Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10122222May 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AT 50K MILES THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL MODULE WHICH COST ME $ 1500 IN REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122235May 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS LIGHTS ARE REPORTING FAILURE BUT BRAKE ACTIVITY APPEARS OKAY. DEALER SAYS NEW MODULE WILL BE NEEDED TO FIX PROBLEMS AT A COST OF $1,500. LOOKING FOR OPTIONS TO REPLACE/REBUILD ABS MODULE DUE TO EXPENSE OF TOTAL REPLACEMENT. BELIEVE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOUND ON INTERNET SHOULD RESULT IN MANUFACTURER RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122205May 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON 2000 PASSAT WITH 41,666 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122110May 25, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DT: CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, BUT CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS INSTALLED WERE NOT A QUALITY LINE HEADLIGHTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122143May 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
OUR 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS 4 CYLINDER SEDAN (80K MILES) HAD INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHTS GO ON FOR THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE BRAKES. THE MANUAL STATES THAT WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS GO ON THE ABS SYSTEM IS DISABLED AND THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY. THERE WAS NO REGULAR PATTERN TO THE LIGHTS COMING ON, BUT ONCE IT STARTED IT HAPPENED VIRTUALLY EVERY TRIP AT DIFFERENT TIMES. I DROVE FOR ABOUT A WEEK WITH THE LIGHT ON WITH NO APPARENT LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. I DID EXPERIENCE A FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON (ON A HILL ON A RAINY DAY) AND SO DETERMINED IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. WE CAME BACK WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS ON AND THEY TOLD US WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AT A COST OF $2600. WE WENT AHEAD AND DID THE REPAIR. WE DID NOT KEEP THE PREVIOUS PART. WE ARE DISTRESSED THAT A SINGLE PART FROM A SAFETY SYSTEM IS SO EXPENSIVE AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD IN AUDIS AND VWS. VISIT ANY ONLINE CAR FORUM AND IT IS FILLED WITH STORIES OF THIS REPAIR. BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I FEEL VOLKSWAGEN BE ALERTED TO THIS ISSUE AND A FORMAL COMPLAINT SHOULD BE REGISTERED ABOUT THIS SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121856May 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, EMISSIONS LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 2. FAILURE OF IGNITION COILS (3) 3. 3 COILS BEING REPLACED AT VW DEALERSHIP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121775May 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AUTOMOBILE: 2001.5 VW PASSAT 1)THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING - BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DAYLIGHTS, THE FOGLIGHTS AND THE BRIGHTS CONTINUED TO WORK. 2) THE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. 3) WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER. THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HAD MELTED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. QUESTION: IF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS MELTED, ISN'T THERE A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE WILL ALSO MELT?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121715May 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121735May 20, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THIS IS THE THIRD POWER WINDOW TO FAIL AND FALL INTO THE DOOR. THE DEALER WON'T PAY FOR IT SINCE VW DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121733May 20, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE CRUISING ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST DIED; NO LIGHTS COME ON, NO DRIVAILITY PROBLEM OR NOISE BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT HALF-FULL. THE DEALER WORK ORDER INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121376May 19, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATER ONE MORNING, I SMELLED SMOKE AND THE LEATHER SEAT WAS SMOKING. THE SEAT HEATER MALFUNTIONED AND ALMOST BURNT ME AS WELL. I PULLED OVER AND IT BURNT A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH MY LEATHER SEAT!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121328May 18, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. VW REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE PARTS. THE REASONING IS THAT: - I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AT THEIR DEALER IN FEBRUARY 2005 AND AT THE TIME THE PARTS SEEMED OK. - AT THIS TIME, THEIR DEALER HAS REINSPECTED THE CAR. THE VW DEALER THINKS THAT BOTH LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON THE CAR NEED REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE NOT ABOUT TO FAIL AND THE CAR IS STILL DRIVEABLE AND THUS VW WILL NOT PAY FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC STATES THAT THE CAR NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. PLEASE ADVISE WHETHER VW IS RESPONSIBLE UNDER THE "REVISED-VM (40G3) - DECEMBER 2004" RECALL CAMPAIGN TO FIX THESE. THANKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121131May 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL SENDER UNIT FAILS TO RECORD PROPER LEVEL OF FUEL IN TANK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES DESPITE A RECALL ON SAME VEHICLE WITH DIFFERENT 'TRIM' LEVEL. FUEL GUAGE WILL READ FULL FOR 250 OF APPROXIMATELY 300 TOTAL MILES THEN ROCKET DOWN TO EMPTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121150May 17, 2005
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES AS SUGGESTED. AT 48,880 MILES MY OIL WAS CHANGED WITH KNOW PROBLEMS. AT 53880 MILES MY OIL CHANGE AGAIN. BUT AT THIS CHANGE I WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT AXEL BOOTS WERE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. I ASKED SINCE IT WAS JUST 3,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGAN SAID NO. I HAD THE AXEL BOOTS FIXED. BUT AFTER SPEAKING TO MANY PEOPLE NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF AXEL BOOTS BREAKING AT 53,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS MUST BE DEFECT WITH THE CAR, SINCE BOTH AXEL BOOTS BROKE AT THE SAME TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121245May 17, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
FAILED OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER CV BOOTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120975May 16, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NOTICED RUST COMING THROUGH THE UPPER AND LOWER MOLDINGS SURROUNDING FRONT DOOR WINDOWS...UNIT STILL UNDER WARRANTY, LESS THAN 2 YRS OFF LOT, BOUGHT BRAND NEW...A 2003 VW PASSAT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121048May 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
(1) NO DISERNABLE EVENTS PRIOR (2) ABS MODULE FAILURE (3) NONE MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120932May 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT (INCLUDING MINE), USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. THE VW COMPANY HAS PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO ASSISTANCE IN HELPING OWNERS DESPITE KNOWING OF HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE TYPES OF FAILURES AS EARLY AS 30K MILES. SERVICES THAT CHARGE ~$300.00 TO REBUILD THE FAILED ABS MODULE ARE UNRELIABLE AND CAUSE DRIVERS TO WORK ON THEIR CARS WITH NO MECHANICAL SENSE BECAUSE OF THEIR DESPERATION. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120901May 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS MODULE ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FAILED. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE AS I'VE FOUND ON VW CHAT BOARDS, CONVERSATION WITH OTHER VW OWNERS, AND COMMENTS FROM VW REPAIR SHOPS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS VEHICLE PART HAVE A PROPENSITY TO FAIL, IT IS MORE COSTLY THAN MOST VEHICLE PARTS. THE DOLLAR FIGURE TO REPLACE THIS PART PLACES IT OUT OF REACH FOR MOST PEOPLE, RESULTING IN MANY VEHICLES OPERATING WITH A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM RATHER THAN SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THE ITEM. WHILE MORE AFTERMARKET VEHICLE PARTS CAN BE REMANUFACTURED, THIS PARTICULAR PIECE IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED AS A REMANUFACTURED ITEM. THIS IS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF; 1) THE PROPENSITY FOR THE ITEM TO FAIL AND 2) THE COST OF THE ITEM TO REPLACE. BASICALLY, MANY FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND LIKELY THE VEHICLE DEALER MAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PROFIT FROM THIS NECESSARY ITEM. DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SAFETY FEATURE, THAT BEING A WORKING ABS SYSTEM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR MANDATORY RECALL AND REPLACEMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120735May 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE (P/N #8E0 614 111 AH) FAILURE IN 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ONLY 70,181 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS AN ISSUE DESPITE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR POSTS I HAVE FOUND WITH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH FOR VW PASSATS (1999 - 2005) AND AUDI A4S (1997-2001) THAT HAVE THE SAME CONTROL MODULE. VW WILL NOT COOPERATE ON REPLACEMENT OF THIS $1,600 MODULE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY RISK OF FAILED ABS SYSTEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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