Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10139990October 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE PAST FIVE WEEKS. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS A "FULL" READING FOR THE FIRST 100-150 MILES OF DRIVING, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. AFTER 100-150 MILES, THE GAUGE DISPLAYS 7/8 FULL, AND THE NEEDLE DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 300-380 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DISPLAYS 1/2 TANK OF FUEL REMAINS. THIS VEHICLE WILL GENERALLY YIELD 400 TO 430 MILES ON A FULL TANK OF FUEL. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY, AND HAS NEARLY RUN OUT OF FUEL TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO A FALSE READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATES THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN ON MY VEHICLE, AND REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AT THEIR EXPENSE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139992October 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN T DEALER, SERVICED AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED ON SCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ON 9-30-05 THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED AN OVERHAUL, AND THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE VALVE RINGS/O-RINGS). THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IF THIS WAS NOT DONE OIL WOULD LEAK , AND THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAS A FRIEND WHO TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 PASSAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE WARRANT EXPIRED, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO SHE CALLED BBB AND FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN. *AK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140033October 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - IN RE: THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. A WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON ALONG WITH A BEEPING SOUND. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PASSAT. THE CONSUMER RESEARCHED THIS MATTER AND REALIZED THAT THERE WERE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THEE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAD NOT FIXED IT AS OF YET. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OTHER PROBLEMS EXCEPT WITH THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE BEEPING SOUND. *AK (12/08/05) THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED DAILY. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139849October 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT THE CONTACT STATED ON OCTOBER 9, 2005 THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD POWER. PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE REVVED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WOULD MOVE BACKWARD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR FOR WARNING ,AND NO TYPE OF ODD NOISES. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, AND THERE WERE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION . THE DEALER BELIEVED THIS HAPPENED DUE TO SOME TYPE OF SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 8,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139781October 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON VW PASSAT, YR=2000, MODEL=PASSAT, ENGINE 2.8L. BOSCH ABS 5.3 (VW P/N 8EO 614 111 AH) HAS VERY POOR RELIABILITY HISTORY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139645October 14, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS GO BAD ON MY VEHICLE. IF THE CONTROL ARMS AREN'T REPLACED, IT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISMS. BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AND I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139688October 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY ON. ERROR CODE 17544 BANK 1 SYSTEM TOO LEAN (P1136) LONG TERM FUEL TRIM. I HAD MY MECHANIC FIX ALL VACUUM LEAKS, LOW FUEL PRESSURE, EXHAUST LEAKS, INJECTORS AND SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM. HAD THE MAF SENSOR REPLACED AND STILL HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139554October 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PROBLEM WITH 2003 PASSAT GLX FUEL PUMPS. THERE ARE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF FUEL PUMPS THAT FAIL ON THE PASSAT MODEL. VW HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP, BUT ONLY ON THE GOLF, NEW BETTLE AND JETTA, NOT THE PASSATS. VW HAS AN ADMITTED PROBLEM, BUT IS NOT WILLING TO COVER ALL MODELS AFFECTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139622October 13, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
DT: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING OUT OF PARK AND IT WOULD A NOT GO INTO PARK. THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS STARTED ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE DEALERSHIP WAS WILLING TO FIX IT, BUT, A VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY WERE GOING GOING TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139524October 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T GLS. AT 69,000 MILES, "ABS" AND "BRAKE" DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, INDICATING FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE, AND LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139283October 11, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY VW DEALER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139231October 10, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I HAD THE SUNROOF OF MY 1998 PASSAT SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTER. I WAS DRIVING 60-65 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPEN. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 37 F. THE GLASS APPEARS TO BE BLOWN OUTWARD. LUCKILY I HAD THE SUNROOF SHADE CLOSED WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM BEING SHOWERED WITH GLASS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139158October 9, 2005
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
DURING NORMAL DRIVING, MY 2002 PASSAT 1.8T HAS SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE SHIELD TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. THE SHIELD COMES LOOSE OR TEARS LOOSE FROM ITS MOORINGS AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT DRIVE OFF ROAD OR USE EXCESSIVE SPEED. MY SECOND APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE SHIELD IS OCTOBER 13, 2005. AT LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN IN RENO, NEVADA. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139887October 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT THE 2002 VW PASSAT ARE EQUIPPED W/DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE PADS. *TS THE FAULTY BRAKES CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE BRAKING. SINCE BRAKES ARE NOT WARRANTY ITEM THE CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVICE FEE ASSOCIATED WITH REPLACING THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139048October 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE OIL SLUDGE- I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT VOLKSWAGENS PROBLEM WITH 1.8 TURBO ENGINES CREATING A SLUDGE THAT RESULTS IN LOW TO NO OIL PRESSURE. I HAVE ONE OF THE CARS AFFECTED, A 2001 PASSAT. RECENTLY MY "STOP ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I DID STOP AND CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND HE SAID THAT YES MY CAR WAS COVERED FOR 8 YEARS FROM IN SERVICE DATE. HE DID SAY HOWEVER THAT TRYING TO GET EVERYONE TO "SIGN OFF" MIGHT POSE SOME DIFFICULTY WHEN THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY ARISES. MY FRIEND HAS A 2003 AUDI WITH THE SAME 1.8 T AND HE HAS HAD HIS CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM TWICE. I THINK THERE NEED TO SOMETHING FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM AND HOLD VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE STILL ALLOWED TO MAKE THESE SAME ENGINES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138929October 6, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT CAME ON BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND IT STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAD IT FOR 77 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A COIL PACK, SPARK PLUGS, AND FOUR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS READY, HE PICKED IT UP AND DROVE 3 MILES AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CONTACTED TECHNICAL SUPPORT, WHO TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR THE ELECTRICAL GROUNDS. THE DEALERSHIP THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE ON A TEST DRIVE AND IT STALLED AGAIN. THE FACTORY SERVICE ENGINEERS SAID TO PUT EVERY ELECTRICAL WIRE ON THE CAR THROUGH AN OHM TEST. ALL OF THE WIRES CHECKED OUT, AND NO OUT OF TOLERANCE RATINGS WERE FOUND. THEY TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE IGNITION KEY ADAPTATION, AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM FOR PROPER FUNCTION. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THEY FOUND NOTHING DEFINITIVE AT THAT POINT. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS THAT WAS REPLACED AUGUST 8, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PICKED UP ON AUGUST 10, 2005. THE CONTACT WENT ON VACATION, AND 175 MILES LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY FOUND 20 FAULT CODES IN THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP ON AUGUST 25, 2005. THEY ROAD TESTED IT AND IT STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO GET VOLKSWAGEN TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW GOING TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEADS. *AK IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS THE PROBLEM AND THE REASON WHY THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THE FIRST SEVEN TIMES WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE RELYING ON THE COMPUTER TO DISPLAY CODES. UPDATED 01/11/06.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138450October 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILED ABS MODULE ON 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4 MOTION WAGON AT 71000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138364October 3, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THIS OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 2, 2005. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR PAIN, CUTS, AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED YET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10138305October 1, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY IT SELF, OPENS AND DOESN'T CLOSE BY IT SELF WHILE DRIVING MY 1998 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT. IT FIRST OPENED/CLOSED BY IT SELF IN JANUARY, 2005. IT SCARED ME AND WAS/IS UNBELIEVEABLE. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A MONTH LATER, THE SUNROOF WOULD SLIDE BACK 3/4 OF THE WAY AND THEN CLOSE BY ITSELF. I TOOK THE CAR INTO ROYAL VOLKSWAGON IN FL ON 02/28/05 AND IN ADDITION TO REGULAR SERVICE I ASKED TO CHECK THE SUNROOF. I WAS TOLD THEY WERE "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER CONCERNS. NO REPAIRS RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138082September 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE DISPLAY OF "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP!" AROUND 73K MI. THE CAR DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE O2 SENSORS, BUT IT TURNED OUT NOT BE TO. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A "RECALL/SERVICE BULLETIN" PROBLEM OF SOME SORT SO THEY RESET MY ONBOARD COMPUTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE SHORTLY THERE AFTER. I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALER AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED BOTH OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (WHICH WERE COVERED BY THE VW EMISSIONS WARRANTY). THIS SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. (THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THE SAME DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULD BE A GOOD ASSUMPTION THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED BEFORE I ATTAINED THE VEHICLE). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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