Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10104860December 31, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
(1) DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE ROUNDING CURVE CAR MADE A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE AND BEGAN SWERVINGUNCONTROLABLY TO THE RIGHT. (2) CAR CAME TO REST HALF ON AND HALF OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, LANE HAD TO BE CLOSED AND TRAFFIC JAM RESULTED. (3) DEALER SAID RIGHT FRONT AND REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. PARTS MUST BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105581December 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS
THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE SEAT BELT SWITCH BUILT INTO THE DOOR CAUSES THE SEAT BELT MOTOR TO RUN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON OFF. THE SEAT BELT MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED, RENDERING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104767December 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
1. EARLY ON BRAKING (INTERMITTENT) AND NOW ALWAYS AT ENGINE STARTUP 2. THE ABS BRAKE COMES ON SOLID, THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, AND THREE BEEPS ON ENGINE STARTUP. THIS INDICATES THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FAILED. AND INDEED I CURRENTLY HAVE NO ABS, ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WORK, AND THE CAR CANNOT PASS DC INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE WARINING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. 3. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BY RUNNING THE VAG-COM DIAGNOSTICS ON IT. VAG-COM CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH INDICATES THE ABS CONTROL MODULE MUST BE REPLACED. I AM CURRENTLY IN PURSUIT OF A USED REPLACEMENT PART OR A REBUILD OF THE CURRENT MODULE DUE TO THE HIGH PRICE OF THIS PART FROM VW AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO VW OF AMERICA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104681December 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE SLUDGE IN 2003 VW PASSAT. ENGINE IS SHOT. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY GETS 3 TO 5 CALLS A DAY ON THIS ISSUE. VW WON'T PAY UNLESS YOU PRODUCE EVERY SERVICE RECEIPT. VW DEALERS VIA VW DIRECTIVE NOW ONLY USE SYNTHETIC OIL FOR OIL CHANGES ON THE 1.8 LITER PASSAT ENGINE. ITS A PASSAT NOT A FERRARI. THIS IS CLEARLY AN INDICATION OF A DESIGN FLAW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104691December 29, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED VELOUR SEATS CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED SMALL HOLE IN SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104703December 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING LIGHT BLINKED INTERMITTENTLY OVER MANY WEEKS. I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT THE ABS WAS WORKING OKAY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHT. A DIRECT TEST OF THE BRAKES ON A SLIPPERY ROAD PROVED THAT THE ABS WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. A SECOND VISITS TO VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER RESULTED IN DIAGNOSIS OF FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE, REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $1500. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104716December 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS JUST TOLD BY THE VW DEALER THAT MY 1998 VW PASSAT WITH 1.8T ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SLUDGE PROBLEMS. I CHANGE THE OIL MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE REQUIRED 5000 MILES (USUALLY BETWEEN 3000 AND 3500), BUT DON'T HAVE EVERY RECEIPT, AND DON'T HAVE THE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, SO THEY WON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $8000 WHEN IT IS THEIR RECOGNIZED DESIGN FLAW. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT YET. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104742December 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2004 VW PASSAT TDI WAGON THAT HAS NO TAIL LIGHTS. SIGNALS WORK, BRAKE LIGHTS WORK BUT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT AND REAR PARKING/DRIVING LIGHTS DON'T WORK. CAR HAS NO BURNED OUT BULBS OR FUSES. MY CONCERN IS IF THE CAR HAS WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT OTHERS HAVE HAPPENING. ALSO ON A RAINY DAY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM IN THE SAME CAR FAILED BUT, WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND RESTARTED THE COMPUTER RESET AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. IS THIS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104641December 28, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2000 VW PASSAT WITH ONLY 42,000 HAD WORN TIE RODS TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER MAINTENANCE/SERVICE WORK. THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S COST. VW REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE TWO RECALLS FOR TIE RODS ON 1999 PASSATS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #99V248000 AND 00V414000). VW ALSO JUST ISSUED A "SERVICE ACTION" IN NOVEMBER 2004 FOR CHECKING/REPLACING FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SERVICE ACTION DID NOT INCLUDE TIE RODS. I BELIEVE VW IS ATTEMPTING TO CIRCUMVENT A RECALL BY ISSUING THIS "SERVICE ACTION" BULLETIN, AND BY NOT COVERING PROBLEMS WITH TIE RODS IN THIS SERVICE ACTION MAINTENANCE. SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR OF PASSAT (THE 1999 MODEL) HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE ROD AND THE RECALL WAS AFTER THE 2000 PASSATS WENT ON THE MARKET, IT IS MOST PROBABLE THAT THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE STILL PRESENT IN THE 2000 PASSAT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104644December 28, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH SEAT CUSHIONING, THROUGH LEATHER COVERING, THROUGH PANTS POCKET, AND THROUGH WALLET CONTAINED IN THE POCKET. HOLE IN THE SEAT 2-3 INCHES DEEP AND 1 1/2 - 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. HOLE IN PANTS WAS 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER, LEAVING BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATING MECHANISM HAD BEEN TURNED ON HIGH. SMOLDERED, BUT NO OPEN FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104665December 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
THE MASS AIR FLOW METER GAVE OUT ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN AUGUST 2003. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART WAS EXTENDED TO 70,000 MILES. I RECEIVED A REBATE FOR THE EXPENSE (FIVE MONTHS AFTER SUBMITTING IT). NOW, 16 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR FLOW METER FAILED AGAIN, AND MY CAR IS PAST THE 70,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD (BUT THE PART IS ONLY 20,000 MILES OLD). VOLKSWAGEN IS CLEARLY HAVING A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THIS PART, WHICH HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY TWO DIFFERENT VOLKWAGEN DEALERSHIPS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104584December 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BURNING OF HEAT WARMING WIRE IN DRIVER'S SEAT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104595December 27, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOISY WHEN CLOSING, NOW HAS FAILED SUCH THAT WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, SLIDES DOWN ALLOWING WATER AND WIND TO ENTER VEHICLE. MOTOR WILL FUNCTION, BUT MAKES SOUNDS AS THOUGH COGS IN REGULATOR ARE STRIPPED. MANY OTHER OWNERS ON VARIOUS DISCUSSION FORUMS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111178December 23, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECALL CAMPAIGN 00414000 DEALER NOTICE TOO MUCH PLAY IN UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN# 99V248000. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE VIN RANGE. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS WITH THE OUTPUT STAGE CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER AND SHUDDERING. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104310December 22, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK, EQUIPMENT
NEW '03 PASSAT PURCHASED IN DEC. '02. FEB. '03 I NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FOUND TO BE LOW AND REFILLED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN MAR '03, THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOV. '04, I AGAIN NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING IN EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT WHEEL POSITIONS. DEC. '04, VW DETERMINES THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK AGAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO LARGER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR LEADING TO REPEATED FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING RACK. LIKEWISE, THEY INSIST THAT THERE IS NO INTRINSIC PROBLEM WITH VW POWER STEERING RACKS. HOWEVER, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT TWO POWER STEERING RACKS FROM VW PLACED IN THE SAME CAR IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD JUST HAPPENED TO BE FAULTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101619December 22, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMER'S PANTS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP POSITION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109334December 21, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1999 PASSAT UPPER CONTROL ARM RECALL HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL, THE WERE NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUT THE TIE RODS HAD TOO MUCH PLAY, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104212December 21, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
DESPITE LIGHT USE OF THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON OUR 2001 VW PASSAT WAGON HAVE FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY RECOGNIZED A DEFECT WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REPLACED THEM AT ITS EXPENSE, WE WERE CHARGED $600 BY THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS -- EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD FEWER THAN 25,000 MILES AT THE TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101966December 21, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATED TIE ROD WORE OUT PREMATURELY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104118December 20, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
THE TURN SIGNAL /HAZARD SWITCH RELAY FAILED ON MY 2001 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION TWICE ON 11/20/2003 (REPLACED ON 11/23/2004) AND 12/19/2004. IT CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO MALFUNCTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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