Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10082830July 28, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKS ON BY ITSELF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAXIMUM SPEED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET, BUT I LET THE VEHICLE GET UP TO OVER 85 MPH YESTERDAY BEFORE I 'CANCELED' THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE 'CANCEL' BUTTON ONLY TEMPORARILY SOLVES THE PROBLEM - A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKS ON AGAIN. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I'M ON A HIGHWAY OR A RESIDENTIAL STREET - THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY KICK IN AND INCREASE SPEED. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083689July 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT AT 43000 MILES CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, AT 90,000 MILES ANOTHER ONE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR FREE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082773July 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARMS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT SUBSTATIAL COST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082802July 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS MODUAL ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT(58000 MILES)HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFTY PROBLEM.VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SAYS THEY CANT HELP WITH THE $2000 REPAIR.FAR TOO MANY ARE IN THIS POSITION.THERE MUST BE A RE-CALL REGARDING THIS POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING MATTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082657July 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICAL ARE FAILING. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS VERY ODD TO SEE THESE ITEMS FALING AT ONLY 67,000 MILES. IF THEY WERE TO COMPLETELY FAIL IT WOUD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL. THIS SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICALS OF THE SAME MODEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082693July 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
1998 VW PASSAT: HEARD LOUD CLANKING NOISES ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING VEHICLE. REPORTED TO VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ADVISED THE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM JOINT IS WORN AND NEED REPLACEMENT. FURTHER, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS ARE TOTALLY SHOT AND NEED REPLACING. CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE TIE ROD PROBLEM WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA SEP. 1999 (99V-248) BUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. DO NOT KNOW WHY AS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS THE SAME. ADDITIONALLY, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN NOTED ON THIS SITE, YET VW OF AMERICA, WHO ADVISED ME ARE AWARE AND SENSITIVE TO THE PROBLEM, REFUSED ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE RECALLED TIE RODS REPLACEMENT WAS REFUSED TO BE FIXED BY THEM. PLEASE FOLLOW UP AND INVESTIGATE VW OF AMERICA FOR THESE VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUES SINCE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DRIVER ACCIDENTS. I AM ALSO WONDERING WHY THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT WHEN NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED. DO NOT TRUST VW TO BE A SAFE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082596July 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SOME MONTHS AGO ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON INFREQUENTLY. ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THEN THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY. NOW THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. ODDLY, THE LIGHT WAS OFF ON TWO CONSECUTIVELY EVENINGS AND THE ABS WORKED WHEN THE LIGHT WAS OFF. HOWEVER, SINCE THEN THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY. HAVE BEEN TO TWO DEALERS WHO SUGGESTED REPLACING ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR $1400.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE IN VOLKSWAGONS AND AUDIS. DATE GIVEN BELOW IS APPROXIMATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082597July 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ANALYSIS OF SYSTEM AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED ONE OF TWO OXYGEN SENSORS DEFECTIVE. ITEM WAS REPLACED. NO OTHER CODES INDICATED FURTHER PROBLEMS..TWO DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT AGAIN. SECOND OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. . ANALYSIS DETERMINED AIR MASS METER DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. REPAIR COSTS = $841.25. VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAPPENS FREQUENLY TO VW'S??? VW WILL BE NOTIFIED AND ASKED TO COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082443July 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE CONTROL ARMS IN THE 1999, 2000, AND 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS ARE DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IF THESE ARE NOT REPAIRED ONE CAN LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS IN MY 1999 PASSAT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2003 AND NOW THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 1999, 2000, AND 2001 PASSATS, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SAFETY HAZARD WARRANTS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082358July 21, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
AS A RESULT OF A PERSISTENT RATTLING IN THE FRONT RIGHT END OF MY 4 CYL. 1999 VW PASSAT, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR INVESTIGATION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS THAT BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR AS WELL AS THE TIE ROD ENDS MUST BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1200. IF THEY ARE NOT REPLACED, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT ONE COULD BREAK AND I WOULD HAVE NO STEERING. OBVIOUSLY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS OR DEADLY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH VW AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUING A TSB ON THIS DEFECT, THEY REFUSE TO COVER ITS REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE IN THIS AREA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082392July 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT WAGON V-6 AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR BUCKS/JUMPS WHEN DECELERATING INTO LOWER OR ACCELERATING INTO HIGHER GEAR. IT CAUSES JERKING OF THE VEHICLE AT TIMES. DEALER CHECKED THE CAR ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT CLAIMED THAT IT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WHEN A SYSTEMS CHECKED WAS RUN. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON A TEST RIDE. CONTACTED VW TO NO AVAIL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083450July 21, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. PLACED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP, AND DOWN SHIFTED IN ORDER TO STOP. THIS CAUSED TREAD SEPARATION ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083316July 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081335July 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1999 PASSAT ARE WEARING OUT AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY VW SINCE IT PLACES PEOPLE IN DANGER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081140July 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE DONE ALL [EVEN MORE THAN] THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ON THE PASSAT. I HAD THE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY 2 YEARS AGO [NOT UNDER RECALL OR REIMBURSED FOR THIS PROCEDURE]. I AM ONCE AGAIN GETTING CONSIDERABLE CRAKING NOISES FROM MY CONTROL ARMS IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION. I DO NOT DRIVE MY PASSAT ABNORMALLY NOR HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH IT. I FEEL THAT THIS HAPPENING TO MY PASSAT IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE, BUT SOMETHING ELSE - BAD DESIGN OR MATERIALS? *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073592July 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN STEAM STARTED COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THE WINDOWS FOGGED UP. HOT ANTI FREEZE LEAKED IN AND SCORCHED THE DRIVER'S FEET. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE HEATER CORE CAME APART AT THE SEAM. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10081066July 14, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CAR HAS TWICE, SPONTANEOUSLY AND FORCEFULLY (JULY10 AND JULY 12), ACCELERATED AS I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR TO PREPARE FOR A STOP. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CANNOT EVALUATE THE PROBLEM UNTIL JULY 22. SERVICE REP CAN'T TELL ME WHETHER IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL INCIDENT REPORTS ON THIS WEBSITE, DESCRIBING EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM, AND IN ONE CASE THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT-RELATED INJURY. I'D LIKE TO SEE AN EVALUATION OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL (VW 2001 PASSAT V), JUST TO SEE HOW COMMON IT IS, AND TO DETERMINE IF A SERVICE RECALL IS IN ORDER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081067July 14, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTLOR ARMS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THE RUBBER USED TO PRODUCE TIE RODS IS TOO SOFT AND THE CAR MAKES NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. THE FAILURE ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW TO PERFORM ALIGMENT ON MY VEHICLE UNTIL FIXED. COST OF REPAIR OVER $600.*AK THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE SUSPENSION FOR VW, AUDI AND CAR OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080893July 12, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY TRANSMISSION ON A 2004 PASSAT WAGON ALL WHEEL DRIVE (V6) ENGINE SLIPS AND STARTLES ME VERY FREQUENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWED DOWN IT BUCKS VIOLENTLY AS IF I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. SO FAR, VOLKSWAGON GAVE ME A REPLACEMENT CAR (SINCE IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR). HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT CAR IS DOING THE VERY SAME THING. THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT FEELS AS IF YOU'RE BEING REAR ENDED. ALSO, IT CREATES A POTENTIAL DANGER ON THE ROADS. VOLKSWAGON ORIGINALLY SAID IT WAS THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE). NOW, THEY'RE SAYING THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE "FLASHED"? I WILL BE FILING A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AGAINST THE COMPANY. I FEAR THAT MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY'RE BEING IGNORED OR SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET. I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT AND WILL BRING THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF VOLKSWAGON. AT AT MINIMUM PERHAPS, THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND SEND OUT A NOTICE TO OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. PLEASE PLEAD MY CAUSE WITH VIGOR AND DETERMINATION. SINCERELY, DAVID DEBOSKEY *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080782July 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY 1999 VW PASSAT WAS PURCHASED ON 6/16/04. IT WAS A USED VEHICLE WITH 59,000 MILES ON IT. 6 HOURS AFTER DRIVINGOFF THE LOT THE ABS LIGHT FLASED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED AND FOUND THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. THIS PART ALONE COSTS OVER $1200.00 TO REPAIR. THERE ARE MANY VW SITES OUT WHERE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD GONE OUT. THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. I BEIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHOULD THIS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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