Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10133109August 16, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DOING 70 MPH. TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP AND FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. CAR HAD 59000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132567August 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILED ABS CONTROLLER. ERROR CODES ON DASHBOARD. ABS IS NO LONGER WORKING. QUOTED ~1200 TO FIX. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132665August 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I HEAR THREE BEEPS, THE ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHERE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS. I HAVE ALREADY FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS RECURRING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132675August 12, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
BOTH BLINKERS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132323August 11, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HIS 2003 VW PASSAT THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING STALLED. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, BUT 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT DIED AGAIN. HE WAS TRAVELING DURING RUSH HOUR ON A BUSY FREEWAY. WE SUSPECT IT IS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. WE HAVE READ OF SEVERAL OTHERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS MORE CARS OF THIS YEAR GAIN MORE MILEAGE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 58,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132520August 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX 4-MOTION HAD A ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FAILURE AT 51,000 MILES DISABLING THE ABS FEATURE ON MY CAR. IT ALSO CAUSES DISTRACTING ABS FAILURE WEARING LIGHTS AND NOISES AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES CAUSING DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. ON THE CONSOLE DISPLAY IT ALSO TELLS YOU TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. PACIFIC VOLKSWAGEN SAYS IT IS A $750.00 PART THEY HAVE TO ORDER TO FIX PLUS LABOR. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON VARIOUS MESSAGE BOARDS I DISCOVERED IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AT ANY MILEAGE. MANY DRIVERS HAVE NOT ELECTED TO HAVE THIS MODULE REPLACED DUE TO COST AND ARE NOT DRIVING WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH. I AM AWAITING THE PART ORDERED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE AS I VALUE MY ABS SYSTEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT RECOGNIZE OR RECALL AND COMPROMISES SAFETY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132251August 10, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT
FUNCTION OF TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ON MY 2001 PASSAT (40,000 MILES) HAS BEEN DEGRADING OVER TIME. BOTH SYSTEMS ARE NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. VW (800-822-8987) CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ACTIVE VW RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2000-2002 GOLF, GTI AND JETTA, AND THE NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE TO WHOM I SPOKE HAS TOLD ME THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON 2001 PASSATS (BUT NO CURRENT RECALL). OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL BE GETTING THIS FIXED ASAP. HOWEVER, I WOULD REQUEST THAT 1) A RECALL BE INITIATED AND 2) VW PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO ALL OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF WHO WILL HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR OUT OF THEIR POCKETS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY WIDESPREAD ON 2000-2002 VW VEHICLES OF ALL MODELS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132058August 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 1996 VW PASSAT HAS LOST ITS ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VERY UNSAFE WITH NO BACKING FROM VW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132065August 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
PROBLEM EXTENDED OVER THE PERIOD OF ABOUT 2 YEARS. THE CHECK EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON SPORADICALLY, THEN STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS WORKED ON BY 3 MECHANICS : 1ST TIME- DIAGNOSIS UNSEALED GAS CAP - STAYED OFF FOR 6 MONTHS; 2ND TIME - 4TH TIME- "JUST HAPPENS ON VWS" AND COMPUTER RESET - STAYED OFF ABOUT AVERAGE OF 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LIGHTING UP AGAIN; 5TH TIME - ON ALL THE TIME, MECHANIC WOULD RESET, WOULD TAKE ON TEST DRIVE AND IT WOULD COME ON AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I HAD MOVED TO NC WHERE THE CAR PROCEEDED TO FAIL INSPECTION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THE SECOND LOCAL MECHANIC MANAGED TO FIX PROBLEM; CAR PASSED EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND LIGHT HAS BEEN OFF FOR 6 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132074August 9, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
MY 2000 VW PASSAT, WITH 38,000 MILES, HAS WORN TIE RODS TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE BEEN ADVISED IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CAR WAS HAVING AN OIL CHANGE AND I MENTIONED I HAD BEEN HEARING CREAKING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT WHILE DOING 3 POINT TURNS OVER THE PAST MONTH. MY MECHANIC (NOT A DEALER) THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. UPON CHECKING, THE RECALL WAS FOR 1999 PASSATS ONLY. SINCE THE 2000 MODEL IS THE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 1999 MODEL, WHY WAS THIS RECALL NOT EXTENDED TO THE 2000 CARS? I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS AT MY OWN EXPENSE. PLEASE NOTE THE SERVICE ACTION ISSUED BY VW IN NOVEMBER 2004 DID NOT INCLUDE THE TIE RODS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132110August 9, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM ONE A LARGE AND GROWING NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S AND AUDI'S WHO HAVE ABS (AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS) THAT HAVE STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 40,000 - 50,000 MILES. THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS CAN BE DISCERNED BY A WEB DISCUSSION GROUP DEVOTED TO PEOPLE WITH THIS SOLE PROBLEM (BENTLEY PUBLISHERS AT HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?FORUMNAME=VOLKSWAGEN.B.B5&THREADID=6316 ). WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVING FOUND THE WEBSITE, ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LARGE QUANTITY OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SNAFU. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT VW/AUDI APPEARS TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. LATELY, SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS GENERALLY BEING CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IN THE ABS MODULE. YET AT THIS POINT, VW AND AUDI ARE HAVING USERS REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT. THIS COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY OF US ($2600 IN MY CASE). IN THE MEANTIME, MANY OF US ARE HAVING TO DRIVE WITH FAULTY ABS SYSTEMS, WITH RESULTANT SAFETY PROBLEMS: FOR ME, THE ABS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GO ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE BRAKES ON MY CAR GRAB AND ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TOO. I FEAR THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GROWING WORSE. THE MORE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT ALL OF THESE CARS LACK THE ABS DURING CRUCIAL TIMES OF DRIVING ON ICY OR WET PAVEMENT. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE ABS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE (SINCE IN MANY CASES, THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ON THROUGHOUT). AT THIS POINT, I'M FEARFUL WHENEVER I DRIVE MY CAR. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132134August 9, 2005
EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE BESIDES REGULAR USE OF THE VEHICLE PASSAT 1999. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT PERIODICALLY HAS COME ON AND LENGTHENED IN DURATION UNTIL IT STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. THE BRAKING IS STILL NORMAL, BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WENT OUT ON MY PASSAT 1999. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OUT. I COASTED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF ITS TENDENCY TO FAIL. I HAD TO REDO ALL OF MY RODS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PART IN MY POSSESSION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132148August 9, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF STARTING VEHICLE, LEFT CIGARETTE SIZE BURN HOLE IN SEAT, DRIVERS PANTS, AND LEFT BURN MARK ON DRIVERS BUTTOCKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10131900August 8, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. DURING THIS TIME THIS PASSAT HAS HAD SEVERAL SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT AS A PROBLEM BY VARIOUS SERVICE CENTERS AND VW. THE CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE PASSAT HAS AGAIN DEVELOPED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132012August 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A NEW 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM THE DEALER IN 10/99. APPROX 2 YEARS AGO THE INTERIOR ROOF STARTED LEAKING THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE WELLS WERE CLOGGED. APPROX 1 YEAR LATER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THE WELLS WERE CLOGGING AGAIN. I REPAIRED IT AGAIN. JULY 05 THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED CYCLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, THE TRUNK WOULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH PERIODICALLY WHILE PARKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE REMOTE TO OPEN/LOCK THE DOORS OR ACTIVATE THE ALARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT IS CORRODED. WATER HAS BEEN POOLING THERE WHEN IT RAINS. THE DEALER OF PURCHASE & REPAIR IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THAT VEHICLE MODEL FOR THAT YEAR AND THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR FOR LABOR & PARTS IS APPROX $500.00. VOLKSWAGON'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THIS POINT IS NOT WILLING TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST IN REPAIR. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $700.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131777August 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT GOES ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131788August 6, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 54K MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131611August 4, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
NHTSA 01V157000 SITES A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK GAUGE MY VEHICLE ABSOLUTELY HAS THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE GAS GAUGE WILL RECORD 280 MILES THEN AFTER DRIVING A FEW HOURS IT WILL SAY 380 MILES LEFT FOR FUEL THEN IN A 30 MILE DISTANCE IT WILL PLUMMET DOWN TO 60 OR LESS. THE CAR IS A 2001 PASSAT AND NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS THIS AS A RECALL AS OF 08/04/05 *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131419August 3, 2005
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE REAR WINDOW GLASS FELL INSIDE THE DOOR WHILE TRAVELING AT 80 MPH, CAUSING MY FAMILY TO GET EXTREMELY ALARMED. I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK UP VIA THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DOOR BUT IT WAS INCORPORATIVE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO VOLKSWAGEN, THEY SAID A PIN HOLDING THE WINDOW UP BROKE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS I HAD AN INFANT NEXT TO THE WINDOW AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. BECAUSE OF THE INFANT'S LOCATION, MY WIFE'S PURSE STRAP HIT HIM IN THE FACE CAUSING MIRROR INJURY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10131469August 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8L TURBO IS BAD. I DISCOVERED THIS BECAUSE THE LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH MY ABS CAME ON THE DASH. THE CAR FISHTAILS IF BREAKS ARE APPLIED SHARPLY GOING FASTER THAN 50 MPH, EVEN WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. I TESTED THIS IN A SAFE PLACE TO SEE IF THE ABS WAS REALLY NOT WORKING. NOW I HAVE NO ABS AND THE REPLACEMENT PART COSTS SO MUCH THAT I WILL HAVE NO ABS FOR AWHILE. AND THE BREAKS ON CARS THAT ARE BUILT TO USE ABS DON'T WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT IT. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF FORUMS WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SAFE, ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES BEING ABS. HOPEFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS THAT IT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE IT CAUSES TOO MANY ACCIDENTS OR ANY INJURIES. BY THE WAY, BOSCH MADE THIS ABS CONTROL MODULE AND IT IS THE SAME ONE USED IN THE AUDI A4 AND A6. I THINK THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW ONE THAT THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE OLD ONES WITH BUT THEY STILL HAVEN'T ADMITTED THEY SCREWED UP AND NOW THE CONSUMER IS PAYING FOR IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Passat