Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10090567September 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING. BRAKES WORK BUT ABS MAY NOT. DEALER QUOTES $1450 FOR REPAIR PART ALONE, PLUS LABOR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS AND VW REFUSES TO EITHER RECALL OR COVER REPAIR COST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090569September 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS IS CONCERNING MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T AUTOMATIC(TIPTRONIC) VEHICLE. I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. MY CAR WARNS ME OF AN ABS FAILURE RANDOMLY (WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND GO AWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON) I HAVE FOUND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME EXACT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR (NO RECALL) AND THAT IF IN FACT THERE ARE AS MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, THAT THEY SHOULD CALL VW AND ALSO REPORT IT TO THE NHTSA. SHE SAID THAT IF THE NHTSA GOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THAT THEY COULD FORCE VW TO DO A RECALL. HERE ARE SOME LINKS WHERE I FOUND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR/SAME ISSUE: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/SEARCH!EXECUTE.JSPA? RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS A $2000 REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS UNIT TO "SEE" IF THAT FIXES IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THESE GUYS TO ADMIT TO HAVING FAULTY PARTS IN THESE MODEL VEHICLES. ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS, STEVE BRICKHOUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090453September 5, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN JULY 2003 MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT 1.8L TURBO HAD SYMPTOMS RELATED TO OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. AS I WAS TRAVELING ON VACATION THE CAR GAVE WARNING OF THIS SITUATION AND THE SYSTEM ADVISED THAT THE CAR BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. I STOPPED THE CAR AND BEGAN PURSUING OPTIONS TO GET THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS OIL SLUDGE. THE REPAIR WAS AS SIMPLE AS CLEANING THE OIL PUMP STRAINER AND OIL PAN. THE REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY $500.00. NOW, SOME 20K MILES LATER MY CAR HAD ANOTHER OIL RELATED ISSUE. THIS TIME THE OIL COOLER MALFUNCTIONED AND RUPTURED CAUSING $8,000 - $10,000 IN REPAIR COST. OF COURSE THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND RECENT ACTIONS BY VOLKSWAGEN TO EXTEND WARRANTIES FOR OIL SLUDGE DO NOT INCLUDE THE OIL COOLER. THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MAJOR CONCERN OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN BY THEIR ACTIONS TOWARD THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, BUT THEY ARE AVOIDING PARTS AND THE MECHANICAL OPERATIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO THE PROBLEM BEING CORRECTED. OBVIOUSLY OIL THAT IS NOT PROPERLY COOLED WILL BREAK DOWN QUICKER THAN OIL RUNNING AT MORE ACCEPTABLE TEMPERATURES. CURRENTLY, VOLKSWAGEN CAN MAKE NO CONCLUSIVE ANALYSIS AS TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN OIL COOLER MALFUNCTION AND OIL SLUDGE. THIS WOULD BE KEY IN DETERMINING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR REPAIRS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA'S CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATES HAVE REFERRED ME TO MY DEALERSHIP ON TWO OCCASIONS AND MY DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE UNABLE TO MAKE 100% CONCLUSIVE DECISIONS. I BELIEVE IT IS VOLKSWAGENS RESPONSIBILITY TO GUARANTEE THEIR PRODUCTS. THEY ARE IN NO POSITION TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY ESPECIALLY AFTER ALLOWING THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE TO CONTINUE FROM 1998 MODELS CARS TO CURRENT 2004 MODELS WITHOUT OFFERING CONSUMER ASSISTANCE. SIX YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO HAVE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES UNADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090432September 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
VEHICLE IS AT 40,000 MILES. AT 40000 SERVICE, DEALER REPORTED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS ARE FAILING AND MUST BE REPLACED. BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THE CONTROL ARMS TO COMPLETELY FAIL, LEADING TO A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH, I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF MY POCKET FOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONTROL ARMS REPORTED OVER INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS VWVORTEX.COM AND CLUBB5.COM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089043September 3, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
MANUFACTURER'S FASTENED CAR MAT ENDS EXACTLY WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MEETS THE FLOOR WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED AND CAUGHT THE PEDAL. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089069September 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - OIL SLUDGE - MY CAR HAD A STOP LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW OIL PUMP FOR $900. VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR, SO I DID. 10,000 MILES LATER MY ENGINE FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR $11,000. AGAIN VW WOULD NOT COVER THIS FIALURE.. VOLKSWAGEN IS TRYING TO LOOK LIKE THE NICE GUY WITH THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE BIG CATCH--MUST HAVE EVERY RECEIPT FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE TO PROVE THEY WERE DONE EVERY 5,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CAR. HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MANY PASSAT OWNERS AFFECTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088987September 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN FOLLOW UP TO READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS IN VW'S. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED ON A 2003 VW 1.8 LITER TURBOCHARGED PASSAT. THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089034September 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - OIL SLUDGE - MY CAR HAD A STOP LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED OIL AND OIL PRESSURE WAS NOT LOW. PROCEEDED AND CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS PULLING OVER.*AK VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THE $6000 REPAIR. ENGINE SEIZED. VOLKSWAGEN IS TRYING TO LOOK LIKE THE NICE GUY WITH THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE BIG CATCH--MUST HAVE EVERY RECEIPT FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE TO PROVE THEY WERE DONE EVERY 5,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CAR. HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MANY PASSAT OWNERS AFFECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088967September 1, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP TRANSMISSION/DRIVE TRAIN OCCASIONALLY WILL DEMONSTRATE A JARRING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS "CLUNK" AS IF THE TRANDMISSION IS DROPPING OUT OF THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO LURCHES FORWARD SLIGHTLY. WE HAVE READ THAT SOME DEALERS TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. OUR DEALER, RUSSEL VW IN CATONSVILLE MD SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING, DENYING EVER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED VW-USA AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY UNTRUE!!! THERE ARE COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER THE INTERNET. VW IS SETTING ITSELF UP FOR TREMENDOUS LIABILITY ISSUES SHOULD INJURIES OCCUR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083845August 31, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN 3-4 TIMES. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE EC MODULE/FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079374August 31, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM BROKE AND IT WAS NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDER RECALL BEFORE THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087106August 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE STARTING TO MAKE NOISE, AND WILL POTENTIALLY FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088777August 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROLLER FAILED ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 70K MILES ON IT. THIS APPARENTLY IS QUITE A COMMON FAILURE ON THE VW/AUDI VEHICLES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089900August 27, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO PUT HER SHOE UNDER THE PEDAL AN PULL IT UP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088593August 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TOTAL ENGINE MALFUNCTION/FAILURE OF 1.8T VOLKSWAGON 2002 PASSAT - VOLKSWAGON JUST ISSUED INTERNAL MEMO TO DEALERS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT IS DESCRIBED BY VW AS "OIL SLUDGE RELATED REPAIRS" HOWEVER; IS A KNOWN ENGINE DESIGN FLAW AND REPEATED PROBLEM WHICH WILL OCCUR MUCH MORE IN THE FUTURE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I CANNOT PROVE BY RECEIPT OIL CHANGES EVERY 5000 MILE INTERVAL. I HAD 6 RECEIPTS I COULD FIND TO SHOW FOR 41000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088647August 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
1998 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT 1.8 TURBO 39, 250 MILEAGE. FRONT END NOISE, REDUCED CONTROL IN HANDLING, RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL CONTROL ARMS & TIE ROD ENDS ON DRIVER SIDE- THE LOWER FOUND TO HAVE CORROSION IN THE SOCKET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089686August 25, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE BROKE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089791August 25, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088464August 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO, THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LIGHT HAS DISPLAYED. AT FIRST,T WAS ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT WOULD SOME ON AND STAY ON FOR MINUTES. IT NOW DISPLAYS WHENEVER THE CAR IS RUNNING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A COMMON MODULE FAILURE IN LATE MODEL VW CARS AND RELATED AUDIS. IT WILL COST ME $1500 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THIS WARNING SYSTEM. UNTIL IT IS FIXED, I HAVE NO ABS BRAKES WORKING. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT VW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL OR PAY FOR THESE FAILURES. THEY DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY OTHER THAN THEIR STANDARD WARRANTY. IN THE DETAILS AREA, I WROTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 30 FAILURES BECAUSE THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EVERY DAY I DRIVE THE CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089642August 24, 2004
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
BRITAX, MODEL # E900232/72501, THE CHILD WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR SEAT AND THE MECHANISM HOLDING THE STRAP STRAIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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