Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10110450February 13, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT HEATER IN 2003 VW PASSAT WAS TURNED ON. APPROX. 3 MINUTES LATER THE HEATER BURNED MY JEANS, AND MY SKIN. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY SEAT. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOLDERING SEAT. WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART B/C THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE IN THE US RIGHT NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10110465February 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I A 1999 VW PASSAT GLS 1.8T. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT ABS WARNING LIGHT ISSUE SINCE MID DECEMBER 2004. WHEN IT FIRST CAME ON I PROMPTLY TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR/LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (POWER VOLKSWAGON, TORRANCE, CA) WHO REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, AND SAID THEY RESET THE SYSTEM. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THAT THEY HAD IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A WIRING PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ABS WIRING TO THE SENSORS (COST UNDER $500). AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK THE LIGHT WAS AGAIN ON INTERMITTENTLY (NOT AS MUCH AS BEFORE) AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THE ONLY OTHER SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE (QUOTED $1,500 PARTS AND $300 LABOR). GIVEN THE FACT THAT I HAD JUST SPENT $500 ON ABS WIRING THAT THEY SAID WAS THE PROBLEM I WASN'T ABOUT TO SPEND $2,000 WITH THEM. I STARTED MY OWN RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1998-2000 ABS CONTROL MODULES ON VW/AUDI VEHICLES (SEE HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447). I ALSO TALKED WITH INDEPENDENT/GERMAN MECHANICS WHO SEEMED WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (EVEN THOUGH MY VW DEALERSHIP SEEMED TO FEEL IT WAS A MYSTERY). AS PARENT WHOSE CHILDREN ARE REGULARLY IN THE VEHICLE I HAVE TRIED TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVEL OF SAFETY RISK (IF ANY) THIS POSES. WHEN MY WIFE INITIALLY CALLED OUR VW DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS A CRITICAL PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY. THEN WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, IT SEEMED TO BE "DOWNGRADED" TO NEEDS FIXED BUT NOT CRITICAL. THE VW OWNER'S MANUAL SUGGESTS THAT IT IS CRITICAL AS THE LIGHT ON MAY RESULT IN UNEXPECTED BRAKING AND ONE OF THE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS I SPOKE WITH SUGGESTED HE PERSONALLY KNEW OF A CASE WHERE THE VEHICLE'S ABS ENGAGED AT A HIGH SPEED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. I ENCOURAGE NHTSA TO ENGAGE VW IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110325February 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
THE CAR WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. WE HAD IT TOWED TO MINUTEMAN VW IN BEDFORD, MA AND THEY SAID THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED AND THAT BOTH THE OIL PUMP AND THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,320.00. THE 2000 PASSAT HAS 60,586 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AT 55,478 MILES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, BUT WHEN THEY SUBMITTED OUR CLAIM TO VW THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT BECAUSE THEY SAID I NEEDED TO PROVIDE COPIES OF EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT FOR THE PAST 4 1/2 YEARS. I WAS ABLE TO FIND 4 RECEIPTS, BUT I DO NOT SEE ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WHERE IT CLEARLY AND EXPLICITLY STATES THAT WARRANTY REPAIRS WILL ONLY BE PERFORMED IF ALL RECEIPTS FOR ALL SERVICES PERFORMED ON THE CAR ARE PROVIDED. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED ON THIS CAR WHICH RELATE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WOULD LIKE THIS DEFECT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110261February 10, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF FRONT END PARTS (TIE-RODS, UPPER LINKS) WHEN CAR HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110271February 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM WRITING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE REGARDING A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2003 AT 29,000 MILES AND THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 77,000. VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT STATES (TO SOME DEGREE) THAT IF THE ENGINE FAILS DUE TO SLUDGE AND IS UNDER 80,000 MILES THE OWNER WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR ENGINE REPLACED, 'IF' THEY HAVE RECORDS OF ALL OIL CHANGES (OF NOT MORE THAN 5,000 MILES). MY COMPLAINT IS THIS, I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE RECORDS SINCE ONE OF THE LOCATIONS THAT I WENT TO NO LONGER HAS A RECORD OF OIL CHANGES DUE TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN'S 'CUSTOMER ADVOCATE' THEY INDICATED THAT THE DECISION IS REALLY UP TO THE AREA SERVICE MANAGER WHO CAN ARBITRARILY DECIDE TO REPAIR OR NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THUS, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THAT THEIR ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THEM SEND ME A COPY OF THEIR WARRANTY INDICATING THIS, BUT WANTED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T WITH THE HOPES OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ENGINE AND WHETHER IT IS FAULTY. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110196February 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
GROANING AND MOANING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN TURNING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109986February 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME MOVED AND WAS ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH OUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS STARTLED AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL AND ONLY THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED MY CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FOOT TO MAKE SURE I HAD HIT THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. NORMALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE HIT HARD THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DIPS AND THE SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE CAR JERKS THE DRIVER FORWARD. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED UNTIL MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110004February 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAIL IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT HE CAN FIX THE 'PROBLEM' FOR AROUND $2,000. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE POST INTERNET MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULES FAILING ON THEIR VW PASSATS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT VW WOULD ALLOW SUCH A THING WITHOUT ISSUING A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109857February 4, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN I LEFT TO GO TO AN ATM AND SHE SWATTED OUT THE FLAME COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON POSITION 3 OF 5 FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109816February 4, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 VOLSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 39000 MILES, ON 1/13/2005 THE OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH, AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND RUNNING ROUGH. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THAT DAY. THE DEALER AND VW SAID THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT UNTIL I PROVIDED A SERVICE RECORD. I MADE THEM A COPY OF MY LOG WHICH HAD THE EXACT DATE AND MILEAGE, BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. THEY WANTED COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS WHICH I WENT OUT AND GOT, BUT I LEARNED TODAY THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. THEY WANTED NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MECH. WHICH I PROVIDED, BUT VW SAYS I DON'T HAVE PROPER DOCUMT. BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC RECEIPT FOR THE OIL FILTER EVEN THOUGH THE PART # FOR THE FILTER IS ON THE RECEIPT. IT TOOK OVER 3 WEEKS AND DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS TO BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO FINALLY GET A DIAGNOSIS (NOTE: THE ASM OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMER. DENIED MY WARRANTY ON 02/02/2005 WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TELL ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR!!) WHICH APPEARS TO BE OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110845February 4, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THEN, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, ONCE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, TO 72 MPH.. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FORTY MINUTES, AND PROCEEDED HOME. THE NEXT DAY, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS FOR INSPECTION, WHERE IT REMAINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110850February 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL INSPECTION. *BF THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE PROVIDED THEM WITH MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108346February 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SIGNIFICANT ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON - RANGING FROM: COMMON OIL SLUDGE ISSUE AT 51000- ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW (TWICE) (~5K & 52K) -THE COIL RECALL ISSUE. *AK -VACUUM HOSE FAILURE (~40K) -CV JOINT FAILURE (53K) -RADIO KNOB FALLS OFF - STEM SPLIT (~45K) -FUEL DOOR SNAPS IN TWO IN 156 DEGREE WEATHER (~35K) VW HAS FAILED TO STAND BY THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE DUE TO A LACK OF PROOF OF OIL CHANGES - I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM - MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, REGARDLESS OF TIMELY OIL CHANGES OR NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108384February 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO 30000 MILES, "OIL PRESSURE" INDICATOR LIGHTED, IMMEDIATELY STOPPED VEHICLE. AFTER TOWING TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS "FULL OF SLUDGE" AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER UNLESS I HAD PROOF OF *EVERY SINGLE OILCHANGE* WITH VW SYNTHETIC OIL. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN REGULAR IN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER I LACK PROOF OF EVERY SINGLE ONE. AGAIN, ODOMETER ONLY 30000 MILES. RESEARCH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 1.8L ENGINES BETWEEN 1998 AND 2004.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109517February 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP. THEN, NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN PRESSED. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111070January 31, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2003 PASSAT. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THERE WAS ALSO GRINDING IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT TWICE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109251January 31, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR SENSORS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109260January 31, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. DEALER HAD TO TIGHTEN THE RACK AND PINION IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.*AK...MECHANIC REPORTED THAT PART WAS ALMOST OUT ON ONE SIDE, AND HAD IT COME OUT ABILITY TO STEER WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109288January 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108299January 31, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVERS HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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