Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10054330January 17, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY ABS MODULE FAILED ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055238January 16, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ON FOUR OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050028January 16, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR WHILE CRUISING, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. THE DEALER RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ALSO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *PH THE TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNK NOISE, MALFUNCTIONED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC/HIGHWAY, AND A HARD SHIFT WAS PRESENT AT TIMES. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070843January 15, 2004
WHEELS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
FOUR IGNITION COILS DEFECTIVE - REPLACED DEFECTIVE IGNITION - KEY STUCK IN CAR FOR OVER NINE DAYS DEFECTIVE STEREO - REPLACED TWICE TO DATE DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL - WINDOWS AND LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING, GAS CAP POPS OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY COMPUTER PROBLEM - COMPUTER BLACKS OUT AT TIMES DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING - REPLACED AT 17,952 MILES DEFECTIVE MOTOR BLOWER - REPLACED DEFECTIVE REAR WHEEL LINING - REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070948January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEATER CORE FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY, CAUSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SWEET SMELLING WHITE/GREY SMOKE AND HOT MIST TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A TOTAL VISUAL OBSTRUCTION TO THE DRIVER AND CHOKING/COUGHING OF A 5 YEAR OLD PASSENGER. THE DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER, MANAGER TO PULL SAFELY OFF THE BUSY ROAD (US RT 1), BUT SHE AND HER CHILD WERE VERY SHAKEN BY THE EVENT. THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY! I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO VW OF AMERICA. I EXPECTED TO HEAR BACK TODAY FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP, BUT DID NOT. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PAY IN ENTIRETY FOR THE REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS RESISTANT, AS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL VW, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN ON MANY OTHERS. THE CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON, VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. IT WAS A MODEL BUILT EITHER IN BRAZIL OR MEXICO. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH THE DEALER, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC WHO WAS METICULOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE MECHANICALLY--WE HAVE DETAILED COMPUTERIZED DOCUMENTATION. NEVERTHELESS, THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS AND LOCKS, EITHER THE DOORS NOT STAYING SECURELY LATCHED DURING DRIVING, PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, AND NOW THE DOORS MAY BE LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY--NOT WHEN ONE IS DRIVING AND WISHES SECURITY. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO VW. I WILL BE DELIGHTED IF THEY COME THROUGH FOR ME ON THE HEATER CORE. ONE THING AT A TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071395January 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SEAT BELTS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND VALVES WENT AGAINST PISTONS. ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME. IGNITION SWITCH FAIL AND LIGHTS GO OFF. RIGHT WINDOW DOESN'T WORK. IGNITION COIL IS DEFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070187January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SEAT BELTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
SEAT BELTS NEVER RAVAL ALL THE WAY (MINOR ISSUE), AIR CONDITIONER GETS COLD ONLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE (ONCE AGAIN MINOR), AND NOW IT MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 5 AND 6. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH O2 SENSORS, THE COIL PACK (3 TIMES), IGNITION WIRES (TWICE), SPARK PLUGS (TWICE IN 4,000 MILES), AND THE ECU. STILL MISFIRES AFTER 3 SHOPS AND THE DEALER HAVING IT TWICE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT (KEN GARFF OREM VW/AUDI DEALERSHIP). THEY TOLD ME "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO", VW AMERICA SAID "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, THOSE DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENT FROM US". THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, BROKE SOME ENGINE COVERINGS, THAT I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TO HAVE THEM DECIDE TO REPLACE. THE NEXT ROUND I GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE HOOD WAS POPED A LITTLE BIT BUT CLOSED (I LIVE 2 MILES FROM THE DEALER). SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AND NOT TO MY SUPRISE, THEY LEFT A FEW ENGINE COMPONENTS UNBOLTED AND SITTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEY ALSO LEFT THEIR TOOLS AND THE BOLTS IN SMALL CASIM PARTS OF THE SHEET METAL. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS LOOKED AT AND THEY CONVIENIENTLY LEFT THE WIRES CUT BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. VW AMERICA ALL THROUGH THIS SAID ONLY THAT I CAN COMPLAIN AND THAT THEY WILL "NOTE THIS IN MY RECORD, BUT THATS ALL WE CAN DO." THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OFFERED TO HELP ME FIND A NEW DEALER OR TELL ME A TYPICAL WAY TO FIX A MISFIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070705January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS
FOLLOWING IS NHTSA COMPLAINT: MAKE: VOLKSWAGEN MODEL: PASSAT YEAR : 2003 CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 1 ODI ID NUMBER: 10023337 DATE OF FAILURE: JANUARY 18, 2003 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS DETAILS: THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD AIRBAG (AIR CURTAIN) OF A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8 SEDAN DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. I SUFFERED A PERMANENT WRIST INJURY AND AM SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME. THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE, WAS REPORTED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR WHICH I WAS WORKING AND TO VW OF AMERICA BY THE MANAGEMENT. I SENT A DETAILED INCIDENT REPORT TO BOTH VWOA AND VWAG (GERMANY) CEO'S. A VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMONISHED ME TO NOT MAKE A FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, SAYING IT WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OCCURRENCE AND ADVISED ME THAT MY LETTER TO THE VWOA CEO HAD BEEN RECEIVED BUT THAT HE HAD NOT READ IT. THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME IN A SPECIAL MEETING THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY A VWOA MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAD MADE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW-UP BY VW AND THE MEANS OF ALERTING VW OWNERS ABOUT THE INCIDENT I WAS CONSIDERING. I LEFT THE MEETING BELIEVING MY JOB AND FUTURE IN THE CAR BUSINESS, AT LEAST SELLING VW PRODUCTS, WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF I TOOK ANY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH AS FILING THIS COMPLAINT. A PROMISE THAT I WOULD BE INFORMED BY VWOA OF THE REASON FOR THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANY VW REPRESENTATIVE IN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS. RECENTLY, I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT RELATED DIRECTLY TO THE INCIDENT. I AM FILING THIS REPORT BECAUSE I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT ANOTHER PERSON HAS EXPERIENCED THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IN A VW CAR AND I?M CONFIDENT THAT WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS NOT A FREAK OCCURRENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10070721January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, SUSPENSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE START, MELTING OF PLASTIC, LIGHTS IN THE CAR WORKING SPORADICALLY AT BEST. OIL, DRAIN, OIL PUMP, CAMSHAFT,ALL BLAMED ON LACK OF VERIFIABLE OIL CHANGES. TIMING BELT - LET GO ON HIGHWAY AT 85000 MILES (WARRANTY FOR 1999 PASSAT, 100,000 MILES) BLAMED ON OIL CHANGES. 82 DAYS IN SHOP STEERING GOES DURING THIS TIME AND I'M TOLD I NEED AN ALTENATOR [ 3RD ONE ] THE STORY GOES ON AND ON......
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069077January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE CHECK OIL PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARED AT 38000 MILES; BROUGHT TO VW DEALER - TOLD THAT THE SENSOR LIGHT WAS STUCK ON CAR IS TAKEN TO VW DEALER AT 40444 FOR 40000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK OIL PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARS AT 44578 MILES; CAR TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND DEALER CLAIMS ENGINE IS TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069159January 15, 2004
STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
STALLING WITHOUT REASON. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054150January 15, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE DRIVERS COAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053092January 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
DEALER INFORMED OF A $2,200 CLUTCH REPAIR AT 32K MILES WHICH SEEMS VERY EARLY. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDES NO ASSISTANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053095January 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I TOOK MY CAR TO JIM ELLIS VOLKSWAGEN OF ATLANTA TO GET THE TIE RODS REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ON MY 98 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN MARKED AS COMPLETED IN THEIR SYSTEM BY ANOTHER DEALER . I HAVE NEVER TAKEN MY CAR TO THE OTHER DEALER. PLEASE ADVICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046315January 12, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS TIE RODS AS STATED IN RECALLS 99V248000 AND 00V414000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044805January 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALL 96V115000: THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAT, THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE DEALER FOUND A FAULTY HEATING CORE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEATER CORE, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052794January 10, 2004
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CIRCLE VOLKWAGEN DEALER QUOTED ME $900 TO FIX FOUR SENSORS. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGON U.S. AND THEY SAID VW WOULD PAY ALL COSTS TO FIX THE AIR BAGS SENSORS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052741January 9, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1995 VW PASSAT. DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY AUTHORIZED VW DEALER AND REPAIR SHOP. DOORS DO NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER DESPITE CAR BEING IN HEATED GARAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052744January 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BROKEN AT 60,000 MILES, ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIS UNABLE TO FIX PROPERLY, THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT UNDER THERI WARANTEE WITHIN 12,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION LASTED 8 MONTH WITH SHAKEY SHIFTING THEN WENT AGAIN. NOW 4TH TRANMISSION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052651January 8, 2004
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
VOLKSWAGEN PASSATT 2004. VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DESIGNED WITH A GROOVE IN THE RUBBER THAT HOLDS SNOW AND ICE AND CAUSES ICE BUILDUP ON THE WIPER. IN SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN THE WIPER SURFACE CANNOT CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN AN OBSTRUCTED WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. VOLKSWAGEN WAS CONTACTED AND DENIES THIS DESIGN FLAW EXISTS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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