Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10129661July 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1) ON EARLY MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH THE 4CYL. 1.8 LITRE TURBO MOTORS, THE IGNITION CONTROL UNIT WILL FAIL WITH NO WARNINGS AT ALL. 2)THE CAR DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE OWNER IS LEFT WITH CONSTANT MISFIRING, AND IF DRIVEN CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS EMISSION TROUBLES DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE THE FAILURE IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM, THIS CAN AND USUALLY WILL LEAVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS STRANDED. 3)THE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED OR THE CAR WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY. I PURCHASED A UNIT OF THE BRAND HUCO, BECAUSE THE OEM UNIT (BOSCH) LISTS FOR NEARLY $400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129633July 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS CONTROLLER IS EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE SYMPTOM IS WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES OR WHEN IT IS HOT, THE BRAKE/ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. A MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME PERMANENT FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER. REFER TO NHTSA OID COMPLAINT # 10106162 AND 10120717 FOR FAILURE OF SAME ABS CONTROLLER ON 1999 AUDI A4. THE PART NUMBER OF THE ABS CONTROLLER IN MY 1999 PASSAT IS 8E0-614-111-B. I AM INVESTIGATING OPTIONS FOR REPAIR, EITHER NEW PART FROM DEALER ($1500) OR REBUILD ($600). THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM (MANY COMPLAINTS ON CONSUMER WEB SITES). THE FAILURE IS REPORTED TO BE FAILING SOLDER JOINTS ON A CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE CONTROLLER THOUGH I CANNOT VERIFY THIS PERSONALLY. VW AMERICA WILL NOT ADMIT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE (THEY ONLY DISCUSS RECALL OR WARRANTY ISSUES).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129648July 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1) MOTORISTS ALERT THAT REAR BRAKLE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THHIS CAN CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENTS. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130219July 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE DEFECTIVE FRONT RIGHT DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP ON CONSUMER'S 2002 VW PASSAT.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129573July 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HORN QUIT WORKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129446July 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ABS MODULE FAILED. ABS, BRAKE AND WARNING LIGHTS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129291July 19, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT: CALLER SAID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING CALLER SAID BOTH CURTIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED OVER THE DOORS. CALLER SAID HE DID NOT HAVE A CRASH OR HIT A BUMP. CALLER SAID AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ,AND THERE WA SA BLINKING WARNING LIGHT. CALLER MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT DID NOT MAKE IT BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128918July 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. 2000 VW PASSAT WITH 60,000 MILES EXPERIENCED AN ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE - SYMPTOMS ARE ABS WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON, AND "STOP" SHOWN ON DISPLAY SCREEN. TOOK IT TO A VW DEALER WHO QUOTED ME $1185 USD TO REPLACE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH PASSAT'S AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128818July 14, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VW PASSAT DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN DALLAS MORNING RUSH HOUR. I TURNED MY HEATED SEAT ON AND I WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY AN EXTREME HEAT ON MY BACKSIDE/LEG. I DID NOT KNOW IF THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE OR WHAT. THE SEAT HAD MELTED LEATHER AND LEFT A SUPERFICIAL BURN ON MY REAR END. THE SEAT WILL SPARK AND SMOKE IF THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. I WANT OUT OF THIS LEASE!!! THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AND UPON RESEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10128415July 12, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE SECONDARY AIR FILTER ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT FAILED AT 14,000 MILES. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. MY CAR NOW HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. REPLACEMENT PRICE IS $1,000. THE VW REPAIRSHOP STATED THAT THIS NOT A NECESSARY PART AND REALLY DOESN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED. BUT WITHOUT REPLACEMENT THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON EVERYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED. I CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE PART. I SEE THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SECONDARY AIR FILTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128426July 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER COMING INTO FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RESULTING IN DAMAGES TO THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE), WET CARPETING, AND RUST UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE TRANSMISSION MODULE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR, AND DELAY ACCELERATION. THE TCM AND CARPETING WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128290July 11, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL WITHIN THE DOOR YESTERDAY AS I WAS PUSHING THE BUTTON TO BRING IT DOWN. (THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE BACK DOOR. VW REPLACED IT AT NO COST ONCE I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SILENT RECALL. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO CHARGE ME $350.) THIS TIME, THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS PAST THE TIME FRAME. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I INITIALLY BROUGHT IT IN, BUT DID NOT FIX ALL OF THE WINDOWS THAT IT SHOULD STILL BE COVERED. THEY DISAGREED. IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A WINDOW TO FALL IN ON A 6-YEAR OLD CAR. PLUS, TO HAVE IT HAPPEN 2X IN ONE CAR!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129132July 8, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAD BOTH INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSENING.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128147July 8, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2000 PASSAT - 82000 MILES - FRONT RIGHT POWER WINDOW - REGULATOR FAILED ALLOWING WINDOW TO DROP INTO DOOR. TECHNICIAN FOUND PLASTIC PART WHICH RIDES IN TRACK BROKEN AND PIECES IN DOOR. VW HAS SIMILAR PROBLEM IN MULITPLE VEHICLES. EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED TO COVER REPAIR ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON PASSAT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127766July 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASH BOARD, CAUSING MY ABS SYSTEM TO NOT FUNCTION AND I HAD IT CHECKED OUT, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BUSTED ABS MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127804July 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN
FOR: 99 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT WAGON WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE PARKING IN FRONT OF A BANK, IN A SUDDEN THE CAR SHOKE VIOLENTLY; WE STOPPED WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF... THE CAR WAS SHAKING VERY HARD STILL. WE THEN HAD THIS CAR DIAGNOZED AT A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER NEARBY. AFTER A DAY, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THERE'S MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 2, AND IT'S COMMON THING IN PASSAT (I DID NOT KNOW THIS UNTIL THEN), BUT VW NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. SO THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE THE CAR FOR AN EXTRA DAY SO THEY COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER DAY PASSED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME; THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE COIL, IT'S STILL MISFIRING, AND THEY MENTIONED MORE TRIALS, BUT THOSE WERE NOT GOOD TOO. THEY SUGGESTED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONE HOUR BEFORE I WROTE THIS TO NHTSA, I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND I FOUND SIMILAR OCCURANCES OF MISFIRING FROM CYLINDERS, AND A FEW HAS THE SAME TYPE: 99 PASSAT. HERE IS WHAT I HAD FOUND: 1. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_COILS.HTML 2. HTTP://EXPERTS.ABOUT.COM/Q/801/4003867.HTM 3. HTTP://WWW.TOPGEAR.COM/CONTENT/FEATURES/STORIES/FAQ/01/MODULES/02_ENGINE/17/ 4. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM/TOPIC291366.HTM 'BOSCHMANN' "NORTH AMERICAN MODELS HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CRACKS FORMING IN THE IGNITION COIL." 5. HTTP://INMYEXPERIENCE.COM/ARCHIVES/000213.SHTML VERY RESOURCEFUL, MORE PEOPLE WRITE THEIR CONCERNS OF MISFIRING. 6. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_23919.HTML .... AND MORE. WHEN THE FIRST IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT WE JUST HIT AND RAN OVER SOMETHING... I WAS ALREADY IN THE PARKING LOT OF A BANK. STO I PARKED AND LOOKED 30 FT AWAY TO WHERE THE FIRST SHAKE HAPPENED... NOTHING THERE. THEREFORE, I WOULD REQUEST NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION FOR THIS MATTER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, I WILL BE BEST TO BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL. SINCERELY, EDWARD YAHYA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127850July 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
2 MAIN PROBLEMS CONTINUAL BUILDUP OF OIL SLUDGE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP EVENTUAL CLOGS A SCREEN THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO BE INOPERABLE AND THE DEALER THEN CHARGES $700 - $1000 TO REMEDY. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THE MODULE IS FALING AND WILL COST $700 - $900 TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY 2000 PASSAT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127649July 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS AND ASR (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 71,000 MILES. IT ALMOST COST ME WHEN MY LIFE WHEN THE ABS DID NOT KICK IN AND STARTED SLIDING ON A RAINY DAY. IT COST $1,400 AT THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM; THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS COMMON. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE COMPUTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127382July 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE SERIAL 8EO 614 111P 1999 PASSAT WAGON, 1.8T 4CYL. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHING. QUOTED $3150 FROM VW TO REPAIR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127048June 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
1) NORMAL DRIVING, HIGHWAY SPEED. 2)ABS WARNING LIGHT, ABS FAILURE UPON TESTING, ANNOYING BRAKE/ABS LIGHTS AND WARNING TONE 3) REPAIRED ABS CONTROL MODULE THROUGH REPAIR SERVICE. NOT THROUGH DEALER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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