Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10116072March 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DESIGN DEFECT IN BRAKE ROTORS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116073March 30, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
MY LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMES ARE VERY SQUIKY AND BOLT JOINT BOOTS ARE RIPPER. I WAS ABOUT TO REPLACE THE MYSELF BUT JUST BEFORE I CALLED VW AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.*AK AFTER 5 HOURS WITH MY CAR THEY TOLD ME TO COME AND PICK IT UP. I DISCOVERED THAT ONLY VACUUM LINE WAS REPLACED AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO MY CONTROL ARMS. I WENT OVER WATER AND THE SQUIK WAS GONE AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER. SO THEY DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING. BUT THE RUBBER BOOTS ARE STILL TURNED APPART!!! THE MANAGER AND THE GUY WHO WORKED ON IT TOLD ME THAT WE DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH YOUR CONTROL ARMS. AND THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED. THE SQUIK CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY, AND I KNOW THAT RUBER BOOTS ARE STILL RIPPED ON THE CONTROL ARMS. CALLED VWOA AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THEY TRUST THE DIAGNOSTIC MADE BY THEIR AUTHORISED DEALER. BECAUSE THE DEALIER DIDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS WITH CONTROL ARMS THE RECALL IS CLOSED NOW. THEY WOULDN'T REIMBERSE THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OF CONTROL ARMS EVEN IF I GO TO THE DIFFERENT DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116124March 30, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT
NORMAL USE OF '99 VW PASSAT WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 99,650 LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF RONT CONTORL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS. REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM SET WITH TIE RODS RETAILS FOR $1,700. PURCHASED A SET FOR $495 AND AN ADDITIONAL $198.75 IN LABOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113640March 30, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DRIVER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK THE DAMAGE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THE CAR WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER'S SON SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LOWER BACK, HYPER EXTENDED KNEES, MISALIGNED HIPS, ETC. *BF *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10110950March 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED $11,000.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR OIL SLUDGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VW HAS CLEARLY ADMITTED TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. ARTICLE ATTACH FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO WORK WITH DEALERS TO IMPROVE GUIDELINES FOR SLUDGE REPAIRS. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116030March 29, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS (4 UPPER CONTROL ARMS, 2 PER SIDE) ARE TORN AND SUSPENSION HAS PLAY COUPLED WITH LOOSE STEERING RESULTING IN NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114795March 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 VW PASSAT, 4-CYLINDER, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AUTOMOBILE. THE ABS BRAKES WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (FEBRUARY 27, 2005). I CONSULTED WITH MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE ABS BRAKES WERE NECESSARY IN WET OR ICY WEATHER IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RESULT IN ANY ACCIDENT OR INJURY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 21, 2005. THE DEALER PERFORMED DIAGNOSIS AND DETERMINED THE ABS PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER (NEW CENTURY VOLKSWAGEN IN GLENDALE, CA) QUOTED A PRICE OF $3125, PARTS AND LABOR, TO FIX. I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR THE CAR AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE EXPENSE. RESEARCH ONLINE AND IN DISCUSSING WITH INDEPENDENT VW MECHANICS REVEALS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VW. I CHECKED WITH AN INDEPENDENT VW MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THAT THE PRICE OF ABS USED PARTS IS RAPIDLY RISING. IN INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE FOR A REMARKABLE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS: HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=173334&PAGE=1&PP=30&HIGHLIGHT=ABS+MODULE . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114799March 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY 2000 PASSAT 1.8T HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. I HAVE AN APPT ON MONDAY TO TAKE IT IN, BUT I STUMBLED ACROSS A WEB FORUM (HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=30&TSTART=0), AND NOW I PRETTY MUCH KNOW THE ANSWER I WILL GET, AND I SEE THERE ARE TONS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM: THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHER MY INFO CENTER SAYS "BRAKE FAULT" AND THEN SAYS "STOP" ACCORDING TO THE FORUM, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER RECALL BECAUSE TO FIX IT TYPICALLY COSTS AROUND $2000 FOR A PART THAT FAILS (NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR OR USE)*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114806March 26, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER THIGH AND BURNED HER FINGER WHEN SHE REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE PULLED OVER AND FOUND A 2CM HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HERB EASLEY MOTORS (OUR LOCAL VW DEALER), THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED THAT THE BURN WAS FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE (NO ONE IN OUR FAMILY SMOKES...). HE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM (VEHICLE HAS 22,000 MILES AND IS UNDER FULL WARRANT)Y, AND HE CLAIMED HIS VW REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE HAD TOLD HIM THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED VW CONSUMER CARE, THEY ARRANGED FOR ME TO WORK WITH CABLE VOLKSWAGEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY. CABLE TOLD ME THEY HAVE FIXED "DOZENS" OF THESE SEATS, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS WITHOUT MY TELLING THEM (THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN THE PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO WHAT OTHERS HERE ARE SAYING...). I HAD TO DRIVE 150 MILES FOR CABLE VW TO INSPECT AND ORDER PARTS, AND WE ARE NOW AWAITING BACKORDERED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR (THEY'VE WARNED ME IT COULD TAKE MONTHS FOR THE PARTS BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF REPAIRS BEING MADE). VW INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR HAVING TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR THE TWO MONTHS OF INFURIATING RUNAROUND FROM HERB EASLEY, THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE LOCATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10117159March 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX 2001, DEFECTIVE BRAKES. *BF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE FRONT WHEEL OVERHEATED AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114733March 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE ON A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS OUT, WE ALSO HAD A2001.5 PASSAT THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, WE TRADED IT IN. SO WHEN OUR SECOND CAR CAME UP WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL V.W, REPAIR SHOP AND THE MAN THERE SAID HIS PERSONAL CAR HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND V.W. REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE. IN CALLED V. W. AND THEY SAID THEY KNOW NOTHING OF THE SORTS. I STARTED RESEARCHING THIS AND IT SEEMS ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE, CAUSING THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP UNDER HEAVY BRAKING SITUATIONS. V. W DOES WANT TO REPLACE IT TIO THE TUNE OF $1400.00 AND WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL NUMBER WHICH TELLS ME THAT THE FIRST MODEL # IS DEFFECTIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114643March 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM ADDING MY VOICE TO THE LIST OF VW OWNERS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR ABS MODULES. THE ELECTRONIC ABS SENSER HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE DASH LIGHTS TO STAY ON CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO WEEKS NOW AND WILL REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT TO FIX. MEANWHILE I AM LEFT WITHOUT ABS AND FACE THE POTENTIAL OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAVE TO HARD BRAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I FIND THIS PROBELM ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND VW OF NORTH AMERICAN NEEDS TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. E.G. REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115770March 24, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE GOES TO THE RIGHT AND THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. DEALER STATES THE TIE ROD IS DEFECTIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114660March 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS CONTOL MODULE FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114670March 24, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
AN INCIDENT OCCURED TODAY, MARCH 24TH, 2004 WHERE THE SEAT HEATER IN MY 2004 VW PASSAT BURNED THROUGH MY SEAT. I NOTICED IT WAS HOT AND TURNED IT OFF, AND THEN SMELT A BURING SMELL. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I SAW THE SMALL BURN HOLE IN MY SEAT, WHICH LOOKED LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT IF IT HAPPENS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THAT I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT SEAT. WHILE MY CLOTHES WERE NOT BURNED, MY SKIN DID HAVE A SUNBURN LIKE BURN IN THAT AREA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10114403March 21, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING DEVISE MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEATER BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, AND THROUGH MY SHIRT. AFTER 8 WEEKS, THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AND A "FIX" WAS DONE TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT. THE NEW SEAT DOES NOT HEAT WELL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114422March 21, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCE A FAILURE YET, BUT I HAVE A 1997 PASSAT VR6 AND IT SEEMS THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH MY MODEL HAVE EXPERIENCED HEATER CORE FAILURES, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING. I'M FILING THIS REPORT AS A PREEMPTIVE MECHANISM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114337March 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
2000 4-CYL VW PASSAT, 64000 MILES: 2 EMISSIONS FAILURES WITHIN 48 HRS: 1.) REPLACED DEFECTIVE EVAPORATOR CHECK VALVE AND HOSE, REPLACED FUEL REG TO MANIFOLD LINE AND N249 VALVE LINE TO MANIFOLD, REPLACED VACUUM LINES ($331); 2.) CLEANED CARBONATED THROTTLE BODY, REPLACED JET VALVE, REPALCED AIR FILTER. REPLACED MASS AIR FLOW METER (UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) ($236). AT 50,000 MILES: REPLACED 2ND PUMP, N112 VALVE, COBI VALVE, CRACKED PIPE, FUSE SET CODES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115288March 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. BOTH THE ROTORS AND THE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME AT 9,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 17,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND MAKE A ROARING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THE PROBLEM MAY RECUR AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114224March 17, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
IN JANUARY 2004 I DROVE BACK TO SCHOOL IN VIRGINIA AFTER SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY. ON THE WAY BACK WHILE I WAS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURN PIKE MY HEATER CORE BURST, SPRAYING BOILING HOT COOLANT (BOTH LIQUID AND STEAM) INTO THE VEHICLES INTERIOR. THE LIQUID FOR THE MOST PART CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CARPET, AND FORTUNATELY ANY THAT WAS SPRAYED ON MY SIDE OF THE COMPARTMENT WAS BLOCKED BY MY PANTS. THE STEAM HOWEVER FILLED MY COMPARTMENT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND CAUSING A NEAR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO OPEN MY WINDOWS AND CLEAR IT OUT. THE INJURY LISTED AS SUCH IS IN REGARDS TO MY BREATHING THE COOLANT IN, WHICH IS HARMFUL TO ONES HEALTH. MAINTENNANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY ON MY VEHICLE JUST BEFORE THAT REPLACING THE AUX WATER PUMP, AND I HAD THE COOLANT SYSTEM FLUSHED AND MAINTENNANCE DONE ON IT AT THAT TIME AT AN AUTHORIZED VW DEALERSHIP. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MY COOLING SYSTEM, THE AUX WATER PUMP, THE HEATER CORE, AND THE THERMOSTAT. FORTUNATELY POLICE WERE PASSING BY AT THE TIME AND GAVE ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS CALLING A TOW TRUCK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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