Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10013581March 27, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VW PASSAT GLS 2002, ON JUNE 18, 2002 AT COMMONWEALTH VW AUDI, 1450 AUTO MALL DRIVE, SANTA ANA CA 92705. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VW PASSAT GLS 2002 HAS NOT HELD UP TO ITS PROMISE OF BEING A WELL-ENGINEERED CAR. AFTER LESS THAN 9 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAD TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS 3 TIMES, WHICH IS A FAR DRIVE FROM MY PRESENT RESIDENCE IN HIGHLAND, CA. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW CAR WITH THE INTENTION OF HAVING A RELIABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TWO-HOUR TRIP BACK AND FOURTH FROM TUSTIN TO ONTARIO ON A DAILY BASIS FOR WORK. I HAD CONFIDENCE IN VOLKSWAGEN BECAUSE OF ITS PRESTIGIOUS REPUTATION. HAVING SUCCESSIVE CAR PROBLEMS HAS MADE ME RELUCTANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THE FIRST BREAKDOWN WAS IN OCT. 2002, THE MIL (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) LIGHT CAME ON, THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, AND IT LOST POWER ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COIL, AND SET THE READINESS CODE. I DID NOT GET A LOANER CAR, AND THE CAR WAS LEFT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR TWO DAYS. THE SECOND TIME, WAS IN DEC. 2003. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AROSE. THIS TIME THEY HAD REPLACED ALL FOUR IGNITION COILS, SET THE READINESS CODE, AND SUPPLIED ME WITH A VW RENTAL. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR TWO DAYS AS WELL. I HAD LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN THE PASSAT I PURCHASED. THE THIRD OCCASION, AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY TO GET TO WORK, THE MIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS, THE CAR JERKED TWO TIMES. I MADE IT TO THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB, AND HAD THE CAR TOWED YET ANOTHER TIME. THIS WAS MARCH 18, 2003. THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED AND INSTALLED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN, THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENDER, AND THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR. THEY SUPPLIED ME WITH A 3-DAY LOANER CAR. THE PASSAT STAYED IN THE SHOP FOR 4 DAYS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011435March 26, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION COIL FAILED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING.*AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011068March 26, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BOUGHT THE CAR NEW 4/02, IGNITION COIL FAILED IN 8/02 WITH ONLY 1000 MILES ON CAR. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND LOST POWER W/ BABY IN THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. HAPPENED AGAIN ON 10/31/02, CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 1 MONTH WAITING FOR ANOTHER IGNITION COIL. DEALER PROVIDED RENTAL CAR AND COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH V.W. THEY PAID MY CAR PAYMENT FOR MONTH OF 11/02. MANY PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. DEALER'S LOT WAS FULL OF CARS WAITING FOR THIS PART. I TOOK THEIR LAST RENTAL CAR, LUCKY FOR ME, SINCE I GOT AN IMPALA SS INSTEAD OF A 2 DOOR CAVALIER. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED ON THESE IGNITION COILS. THERE ARE MANY LEMON LAW CASES FILED AGAINST VW. ALSO VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE AND ACCELERATION. VERY DANGEROUS LEFT HAND TURNS WHEN THE CAR JUST SITS THERE AND YOU'RE HITTING THE GAS!!!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011001March 25, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM (FRONT SUSPENSION) BUSHING/LINK HAS WORN OUT AT ONLY 62K MILES, A COMMON PROBLEM ON VW PASSAT AND AUDI A4 W/QUADRALINK FRONT SUSPENSION, UNHEARD OF ON OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL. THIS CAR HAS 8 CONTROL ARMS IN TOTAL. THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS IS BY NOW WELL KNOWN, QUITE EXPENSIVE, AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS, NOT TO MENTION INCONVENIENT TO VW CUSTOMERS. VW HAS DONE VERY LITTLE TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO PAY EXORBITANT SUMS, REPEATEDLY, OVER TIME TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WITH EQUALLY DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH ALSO FAIL PREMATURELY; THERE IS NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST VW SHOULD BE FIXING THESE CARS FOR FREE EACH TIME, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010925March 24, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS REGARDING A 2000 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS AN "ACTION PLAN" BY VOLKSWAGEN FOR 2001 AND NEWER PASSATS FOR COIL WIRES. I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD INCLUDE THE 2000 AS WELL. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO COIL FAILURES. UNLIKE CARS WHICH ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL I HAVE TO GET THEM REPLACED AS THEY FAIL. I BELIEVE VW IS JUST TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY NOT INCLUDING THE 2000 CARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009880March 24, 2003
SEATS
THE SEAT BROKE FROM THE BASE. THE CONSUMER HAD LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL OF THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS/OTHER CHARGES FOR THE INCIDENT. SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009874March 24, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ECM WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE REPLACEMENT FAILED BEFORE THE VEHICLE MADE IT OUT OF THE SERVICE PARKING LOT AND THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED TWICE, 4 WERE REPLACED THE FIRST TIME, THEN TWO ON THE SECOND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED REPEATEDLY, AND DEMONSTRATED A LOSS OF POWER/ROUGH RIDE. SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010919March 23, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
LOSS OF POWER TO CLIMATE CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM), SOME INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO DISPLAY, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, HOME LINK TRANSMITTER. APPARENT SHORT IN DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. VISOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010846March 21, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, EQUIPMENT
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ON RAINY DAYS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. A LADY HIT MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSING THAT SIDE ALONG THE DOORS AND SOME OF THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUT MY FEET ON ACCELERATOR FOR SPEED AND THE CAR REFUSES TO RESPOND. THE MORE I ACCELERATE THE SLOWER THE CAR GOES. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10010783March 20, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WENT INTO PASSING GEAR WHILE PASSING SLOW VEHICLE ON TWO-LANE ROAD. WHEN PASS WAS COMPLETED AND FOOT WAS LIFTED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DANGEROUSLY EVEN THOUGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION. ONLY BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, BRAKING WITH BOTH FOOT AND HAND BRAKE AND SWITCHING IGNITION OFF WAS DRIVER ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AVOIDING COLLISION WITH OTHER CAR AHEAD IN SAME LANE. AFTER A MINUTE, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESUME JOURNEY AND RESTARTED ENGINE IN PARK. ENGINE RACED TO FULL RPM. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) AND AIRBAG WARNING LAMPS WERE LIT AT THIS TIME. DRIVER SWITCHED OFF IGNITION, DEEMED VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND CALLED FOR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO SEND TOW TRUCK. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK ABOUT 30 MINUTES, DRIVER RESTARTED ENGINE NORMALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWING EXCEPT THE AIR BAG LIGHT, BUT DRIVER ELECTED TO WAIT FOR VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010729March 19, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS FOR THE PASSING GEAR, THE GAS PEDAL REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP WAS TO PUT THE CAR IN NATURAL,AND TURN OFF THE KEY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ICE STUCK TO THE GAS PEDAL CABLE?????????? I ALMOST GOT KILLED WITH THE CAR GOING 100 MPH BEFORE I COULD GET IT UNDER CONTROL. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010747March 19, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
THE CAR IS ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 47000 MILES, AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR AND CLUNKS SOMETIMES. HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK FOR FIRST 4 MONTHS WE OWNED THE CAR. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF. DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. MAP LIGHT HAS STARTED TO DO THE SAME. INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. DEALER SAYS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING ON THESE CARS AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010381March 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2002 1.8 TURBO MODEL.. THE COILS ON THE ENGINE ARE DEFECTIVE. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THIS AND HAS IMPROVED THE COIL AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW DESIGN. I HAVE A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. THAT MEANS I HAVE ONE COIL ON EACH CYLINDER. I HAD 1 COIL GO BAD. WHEN THEY GO BAD WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING YOU LOSE POWER TO THE CAR AND ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE AT YOUR CURRENT SPEED. I HAD ONE COIL GO BAD IN MARCH OF 2003. VOLKSWAGEN WON'T REPLACE ALL THE COILS UNTIL THEY BREAK. I HAVE THREE MORE TO FIX BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR OR TO TAKE LONG TRIPS WITH THE CAR DUE TO THE FACT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE COILS WILL BREAK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010427March 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR DIED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9. MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT. APPARENTLY THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE AND DAMAGE CYLINDER HEADS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE PART. I HAD THE PART INSPECTED AT 55,000 MILES BY MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THE PROBLEM OR ADVISED TO REPLACE THE PART. AT 66,000 MILES, THE PART FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AS I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010287March 11, 2003
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW MOTOR (RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER) FAILED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011419March 11, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE BACK LEFT TIRE TREAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009532March 10, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A PLASTIC SHIELD WHICH WAS MOUNTED UNDER THE ENGINE BECAME PARTIALLY LOOSE WHILE ACCELERATING. *DT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010175March 9, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COIL IS DEFECTIVE, LEAVING AUTOMOBILE INOPERATIVE. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN 3 MONTHS. CAR WAS JUST IN FOR 40K WARRANTY SERVICE 4 DAYS AGO. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010183March 9, 2003
TIRES
I HAD TWO TIRES BLOW OUT WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. THE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL TO MY 2000 VW PASSAT GLS WAGON AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES OF WEAR. THE TIRES ARE MADE IN GERMANY - MODEL: "195/65 R15 RADIAL 91H M+S ECOPLUS CONTITOURING CONTACT" *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010187March 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 PASSAT V6 ENGINES UPPER END OF THE ENGINE DRAINS OF OIL ALLOWING KNOCKING FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE THE OIL CIRCULATES. (METAL ON METAL NOISE). *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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