Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10111947February 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THE CAR IS NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT, I ALSO GET THE EPO LIGHT ON, TOOK IT TO VW SERVICE CTR THEY SAID IT WILL COST $1500 + 2.5 HRS LABOR. I CALLED UP VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP, EVEN THOUGH 1000S OF OTHER VOLKSWAGENS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111957February 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
THIS IS THE EMAIL I SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE TO LOOK FOR AN EXIT BECAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT COMING ON. I FELT IN GREAT DANGER AT THE TIME. I AM 58 YEARS OLD AND HAVE PURCHASED A NUMBER OF NEW AUTOMOBILES IN MY LIFE. NEVER HAVE I HAD SUCH A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. I HAVE A PASSAT PARKED BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT IS WARNING ME I WAS SOLD A DEFECTIVE MOTOR. THIS HAS BEEN A HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE. I AM MAKING AUTOMOBILE PAYMENTS TO VOLKSWAGEN CREDIT EVEN THOUGH I AM AFRAID TO START THE ENGINE. I WAS SENT A LETTER STATING THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE BUT I WOULD NEED EACH AND EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT FOR VOLKSWAGEN TO ADDRESS YOUR FAULTY ENGINE. THIS IS LUDICROUS. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY AUTOMOBILES AND THUS REALIZE GOOD TRADE IN VALUE. I WILL BE STATING THE FACTS OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VOLKSWAGEN PURCHASE VIA THE INTERNET, AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINES, THE GREATER DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WILL PURCHASE ONE QUARTER PAGE ADS IN THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS AND THE NEW YORK TIMES. THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD JUST BE RECALLED BY VOLKSWAGEN. I WILL BE ON A CAMPAIGN UNTIL ETERNITY AND WILL SOLICIT OTHER VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS ACROSS THE WORLD TO JOIN ME. THIS IS THE WORSE AUTOMOBILE BUYING EXPERIENCE I CAN IMAGINE. LOUIS MCELROY DIRECTOR THE GREATER DALLAS CHAMBER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111874February 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS LIGHT FAILURE - CONTINUE LIGHT ON AND POSSBILE BRAKE FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111878February 21, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT SW. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED WHEN IT STARTED TO GET COLD IN THE WINTER THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE NOISES AS IF SOMETHING WAS GRINDING OR BROKE IN THE SUSPENSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO VICTORY VW IN HARRISBURG, PA IN THE LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER OF 03'. THEY ENDED UP CHANGING THE CONTROL ARMS THAT TIME I BELIEVE. WELL, THIS YEAR WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD THE NOISES CAME BACK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THE AIR TEMP HAS BEEN TOO WARM FOR THE NOISES TO BE REPRODUCED. I'VE LOOKED AROUND THE INTERNET ON VARIOUS VW BLOGS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION AS I AM. I ALSO FOUND THAT SOME ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION IN GENERAL. MY DILEMMA IS THAT THIS CAR IS GETTING READY TO GO OUT OF WARRANTY IN ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES AND I DON'T FEEL IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT HAS BEEN FIXED BY VW IN THE PAST AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE FIXED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS ISSUE IS APPRECIATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111913February 21, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER TURNED ON, NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT, AND IT STARTING FEELING LIKE IT WAS BURNING MY LEGS. SMELLED SMOKE, AND REALIZED THE SEAT WAS BURNING; THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THE SEAT UNDER MY LEGS AND WAS FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE. I MANAGED TO TURN THE SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH STOPPED THE SEAT FROM FURTHER BURNING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110689February 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT'S, MY ABS MODULE FAILED AND I WAS FORCED TO SPEND $1200 ON A NEW MODULE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS FAULTY PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110713February 17, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND ELECTRIC PROBLEMS, SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER DASH ELECTRIC PROBLEMS WITH WINDOWS AND THE "CHIME" INDICATOR WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE ENGINE IS OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110718February 17, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1. COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP MORE THAN ONCE THAT VEHICLE STALLED, RAN ROUGH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, UNRESOLVED. 2. ENGINE STOPPED, DIED, QUIT RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. THE ONLY REASON I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I DISENGAGED THE DRIVETRAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. 3. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DETERMINED FUEL PUMP FAILED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, DO NOT HAVE OLD PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112855February 16, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
1998 PASSAT BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTIVE. *BF *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111703February 16, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH DENIAL FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS ON 2004 VW-PASSAT CONTROL ARM. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V248000. THE CONSUMER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FOR A DEFECTIVE STEERING AND CONTROL MECHANISMS. *TC THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT PROVIDE PROOF OF THE 40,000 MILE MAINTENANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110605February 16, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
UPPER LEFT CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE AT 35,000 MILES. NEEDS REPLACING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110657February 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1) ABS WARNING LIGHT/SOUNDER CAME ON, TOLD BY DEALER THAT ABS SYSTEM WAS OUT, WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1800 BEFORE ANY OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY COMPUTER. 2) DID NOT FIX THIS, WHICH LED TO THEIR EXCUSE THAT THEY COULD NOT ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE OTHER ISSUES, BUT "DID THEIR BEST" TO FIX ACCELERATION PROBLEMS (REPLACED HOSES AND PLUGS) 3) CURRENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM MIRACULOUSLY DIAGNOSED AS SOME SORT OF POWER REGULATOR DEVICE W/O MENTION OF FIXING THE ABS SYSTEM SO THAT COMPUTER "COULD GET PAST IT" 4)ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING MOON ROOF OPENING AND CLOSING AT WILL, DOOR LOCKS OPENING AND CLOSING AT WILL, INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT SHUTTING OFF AND ALARM GOING OFF ALL BY ITSELF (UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS B/C IT SETS THE ALARM) 5) NOW DEALER SAYS THAT IT'S A BATTERY PROBLEM AND RESETTING EVERYTHING SHOULD FIX IT ALL, INCLUDING THE ABS LIGHT PROBLEM. CAN YOU SAY RIP-OFF?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110661February 16, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE FAILING AND DANGEROUS, WHICH IS LEADING TO THE TIE RODS FAILING. I AM TOLD THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VW QUOTED ME $1100 TO MAKE MY CAR SAFE TO DRIVE. I AM PUZZLED THAT VW IS UNCONCERNED ABOUT LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE OWNER AND OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE SEEN MANY WEBSITES ASKING FOR OWNERS TO CONTACT NHTSA ABOUT THIS ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107246February 16, 2005
STEERING
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE HAD AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL AND SMOKE COMBINED. THE APPEARANCE WAS WHITE. THIS STARTED ONE YEAR AGO AND WENT AWAY, AND NOW THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK TOOK CAR TO DEALER IN RAPID CITY SD. THEY SAID THERE WAS AN EXCESS OF GREASE ON CERTAIN PARTS UNDER THE STERING WHEEL / IN THE STERING WHEEL. THIS BUILD UP OF DUST WOULD CAUSE SMOKE AND SMELL. *EH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110549February 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
THE BRAKE BOOSTER ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STARTED ACTING UP IN FREEZING WEATHER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I LOST ALL POWER ASSIST FOR THE BRAKES AND BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS SEVERELY DEGRADED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THIS ALSO LED, FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO ME, TO THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP, IMMOBILIZING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS EVENTUALLY FIXED BY THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER UNIT UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THERE IS A CLASS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM IN AT LEAST 2002 PASSATS AND NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (VOA) TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. I LEARNED FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED MANY SIMILAR INSTANCES WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM ON PASSATS. IF NOT A FORMAL RECALL, AT LEAST SOME COMMUNICATION TO OWNERS FROM VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE FORCED AS THIS IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TALKED TO VOA CUSTOMER SERVICE BY PHONE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY DO NOT ISSUE VOLUNTARY RECALLS. THIS IS DONE, ACCORDING TO THE VOA REP, ONLY WHEN ORDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT. IF TRUE, THIS SEEMS A SAD COMMENTARY. SO I AM WORKING THIS ISSUE THROUGH NHTSA ASD MY ONLY RECOURSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111572February 15, 2005
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED REPEATEDLY, AND WAS REPLACED. BUT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110517February 14, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:UNIT
FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY. AFTER TURN SIGNAL (LEFT OR RIGHT) WAS DEACTIVATED (WHETHER MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY AFTER COMPLETING TURN, PROMINENT SCRATCHING OR "SHORTING" NOISE COULD BE HEARD AND VIBRATION FELT UNDERNEATH THE FLASHER SWITCH FOR VARYING PERIODS OF TIME. DEALER REPLACED SWITCH, HOWEVER, A NOISE CONTINUED FROM BEHIND THE FLASHER SWITCH AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY DEFECT IN TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM IN STEERING COLUMN. THAT REPAIR IS PENDING. CONCERN IS FOR FAILURE OF EITHER THE FLASHERS OR TURN SIGNALS AND/OR ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS. THE SITUATION BEARS SIMILARITY TO THE EXISTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V584000 INVOLVING SOME OF THE SAME COMPONENTS IN VW JETTAS OF THE SAME MANUFACTURING YEAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111426February 14, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND CONSUMER'S PANTS. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110432February 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A STINGING SENSATION IN THE REAR OF MY LEFT THIGH. I TOUCHED THE SEAT AND FOUND IT HAD BECOME VERY HOT C IN ONE SPOT AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER WHICH HAD BEEN SET ON "5". UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND THE HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER SAID NEW SEAT COVER AND PADDING WILL BE ORDERED FOR REPLACEMENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110438February 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER SEAT FIRE. REMEMBER FIRESTONE, LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR AND KILL SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY AS THE ELECTRIC SHOCK FROM THE SEAT WAS UNBEARABLE - LET ALONE MY LEFT PANT LEG BURN THROUGH TO MY SKIN. IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT VW HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES WITH SAME HEATING ELEMENTS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR TO AN ELDERLY PERSON THINGS MAY NOT TURN OUT SO SUCCESSFULLY. PLEASE PUBLISH IMMEDIATELY! THANK YOU. DAVID M. GILBLAIR SR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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