Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10062202March 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
I OWN A 2003 VW PASSAT, THE NEW STYLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE USLESS IN SNOWY AND/OR ICY CONDITIONS. THE SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATEON THE WIPPING BLADE WITH NO WHERE TO DISCHARGE IT. THIS OCCOURS ON EVERY SWIPE NOT AFTER LONG TERM USE. I COMPLAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND VW AND WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE BUT WAS TOLD THAT OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WIPERS. DURING SNOW CONDITIONS I HAVE TO DRIVE AT 20-25 MPH AND TURN THE WIPERS OFF. I NOTICED ON THE 2004 MODELS A SMALL CHANGE IN THE DESIGN OF THE WIPERS, THERE MUST BE A REASON WHY A CHANGE WAS IMPLEMENTED ON A ONE YEAR DESIGN, BUT VW WILL NOT ADMIT OR CHANGE MY WIPER. I AM NOT A MECHANICAL ENGINEER BUT COULD SEE THE PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN ONLY ONE HOUR AFTER CONSTANTLY STOPPING TO CLEAR THE ICE/SNOW OF THE WIPER BLADE. HOPE THAT SOMEBODY WILL LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062214March 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. NO WARNING IS DESCRIBED IN OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. ENGINE FAILED AT 91000 MILES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, REQUIRED SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062005March 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF IN MY 2001.5 PASSAT V6. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JAN 2001 AND CURRENTLY HAS 32K MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM A HALF DOZEN TIMES, IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, A COMUPTER CHIP WAS REPLACED (OVER $100), BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. EACH ADDITIONAL TIME, THE SERVICE DEPT. STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND RESET THE CAR'S COMPUTER. IT MAY BE A COINCIDENCE, TUT THE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON IN COLD WEATHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062066March 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY GIRLFRIENDS 1997 VW PASSAT HAS A PLASTIC COOLANT HOUSING WHICH FAILED. WHEN FAILURE OCCURS CATASTROPHIC LOST OF ALL COOLANT OCCURS IN SECONDS WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061928March 11, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MANUAL FIVE SPEED 2003 PASSAT TURBO'S ENGINE SUDDENLY REVS UP TO 7500 RPM, AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD ABOUT 13 FEET AFTER STARTING FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION. *AK IT TOOK ABOUT 20 -30 SECONDS OF HARD BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE RPM DROPPED TO NORMAL AT THIS TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061935March 11, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON A SUPER HIGHWAY(315), COLUMBUS, OHIO,AT RUSH HOUR IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY JUMPS FROM ABOUT 3000 TO THE RED LINE AT 7500. THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATES TO ALMOST 100 MILES AN HOUR. I TRY TO PRESS THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I CAN, AND MANEUVER THE CAR TO AVOID COLLISION WITH SLOWER VEHICLES. IT TAKES ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES TO SLOW THE CAR TO A RELATIVELY SAFE SPEED. IN THE MEANTIME THE ENGINE IS REVVING AT 7500 RPM ALL THE TIME. I STOP THE CAR SAFELY AND WOTHOUT COLLISION. THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY UN-OPERATIONAL. THE CAR IS TOWED TO TO THE DEALER(MAG IN DUBLIN, OHIO). THE DEALER DIGNOSES DRIVER ERROR FOR CLUTH DAMAGE, AND NO FAULT WITH THE CAR. THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT I SIGN A LETTER ACCEPTING ALL THE BLAME. I REFUSE. THEY CHARGE ME $ 456.00 BEFORE RELEASING THE DISABLED CAR BACK TO ME. VW OF AMERICA CONFIRMS THE TWO FALSE DIGNOSES OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER IN WOLFSBURG IS NOT HELPFUL OR INTERESTED. I HAVE DRIVEN 7 MANUAL VW'S FOR 42 YEARS! I HAVE KEPT MANY OF THOSE CARS FOR 15 -20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCHES OR ENGINES BEFORE. THE CAR IS A MANUAL PASSAT, 2003 WITH 2400 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061883March 10, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A VW PASSAT 4-MOTION WAGON TIPTRONIC THAT EXHIBITS THE PROBLEM OF REFUSING THE DOWNSHIFT FROM SECOND INTO FIRST AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED FIRMLY. THEN, THE ENGINE RACES WILDLY FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN "BANGS" INTO GEAR. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, BUT THUS FAR THERE'S NO FIX FOR IT. ENGINE: 2.8 V6 YEAR: 2000 GEAR: MOVING FROM 2ND INTO 1ST ERRATIC AND SEEMS SOMEWHAT HEAT-RELATED--WORST IN HOT WEATHER FIRST NOTICED: ABOUT 49,000 MILES CAR CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS IF PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE MERGING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. REFER TO AUDIWORLD WEB PAGE FOR SIMILAR OWNER AUDI QUATTRO PROBLEMS WITH 2.7L V6 AND TIPTRONIC. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060732March 8, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
GRINDING SOUND WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. WAS TOLD THAT BOOTS ON TIE ROD ENDS WERE PERFORATED ALLOWING WATER AND DIRT TO DAMAGE TIE ROD ENDS. ALTHO VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED A RECALL THEY REFUSE TO MAKE THE FREE REPAIR. RECALL # RECALLUL. SEP 99. TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT. NHTSA RECALL # 0014/VWOA.RECALL # UL/KW. DID NOT RECIEVE ANY RECALL NOTICE ON THIS ITEM! FOUND ON INTERNET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060645March 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060591March 6, 2004
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF SUDDENLY AND LOUDLY EXPLODED OUTWARDS FROM CABIN AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING WITH HEAT ON HIGH/MEDIUM HIGH AT APPROX 65 MPH. SLIDING SUNROOF PARTITION WAS OPEN. ONLY A FEW PIECES OF GLASS FELL INTO CABIN, BUT ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED INTO THOUSANDS OF UNIFORM PIECES, EXPANDING OUTWARD FROM CABIN AND REMAINING IN A SLIGHTLY OUTWARDS EXPANDED SHAPE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060396March 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 2000 VW PASSAT. MY ABS LIGHT AND BREAK LIGHT ARE GOING ON INTERMITTANTLY. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPAIR WILL BE APPROX. $1200 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH THE COST BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE 50K ON THE ODOMETER. I FEEL THAT THE ABS IS A SAFETY FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE AND VW SHOULD BE WILLING TO COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE COST. I HAVE HAD NO SUCH LUCK THUS FAR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM IN VW FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME STORY $1100 - $1500 FOR REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. IT SEEMS A BIT ODD THAT A PART THAT HAS LITTLE USE WOULD GO BAD SO FREQUENTLY ON THIS VEHICLE. GANTED I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FREQUENCY RATE IS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ANOTHER VOICE FILING A COMPLAINT. MY MANUAL STATES THAT I SHOULD AVOID SUDDEN STOPS BACUASE THIS COULD CAUSE MY BACK BREAKS TO LOCK AND CAUSE ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. YET THEIR IS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD DO TO HELP! WELL MAYBE YOU CAN!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060149March 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
MY VW PASSAAT DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE PLAY AND NOISE IN STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION. CAR WOULD WANDER ON ROAD AND WOULD NOT TRACK STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY LOCAL VW DEALER SAID TO BRING CAR IN IMMEDIATELY. DEALER SAID 4 CONTROL ARMS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $1400. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND DRIVEN GENTLY PREVIOUSLY. DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060203March 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT 48,000 MILES AND FOR MY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. SINCE I HAD JUST BEGUN HEARING NOISES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I ASKED THAT IT BE LOOKED INTO. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR, ALBEIT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED THE CAR COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED (RECALL UL) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. BUT, THAT FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VW AND THEY CONCURRED BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNETHICAL, BUT VW IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH CARS THAT THEY KNOW HAVE A SERIOUS DEFECT. NOT ONLY DIDN'T VW COVER ALL THE APPLICABLE VINS IN THEIR RECALL, BUT THEY DID NOT INFORM THEIR CONSUMERS OFTHE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS PROBLEM, IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF THE CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT HIGH SPEED. VW WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE NOTED ONCE AGAIN, THAT THIS DEFECT IN THE CONTROL ARMS OCCURED AT ONLY 48,000 MILES. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO PAY $1200 FOR A SERIOUS, AND ACKNOWLEDGED, DESIGN DEFECT, BUT THE REPAIR PARTS THAT WERE INSTALLED ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE POORLY DESIGNED ONES. THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN KILLED. VW REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY STOCK THE FRONT END REPAIR KIT. IF IT IS SO COMMON WHY AREN'T ALL THE APPLICABLE VINS COVERED?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10061150March 1, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
LETTER CONCERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH VOLKSWAGEN CHOOSE TO HANDLE A RECENT FAILURE ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER VEHICLE HEATER CORE EXPLODED. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060112March 1, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
MECHANIC IS TELLING ME ALL FOUR TIE ROD ASSEMLBIES AND CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN HEARIN A LOUD CRUNCHING NOICE EVERYTIME I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP OR TURN A CORNER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060019February 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY 1998 VW PASSAT HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT AND A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON STEADILY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES WITH AN AUDIBLE FOUR-CHIME TONE. THE VW DEALER TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT I NEED A NEW ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR IS $1900. . VW OF AMERICA DECLINED TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059936February 27, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT WITH A SAFETY ISSUE IN TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEED THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS. THE PROBLEM IS MOST SEVERE IN REVERSE GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RESOLUTION. AFTER CHANGING MULTIPLE PARTS THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER 2004 PASSAT AND TOUAREG OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT, SO IT APPEARS TO BE AFFECTING MORE THAN A SINGLE VEHICLE. CAN THE NHTSA DO SOMTHING TO HELP VW OWNERS BY FORCING VW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND FIND A RESOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. RIGHT NOW THEIR DEALERS AND ENGINEERS DO NOT HAVE A FIX!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060957February 27, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FRONT END WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. ALSO, RADIATOR OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059828February 26, 2004
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
WHEN DRIVING AIR CONDITIONER/RADIO FAILED. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057440February 26, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, ONE FOOT WAS LIFTED FROM THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACK TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT CEASE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL PLACED INTO NEUTRAL,TURNED OFF, AND HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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