Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10064262March 31, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2001.5 VW PASSAT GLX 2.8LV6. INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. WORSE WHEN COLD OUTSIDE. TURN KEY TO START, NO CRANKING, DRLS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM (RELAY CUTOUT DURING STARTER OPERATION), BUT WILL NOT TURN OVER. LEFT ME STRANDED AT HOME. HAS ALMOST LEFT ME STRANDED NUMEROUS TIMES, SOMETIMES IN TRAFFIC! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR FAR FROM HOME (LONG TRIP). THIS IS NOT RIGHT ON A 2.5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. IT IS UNSAFE. I AM SO CLOSE TO SWITCHING BACK TO JAPANESE BRAND CARS, THOUGH I LOVE THE INTERIOR AND DRIVING DYNAMICS OF MY PASSAT. $1200 IN REPAIRS IN TWO MONTHS FOR A STARTER AND IGNITION LOCK/SWITCH ASSEMBLY. WORKS FOR A FEW DAYS THEN THE PROBLEM COMES BACK! DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL PASSATS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. TODAY I WAS IN LINE FOR MY STATE EMISSIONS TEST AND IT WOUDL NOT START, TOOK 5 MINUTES, BLOCKING THE TEST LANE! MY 1978 LINCOLN IS MORE DEPENDABLE (BUT COSTS A FORTUNE TO DRIVE WITH GAS PRICES!). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064271March 31, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 PASSAT HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY, CANNOT KEEP ENGINE LIGHT OFF FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS CAR FLOODS AND SPITS RAW GAS OUT EXHAUST, SPITS AND STALLS, CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER OVER 20 TIMES WITHIN 10 MONTHS, 3 RADIOS REPLACED 2 MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS, 1 MAIN COMPUTER, CAR WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS TEMPORARY TAG HAD TO BE ISSUED, CAR HAS LESS THAN 37000 MILES ON IT AND HAS GONE THROUGH ABOUT 10 SETS OF PLUGS, CANNOT SETTLE WITH CONSUMER SERVICE OR DEALERSHIP, DEALER REFUSES TO REFUND $80 SERVICE CHARGE WHEN CAR WAS IMPROPERLY SERVICED, LAWSUIT TO FOLLOW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065249March 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE 1999 PASSAT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FROM EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,WATER PUMP DEFECTS, FRONT END ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. (NAR) *PH *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064165March 30, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL SLOWLY FADES OUT (OCCASIONALLY) WITHOUT WARNING, EXCEPT THE SIGHT OFAN ENORMOUS TRUCK GRILL IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. NONE OF THE LOCAL VW DEALERS COULD FIX IT, NOR WOULD THEY REPLACE IT. VW ZONE MANAGER TOLD ME TO FORGET IT. CAR IS 1999 PASSAT WAGON, 4-CYL. IS THIS COMMON?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064178March 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP. GAUGE CAUSING TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064226March 30, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2000 VW PASSAT WAGON. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (70 MPH) WHEN HER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, BUMP OR INCIDENT WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN MOTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/MELTDOWN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WIRING. FUTHER INVESTIAGTION IMPENDING. THANKFULLY THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THAT RATE OF SPEED AND A FULL FLEDGED FIRE DID NOT DEVELOP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063929March 26, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HIT A POTHOLE WHILE TURNING RIGHT, WHICH FLATTENED THE TIRE. ALL DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AS WELL AS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SENSORS APPEARED TO BE OVERLY SENSITIVE AS THERE WAS NO IMPENDING ROLL OVER OR COLLISION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063944March 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT GLS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC) 1.8T ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVICE EVERY 5K MILES TO VW AND THEN TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC (HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS). IT IS CURRENTLY AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS AGO THE CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD. THE OIL CHECK LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR AWHILE. I HAD CALLED VW REGARDING THE SENSOR LIGHT AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS ONLY A SENSOR PROBLEM, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THE CAR IS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. CAM SHAFTS 3 AND 4 WERE DRY AND NOT RECEIVING OIL. I SUBMITTED THE CAR TO VW TO CLAIM UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIONS, VW USA HAS DENIED MY CLAIM AND STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO IS VERY REPUTABLE. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO GO TO THIS SHOP AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. I AM IN THE STAGES OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VW USA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063979March 26, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4 MOTION. PURCHASED TO USE IN SOMETIMES SNOWY UPSTATE NEW YORK. WHEELS RIMS FILL WITH ICE AND MUD AND THROW TIRE BALANCE OFF. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY FOR TWO WINTERS. BOTH VW DEALER AND INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP CONFIRM A DESIGN FLAW IN THE WHEEL/RIM ALLLOW FOR THE BUILDUP. THE TIRES HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF AND THE BUILDUP REMOVED. VOLKSWAGON CUSTOMER SUPPORT CONTACTED FOR TWO YEARS BUT NO ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM OR WILL DO ANYTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063718March 23, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS ON MY 2000 PASSAT GLX 4-MOTION WAGON. FIVE OUT OF 8 CONTROL ARMS WERE IN VERY POOR CONDITIONS WITH TORN BOOTS OVER THE BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS IN THE CONTROLL ARMS WERE TORN AND BALL JOINS WERE DRY AND NOISY. THE TIE ROD BALL JOINS WERE WORN OUT AND MAKING NOISES. THE CAR HAS NOT BE WRECKED OR DAMAGED OTHER WISE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063729March 23, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED,- SUSPECTED THE PART WAS FAULTY BECAUSE OF MANY OTHER INSTANCES DOCUMENTED W/VARIOUS AGENCIES. AFTER FULLY ENGAGING ABS - TWO DAYS LATER, STOP BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS COMING ON AND DEALER DIAGNOSED AS ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059711March 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHEN KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION HORN DOES NOT BLOW. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT IN AN EMERGENCY SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064629March 22, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT THE RIGHT OUTER AND INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062730March 21, 2004
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION, THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD, THIS HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR A CAR THAT COST OVER $30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062619March 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I WAS STARTING MY 1995 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VR6 (MANUAL), AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE, BUT AS I STARTED TO GET GOING, THE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR INITIATED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH, INCLUDING POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, AND HEADLIGHTS. I FOUND OUT THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA (1-800-822-8987), AND THEY TOLD ME THAT A RECALL WAS OUT FOR THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO MODEL YEARS AND MY MODEL YEAR IS THE SWITCH IN THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FROM OBD 1 TO OBD 2. I KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE SAME FOR ALL 1995 TO 1997 PASSATS, BUT JUST TO BE SURE, I CALLED STEVENS CREEK VOLKSWAGEN PARTS DEPARTMENT (1-408-492-1200). THE GUY THERE TOLD ME THAT PART NUMBERS MATCHED THROUGH ALL 3 YEARS, AND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNTCIONS AN ALL 3 MODEL YEARS INCLUDING 1995. SO, I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AGAIN, AN ASKED THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T RECALL MY MODEL YEAR. THEY STATED THAT "VW COULD HAVE RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM" WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN ALL 3 PART NUMBERS ARE THE SAME. THEY THEN SAID THAT THEY WOULD LAUNCH THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO IT, AND TOLD ME TO CALL NHTSA. MY FINAL SAY ON THIS MATTER IS THAT IT DEFINITELY IS LIFE THREATENING, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ELECTRICAL, AND CAN MALFUNTCION AT AND TIME, CAUSING YOU TO LOSE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND LIGHTING ON THE ROAD. I WAS LUCK BECAUSE I JUST GOT GOING, AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR BACK BY MY HOUSE. MEANWHILE, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS CUTTING CORNERS TO SAVE MONEY BY ONLY RECALLING THE MODEL YEARS THAT YOU HAVE TESTED, EVEN THOUGH THE MALFUNCTIONING PART IS THE SAME INALL 3 MODEL YEARS: 1995, 1996, AND 1997. AS A MEMBER OF A VW VORTEX FORUM, I WILL TELL OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM TO WRITE IN TO YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062542March 18, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILURE ON A 2000 PASSAT WITH 55,230 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062401March 17, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT EMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 V6 VW PASSAT SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE MAF/OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW I HAVE AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AGAIN (NOW OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY) THAT TRACES BACK TO SOMETHING IN MY SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM (ERROR CODES 1411, 1423). THESE EMISSION PROBLEMS ARE REGULAR AND PERSISTENT AND VW SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM WITHOUT ME SPENDING HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062406March 17, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO FAULTY LUBRICANT BOOTS RESULTING IN ERRATIC CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MODELS SIMILAR TO MINE WERE RECALLED BY VW, BUT NOT MINE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE PARTS ARE IDENTICAL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062363March 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. FUEL GAUGE READS FULL AT ALL TIMES EVEN WHEN FUEL LEVEL IS LESS THAN FULL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062194March 15, 2004
I HAVE A 2004 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION STATION WAGON WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. LIKE OTHER OWNERS I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE A "CLUNK" FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. IT OCCASIONALLY LURCHES FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOT VERY SATISFACTORY FOR A CAR THAT COSTS OVER $30,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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