Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10050431January 8, 2004
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
WINDOWS FOGGED UP DUE TO A FAULTY HEATER CORE. THIS WAS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046637January 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT STALLED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR VALVE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ROUGH IDLE. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL IDLED ROUGH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT PRIOR TO REPAIR. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052423January 5, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
I HAVE A '00 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED ADEQUATELY SINCE SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE "NEW" IN JULY/AUGUST '00. DURING THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TWICE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. IT WAS TEMPORARILY REPLACED AND SOON AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I HAVE NOT HAD A WORKABLE FUEL GAUGE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VW '00 4 MOTION MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I URGE A RECALL TO BE MADE FOR ALL '00 PASSATS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052447January 5, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHEN IT RAINS, MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2002 STATION WAGON FLOORS GET SOAKED AND PUDDLE. HAD BACK TO DEALER 3 TIMES OVER 1.5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, HAD RUGS REPLACED 2X, THEY SAID IT WAS A FILTER SEAL THAT WAS BAD. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051308December 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD A FULL STOP ACTIVATING ABS. TWO DAYS LATER THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING - TOOK TO DEALER WHO INFORMED THAT ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACING FOR $1300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052139December 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE VEHICLE'S ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051370December 30, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4TH WINTER IN A ROW SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IT HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM STARTING. EACH YEAR THE "DIAGNOSIS" HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT...BUT MAINLY A "PROBLEM WITH CARBONIZATION BUILDUP". 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, RESULTING IN NEW PLUGS, OIL CHANGE, THIS YEAR A NEW BATTERY, "DECARBONIZATION PROCEDURE"....HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. HAVE USED ONLY THE FINEST FUEL (VW CLAIMED THIS WAS THE ROOT PROBLEM, POOR QUALITY FUEL) SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN 2000. PROBLEM PERSISTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051136December 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER
I LEASED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T IN FEB. 2001, WHICH I AM CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN DRIVING AND/OR WHEN STOPPED. IT ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPED. THIS IS A ACCIDENT HAZARD SINCE I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT/STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD THEREBY CAUSING IT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER THE STOP SIGN AND/OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT AT MY EXPENSE. UNFORUNATELY, MY CAR'S WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT MY CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES. I LATER FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ONLY ON THE 2002 PASSAT 1.8T, SINCE THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY VEHICLE. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT HOW COME THE 2001 AND 2002 PASSAT 1.8T VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, BUT ONLY THE 2002 PASSAT HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. I FIND THIS VERY UPSETTING, SINCE I NOW HAVE TO PERSONALLY PAY FOR THE SERVICE, BUT YET OWNERS OF THE 2002 PASSATS DO NOT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME LEASING A VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLE, AND IT WILL BE MY LAST. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT REPAIRS AND ALSO HAD 3 RECALLS. I WILL BE TURNING IN MY VEHICLE IN 5 MONTHS AND AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, SINCE I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE NOR VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050995December 23, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE INSPECTION BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE RODS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAGIN BUT VW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050966December 22, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD ENDS FAILED ON 2000 PASSAT EFFECTING THE STEERING CONTROL. PRIOR TO 44000. DEALER STATED THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL FOR PASSAT . TIE ROD ENDS WERE RETURNED TO ME AND THE SEALS WERE NOT PROTECTING THE SWIVEL BEARING. *AK INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS RECALL IN 99 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. WE BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN MAY HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE WITH TIE ROD ENDS ON ADDITIONAL AUTOS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050971December 22, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
THE LEFT FOG LIGHT STARTED SMOKING, AND THEN ON FIRE. I WAS SITTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE, CLEANING IT. THE LIGHTS WERE ON, INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. I SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC, AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT FIRST, IT GOT WORSE, SO I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUMPER. I GOT UNDER THERE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND SECONDS LATER A PIECE OF BURNING PLASTIC WITH THE BULB STILL IN IT FELL INTO THE INSIDE OF THE BUMBER, APPARENTLY IT SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN UNIT OF THE LIGHT. I HAD TO STUFF IT WITH SNOW TO STOP THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE BEYOUND THE LIGHT ITSELF. LATER ON I PURCHASED A PAIR OF USED FOG LIGHTS FROM EBAY TO REPLACE MINE. WHEN TRYING TO REPLACE THEM, IT TURNED OUT THAT THE LEFT LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO BURNT, AND THE PIECE WITH THE BULB FELL OUT OF IT TOO. THE LIGHTS I BOUGHT ALSO TIRNED OUT TO BE DAMAGED IN SIMILAR WAY, BUT JUST MELTED. THE REASON I MARK PROPERTY DAMAGE ON THIS FORM, IS BECAUSE TO REPLACE ONE OF THE UNITS COSTS $135, WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEE THAT THIS SAME THING WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN OBVIOUS AND HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW, AND VW SHOULD REPLACE THE UNITS WITH FIRE PROOF ONES. VW SHOUD ALSO PAY FOR THAT, NOT I.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050842December 20, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
THE GAS GAUGE IS FLUCTUATING THE READING. USUALLY IT STATES THERE IS MORE GAS IN THE TANK THEN THERE REALLY IS. I HAVE READ THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE VW RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO AM NOT IN THE RECALL BECAUSE I HAVE THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL. I THINK VW NEEDS TO KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN MORE VEHICLES THEN JUST THE 4 MOTION MODEL. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050646December 17, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
VEHICLE WAS PURCHUSED IN JULY 2001. SINCE THEN, A HEADLIGHT HAS BURNED OUT 4 TIMES ON THE VEHICLE, WITH THE LAST HEADLIGHT GOING DEC 2003, FOR AN AVERAGE HEADLIGHT LIFETIME OF 15 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ON ONE SIDE; THE HEADLIGHT ON EACH SIDE HAS BEEN LOST AT LEAST ONCE. THE PREVIOUS HEADLIGHT LOSS (THE 3RD), I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT THE DEALER (CASEY VW, IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA) THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO FIX IT. THE ARGUMENT (WHICH I DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND CANNOT REPLICATE HERE) WAS SOMETHING LIKE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRENTY, THEY COULDN'T USE THEIR NON-STANDARD FIX. I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR THE FIRST THREE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENTS, WHICH GOES AT LEAST PART OF THE WAY TO MAKING UP FOR THE FACT THAT NONE WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR. ON MY MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE DEALER TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHT REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RATE OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS "NORMAL". THERE WAS NO OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. THE CAR IS NOW OFF THE COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD WARRENTY, BUT COVERED THROUGH THE VW OPTIONAL EXTENDED WARRENTY PROGRAM. THIS WARRENTY DOESN'T DO A LOT OF GOOD IF VW CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR THEM TO FIX (BEYOND A BURNED-OUT BULB).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050653December 17, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS MODULE ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE READ OTHER POSTS ABOUT SUCH FAILURES. IT WENT OUT WHEN MY CAR HAD ABOUT 105 K MILES. THOUGH THAT IS A LOT OF MILES, I DON'T SEE WHY A LOT OF HIGH WAY DRIVING WOULD CAUSE THE ABS MODULE TO FAIL. IT'S ALSO A VERY COSTLY FIX. 1200 FOR THE PART AND THEN ANOTHER 200 FOR LABOR. THAT'S 1500. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049722December 14, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ISSUES MAY ALL BE RELATED, COULD BE VACUUM PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSTANT, OCCURRING EVERY DAY REGARDLESS OF WEATHER. 1. ENGINE REVS IN NEUTRAL, WHILE CREEPING AT LOWEST RPMS AND WHILE STOPPED IN DRIVE. RPMS FLUCTUATE EVERY SPLIT SECOND, 750-900 RPMS. WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE, THE REVVING OFTEN CAUSES COLLISION WITH OBJECTS IN GARAGE. 2. ALSO, ENGINE ALMOST STALLS ON TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START OR HOT RESTART. 3. POWER-ASSIST BRAKES FAIL IN REVERSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START AND BACKING OUT OF PARKING SLOT. DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. DEALER HAS CHECKED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, REPLACED PARTS, MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER REPAIRS, ALL PROBLEMS BEGIN OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049671December 12, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1997 VW PASSAT TDI: RR DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. PROBLEM DEVELOPED OVER PERIOD OF TIME, SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE A PASSENGER WOULD BE UNABLE TO ESCAPE. LF DOOR AND RF DOOR DEVELOPING DIFFICULT OPENING. DOOR CAN BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE WITH DIFFICULTY. LF DOOR WILL OPEN ONLY BY POWER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049503December 10, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MALFUNCTION IN ABS MODULE ABS BRAKE LIGHTS ON ALSO TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049504December 10, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
ON A SAT. MORNING (NOV 22ND 10 AM) MY FIANCEE AND I GOT IN HER 2003 VW PASSATT. IT WAS A COLD DAY AND I WAS DRIVING. BOTH OF US TURNED THE SEAT HEATERS WITHIN HER LEATHER SEATS ON LEVEL 5 (HIGH). VERY SHORTLY AFTER, I FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT REAR END AREA. WE THEN SMELLED SMOKE. WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND I JUMPED OUT QUICKLY AS I COULD FEEL MY LEFT REAR END BURNING ONLY TO SEE THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND THROUGH MY PANTS AND BURNED MY REAR END! OUCH! NO JOKE! I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE SEAT, MY NYLON PANTS, AND MY REAR END! WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEILLAN VW OF BAY CITY MICHIGAN WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND SPOKE TO A SALESMAN. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED YESTERDAY. I WAS THEN GIVEN A COPY OF AUTOBEAT DAILY FROM WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10TH, 2003 AND ON PAGE 10 THERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH READS "NHTSA PROBES SMOLDERING VW SEAT WARMERS" I THEN THOUGHT I WOULD SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT FORMALLY TO INFORM NHTSA THAT THE ARTICLE READS THAT JUST 2002-2003 JETTAS WERE BEING PROBED. THIS HAPPENED ON A PASSATT AS WELL. THE VIN BELOW IS INCORRECT AS I DON'T HAVE THE VIN WITH ME AT THIS TIME. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10049528December 10, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE CAR IS A 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8. THE CAR HAS 61,000 MILES. ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT INCLUDING THE WARNING CHIMES TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE ALARM TURNS OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES AGAIN. MY MECHANIC TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $1,800. NO OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED WITH ABS HAS EVER HAD THIS KIND OF FAILURE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049529December 10, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 PASSAT WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED MOVING AND MOVED TO THE BACKMOST POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE SEAT IN THAT POSITION. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT READJUST THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE SEAT MOVE, BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED AS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT MOVING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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