Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10144681December 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WITHOUT WARNING, MY 2003 PASSAT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THANKFULLY THE POLICE WERE QUICK TO ARRIVE AND HELPED DIRECT TRAFFIC SO THAT I COULD BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE VW DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PREMATURELY FAILED FUEL PUMP. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THEY ARE DENYING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR DEFECT ACROSS THE BOARD. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS FAILURE DEPENDING ON WHEN THE PUMP STOPS WORKING (THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS), AND I THINK VW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144447December 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TOXIC FUMES IN VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TURBO, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP TO ELIMINATE THE FUME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THEY INSISTED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND ALL OF THE SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144473December 5, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THE VENTS STARTED STEAMING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTICS TEST, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144208December 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS UNIT FAILURE ON MY 1998 1.8 TURBO PASSAT GLS SEDAN AT 92,000 MILES. SENDING UNIT TO BE REFURBISHED BECAUSE VW OF AMERICA WON'T REPLACE IT UNDER A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144111December 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1999 1.8T GLS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144165December 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 2004 VW PASSAT HAS 23,700 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO EAST COAST VW WHERE I HAD LEASED IT. THEY TOLD ME I HAVE THE WELL KNOWN 'ENGINE SLUDGE' PROBLEM AND IT WILL COST BETWEEN $2700 AND $5000 TO REPAIR IT. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED MY OIL CHANGE HISTORY DOCUMENTATION. I PRODUCED 5 INVOICES FOR THE TIME I HAD THE CAR (DEC. 3, 2003). I WAS TOLD MY INVOICES WERE NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND VW WILL NOT HONOR MY WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144173December 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT AND HAD TO HAVE MY ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED IN JULY OF 2005 AT A COST OF $1,300. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULE GO BAD AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT. SINCE THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART AND FINANCIALLY REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE ABS. IT IS A VERY COSTLY EXPENSE AND WAS SURPRISING TO ME THAT IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 75,000 MILES, IN MY CAR'S CASE. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144093November 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
EARLY FUEL PUMP FAILURE. 22,000 MILES (VOLKSWAGEN). THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT IT HAS BEEN COMMON FOR 2003 PASSAT TO HAVE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 12/01/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145318November 30, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER HAD 1996 VW PASSAT IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TS THE FIRST TIME THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE AND NOW THAT IT HAS FAILED AGAIN THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH UNDER THE RECALL AGAIN BECAUSE THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 8 YEARS OLD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143964November 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, WHICH I LEASE FROM VW. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT NO MORE THAN THREE MILES PER HOUR INTO THE STREET. AS I CUT THE WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON MY SIDE OF THE TRAFFIC LANES, I RAN ASKEW OF THE DRIVEWAY AND OVER THE RISING EDGE WHERE THE DRIVEWAY RISES TO MEET THE CURB - A MERE 6". I HAVE PICTURES. I HEARD A FAINT SCRAPING NOISE AND LAMENTED THE FACT I SCRAPED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, BUT GIVEN THE MINISCULE HEIGHT OF THE DROP FROM MID-CURB EDGE TO THE STREET, I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION AND THEN BACK HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT TIME I USED MY CAR I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THE OIL PAN, WHICH WAS STRATEGICALLY ENGINEERED TO RESIDE AT THE LOWEST AND MOST SUSCEPTIBLE PLACE ON THE ENGINE, HAD THE TINIEST CRACK AND WAS LEAKING OIL. I CALLED VW TO INQUIRE ABOUT A NEW PART WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE OIL PAN IS ALUMINUM AND COST $158 FOR A NEW ONE, BUT THAT BECAUSE IT IS BOLTED TO THE VEHICLES SUB-FRAME IT WILL COST ME $650 IN LABOR TO REPAIR THE PART. NEARLY $800 TO FIX AN OIL PAN? THIS IS CLEARLY AN ATTEMPT BY VW TO EXTORT MORE MONEY FROM ITS CUSTOMERS. WHO WOULD DESIGN A VEHICLE IN SUCH A MANNER AS THIS OTHERWISE? TO PLACE AN ALUMINUM OIL PAN AT THE LOWEST POINT OF THE ENGINE WITH NO PROTECTION IS CRIMINAL. LUCKILY I NOTICED THIS LEAK, BUT OTHERS WHO MAY BE LESS OBSERVANT COULD EASILY RUPTURE THIS OIL PAN AS INNOCUOUSLY AS I DID AND FAILING TO NOTICE THE LEAK, CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT LEAKS OIL - POTENTIALLY BURNING UP THE MOTOR AND CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE FIRES OR WORSE, THE ENGINE SEIZING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME RECOUP THE COSTS OF THIS REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS A MAJOR SAFETY FLAW THAT COULD MAKE MILLIONS OF MOTORISTS SUSCEPTIBLE TO SERIOUS HARM AND I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND HELP SAVE ANY FUTURE LOSS OF MONEY OR LIFE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143971November 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT BROKE WITH NO WARNING BEFORE THE 90,000 MILE SUGGESTED CHECK WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 4000 TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143978November 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROLLER ON MY VW PASSAT 1999 FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143742November 28, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COWL DRAIN BECAME CLOGGED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DURING HEAVY RAIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME FLOODED AND THE DASHBOARD ELECTRONICS BECAME FLOODED RESULTING IN OVER $2,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY PARENTS WHO ARE ELDERLY AND FRAIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143627November 24, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I TURNED ON MY DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER AFTER NOT HAVING USED IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WITHIN 60 SECONDS, I SMELLED A BURNING SMELL AND TURNED THE WARMER OFF IMMEDIATELY. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A DEEP BURN ON THE SEAT, JUST TO THE LEFT OF WHERE I SIT, THAT IS LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. I HAVE NOT YET BROUGHT THIS TO VOLKSWAGEN'S ATTENTION, BUT I INTEND TO DO SO SHORTLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143585November 23, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATED SEATS ON, NOTICED BURNING IN MY LEFT THIGH. SMELLED SMOKE, BURNED MY INDEX FINGER IN SMOLDERING HOLE IN SEAT. TURNED OFF HEATER AND NOTED JUST LIGHT SMOKE. VW SAYS IT WAS A RECALL ITEM, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE (ORIGINAL OWNER). THEY WILL REPLACE IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10143445November 22, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DT: THE CONTACT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM PROBLEM. THE RUBBER BOOT PREMATURELY WORE OUT. HE RECEIVED A SPECIAL SERVICE ACTION FOR THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER 2004 FROM THE MANUFACTURER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIRS. LATER, WHILE HE WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THE DEFECTIVE PART HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY WERE NO LONGER WILLING TO OFFER A FREE REMEDY UNDER THIS SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143467November 22, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT POST OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. THIS CAUSED HIM TO FALL INTO THE BACK SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143402November 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHEN I BROUGHT MY 2000 VW PASSAT (55K MILES) TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, THEY SAID THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS SLUDGE. THE RADIATOR, HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NEED TO HAVE COOLANT FLUSH FOR 2 TIMES. THE TOTAL IS $2600!!! THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE ONLY CAUSE WOULD BE WRONG TYPE OF COOLANT, BUT I HAVE NOT DONE SERVICE OTHER THAN THE VW DEALER. SO, I SUSPECT THAT THAT IS DEFECT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THE 2000 PASSAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143269November 19, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 43K MILES AND I HAVE NOTICED FOR SOME TIME NOW THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE LET OUT FURTHER THAN SEEMED NORMAL FOR IT TO ENGAGE. I'VE MENSIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IT WAS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS 'NORMAL' AND THEY COULDN'T ADJUST IT. AS I WAS DRIVING AND WENT TO SHIFT, I NOTICE THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT HAD TO BE LET ALMOST ALL THE WAY BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPEND; IT FELT VERY DIFFERENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS "BURNT OUT." AT ONLY 42K MILES, IT SEEMS A LITTLE PREMATURE TO HAVE BURNED OUT A CLUTCH ALREADY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143100November 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GARAGE WHERE THE CAR IS SERVICED INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIND A CAUSE OTHER THAN IT MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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