Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10101867November 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ABS MODULE PUMP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100791November 30, 2004
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
TIRE JACK ROTATED ON SOLID LEVEL GROUND AND KICKED OUT RESULTING IN THE CAR COLLAPSING ON THE SPARE WHICH WAS NOT YET ATTACHED. THE RESULTING IMPACT RESULTED IN NEEDING TO REPLACE THE FRONT BUMPER COVER, RIGHT FRONT FENDER, AND RIGHT ROCKER PLATE. THE FENDER WAS TORN FROM THE CAR. APPROXIMATE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE WAS $1500. AT THE POINT OF THE COLLAPSE, THE OWNERS HAND WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE RESULTING IN A PINCH INJURY THAT CAUSED BRUSING AND SWELLING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE EMERGENCY CARE. I STILL HAVE POSSESSION OF THE FAULTY JACK. VWOA WAS CONTACTED, BUT SAID BECAUSE THE 2002 VW PASSAT JACK HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGE. THEY HAVE RECEIVED OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME TYPE OF JACK FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10101878November 30, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100798November 30, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS LIGHT BLINKING CONSTANTLY ON MY 98 VW PASSAT FOR PAST 19 MONTHS. DEALER INDICATES NO FAULT CODE ANUNNCIATED WITH COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS. QUOTES $1300. CONTROL UNIT NEEDED. ABS SYSTEM NOT FUNCTIONAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101618November 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE 1.8L ENGINE SIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOW TO THE DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100466November 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LIKE MANY, MANY OTHERS, MY 1998 VW PASSAT 2.8 LITER WITH TIPTRONIC (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) ABS LIGHT ON (ABS NOT WORKING); 2) BRAKE LIGHT ON (BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER ALL ROTORS & PADS WERE REPLACED AND FLUID CHANGED); 3) TACHOMETER NOT WORKING; 4) OIL LIGHT ON (BUT OIL LEVEL AND PRESSURE ARE OKAY). THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR BUT IS NOW ALMOST CONSTANT. ALL PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY A BAD ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS ALSO USED IN AUDI A4 MODELS (PART # 8E0 614 111R). VW DEALERSHIP QUOTES OVER $1000 FOR THE PART ALONE. SOMETIMES, IF THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW DAYS OR IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON AND THE TACHOMETER WORKS CORRECTLY FOR AWHILE. THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROBLEMS HAPPEN. OR, I WILL BE DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE PROBLEMS, THEN THE TACH JUMPS TO LIFE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OUT. AS I SAID BEFORE: THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (NO ABS COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS) AS WELL AS A QUALITY ISSUE: ABS CONTROLLERS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO FREQUENTLY ON SUCH RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLES. A RECALL SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROLLERS IN THEIR 1998-ON PASSAT AND 1996-ON A4 MODELS. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103353November 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
NUMBEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. AFTER BUMPING NOISE, ENGINE REVVED, CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED TO A RAPID SPEED. *BF THE MLP LIGHT CAM ON SEVERAL TIMES. THE RADIO DID NOT WORK. THE RADIO WAS REPAIRED AND BROKE AGAIN THEN WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE FOUND STANDING WATER IN THE CAR ON THE BACK RIGHT SIDE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIR POLLEN FILTER WAS CRACKED . FILTER AND CARPET WAS REPLACED. THE BACK DOOR LOCKS REFUSED TO UNLOCK THEREFORE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT OPEN EITHER BACK DOOR FROM INSIDE OR OUT. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL OF THE DRIVER AND HIT A CURB AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO PUMP THE BRAKES FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE HAD 4 FLAT TIRES AS A RESULT OF HITTING THE CURB HEAD ON WITH RIMS BENT AS WELL. THE BUMPER CAME OFF. *TC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100329November 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OUR OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. KEPT TAKING IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND SAID WAS FINE. NO ONE COULD TELL US WHY OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THEN RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW OF AMERICA STATING THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. WILL NOT FIX CAR W/OUT OIL RECEIPTS. CAN NOT DRIVE CAR W/OUT GETTING OIL SLUDGE PROB. FIXED BECAUSE IT CAN DAMAGE ENGINE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100369November 22, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY 1998 PASSAT'S ABS LIGHT IS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND OFF. MY MECHANIC HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS PUMP ITSELF, THERE IS JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR. THE WEB IS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT RE: VW PASSATS SPANNING MANY YEARS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SENSORS ON THESE CARS. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100299November 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND CAR IDLE BECAME EXTREMELY ROUGH - HAD TO DRIVE HOME FROM HIGHWAY USING REDUCED POWER - ENGINE WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN DRIVEN AT SPECIFIC RPM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES OF EXTREMELY ROUGH RUNNING, CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE, BOSCH PART NUMBER 4D0 905 351 FAILED. PART WAS REPLACED AND ENGINE BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. CAR WAS NOT SAFELY DRIVEABLE WHEN THIS PART HAD FAILED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100300November 21, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN LEFT LANE ON THE HIGHWAY. AT 65 MPH, ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING AND ENGINE POWER DROPPED OUT. ENGINE STALLED COMPLETELY - I HAD TO PULL OVER THROUGH TRAFFIC LANES TO COME TO A STOP IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE AID OF POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES, BOTH OF WHICH WERE DISABLED ONCE THE ENGINE CUT OUT. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART - AFTER 30 MINUTES AND SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, GOT ENGINE TO START AND IDLE WAS EXTREMELY ROUGH - DROVE CAR DOWN THE STREET AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE (BOSCH PART NUMBER 4D0 905 351). REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART RESTORED THE ENGINE TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE REPLACED THIS EXACT SAME PART. THIS PART HAD BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 24 MONTH EARLIER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101293November 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD A SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BLAMED CONSUMER FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101307November 18, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PASSENGER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100056November 16, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION CREAKS CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING CAR. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMMON COMPLAINT BY OTHER OWNERS, BUT VOLKSWAGEN (VW) UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT PARTS ARE WEARING TOO SOON. CREAKING STARTED AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. FROM OTHER POSTINGS IT APPEARS THAT THIS WILL COST ME AT LEAST $1,000 TO REPAIR. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE CAR THE VW FOR REPAIRS, BECAUSE OF HIGH COST. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT DANGEROUS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101420November 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. *NM *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098898November 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
AFTER RAINY DAYS MY 2003 PASSAT WAGON (4 MOTION) HAS 1 -2 INCHES OF WATER ON FLOOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THIS HAS NOW BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE (I JUST TOOK IT BACK TODAY) - THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS A DRAIN PROBLEM FROM THE SUN ROOF THAT WAS CLOGGED. THE CARPET SMELLS AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE ELECTRIC SEATS WILL SOON SHORT OUT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098788November 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS & BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUE TO FLASH. IT STARTED AS ONE BRIEF INCIDENT AND NOW HAPPENS EVERYTIME I AM IN MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WILL RUN SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF $1500. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A POORLY MANUFACTURED DEVICE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN. WE ARE ALL HAZARDS ON THE ROAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098762November 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
8/01/03 - CAR INSPECTED AND TOLD HAD PROPER J IGNITION COILS INSTALLED 8/18/03 - CAR AGAIN INSPECTED AND TOLD HAD PROPER J IGNITION COILS INSTALLED 11/18/03 - COIL IGNITION RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR FOR A 3RD TIME. AFTER ALL THREE ATTEMPTS OF CHECKING THE IGNITION COILS THEY YET FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS THE 12 COIL I HAVE HAD REPLACED ON A VOLKSWAGEN IN 2 YEARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098769November 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
FOR SECOND TIME, IN TWO MONTHS THE EMISSION CHECK LIGHT HAS COME ON. THIS IS ON MY VW PASSAT 2000, WHICH HAS 43,000 MILES. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE FAULTY VACUUM HOSES AGAIN IN THE ENGINE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT I SHOULD BE EXPECTING TO CHANGE THESE VACUUM HOSES EVERY 40,000 MILES. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO ME, AS I HAVE NEVER REPLACED THIS COMPONENT IN MY OTHER CARS, LET ALONE ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAD REPLACED OTHER VACUUM HOSES A MONTH AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101428November 9, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT. *NM RECALL#01V157000. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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