A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. ALSO, VW OF AMERICA WON'T REPLACE A DEFECTED ENGINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146855January 4, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
DECEMBER 23 - LEASED A BRAND NEW 2006 PASSAT. DROVE OFF THE LOT AND ON TO THE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO WASH WINDOWS, WINDOW SPRAY WORKED, WIPERS DID NOT. STOPPED TO CHECK OWNERS MANUAL, I WAS USING THE EQUIPMENT PROPERLY. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, BASICALLY WORKING AT WILL. DECEMBER 24 - DEALERSHIP CLOSED, DECEMBER 25 DEALERSHIP CLOSED AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CAR, FEARING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WITH REGARD TO THE WIPERS. DECEMBER 26 - TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE "MONITOR", SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE WIPERS. MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR TOLD US TO GET ANOTHER CAR, DON'T KEEP THAT ONE. DECEMBER 26- LEFT RELATIVES HOUSE, WIPERS TURNED ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL AFTER THE CAR WARMED UP. DECEMBER 27 - NO ISSUES. DECEMBER 28 - LEFT HOME FOR WORK, WIPERS TURNED ON AND DID NOT SHUT OFF, AGAIN ONLY ONCE THE CAR WARMED UP AND I REACHED THE DEALERSHIP. KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS, CALLED TO SAY THEY WERE REPLACING THE MOTOR AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, EVEN THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. CRAZY EXCUSES. LUCKILY SINCE THEY REPLACED THE PART THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WIPERS ARE WORKING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146881January 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 VW PASSAT SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING ENGINE NOISE AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING CAME ON. VW DETERMINED PROBLEM WAS SLUDGE, AND THEY CLEANED THE ENGINE LEAVING A BILL OF $1900 PLUS THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER WITH MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY UNLESS I CAN PRODUCE OIL CHG RECEIPTS. I HAVE DONE 2 OF THEM MYSELF AND ONLY HAVE BANK STATEMENTS WITH CREDIT CARD CHARGES. THE OTHERS, I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR. THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO COVER. THIS IS A MAJOR WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE FROM REGULAR OIL TO SYNTHETIC OIL CAME IN 2004, A YEAR AFTER I WAS FOLLOWING THEIR PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. FOR A KNOWN ISSUE, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD CONSUMERS HOSTAGE ON A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I DO MY OWN OIL CHGS TO SAVE MONEY. MY 10K OIL CHG AT VW WAS $110. I CAN DO IT FOR LESS THEN HALF OF THAT AMOUNT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146738January 3, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
1998 VW PASSAT WAGON 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 CYL. 1.8 L ENGINE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION VIN: [XXX] THINGS BROKEN ON THIS VW. BLINKING ABS LIGHT ON DASH INDICATING ABS MALFUNCTION. IT INTERMITTENTLY GOES OFF ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, INDICATING FUNCTION PROPERLY. TEMP. GAUGE ON DASH READS NO TEMPERATURE OR 0. IT INTERMITTENTLY COMES BACK ON AND FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. I NEED TO PULL SENDING UNIT WIRE AND CLEAN CONNECTOR. DRIVER'S AUTO DOOR LOCK BUTTON MALFUNCTIONS. WINDOW SWITCHES ON DRIVERS DOOR DOESN'T WORK WELL. STEREO PLAYS CD WITHOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON. (GOES ON BUY ITS SELF) LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE.. MOON ROOF MALFUNCTIONS. MAYBE WON'T CLOSE AFTER OPENING. BRAKE LIGHT'S DON'T LIGHT UP RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKES. OUTSIDE DOOR LOCKS STICK. WHEN IT RAINS, WATER GETS INTO THE LOCK AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY INSIDE THE LOCK. PLASTIC DIP STICK GUIDE IS PRONE TO CRUMBLING DUE TO HEAT. (THIS IS THE ORANGE PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT EXTENDS THE LENGTH OF THE DIPSTICK TUBE. ANTENNA GOT SCREWED UP IN RAIN AND WIND. DEC. -05. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146841January 3, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATED SEATS IN MY 2003 VW PASSAT HAD A MALFUNCTION AND BURNED THROUGH THE CUSHIONING AND PANTS THAT I WAS WEARING. LOOKS LIKE A LARGE CIGARETTE HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FRONT DRIVER SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146655January 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 3 EVENTS OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY: A 'POP' SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA, COPIOUS WHITE SMOKE (NOT STEAM) FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ACTIVATION. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND WHITE SMOKE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM (CLOSED) HOOD, FOLLOWED WITHIN 5 MINUTES BY OPEN FLAMES FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL. FIRE CREWS WERE ON SCENE WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED AND A TOTAL LOSS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146544December 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING POWER STEERING TO FAIL. DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. ALSO, IN 2004 OIL PUMP FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. REPAIR NOT COVERED DUE TO INABILITY TO PRODUCE SERVICE RECORDS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146390December 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
VW PASSAT 1999 - FAILING ABS MODULE (ABS,OIL,BRAKE LIGHTS ON). INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEE HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=30&TSTART=0 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146226December 28, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVING A 2003 VW PASSAT GLX WAGON ON A ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LUCKILY, THIS SHOCKING INCIDENT DIDN'T CAUSE US TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT DID FILL THE CAR WITH SMOKE AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND GET OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP (KING VOLKSWAGEN, GAITHERSBURG, MD) AND THEY CHARGED ME $100 TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR PROBABLY HIT A CURB AT 35 MPH AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND I KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWED DOWN AT ALL, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE HITTING ANYTHING. BECAUSE THIS ROAD WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WE MAY HAVE BRUSHED A MAN HOLE COVER THAT WAS STICKING UP INTO THE ROAD, BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN OR TO CAUSE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE. I LOOKED AT THE IMPACT POINT IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND IT IS JUST A SMALL DENT TO A METAL CUP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS SMALL DENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO BLOW. THE CAR DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY REPAIRS EXCEPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. I COMPLAINED TO VW CORPORATE AND THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO TAKE PICTURES AND READINGS FROM THE AIRBAG SENSOR. THEY SENT THAT INFORMATION TO VW CORPORATE AND CORPORATE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146117December 27, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE FLOOR, NOT ALLOWING THE WINDSHIELD TO COMPLETELY DEFROST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK UPDATED 01/19/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146118December 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS REPLACED. A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE CABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146175December 27, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SUNROOF IMPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NO FOREIGN OBJECT WAS FOUND IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. SUSPECT DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146075December 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE EN-ROUTE BETWEEN DEXTER, MICHIGAN AND GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, CABIN BEGAN TO SMELL OF SMOKE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A HALON EXTINGUISHER PROMPTLY. EXAMINATION OF THE COMPONENTS POST-FIRE REVEALED A DEFECTIVE CENTER CONDUCTOR. CIRCUIT WAS FUSED AT 10 AMPS WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE BLOWN, POST FIRE. NO INJURIES, NO DAMAGE TO PERSONAL GOODS, DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO CIGARETTE LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS POORLY DESIGNED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146004December 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON NOVEMBER 4,2005, AROUND 7:30 PM WHILE A I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM NEW JERSEY TO NEW YORK CITY, A NEW JERSEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY BUS DANGEROUSLY CUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR. MY WIFE WAS ACCOMPANYING ME. AS I STOPPED TO AVOID THE BUS, THE BUS MADE A SUDDEN AND FULL STOP ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. INSTINCTIVELY, I PUT THE CAR GEAR IN NEUTRAL. ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDAL. I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SEE IF THE ACCELERATION WOULD STOP. WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL , THE CAR STARTED RUNNING TOWARD THE STATIONARY BUS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR GEAR WAS IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. AS A RESULT, MY CAR MOVED FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF THE BUS. THE BUS DRIVER GOT OUT AND ASKED IF WE WERE OK. SHE SAID SHE WAS FINE AND WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE BUS. WE WERE ALL RIGHT TOO. THERE WERE NO POLICEMEN TO MAKE A REPORT. THE BUS GET A MINIMAL DAMAGE. MY CAR WAS MOSTLY DAMAGE ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT WAS DRIVABLE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING THE SAME CAR ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND EXPERIENCE THE SAME SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR ENGINE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR CONTINUED RUNNING NORMALLY. IN VIEW OF THE SERIOUS EVENTS WITH THIS 2005 PASSAT WHICH HAS ONLY AROUND 10,000 MILES, I CONCLUDE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO FAULTY PERFORMANCE AND IS DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE ON THE ROAD. I PARTICULARLY BLAME VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AS THE DIRECT RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 11-04-05, AROUND 7:30 PM, NEAR THE LINCOLN TUNNEL , ON THE NEW JERSEY SIDE, WHEN A CLEAR MALFUNCTION OF THE 2005 PASSAT THAT I LEASED FROM VOLKSWAGEN, PROVOKED AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. CAR REFERENCE: 2005 VW PASSAT GLS, 1,8 SEDAN. SERIAL NUMBER: [XXX], LEASED FROM THREE COUNTY VOLKSWAGEN, 701 RIVERSIDE AVENUE, LYNDHURST, NJ 07071. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146005December 23, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM. AFTER ENGAGING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTO THE ON POSITION THEY B WORKED INTERMEDIATELY BASED ON SPEED AT WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THIS ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED A SPEED OF MORE THAN 5 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT FELT THERE MAY BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DESIGNED TO WORK IN THIS MANOR. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145949December 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 44385 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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