Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10096340October 25, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
EARLIER THIS MONTH (10/2004), THE ABS BRAKE FAILURE WARNING (LIGHT AND SOUND) ON OUR 1998 VW PASSAT GLS STARTED COMING ON SPORADICALLY.*AK ON OCT. 20, I TOOK THE CAR TO WHEATON SERVICE CENTER, A VW-ONLY INDEPENDENT SHOP. THEY HOOKED THE UNIT UP TO THE DIAGANOSTIC COMPUTER AND GOT NO SIGNAL. THEY ALSO GOT NOT SIGNAL WHEN THEY TRIED TO ACCESS TO ENGINE COMPUTER, INDICATING THAT THE ABS COMPUTER HAS A SHORT (THE ENGINE COMPUTER WORKED FINE AFTER THEY DISCONNECTED THE ABS COMPUTER.) I CONFIRMED THIS DIAGNOSIS OVER THE PHONE WITH FTIZGERALD VW IN FREDERICK, MD. I LATER TESTED THE BRAKING ON A WET ROAD -- THERE WAS NO ABS, ALTHOUGH THE CONVENTIONAL BRAKES WORKED FINE. THE 1998 CAR, WHICH WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, HAS BEEN SCRUPULOUSLY MAINTAINED, AS THE REGIONAL VW FACTORY REP CAN ATTEST (FROM A DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY REPAIR DONE 5,000 MILES AGO). THE CAR NOW HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE WSC MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THEY SEE NUMEROUS ABS FAILURES IN LATE '90S PASSATS, THE WEB SEEMS TO CONFIRM THIS. THE WIDESPREAD, PREMATURE FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEMS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE THE REPAIR COSTS $2,500, MANY OWNERS WILL SIMPLY DISCONNECT THE ABS COMPUTER TO AVOID THE ANNOYING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS, AND AVOID THE EXPENSIVE FIX. HAVING BECOME ACCOSTOMED TO ABS, HOW MANY WILL ADJUST THEIR BRAKING ACCORDINGLY, ESPECIALLY THE NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO AVOID SKIDDING?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095376October 25, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FRONT END/ENGINE PROTECTOR HAS SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *BF IN BOTH CASES, THE TURN BOLTS ON THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE SEPARATED. A SINGLE CENTRAL SCREW BOLT AT IT'S FRONT THEN SUPPORTED THE AIR DAM. THE PLASTIC AROUND IT FINALLY TORE UNDER VIBRATION AND AIR PRESSURE FORCES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097623October 25, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND STARTED TO BURN THE CONSUMER'S CLOTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096384October 25, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OUR 1999 PASSAT WITH THE 1.8 LITER ENGINE STALLS REPEATEDLY WHEN DECELERATING, THIS IS DANGEROUS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAD A PROBLEMS BEFORE 20,000 MILES. VW CANNOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK VW TO THE BBB SINCE THEY WERE VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM, AND THEN THEY CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY. THEN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW YEARS AND IS NOW BACK AND VW AGAIN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR FIX IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096291October 24, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
OWNER OF 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX. DRIVING LOW SPEED WHEN I HEARD A POP & HISS SOUND. TONS OF STEAM CAME THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS & UNDER THE DASH. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND FOUND LEAKING COOLANT UNDER VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE. HEATER CORE FAILED. I HAD TO TOW MY VEHICLE BACK TO MY HOUSE AND CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO REPAIR. NO RESPONSE FROM VWOA AS OF YET AS I CONTACTED THEM VIA EMAIL A COUPLE DAYS AGO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096263October 23, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED AND THE VW DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT AT JUST 67000 MILES. THIS IS PREMATURE. I UNDERSTAND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A SAFETY RISK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096278October 23, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
1.) DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVIATED. 2.) DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH SEAT LEATHER AND SCORCHED DRIVER'S PANTS 3.) DEALER CONTACTED, APPOINTMENT SET FOR WARRANTY EVALUATION. DEALER STATED "WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE OCCUR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096217October 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT
1. BROUGHT 2000 PASSAT GLX TO DEALER TWICE TO FIX 'SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ACCOMPANYING BURNING SMELL.' DEALER CHARGED $430 TO REPLACE "IN/OUT TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES" THE FIRST TIME IN THE SHOP, AND "TIGHTENED THE CAMS" THE SECOND TIME. 2. LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND SERVICE 'TIGHTENING THE CAMS', CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-95 AT MILE MARKER 8 IN NY. AFTER BEING NOTIFIED OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR BY ANOTHER MOTORIST, WE PULLED OVER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. 3. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS THE CAR WAS TOTALED. INVESTIGATION MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED BY INSURANCE COMPANY TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096255October 22, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I AM A SCHOOL TEACHER AND WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 A.M. I WAS SMELLING A STRONG SMOKE ODOR AS I STARTED DRIVING AND AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE I LOOKED OVER TO MY PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE WAS SMOKE SMOLDERING THROUGH THE SEAT. AS I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING TO THE CAR, I TURNED OFF THE PASSENGER HEATED SEAT (AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN IT). NO ONE WAS INJURED! WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR STALLED ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY AND I WAS STRANDED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO ENTIRE WEEKS. IT'S VERY UNFAIR THAT A VEHICLE UNDER TWO YEARS HAS FAILED IN THIS WAY. THIS SITUATION WAS VERY UNSAFE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF MY CAR. I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096111October 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WITH A BLINKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEN THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT QUIT BLINKING AND IT WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. I ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR WHEN IT SURGED. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096024October 19, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
2001 PASSAT GLS V6. WATER COLLECTED IN THE ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY DRAINAGE PLUGS AND RUINED THE COMPUTER. WATER ALSO ENTERED INTO CABIN AND SOAKED THE RUGS. THE POLLEN FILTER ALSO DID NOT WORK. COMPUTER AND POLLEN FILTER WERE REPLACED. *AK ALSO DOOR ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS BECOME UNALIGNED. ALSO BRAKES NEEDED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED AFTER 24,000 MILES BECAUSE ROTORS GOT WARPED. ALSO FAULTY IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. ALSO CV JOINTS ARE RIPPIING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. ONLY HAVE 25,000 MILES ON CAR AND SERVICE IT REGULARLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094335October 19, 2004
STRUCTURE
DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FOOT REST AND CLUTCH ARE DESIGNED POORLY. WHEN TRANSFERRING FEET FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER CONSUMER'S FOOT WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE FOOTREST TO THE LEFT OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. CONSUMER'S FOOT HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT ON SEVREAL OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP REMOVED FOOTREST. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095750October 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AT 40,000 MILES, THE WATER PUMP BEARING FAILED. FOUTUNATELY, I STOPPED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND DID NOT INCUR FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT WV "UNDER-ENGINEERED" THE WATER PUMP BEARING, RESULTING IN PREMATURE FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095751October 14, 2004
SEATS
DRIVERS SEAT CUSHION FAILED PREMATURELY ON BOTTOM OF SEAT. REPLACED SEAT CUSHION AT UPHOLSTERY SHOP RECOMMENDED BY DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. NO WARRANTY SERVICE COVERAGE OFFERRED BY VW. OLD PART STILL ON HAND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097322October 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 PASSAT VOLKSWAGEN SLUDGE IN ENGINE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REPAIR WORK DONE TWICE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE REQUIRED SPECIAL OIL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095587October 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MY 2002 PASSAT HAS HAD THE TURBO REPLACED TWICE, THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TWICE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER RECALLS. THURSDAY, 10/7/04 MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DROVE HOME (8 MILES, LOW SPEED). THE NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO A MEETING I NOTICED A STRONG PETROLEUM SMELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. SUNDAY 10/10/04 I NOTICED SPOTS ON THE SIDE OF MY CAR, AND AFTER CRAWLING UNDER IT I NOTICED THAT MY CV JOINT BOOT HAD SPLIT. THIS IS AFTER 67000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY PREMATURE AND THINK THAT VW SHOULD ABSORB THE COST FOR REPAIR. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH VW FOR THIS CORRECTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095588October 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
MY 2002 PASSAT HAS HAD THE TURBO REPLACED TWICE, THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TWICE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER RECALLS. THURSDAY, 10/7/04 MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DROVE HOME (8 MILES, LOW SPEED). THE NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO A MEETING I NOTICED A STRONG PETROLEUM SMELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. SUNDAY 10/10/04 I NOTICED SPOTS ON THE SIDE OF MY CAR, AND AFTER CRAWLING UNDER IT I NOTICED THAT MY CV JOINT BOOT HAD SPLIT. THIS IS AFTER 67000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY PREMATURE AND THINK THAT VW SHOULD ABSORB THE COST FOR REPAIR. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH VW FOR THIS CORRECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093881October 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ON MY 1998 PASSAT WITH 86,000 MILES THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ABS DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS MODULE 8E0-614-111-Q WHICH WILL COST $2,036 PLUS LABOR OF $111. UPON RESEARCH, A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093833October 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT V6. I HAD NOTICED THAT NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, AND RECENTLY STEERING FELT A LITTLE FUNNY. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND FOR THE STATE INSPECTION, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF MAKING DRIVING THE CAR QUITE DANGEROUS. I HAD THEM BOTH REPLACED AT A STEEP COST. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING TO THIS ISSUE. I CALLED VWOA TO INQUIRE WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT THEY DECLINED. CONTROL ARMS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL EASILY, CERTAINLY NOT HAVE JOINTS BLOWN UP AS IN MY CASE. ALMOST ALL OF MY MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HITTING POTHOLES OR DRIVE OFF-ROAD FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM SURPRISED NHTSA HASN'T INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE OR ORDER A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM IN PASSATS, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SO HIGH, AND A FAILURE COMPROMISES ROAD SAFETY SIGNIFICANTLY (FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND LEAD TO CRASH OR EVEN DEATH). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093751October 7, 2004
SUSPENSION
THE EVENT THAT LED UP TO THE ISSUE, WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO COMPLETELY SWAY TO ONE SIDE. THE CAR ALMOST SEEMED AS IF IT LOST ITS ALIGNMENT IMMEDIATELY. I BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT THE CONTROL ARM ON THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE WAS SHOT. I HAD TO THEN TAKE A USED CAR THAT WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN SIX MONTHS OLD TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE PART AT A PRICE OF 1100 DOLLARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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