Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10088401August 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING ABS FAILURE.DEALER SAID IT IS A BAD ABS COMPUTER $1500+ 2 TO 3 HOURS OF LABOR. THIS STARTED THIS MONTH AND GOES ON AND OFF .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088180August 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILS AT 70,000 MILES, AND IT COST ME AROUND $1,500. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT THE COST OF RECALLS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089301August 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE MERGING OFF THE HIGHWAY, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL LINKAGE HAD BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PART. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED 3 ADDITIONAL TIME ON THE OTHER CONTROL ARMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088237August 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED IN 1999 PASSAT V6. ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT BEEPING SOUND. REPAIR ESTIMATE $1500-2000. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO COMPLAIN AFTER READING ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BOSCH PART. VW OF AMERICA TOLD ME THEY COULD/WOULD NOT HELP WITH REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088114August 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT END IS "CREAKY." THERE IS CONSIDERABLE NOISE, USUALLY WHEN TURNING. I SUSPECT THAT THE BUSHINGS IN THE MULTI-LINK FRONT SUSPENSION ARE WORN. I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALER ON 7/18/2003 OF $1020 TO FIX IT. I CHOSE NOT TO FIX IT AT THAT TIME. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS STORIES OF PASSAT AND AUDI A4S THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM SO I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THE FILE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089190August 18, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086984August 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
I PURCHASED MY 2002 VOLKS PASSAT GLS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY RADIO QUIT, I HAD THE SPEAKERS REPLACED TWICE, I HAD THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED, I HAD THE IGNITION COILS REPLACED 3 TIMES (RECALL), WV CAMPAIGN (RECALL), SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE (RECALL), THE RIGHT WHEEL TIRE HULL REINFORCED (RECALL). I HAVE TALKED WITH VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE OFFICE AND HAVE AN ACTIVE COMPLAINT NUMBER. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE BOTH AT THE CORPORATE AND DEALER LEVEL. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN AUBURN, WA IS INEPT AND HAS PUT THE WRONG OIL IN THE MY CAR 2 TIMES. I WOULD LIKE VOLKWAGEN TO BUY-BACK MY CAR OR GIVE ME A LIFE-TIME WARRANTY ON THE CAR. ANY IDEAS? THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY INCIDENTS TO LIST JUST ONE. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086775August 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO DEFECT IN TURBO/OIL PUMP; VW DEALER STATED DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (NOT ENOUGH OIL CHANGES); VW USA SAID DUE TO DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP, BUT STILL WON'T COVER UNDER WARRANTY; ENGINE REPLACED; CAUSE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE TURBO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086776August 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY APPEARS ACCOMPANIED BY WARNING MESSAGE "STOP - BRAKE FAULT" AND LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM. MY INDEPENDENT VW MECHANIC RETRIEVED VEHICLE FAULT CODES AND ADVISES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE ABS IS INOPERABLE AND THE DRIVERS NORMAL BRAKING EFFORT COULD RESULT IN THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP. FAILURE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ABS UNIT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE HIGH PART COST ($1,123.25) AS THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY VW OWNERS (EVIDENCE OF THIS IS READILY AVAILABE ON THE INTERNET), THE DRIVING PUBLIC'S SAFETY IS BEING JEOPARDIZED FOR ECOMOMIC REASONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086787August 13, 2004
INTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE TEST DRIVING A VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX SEDAN, TOUCHING THE WINDOW CONTROL CAUSED THE ABS BRAKING MECHANISM TO ENGAGE. THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE QUICKLY APPLIED AND ABS FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS AND TONES WENT OFF IN THE CAR. THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FLICKERED AS WELL. THE WARNINGS SHUT OFF IN A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS IN THE SPAN OF 10 MINUTES BOTH TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON A LEVEL ROAD AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME. THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED BRAKING AND THE STARTLING EFFECT OF THE WARNINGS OCCURING SIMULTANIOUSLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087746August 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LOST OIL PRESSURE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074267August 12, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086617August 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS LIGHT COMING ON ONCE IN A WHILE. NOW STAYS ON PERMANENTLY AND BEEPS. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF BRAKES. COST TO REPAIR $1600. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086508August 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY 1997 PASSAT WHEN IT STARTED TO OVER HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE GAGE ROSE VERY QUICKLY AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE NEXT EXIT OFF OF THE FREEWAY ( 1/8 OF A MILE IN DISTANCE). WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAGE REACHED 240 DEGREES MY RED DASHBOARD LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. I DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. WITHIN SECONDS, NOT MINUTES, I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND, LIKE AN EXPLOSION. STEAM SHOT OUT AT MYSELF AND MY DAUGHTER INSIDE THE CAR AND WE WERE SPRAYED WITH BOILING LIQUID ON OUR FEET AND LOWER LEGS. VISABLILITY WAS ALMOST ZERO FROM THE SPRAYING STEAM AS I SWERVED INTO THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO COME TO A STOP IN THE NEAREST PARKING SPACE BUT I COULD NO LONGER KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS BEING SPRAYED WITH BOILING WATER. I THREW THE CAR INTO PARK AND TRIED TO GRAB THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT WE HAD ALREADY JUMPED THE PARKING SPACE CURB AND HIT A LARGE BUSH. THE ENTIRE FRONT INSIDE OF MY CAR IS DAMAGED FROM WATER AND COOLANT, AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR ON THE OUTSIDE HAS A DENT AND PUNCTURE IN THE BUMPER. THE MECHANIC THAT CAME TO MY AID TOLD ME THAT THE HEATER CORE HAD EXPLODED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD NOT NOTICED MY CAR OVER HEATING, AND I HAD STILL BEEN ON THE BUSY FREEWAY DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THIS EXPLOSION OCCURED! REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE. THE CAR IS AT A REPAIR SHOP. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10086543August 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AFTER RANDOM INTERVALS THE ABS WARNING OCCURS, SOMETIMES IT WILL END BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE ERROR WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE CAR IS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES. AFTER THE FIRST ABS WARNING I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE THE UNIT (BOSCH ABS AND CONTROLLER) WOULD NEED REPLACING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES BUY BACK THESE PARTICULAR UNITS FOR REMANUFACTURING DUE TO THE COMMON FAILURE OF THIS PART. SINCE THIS PART IS COMMON ON 1996-2001 AUDI A4'S, A6'S AND VW PASSAT AND IS FAILING CONSISTENTLY THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE NOW IN THE BUSINESS OF REMANUFACTURER THESE UNITS, I FIND IT HARD THAT SUCH A VITAL COMPONENT TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE CAN FAIL SO CONSISTENTLY. IN ADDITION, SUNNYVALE VOLKSWAGON DEALER SAID THAT VW NO LONGER SELLS THE ABS CONTROLLER SEPERATE FROM THE ABS PUMP DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN REPLACING A FAILED CONTROLLER IT WAS COMMON FOR THE PUMP TO FAIL WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086377August 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
SHIELDING ON EXHAUST SYSTEM SEPARATED AND MADE CONTACT WITH MANIFOLD, CAUSING A FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086199August 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE AT 67,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083196August 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I BOUGHT MY 1999 PASSAT IN MARCH 2002, AND HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE DATE LISTED BELOW, MY MILEAGE WAS ONLY 60K AND MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2000. I HAVE READ AND SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. IS THERE ANY WAY THIS CAN BE RECALLED OR CAN ANYONE HELP US WHO DOESN'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT AMOUNT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT OR SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHO HAD THESE PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE WEBSITE IS WWW.TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM AND IT IS UNDER VW PASSAT ABS LIGHT PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083031July 30, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
REPORTED WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO 5-10MPH CARE HESITATED AND THEN JERKED AS IF SOMEONE HIT FROM BEHIND, ALSO WHEN BRAKING TO STOP,CAR LURCHES FORWARD. VW DEALERSHIP REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS AND DID SOFTWARE UPDATE AFTER 3 TIMES IN SHOP. NOW CAR HESITATES WHEN EITHER SLOWING DOWN OR FROM STOP THEN KICKS IN ALL OF A SUDDEN,WILL BE CALLING REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TO REPORT, STILL FEEL SLIGHT JERK AT SLOW SPEEDS. ALL HAPPENS WHEN ENGINE HOT OR COLD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079998July 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE BROKE IN TWO PARTS. THE PART WAS REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1055. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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