Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10048224December 10, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK THE BOLT SNAPPED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAUSING THE SEAT TO SLID BACK AND FORTH WITH ACCELERATION. ANY SUDDEN IMPACT WOULD'VE SENT HER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE CHILDREN'S BACKSEAT. THE BOLT IS METAL. VW REPAIRED IT AT NO COST AND PROVIDED NO PAPERWORK. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049210December 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE COILS FAILURE AGAIN. LAST WINTER I HAD A FAILURE IN JANUARY AND THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 4 WEEKS WITH A BACKORDER PROBLEM. AFTER THE COIL WAS REPLACED, ANOTHER FAILED 1 WEEK LATER AND THE OTHER 3 WERE REPLACED. LESS THEN THE 10 MONTHS LATER, ON THE COLDEST DAY THIS YEAR.... ANOTHER FAILURE. NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049097December 3, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED (VW PASSAT 2002). *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049107December 3, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
FOR 2 YEARS NOW, ON COLD DAYS (TEMPS IN THE TEENS) THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONS (ABOUT 5) WHERE THE ACCELERATOR STICKS IN THE ACCELERATING POSITION. ADJUSTING THE PEDAL POSITION HAS NO EFFECT ON SLOWING THE CAR DOWN. IN FACT, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR WAS TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THIS ACTUALLY CAUSES LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING AND MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AFTER WAITING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES, YOU CAN START THE CAR AND EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND PERHAPS A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS A 2.8 LITER V6 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD AN AUDI A6 QUATRO (1999) WITH THE SAME 2.8 V6 AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT RESOLVED WITH NO LUCK, HE SOLD THE CAR. THIS DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT MAY KEEP HIS FAMILY ALIVE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049039December 2, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE FAILURE AT 22,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS JUST UNDER 2 YEARS OLD WITH 22,000 MILES WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES. THE CAR WAS REDESIGNED WITH "SOFT" BRAKE PADS TO REDUCE NOISE, SO THIS IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR". NO IT ISN"T! ALSO, THE ROTORS MUST BE REPLACED WHEN YOU PUT ON NEW PADS; THEY CANNOT BE MACHINED. THIS CAR IS DESIGNED TO HAVE PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED EVERY 22,000 MILES! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE SERVICE AND DISGRACEFUL DESIGN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049034December 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
MY VOLKSWAGEN 2002 PASSAT HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PUMP FOR SOMETIME NOW. DEEL VW HAS NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I HAVE ALSO COMPLAINT TO VW OF AMERICA AND MY COMPLAINT HAS BEEN IGNORED. DEEL VW AND VW OF AMERICA HAS ALWAYS PASS ON THE PROBLEM ON ME (THE CONSUMER), INSTEAD OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY UPON THEMSELVES FOR A LEMON. I HAVE SHOWED MAINTENANCE PROOF SEVERAL TIMES; ON THE VW 2002 PASSAT AND THEY ALWAYS BLAME SOMEONE ELSE. THE CAR WAS ALSO RECALL; FOR IGNITION COIL PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO EFFECT THE EMISSIONS OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPAIR; BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO TRUST ON DEEL VW AND VW OF AMERICA! THE CAR IS BACK IN THE DEALER; FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO AND THEY WONT HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THAT ETHER. THE COST TO REPLACE THE TURBO IS 3089.00; BRINGING THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIRS TO $8,536.80 OUT OF POCKET; NOT INCLUDING THE CAR RENTALS&THAT THEY REFUSE TO PAY ALSO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044276December 2, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
DOOR HANDLES WORE OUT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TWO VEHICLES THAT HAD DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLES. NOT LONG AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. *AK DEALER FOUND THE WORN DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN OUTSIDE MIRROR SWITCH REPLACED. TRUNK LOCK WAS LOOSE. *TT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049807December 1, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE'S DRAINAGE HOLE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING A BLOCKAGE. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048882November 30, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ON NOVEMBER 21, 2002, MY 2001 VW JETTA GLS 1.8 TURBO LOST THE OIL DRAIN PLUG ON THE HIGHWAY. I STOPPED THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ENGINE AND TURBO WERE DAMGED SEVERELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COST $6,500. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED. I REPLACED THE JETTA WITH A 2003 VW PASSAT W8. ON NOVEMBER 23, 2003 THE OIL WAS CHANGED BY THE DEALER AND THE DEALER CONTENDS THAT THE OIL DRAIN PLUG WAS TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS (20 NM), HOWEVER THE CAR HAD AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE DRAIN PLUG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLUG FREE OF CHARGE. HERE IS WHAT IS COMMON TO BOTH SITUATIONS: BOTH DRAIN PLUGS WERE TIGHTENED TO AT LEAST THE FACTORY SPECIFICATION (I CHANGED THE OIL AND ALWAYS USED A TORQUE WRENCH ON THE JETTA) AND BOTH HAD DRAIN PLUGS PULL AWAY FROM THE PAN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE WAS BUT I HAVE A HYPOTHESIS ON TWO IMPORTANT VARIABLES: (1) BOTH PANS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM, WHICH CHANGES SHAPE EASILY WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGE, (2) THE DRAIN PLUG IS MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WASHER (SEAL RING) CANNOT BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. IF THE SEAL WERE WARPED OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY (PERHAPS OVERTORQUING OR DROPPING THE PLUG) IT MIGHT NOT SEAL PROPERLY. WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME AS VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL (ESPECIALLY WITH THE JETTA).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047736November 28, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
FAULTY ABS SPEED SENSOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047433November 23, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS / BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE TO ROD EAST VOLKSWAGEN (VW) AND AFTER CHARGING ME $75 THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. THE LIGHT IS ON EVERYDAY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047363November 22, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL DEFECT. AS WITH THE OTHER 136 COMPLAINTS. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED 5 TIMES TO THE DEALER IN TWO YEARS, TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS. TWO OF THE NEW COILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN (VW) REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ONE ORIGINAL COIL THAT IS STILL IN THE CAR. MY CAR HAS LEFT ME SIT IN MINUS 23 DEGREE WEATHER FOR 2 HOURS WITH A 4 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE OF THE COIL MALFUNCTION. SINCE MY CAR HAS HAD TWO NEW COILS REPLACED A SECOND TIME, I DON'T TRUST THE CAR. WE HAVE CANCELLED OUR THANKSGIVING PLANS WITH FAMILY 9 HOURS AWAY, BECAUSE OUR CAR SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH ANOTHER COIL THAT JUST MALFUNCTIONED YESTERDAY. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048455November 21, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048456November 21, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CV-JOINT BROKE. AS A RESULT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FELL OFF. MANUFACTURER STATED SO WHAT THERE IS NO BIG DEAL. DEALER REPLACED BOTH CV-JOINT. *NLM *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048396November 20, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED AND LEAKED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER HAD INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW IT'S OUT WARRANTY AND THEY HAVE A KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047164November 19, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE DEFECT - THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES AND NOW NEEDS A NEW HEATER CORE - A $1500 REPAIR! WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON, AN ANTI-FREEZE MIST (NOT TOO HEALTHY FOR THE DRIVER!) COMES OUT OF THE VENTS AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS FOG UP. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS IS TO TURN THE HEAT OFF AND SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK AND WE HAVE TO TURN THE A/C ON TO GET THE WINDOWS DE-FOGGED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT VOLKSWAGENS (VW) HAVE HAD HEATER CORE PROBLEMS FOR 10+ YEARS, AND SOME OF THE OLDER VW'S WERE IN FACT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. VW HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE HEATER CORES BEING PUT INTO NEWER CARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE SPRING AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE UNTIL IT STARTED TO GET COLD OUTSIDE. NOW I'M STUCK TRYING TO GET VW TO OFFSET THE COST. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047080November 17, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2000 PASSAT WITH 927 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ON JULY 21, 2000 (ANCIRA, SAN ANTONIO, TX). THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER THREE FOR A FLUID LEAK (3/29/01, 2/13/02, 1/17/03). EACH TIME, WE WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. FOUR MONTHS AGO- "EMISSION CONTROL," "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO THE FOLLOWING QUIT WORKING: POWER MIRRORS, THE TRAVEL COMPUTER, TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS ERRATIC, FUEL DOOR QUIT AND THE FUEL MILEAGE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND A CLEAR, VISCOUS FLUID APPEARED ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS 25,000 MILES. WE CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY. IT HAD A 15,000-MILE CHECK-UP. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC (MANDER AUTOMOTIVE IN HELOTES, TEXAS). THE OWNER OF MANDER (BOB MANDER) WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR HAD SO MANY ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. ANCIRA INFORMED (MANDER) THAT THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY 900 MILES (24,990) THAT VISIT (11/6/03). COMPUTER SCAN AND ANALYSIS SHOWED SEVERAL CODES RELATED TO MISFIRES AND RUNNING LEAN. ALSO: TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAK AND BATTERY FAILED THE LOAD TEST-WOULD NOT HOLD ACHARGE. MANDER FIXED: SEAL LEAK, REPLACED THE BATTERY, CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE ACTUATOR (FUEL DOOR), REPAIRED VACUUM LEAKS, RESET THE T.E.H. COMPUTER AND CORRECTED THE FAULTY WIRING TO THE MIRRORS. WE SPENT $649. 24 HOURS LATER-"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT RE-APPEARED. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE HARD. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MR. MANDER (11/14/03). HE FOUND A DEFECTIVE OXYGEN SENSOR AND PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SENSOR- BOTH REPLACED. THAT TIME WE SPENT $358. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH MANDER AUTOMOTIVE AND TRUST THEIR WORK AND ANALYSIS. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND "EMISSIONS CONTROL" LIGHT IS BACK ON. THE CAR IS RUNNING HARD, AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED VW (REFERENCE #30522917) AND MY HUSBAND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO (ROD EAST). *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047990November 14, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY GO OUT, THEY INCLUDE TAIL/BRAKE/ REVERSE, AND STOP LIGHTS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046937November 14, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE FAILED 2.5 YEARS OLD. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046952November 14, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
MY CLUTCH FAILED AT ONLY 21,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CLUTCH FAILING IN A VW THAT EARLY. VW DID COVER PARTS, BUT I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY $600.00 IN LABOR. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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