Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10112724March 8, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
MY WIFE AND I HAD MADE 2 SHORT DRIVES WITHIN THE SPAN OF ABOUT 1/2 HOUR WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER SET AT VARIOUS INTERVALS FROM 5 (HIGH) TO 3 (MEDIUM) AND THEN WE STOPPED TO EAT (~45 MINUTES). ON THE TRIP HOME, WITHIN 2 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER SET TO 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER LEG AND WE SMELLED SOME KIND OF ODD ODOR. SHE SHUT THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND MOVED OFF THE HOT SPOT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CLOTH SEAT HAD BEEN BURNED THROUGH. MY WIFE ALSO HAD A BURN ON HER LEG. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT VW HAS CHANGED MANUFACTURERS AND WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT AS THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL, THEY CANNOT REPLACE IT. I'M SURE A DRIVER'S SEAT GOING AMOK COULD CAUSE A CRASH. CONSEQUENTLY, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS AN EXTRA CHARGE ITEM ON THE CAR, WE'LL BE AFRAID TO USE THE SEAT WARMER FOR FEAR IT TOO WILL OVERHEAT AND BURN US. NOTE: NOT SURE IF "WAS THERE A FIRE" SHOULD BE YES. THERE WAS NO FLAME BUT THERE SURE WAS A BURN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10109659March 8, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE TIRE FAILED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAD TWO TIRE FAILURES IN LESS THAN 13000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112680March 7, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WE TOOK OUR 2000 VW PASSAT IN TO THE VW DEALER FOR STATE SAFETY AND WERE TOLD THAT OUR DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON AND THAT THE PASSANGER SIDE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON ALSO. WE TOOK IT TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION AND HE WAS SHOCKED HOW BAD OF CONDITION THEY WERE A YEAR 2000 AND HAVING 55,000 MILES. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT OUTER TIE ROD END; LINK ROD; AND LEFT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINT TOTAL COST WAS 370.00 AND WE WILL NEED TO DO THE SAME SOON FOR THE LEFT FRONT SIDE VERY SOON. I AM APPALLED THAT VW IS AWARE OF THESE COMPLAINTS IN THE 2000 MODEL AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112579March 5, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVING MY 2003 VW PASSAT I HAD THE SEAT WARMER ON. I SIMULTANEOUSLY SMELLED BURNING AND FELT BURNING IN MY BUTT. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE AND 7 YEAR OLD SON. WE WERE NEAR AN EXIT AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE EXIT RAMP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. THE HOLE WAS A BIT SMALLER THAN A DIME. THE SMELL WAS PUNGENT BUT CLEARED OUT WHEN WE OPENED THE WINDOW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112523March 4, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MY COMPLAIN IS REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2004 VW PASSAT. I HAVE OWN THIS CAR SINCE NOV 04 AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DIM HEADLIGHTS ARE INADEQUATE ON THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE DIM MAY SHINE OUT APPOX 25 FEET AND THEN JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS A TESTING LOCATION, WHERE I COULD TAKE THE CAR TO SEE IF THE LIGHTS EVEN MEET YOUR SAFETY REGULATIONS. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112524March 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1) I WAS DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY (I-75) WHEN I SAW SOMEONE DRIVING ERRATICALLY, WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. HE LOOKED CLOSE TO HITTING ME, SO I ACCELERATED TO NOT ALLOW HIS CAR TO DO THIS.*AK 2) AFTER STEPPING ON THE GAS, AND GETTING OUT OF DANGER, MY CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE, AND IT WOULD SLOW, BUT ONCE I LET OFF ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULD SURGE FOWARD (WITHOUT ME EVEN PRESSING THE GAS). I DID NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL ON AT ALL. 3) I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE CAR STOP SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGWAY, I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE AND THAT WAS ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THOUGH IF THERE WAS MORE TRAFFIC I WORRY IF I WOULD BE ABLE TO PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY, WHILE HAVING TO PRESS MY BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT V6
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112529March 4, 2005
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
RADIO WENT COMPLETELY DARK. TOOK IT IN, THEY UNPLUGGED AND RECONNECTED IT. WENT DEAD AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THIS TIME, IT DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY WHILE IT WAS "DEAD" SO I HAD TO GET A JUMP. TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY'D HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES, MOSTLY PASSATS BUT ALSO JETTAS, WHERE THE RADIOS WERE GOING BAD AND DRAINING BATTERIES THROUGH THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE. THEY HAD TO REPLACE BOTH THE RADIO AND THE BATTERY. CAR ONLY HAS 12,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112530March 4, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SINCE BUYING THE CAR, THERE HAS BEEN AN ODOR FROM THE HEATER VENTS. ON FEBRUARY 25, WHEN USING THE HEATER, MY SON REPORTED LARGE AMOUNTS OF MIST COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE DEALER CHECKED AND FOUDN THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE HEATER CORE, AND THE MIST WAS FROM POOLED ANTIFREEZE. THE MIST IS CLEARLY TOXIC, YET WE WERE BREATHING IT FOR WEEKS, ONLY NOTICING WHEN THE CRACK WORSENED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 17,500 MILES ON IT. WHY DID THE HEATER CORE CRACK? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112452March 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
IF FOUND ON WWW.EPA.GOV A RECALL FOR EMISSION ON THE PASSAT 2.8L. MFR RECALL # WE/LK, EPA# 1694. THE EXACT DEFECT WAS FOUND ON MY PASSAT 1.8L. VACUUM SUPPLY WITHIN THE SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM IS LOST WHEN THE SECONDARY AIR VACUUM HOSES DISCONNECT FROM THE SYSTEM CONTROL VALVE. THE RUBBER VACUUM HOSE CONNECTORS SPLIT AND SEPARATE FROM THE VACUUM CONNECTION THE VALVE DUE TO HEAT DISSIPATION IN THAT AREA. THE SECONDARY AIR HOSE PART# 058133817D. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON FOR THE EMISSION WORKSHOP. MY REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO RECALL NOT COVERING MY VIN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112467March 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
IN EARLY NOVEMBER 2004 MY ABS STARTED TO FAILED IN MY 2000 PASSAT GLS. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST NEARLY $2200 TO FIX THIS. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO DIAGNOSE EXACTLY THE PROBLEM I STUMBLED ON SOME INFORMATION FROM HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ AND HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/ ALSO HTTP://MYVWLEMON.COM/CGI-BIN/UBBCGI/ULTIMATE.CGI ALL OF THESE SITE HAD NUMEROUS OWNERS OF VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM I WAS HAVING. I WONDERED WHY VW HAS NOT HAD A RECALL SINCE THERE WERE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULES. I EVENTUALLY FOUND A COMPANY THAT REBUILDS THE ABS CONTROL MODULES FOR $350. AFTER GETTING IT REBUILD EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. I STILL THINK THIS ISSUE IS AN ERROR ON VW'S THE COMPANY AND THE SHOULD PAY FOR IT! THE ABS FAILING IS ONE THING BUT THE COST OF THE FIX IS OUTRAGEOUS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112394March 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE LIGHT- I TOOK MY CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHY THIS LIGHT IS ON AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD BE A MODULE, AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRENTY, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1300.00 TO REPLACE. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IN MY RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE AND FOUND AT LEAST 200 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. MY BRAKES DONT WORK IN DAMP WEATHER.. THEY BECOME VERY HARD TO PUSH.. AND MY BRAKES ARE NEW I HAD THEM REPLACES ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND THE LIGHT WAS ON BACK THEN.. THAT IS WHY I HAD THEM REPLACED, IN HOPES THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.. BUT IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON GOOGLE YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I ALSO CONTACTED CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111253March 2, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE OWNER STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE THROUGH STATE INSPECTION THE VEHICLE FAILED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ADJUST. THE ADJUSTMENTS WERE DONE FROM THE REFLECTOR. THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW VIBRATED, AND EVENTUALLY FELL OFF, MAKING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLASTIC GEAR VIBRATED. THE LIGHT FELL OUT OF THE ADJUSTMENT. THE PLASTIC GEAR FELL OFF AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ON FEB 4 THE VEHICLE FAILED A STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *TC BOTH HEAD LAMPS WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO A SMALL ADJUSTMENT SCREW ON THE LAMP ASSEMBLY. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110805March 2, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMERS WOOL COAT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *JB SEAT COVER AND ELEMENT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112338March 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE ON 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T. NO CRASH/DAMAGE/INJURY (YET). STARTED 1/05, CONTINUES. COMMON DEFECT, CERTAINLY SAFETY RELATED. VW UNINTERESTED IN CORRECTING PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112366March 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
I HAVE A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS - I AM DRIVING AT RANDOM SPEED. CHIME COMES ON BLASTING. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAY ON. BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES (SAME BRAKE LIGHT AS WHEN E-BRAKE IS ENGAGED) CHIME KEEPS GOING. ALL GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS OF DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112319February 28, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS CONTROL UNIT AND PUMP FAILURE ON VW PASSAT 2000 @ 72K MILES. THIS IS NOT A STANDARD FAILURE IN MY MIND. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IT JUST OCCURED. SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM FROM VW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113635February 24, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
' RECALL CAMPAIGN' ISSUED TO INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO AUTHORIZED DEALERS IN THE AREA. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112078February 24, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING CONTROL ARMS. WHEEL SHAKES LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OFF, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND VW WILL NOT WARRANT THIS ISSUE OR PERFORM A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112113February 24, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VW PASSAT 2002. MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. LEASE ABOUT TO EXPIRE, BROUGHT IN (3) PRIOR TIMES.. 2/21 TOWED TO NEAREST DEALER, BEING TOLD DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG, NEEDS ALL OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, NEEDS PERMISSION FROM MANUFACTURER TO OK REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. WARRANTY IS EXTENDED FOR 8 YEARS IN WRITING. MANUFACTURE BLAMES DEALER, DEALER BLAMES CUSTOMER. CAR IS A LEMON. SEE ARTICLE AUTOWEEK 2/7/2005 AND PRIOR ARTICLES. CUSTOMERS ARE WELL AWARE THERE IS AN ENGINE PROBLEM AND NOW CAUSING OIL SLUDGE RELATED PROBLEMS. ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS. SINCE 2002 UNTIL NOW, PAYMENTS BEING MADE FOR A DEFECTIVE CAR DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING! AND NOW THE CUSTOMERS MUST PAY FOR IT! NO WAY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112020February 23, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY CAR HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS,FIRST I PURCHASE MY PASSAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2000.SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED TWO UPPER CONTROL ARMS,TWO TI RODS.I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS TO BE REPLACED BUT THE DEALER SAID I DIDN'T NEED THEM REPLACED.WHILE DRIVING FROM MY SISTER'S HOUSE THE ABS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH BOARD AND SAID STOP BRAKE FALUIRE.I TOOK IN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THE DEALER SAID MY ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACING AND IT COST $1300 PLUS LABOR.I JUST PAIDED $1500+ DOLLARS TO REPLACE MY GENERATOR AND BATTERY ON MY CAR.THE DEALER ALSO SAID I NEED TO PEPLACE MY MOTOR MOUNTS AND VALVE COVER GASKETS. I UNDERSTAND THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR ,BUT THESE REPAIRS ARE NOT ANNUAL REPAIRS ON A 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT WAGON CAR WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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