Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10118104April 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HAVE OWNED MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ABS STILL WERE WORKING, AND IT WAS NOT. THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, BUT IS NOW ON WHENEVER I TURN THE CAR ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY IMMEDIATLY KNEW WHAT I WAS CALLING ABOUT. IT SEEMD AS THOUGH THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE PRICE TO GET IT FIXED THROUGH THE DEALER WAS $1600 OR MORE. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM ,BUT SAYS THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE. CURRENTLY I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $1600 TO HAVE THE ABS FIXED ON MY CAR THAT HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS STARTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117992April 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 55000 MILES ON IT. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING. ON GOING TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH WILL COST $1900. *AK THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, HE HAS HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. VW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PART AND NOT HAVE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117980April 16, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING SEAT COVER AND DRIVER'S LEG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10117920April 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON APRIL 14, 2005 I WAS GOING TO WORK WHEN A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID STOP. I CALLED COMMONWEALTH MOTORS AND WAS TOLD BY LARRY RIGGINS TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL TO SEE IF NEEDED TO ADD OIL, SO I DID. THAT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. I CALLED BACK THE DEALER, WHO GAVE ME THE TOW NUMBER FOR VOLKSWAGEN, AND SAID THAT HE WOULD SET UP AN APPOINTMENT THAT DAY. AFTER WAITING FOR TWO HOURS WE WERE TOWED IN ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT CAR TILL NEXT DAY. NEXT DAY, LARRY CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO PULL ENGINE AND LOOK AT OIL PAN WHICH COULD ADD UP TO A LOT OF MONEY. WHEN QUESTIONED DUE TO THE CAR'S WARRANTY, LARRY INFORMED ME THAT ONLY IF I HAD ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT HONOR THE 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, UNDER 50,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3 DAYS WITH NO RESOLUTION. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND A SITE CALLED VWLEMON.COM AND DISCOVERED THAT KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN ,BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH 1.8 TURBO ENGINE HAD A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSED ENGINE TO BECOME CLOGGED WITH SLUDGE WHICH COULD COMPLETELY SEIZE THE ENGINE. I WAS FORTUNATELY NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED SO THAT I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. CERTAINLY IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURED DESIGN FLAW THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT PAY FOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117921April 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I DRIVE A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF ANNOYING WARNINGS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY ABS SYSTEM I TOOK THE CARTO MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE HOOKED A SCANNER UP TO IT AND CHECKED THE BRAKE SYSTEM ALL DAY, AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS OVERFILLED. HE FIXED THAT MINOR PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FIX THE ORIGINAL ISSUE. AFTER ANOTHER WEEK, I FINALLY BROKE DOWN AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER - HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN ON REISTERSTOWN ROAD IN OWINGS MILLS, MD. THEY HOOKED A SCANNER UP TO IT AS WELL, AND FOUND THAT I NEEDES A NEW ABS CONTROL UNIT. THIS WAS A PART THAT, THEY SAID, WOULD COST $3,000 JUST FOR THE PART! AFTER DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, IT SEEMED THIS WAS ONE OF MANY VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS THAT EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, BUT EVERY ONE WAS BEING CHARGED $1,500 FOR THE PART. THIS OUGHT TO BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN OUGHT TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR OVERCHARGING THEIR CUSTOMERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117929April 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK IT KEPT MOVING FORWARD. I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AND WAS GOING VERY SLOW. AGAIN, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR NOT TOO LONG AFTER. MY CAR DISPLAY READ STOP ENGINE, AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER PROBLEM INVOLVED THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON, DRAINING THE BATTERY, TWICE HAD TO HAVE A VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. YESTERDAY, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DISPLAY AGAIN READ STOP ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT UNLESS I HAVE A COMPLETE RECORD OF MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I HAVE READ LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS GOING ON!!! I AM FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATION TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM! HELP!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117937April 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, INDICATING ABS MODULE FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117938April 15, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
I OWN A 2001 VW PASSAT AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A GAS GAUGE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THE GAUGE IS INNACCURATE AND NEVER REFLECTS THE CORRECT GAS LEVEL.*AK I'VE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL, YET A RECALL EXISTS FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V157000).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118906April 14, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER INQUIRING ON HOW TO GAIN INFORMATION REGARDING 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *MR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NO LONGER EXIST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116854April 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 1999 PASSAT 1.8T GLS. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON TOGETHER INTERMITTENTLY AT AROUND 58,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAULTY ABS UNIT, COST $1400 TOTAL INSTALLED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE UNIT REPLACED YET. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS ON THE ROAD TODAY, WHY HASN'T NHTSA PRESSURED VW TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND CRASHES ARE IMMINENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116811April 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116696April 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
AT THE 20000 MAINTENANCE INSPECTION THERE WAS NO OBSERVATION DONE BY THE DEALER. AT ABOUT 22K THE BRAKE PROBLEM WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN OFF. I TOOK THE CAR AT THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE BACK BRAKE PADS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY WORN OFF AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BRAKE FLUID NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED. THE ESTIMATED COST WAS MORE THAN 350$. I ASKED THEM TO GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION ON HOW THE BRAKES GOT WORN IN THE 2K BETWEEN THE 20K AND 22K SINCE THEY DID NOT TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT ANY BRAKES BEING WORN AT THE 20 MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. THEY HAD NO ANSWER ON THIS. I FINALLY DECIDED TO REPLACE THE BACK BRAKE PADS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SHAKING ON BRAKING AND I FELT UNSAFE DRIVING IT. I DID NOT TRUST THE DEALER ANY MORE SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A THIRD PARTY SHOP I TRUSTED, AND I HAD TO PAY 138$ TO REPLACE THE BACK BRAKE PADS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116616April 8, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT, 1.8L TURBO. I RECEIVED A SERVICE ACTION FROM VW RELATED TO A LOWER CONTROL ARM ISSUE AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT FIVE WEEKS AGO AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT DESPITE THE CREAKING AND GROANING I'M GETTING IN THE SUSPENION. I TOOK IT IN TODAY BECAUSE THE CREAKING AN GROANING HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AND THE SERVICE GUY AT THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THEY QUOTED ME $1400. HE TOLD ME THAT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAIL OVER TIME DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR, AGE AND WEAR. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN ENGINEERING FAILURE ON THE PART OF VW. I'M WAITING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THIS IS SAFETY RELATED, THE SERVICE GUY IS GOING TO CALL ME BACK. I'VE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT A COMPLAINT SHOULD BE LODGED, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING HERE. I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING SUSPENSION ISSUES AT 70,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116548April 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS MODULE FAILURE. WAS SUDDEN/NO WARNING. ELECTRONIC PORTION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. RE: SAN ANTONIO TX DEALER. FAILURE OCCURED W/LESS THAN 55K MILES ON VEHICLE. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM W/THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116431April 5, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
JUST ABOUT EVRERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR THERE SEEMS TO BE A LURCHING IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I START DRIVING AND WHEN I START TO SLOW DOWN(5-15MPH). THE DEALER(COOLEY MAZDA, VW IN EAST GREENBUSH,NY) SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, BUT AFTER CHECKING WITH YOUR SITE I FOUND OUT I WASN'T ALONE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116348April 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
OWNER OF A 2000 PASSAT 1.8T. IKE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE BOARD APPEARS THE MESSAGE: STOP/BREAK FAULT/SERVICE MANUAL.. ABS AND BREAK LIGHTS FLASHED ON. HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY WHEN I GO TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGEST TO REPLACE SOME PARTS BUT AT THE END THE ISSUE STAYS AND NOT EVEN THE DEALER CAN GIVE ME EXPLANATIONS OR HINTS OF HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULE WHICH COSTS AROUND $1500 THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT VW SHOULD MAKE THIS A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116291April 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
(1) SLIGHT PULSATION WAS FELT IN CLUTCH PEDAL. ASSUMED CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING FAILED. 2) TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO CLAIMED THE CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY AND DAMAGED THE FLYWHEEL AS WELL. (3) HAD CAR REPAIRED BY DEALER. CLUTCH APPARENTLY IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 12000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116294April 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BECAME ILLUMLINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I HAD THE TROUBLE LIGHTS DIAGNOSED AT THE 70K SERVICE AND THE DEALER NOTED THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,800. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK, HOWEVER THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERABLE DUE TO THE FAILED CONTROL MODULE. VOLKSWAGON WAS UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE SENT THE MODULE TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR FOR A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE UNIT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116247April 2, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
BAD HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 48,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE UNWILLING TO COVER REPAIRS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116235April 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOES ON AND OFF, WHEN BLINKING ON, THE CAR SHAKES, AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL, AND A BAD ODOR EMITS. WHEN DRIVING , THE CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 20-30 MPH, EVEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. BROUGHT THE CAR TO VW FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IDLE FOR A DAY OR SO. THE 2ND TIME, AFTER GOING TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAVING ALL THE PLUGS REPLACED AND A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. INDEPENDENT SHOP SAID THE ONLY OTHER THING WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND THAT THEY WERE EXPENSIVE. CALLED VW DEALERSHIP(CAR IS ON EXTENDED WARRANTY-LESS THAN 30 THOUSAND MILES & A 2001), WAITED 9 DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD LOOK AT THE CAR, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE PROBLEM, AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT VW DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THE IGNITION COILS, THEY REPLACED THE NEWLY PURCHASED PLUGS AGAIN, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE COILS??? COST ME $261.00 PLUS A RENTAL CAR, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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