Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10102426December 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
ALL 8 CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED BETWEEN 70000 AND 74000 MILE. *AK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102447December 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SENT ME A LETTER TO CHECK/REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS 1998-2000 PASSAT VEHICLES. VW DEALER INFORMED ME THEY WILL FIX THE CONTROL ARMS AT NO COST TO ME BUT AS A RESULT OF THE WORK PERFORMED THE VEHICLE WILL NOW NEED AN ALIGNMENT WHICH IS NOT COVERED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THIS IS ABSURD. I PAID FOR AN ALIGNMENT 5 MONTHS AGO AND PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY VEHICLE OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT BUT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF FIXING THE CONTROL ARMS MY CAR NOW NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT WHICH I HAVE TO PAY FOR. THE ALIGNMENT SHOULD BE COVERED AS PART OF THE RECALL FOR THE CONTROL ARMS!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103317December 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CRANK SHAFT SCREW GOT LOOSE, BACKED OUT, AND RATTLED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AT 50 MPH. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE SCREW RUINED THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102380December 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
AT APPROX 60K CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON READ "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP". DEALER HOOKED UP COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR AND SOME OF THE VACUUM HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE O2 SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED A FEW VACUUM HOSES. THE CARS COMPUTER WAS CLEARED AND TWO MONTHS LATER BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP INDICATORS WERE BACK. SHOP HOOKED UP TO THEIR COMPUTER AND CONFIRMED THAT NOW A PRE CAT O2 SENSOR WAS BAD. TWO SENSORS IN THREE MONTHS, BOTH MORE THAN $200 TO REPLACE IS UNACCEPTABLE. VW IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE EXTENDED PORTIONS OF ITS WARRANTIES BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS IT DOESN'T COVER THESE PARTS OR REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 62,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103226December 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM MAKES A SQUEAKING, THUMPING NOISE AS IF THERE ARE NO SHOCKS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103258December 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON THE VEHICLE. TAKEN TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102324December 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM LEASING A 2002 V.W. PASSAT. THE VEHICLE HAS APROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES AND IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE WORD STOP ON THE DASHBOARD. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST V.W. DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AND ADVISED ME IT WOULD COST $900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS I COULD SHOW PROOF OF OIL CHANGES THROUGH RECEIPTS. I SUPPLIED THE DEALER WITH 6 OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM A SMALL GARAGE NEAR MY HOUSE WHERE I GET THE OIL CHANGED. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK A FEW DAYS LATER AND ASKED THE STATUS OF MY CAR. THE G.M. OF THE SHOP ACCUSED ME OF FORGERY DUE TO THE FACT THE RECEIPTS DID NOT HAVE TAX OR METHOD OF PAYMENT AT THE BOTTOM. I REPLIED THAT THE SHOP CHARGES ME $30.00 TO CHANGE THE OIL, I GIVE THEM $30.00, AND I LEAVE. HE THEN STATED IF I PAID CASH FOR THE OIL CHANGES, I GUESS I COULDN'T GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANTED(PROOF OF PAYMENT I.E. CHECK STUB, CREDIT CARD STATEMENT'S). HE ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT $900 AND THAT THE WARRENTY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF IT. SO BECAUSE I PAY CASH FOR MY OIL CHANGES I AM BEING DENIED REPAIR UNDER WARRENTY. THE REPAIR CONSISTS OF CLEARING OUT THE OIL PUMP PICK UP SCREEN OF THE SLUDGE AND REPLACING A COUPLE OF VENT TUBES THAT MAY BE CLOGGED. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY SITTING AT THE DEALER IN NEED OF REPAIR. I PLAN ON GREIVING THE DECISION BY V.W OF AMER.AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102334December 7, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED SEATS OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE (ABOUT 1/4" DIAMETER) THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. VEHICLE HAD 23K MILES, SO THE MALFUNCTION WAS COVERED IN FULL BY THE WARRANTEE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATING COILS AND SEAT COVER. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102263December 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PASSENGER ORIGINAL LOW BEAM LIGHT FAILED. BROUGHT INTO DEALER AND PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A MELTED WIRING HARNESS. I OBSERVED THE HARNESS BEHIND THE BULB AND IT WAS MELTED. DEALER REPLACED THE HARNESS. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL BULB AND HAD NEVER BEEN SERVICED. TAKING WITH THE DEALER HE SAID THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL IN THE PAST WEEK IN PASSATS AND I HAD TO WAIT A WEEK UNTIL THEY GOT A NEW SHIPMENT IN. MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT A MELTED WIRE HARNESS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106904December 3, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
CLUNKING NOISES HEARD WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR AND MOVING FORWARD-NOT HEARD IN REVERSE. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY FORWARD GEARS, IT WOULD ONLY SHIFT IN REVERSE. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIRE. *NM THE UNIT SITS BENEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN WATER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SUNROOF DRAINS WHICH CAUSED RAIN WATER TO COLLECT AND POOL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103091December 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103101December 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM DISINTEGRATED . AS A RESULT THE WHEELS BECOME LOOSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100976December 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONTROL ARMS ON MY 99 VW PASSAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOW.....THEY ARE EXPENSIVE ($650+) AND OBVIOUSLY POORLY ENGINEERED AS OTHERS HAVE HAD TE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102084December 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
UPPER CONTROL ARM PROBLEM---WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AROUND A CURVE WOULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE. MY MECHANIC SAID BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 53000 MILES ON IT. REPAIR COST ME $1000.00. I HAVE THE BILL SPECIFYING THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED ALONG WITH PART NUMBERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102098December 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE ROUTINELY DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE ASR INDICATOR LIGHTS TURNED ON, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE DASHBOARD COMPUTER SAID "ABS FAULT". THESE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY SINCE THEN.*AK I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER THE VERY NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED, WHICH IS A $1200 PART WITH AN ACCOMPANYING $500 OR SO IN LABOR. DESPITE THE CAR HAVING ONLY 33000 MILES AND THE NUMEROUS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMMONLY OCCURRING FAILURE, THE DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA WERE BOTH UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ABS ANYMORE, WHICH REPRESENTS A SAFETY RISK. THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 VW PASSAT GLX V6, PURCHASED DECEMBER 1999.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102042December 2, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN WET WEATHER BRAKES RESPONDED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102043December 2, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN WET WEATHER BRAKES RESPONDED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105199November 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FILTER AND CARPET ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE MLP LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW VACUUM HOSE. THE RADIO DID NOT WORK, STANDING WATER WAS FOUND IN THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT, THE POLLEN FILTER WAS CLOGGED AND THE AIR POLLEN FILTER WAS CRACKED DUE TO THE FACTORY, THE BACK DOOR LOCKS REFUSED TO OPEN AND COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT, A BUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVVED, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED AT RAPID SPEED ALL WHILE THE BRAKES WERE PUMPED WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB DOING OVER 50 MPH ALL WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKES UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED 20-30 YARDS INTO A FIELD DAMAGING TIRES, RIMS AND THE BUMPER. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103585November 30, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FAULTY HEATER CORES/HEATER EXCHANGERS LOCATED BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM. HEATER CORE LEAKED. *BF ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AROUND THE FEET OF THE PASSENGER. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. RECALL# 98V295000. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100768November 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE NOTICED VARIOUS NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED BY THE SERVICE CENTERS I TOOK THE VEHCILE TO.*AK HOWEVER, THE STEERING CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY GOTTEN VERY BAD. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER, THEY TOLD ME BOTH OF THE TIE-ROD ENDS IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT HAVE FAILED AT 100,000 MILES. BOTH OF THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IN THEM WHICH LEADS TO THE CAR BEING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND IT IS VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE THESE CRITICAL PARTS GO BAD IN A VEHICLE THIS EARLY. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WORK WAS WELL OVER $500. I HAVE GOTTEN NUMEROUS SECOND OPINIONS, AND ALL HAVE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION: THE TIE-RODS ARE BAD. ALL OF THEM ALSO TELL ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE AND NOT ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. AS OF YET, I HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHCILE REPAIRED BUT I HOPE TO DO SO SOON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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