Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#10010097March 7, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I WAS HEADING HOME AND BARELY ON THE TURNPIKE, WHEN I HEARD A BIG BANG AND I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS ANYMORE. I HAD SOME TROUBLE TO GET MY CAR THROUGH THE TRAFFIC FROM THE HIGH-SPEED LEFT LANE TO A SAFE SPOT AND CALLED THE TOWING SERVICE. I WAS ABOUT 140 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE COST, AFTER THE ROADSIDE INSURANCE PAID ITS PART, WAS $400. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE PRESSURE PLATE OF THE CLUTCH BROKE INTO 3 PIECES. I WAS VERY LUCKY, AND SO WERE THE DRIVERS AROUND ME, THAT THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED SINCE THE BROKEN PIECES COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED INTO MISSILES, NOT TO MENTION THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SINCE THE MILEAGE IS STILL VERY LOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFECT IS SO UNUSUAL AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF SUCH A FAILURE ARE SO DANGEROUS THAT MANUFACTURER DOES BEAR A CONTINUED RESPONSIBILITY. ON 2/18/03 I INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT I EXPECTED THEM TO CONFIRM REIMBURSING ME FULLY FOR THE $400 TOWING COST AND TO BEAR AT LEAST HALF OF THE COST OF $912 FOR REPLACING THE CLUTCH, $456. I ALSO OFFERED TO SEND COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS. THE BROKEN PARTS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED IF YOU WHISH AT MY RESIDENCE OR AT A CONVENIENTLY LOCATED PLACE OF YOUR CHOICE. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED ON 2/19/03 RECEIPT OF MY EMAIL AND PROMISED ACTION WITHIN 48 HRS., THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THEREFORE, I WILL HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS PROBLEM, RATHER THAN BEING A FREAK EXCEPTION, IS RATHER A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AND THEREFORE I FEEL THAT IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO GO PUBLIC WITH THE CASE, SO THAT AS MANY CONSUMERS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE PROTECTED FROM A SIMILAR DANGEROUS EVENT WHILE DRIVING A VOLKSWAGEN.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010120March 7, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION COILS ON 2002 VW PASSAT THERE IS A "SERVICE ACTION" OUT BUT WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. OUR CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN 2 TIMES DUE TO THIS. WE HAD 1 COIL GO ON 12/7/02 & THEN AGAIN ON 3/6/03. WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED THAT A MAILING WAS SENT ABOUT THIS BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED. VW IS NOW TELLING ME, THEY CANNOT SEND ME A COPY OF THE NOTICE. I KNOW OF 2 OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER ON 12/8/02 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011776March 6, 2003
VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, EQUIPMENT
NAR 3-10-03 WITH THE CONSUMER VEHICLE HAVING LESS THAN 7000 MILES, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS FROZE FROM THE INSIDE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT FLOODED WHEN IT RAINED OR SNOWED, ALSO THE CARPETS AND POLLEN FILTER WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE FLOOD. THE CONSUMERS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SUGGESTED THAT A FULL REFUND BE GIVEN OR HAVE VOLVO TO GIVE THEM A NEW 2003 PASSAT, EQUALLY EQUIPPED AS THE 2002 AT THE SAME PURCHASE PRICE. *CB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010044March 6, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DID NOT CLOSE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008438March 5, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER UNEXPECTEDLY, WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, THE PERSON BEHIND ME WAS ALERT ENOUGH TO STOP QUICKLY. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE ALL THE IGNITION COILS, AND ACCORDING TO VW ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME DEFECTIVE, LEAVING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ALL DRIVERS, NOT JUST THE OWNERS OF VW'S . I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR, I AM SO SCARED THAT THE NEXT TIME I WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY. PLEASE HELP ALL DRIVERS AND ADVISE VW TO FIX ALL IGNITION COILS BEFORE FATALITIES OCCUR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009968March 5, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009805March 4, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THE PARTS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009694March 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE, AND THEN STALLED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009929February 28, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NAR 02/28/2003 RECALL ISSUED FOR IGNITION COILS ON 2002 PASSAT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009514February 27, 2003
TIRES
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEAVY VIBRATION, WHICH WAS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051969February 26, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DURING A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECK, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *NM A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR SOME 1999 AND 2000 MODELS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009459February 26, 2003
SEAT BELTS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LOCK, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10009260February 25, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DEALER INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008113February 25, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 25TH, AS I WAS LEAVING HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT ON A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS. THE LATCH DID NOT HOLD THE METAL BELT TONGUE. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND LEFT IT FOR REPAIRS. WHEN ARRIVING TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS ADVISED THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED DUE TO THE NEED TO ORDER A PART, WHICH WAS TO ARRIVE IN 4-7 DAYS. WHEN ASKING FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, THE RESPONSE WAS NEGATIVE AND THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED WITH THE FACT A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE WAS NOT OPERABLE. MY HOME STATE, TENNESSEE, HAS A LAW CLEARLY REQUIRING SEATBELT USE, AND I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE ABILITY OF A SEATBELT TO REDUCE THE PORTENTIAL OF A CRITICAL INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY YOUR AGENCY AND BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL PROVIDED BY VOLKSWAGEN. AT THIS POINT, I AM USING THE BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH CAUSED THE BELT TO RIDE JUST BELOW MY NECK AND OBSTRUCTS MY ARM WHEN SHIFTS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*JB IT APPEARS THE SEATBELT LATCH SERIOUSLY LACKS QUALITY AND IS POORLY CONSTRUCTED. CONSIDERING THE LATCH HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THERE IS NO VISIBLE SIGN OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE, IT COULD EASILY BE CONCLUDED TO EITHER POOR WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIALS. IN ADDITION, CONSIDERING THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL USE AND WITH LIMITED MILES (8,899) ON THE VEHICLE, IT IS ALARMING TO CONSIDER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULTS IF THE FAILURE BECAME EVIDENT IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009159February 24, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009166February 24, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007848February 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE IGNITION COILS ON MY 2002 VW PASSAT 1.8T AR ABOUT TO FAIL FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN MAY OF 2002. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED IN DECEMBER, THE SECOND IN JANUARY, AND NOW IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN NOW IN FEBRUARY. EACH INCIDENT IS PRELUDED BY A SLIGHT JOLT IN THE CAR UPON START UP FOLLOWED BU ROUGH IDLEING. EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT AND AND ARE TOLD IT IS FIXED AND THEN SURE ENOUGH A MONTH LATER I AM BACK THERE AGAIN. I DO NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM GETTING ANY BETTER. IN ADDITION THE MACH RSTEREO SYSTEM HAS BEEN FIXED, THEN REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT UNIT'S QULAITY IS POOR IN COMPARISON TO THE ORIGINAL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007900February 20, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE PRIMARILY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. THE OWNERS BACKROUND IS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND HAS MEASURED THE PROBLEM AND IDENTIFIED ISSUE TO BE DRIVELINE INBALANCE. DEALERS FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE WHILE DRIVING WITH OWNER THEN CLAIM "NON-VERIFIABILITY" TO A CONDITION WHICH OCCURS 100% OF THE TIME. OWNER HAS MEASURED SIMILAR VEHICLES FROM DEALER LOT AND HAS VERIFIED THAT THE CONDITION IS NOT INHERANT TO ALL LIKE VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007699February 18, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INOPERATIVE CLIMATIC CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, HOMELINK VISOR, STEERING WHEEL BUTTON LIGHTS & CONTROLS. NUMBER 5 FUSE HAS BLOWN A SECOND TIME. SUSPECTED CAUSE IS FAULTY HOMEVISOR LINK (REMOTE CONTROL) ON DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN NOTED THROUGH VWVORTEX.COM ON THE 2002 PASSAT MODEL. BOTH TIMES THE FUSE BLEW WERE IN COLD WEATHER. WILL ATTEMPT TO GET DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE AND/OR REPLACE HOMEVISOR LINK. OTHER REPORTS IN THE COMPLAINT OF NHTSA SECTION HAVE REPORTED THAT THIS ALSO OCCURS DURING HOT WEATHER. FIRST SUSPECT OF THIS OCCURING IS THAT THE CLIMATIC CONTROL (HEATING & AC) IS NOT OPERATIONAL. WHEN THE CLIMATIC CONTROL IS OFF, IT SHOULD SAY "OFF" ON THE DIGITAL SCREEN. WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURED THE SECOND TIME IT WAS WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED MY WINDOWS TO FOG UP DO TO THE HEATING SYSTEM FAN NOT OPERATIONAL FOR HEAT AND DEFOG...HAD TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WITH TEMPS IN THE TEENS TO HELP CLEAR WINDOWS. VERY "UNSAFE" THING TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007733February 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER
HEATER STOPPED WORKING-HEATER CORE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OKAY. THERMASTAT REPLACED. WATER PUMP FOUND TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL AND REPLACED. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AND FOUND CRACKED HEAD. HEAD REPLACED -S STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE HEAT PROBLEM. HEATER CORE REPLACED-STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RADIATOR REPLACED - PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SOLVED, HOWEVER CAR RUNS WORSE THAN IT DID BEFORE SPENDING $3,500-. TOTALL FRUSTRATED AND NO HELP FROM AUDI AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS. CAR WARRANTY RAN OUT IN DECEMBER-PROBLEM OCCURED IN JANUARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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