Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10107650January 31, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1. EVENTS: ABS LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE BRAKE LIGHT NOW FLASHES WITH 3 BEEPS AND STAYS ON. 2. FAILURES: I HAVE NO WORKING ABS IN THE CAR. 3. CORRECTION: HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT VW REPAIR SHOP THAT THE ABS MODULE IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS MODULE IS A DEALER-ONLY PART ($2,038). NOTE THAT THIS COST IS FOR THE PART ONLY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR. I'VE CONTACTED 3 OTHER INDEPENDENT VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY'VE ADVISED THAT THEY'VE REPAIRED AN IN ORDINATE NUMBER OF THESE ABS SYSTEMS IN VOLKSWAGENS. ONE SHOP INDICATED HE REPAIRS/REPLACES VW ABS AT LEAST 4 TIMES A MONTH, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT VW DEALERS ARE LIKELY DOING A LOT MORE OF THESE REPAIRS, YET THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RECALL EFFORT ON VW'S PART. I'VE NOTIFIED VW AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ABSORB THE COST OF FIXING IT SINCE A RECALL NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. MY CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS MODULE ON 1/27/05. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $2500. *JB *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106962January 31, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ASKED HER SPOUSE TO CHECK IT OUT. CONSUMER TURNED SEAT HEATER ON AND THE SEAT STARTED TO BURN. THE SEAT SLIGHTLY SCORCHED THE CONSUMER.*AK THE PASSENGERS COAT WAS BURNED BY THE SEAT. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10108258January 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STRONG SMELL OF GAS EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTO CABIN THROUGH HEATING SYSTEM, DROVE TO VW DEALER, WHO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THE CAR DID NOT EXPLODE, THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH HEATS TO 1000 DEGREES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL LINE, ALTHOUGH THEY CHARGED A LOT TO DO SO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108139January 28, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
THE FUEL SENDING UNIT OF MY VEHICLE DOES NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. THE GAS GUAGE CONTINUOUSLY REGISTERS AS HALF-FULL WHETHER OR NOT THE TANK IS FULL W/GAS. THIS IS NOT ONY A NUISANCE BUT DANGEROUS AS THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO RUN OUT OF FUEL ON THE HIGHWAY AND/OR IN RURAL AREAS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108143January 28, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVING WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER ON - SMELL A BURNING - FEEL THE SEAT - QUICK BURN TO MY HAND - SEAT HEATER BURNT HOLE THROUGH LEATHER SEAT - IMMEDIATELY SHUT-DOWN HEATER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109032January 27, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
INTERMITTENTLY THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE FOR MORE ROOM, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELTS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK...*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108029January 27, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
RECALL FOR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ONLY EVEN THOUGH IN MOST CASES THE UPPER CONTROL ARM NEEDS REPLACEMENTS. HECK THE FORUM HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1745481. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108040January 27, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WE NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL AFTER A SHORT RIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO CLEAN SNOW OFF OF THE CAR AND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ABOUT 1/2" IN DIAMETER IN THE SEAT. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND BEGAN CLEANING THE SNOW OFF THE CAR AND CALLED MY FIANC TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WITH IN 2 MINUTES THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR, SPARKS AND SMALL FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOLE IN THE SEAT. WHEN TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEATS THE MELTING AND SMOKING SUBSIDED LEAVING A HOLE (ABOUT 1" DIAMETER) THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. (LATER FOUND A HOLE HOLE IN THE CLOTHING THAT WAS WORN THE NIGHT BEFORE) VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES, SO THE MALFUNCTION IS COVERED IN FULL BY THE WARRANTEE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CALLS REGARDING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APROX 1 MONTH BEFORE THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAR. AS A REMEDY THE MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT COVER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111046January 26, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD, AND ONE CV BOOT FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 1999 VW PASSAT AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE CONSUMER CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED WHEN REQUIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107928January 26, 2005
TIRES
2001 PASSAT ALL NEW PIRELLI TIRES 12/03. REAR TIRES CUPPING ON THE INSIDE AFTER 20,000 MILES. VEH WAS LOUD IN THE REAR, LESS TRACTION, HANDLING FUNNY. FIGHTING WITH TIRE PLACE RIGHT NOW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107932January 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2003 PASSAT GLS WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING THAT I STOP DRIVING THE CAR. AS I WAS JUST PULLING INTO PARKING LOT OF MY WORK, I PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED. THE FIRST THING THE MECHANIC FROM VW TOLD ME WAS MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE HONORED WITHOUT PROOF OF ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS FROM VW. I DO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY BUT NOT ALWAYS AT 4,999 MILES. I HAVE MOVED AND HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT DIFFERENT PLACES AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ALL MY RECORDS. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS IN WHICH I WAS T OLD MULITPLE THINGS ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON, I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT MY ENGINE WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $11,000. I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL OIL CHANGES DONE TO THE CAR IN THE ALMOST TWO YEARS I WONED IT AND VW WOULD NOT HONOR MY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I PAID FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE. THE MECHANIC AT VW SAID IT IS RARE THAT ANYONE CAN PRODUCE ALL RECORDS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF PRECISE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN NEW ENGINE PUT IN THE CAR AS THE CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THE COST OF THE ENGINE. I AM LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF REBULIT ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107797January 24, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE PART WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $2,000.00. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107615January 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VW PASSAT - BRAKE ROTORS WARP, CAUSING DANGEROUS BRAKING SITUATION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN BY VW, AND COMPLAINED OF BY THOUSANDS OF PASSAT OWNERS (MANY, MANY SITES AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, AND MECHANICS). VW REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128033January 19, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
COMMENTS CONCERNING RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V414000 ON THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES (TIE RODS). HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING FEELING LOOSE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107574January 19, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE 2001 VW PASSAT V6 GLS ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND THE MOMENTUM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE FORWARD ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DISASTROUS SITUATION. DURING THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED TODAY THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE BEING RESTARTED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107584January 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND "STOP" MESSAGE DISPLAYED INTERMITTENTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106523January 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN APPROX. OCTOBER, 2004, ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS NOT REPEATABLE, BUT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND FOR RANDOM DURATIONS. ABS APPEARS TO BE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, ABS LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107445January 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS DO NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO FAIL INSPECTION. THE ABS LIGHT NOW STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD ABS CONTROL MODULE (IT WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER) AND STATED THAT THE ABS PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE QUOTED COST OF A NEW ABS PUMP WAS $2250." *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106569January 18, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD FAILURE (EXCESSIVE WEAR), LEADING TO "LOOSE" STEERING ON A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SOME PASSAT'S OF THIS MODEL YEAR HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM; VW INFORMS ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106460January 17, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN STOPPED, CAR WILL REV UP OVER 3000 RPM WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. FEELS LIKE CAR IS GOING TO TAKE OFF, RIGHT INTO AN INTERSECTION. HAVE HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION TO AVOID A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING EVEN ONCE MY FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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