Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#753993November 1, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY AND STARTED BANGING AGAIN AFTER THIRD REPAIR. PART PREVIOUSLY ON RECALL BUT NEW PART ALSO DOES SAME PROBLEM. MANY PASSAT OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754004November 1, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
LOOSE STEERING THERE IS NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATE ALSO WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS.THE BUSHING OF THE ALL THE CONTROL ARMS ARE GONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753928October 31, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS RIPPED CAUSING FUTURE FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION LEADING TO POSSIBLE DEATH OR INJURY IF TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY 25000 MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE MAJOR PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE CONTACT MANUFACTURER AND ISSUE RECALL BASED ON POSSIBLE FUTURE DEATHS AND/OR INJURIES RESULTING FROM THIS MALFUNCTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753937October 31, 2001
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING FROM COLUMBUS, NE TO SIOUX FALLS, SD ON SD HWY. 50 WEST OF VERMILLION, SD, MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WITH NO WARNING. THE EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE TIRE AND TORE LOOSE THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE BODY MOLDING. THE SERVICEMAN AT THE SIOUX FALLS SEARS TOLD ME HE HAD ADJUSTED SEVERAL OTHER IDENTICAL MICHELIN TIRES FOR THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER TIRES ON MY CAR AND THAT WE MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE BATCH OF TIRES HERE. VW WAS CONTACTED BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED MOLDING UNDER WARRANTY.*AK (DOT NUMBER: CXYX 1201 TIRESIZE: 195/65R15)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753941October 31, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARM FAILURE IS COMMON AMONG VW PASSATS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753643October 25, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I PURCHASED A 2001 VW PASSAT ON AUGUST 19, 2001 FROM TRANS OCEAN MOTOR IN PASADENA, CA. IN THE 8 WEEKS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR IT HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME IT HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE CAR LOST POWER AND THEN THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, THE EPC LIGHT TURNED ON AND THEN THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT OR IN OTHER WORDS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT WHICH WAS 1 WK PRIOR TO THIS ONE, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE RPM WENT ERRACTIC. EVEN THOUGH I WAS STEPPING ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR HAD LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT DRIVE MORE THAN 50 MILES/HR. THE DEALER AWARE ABOUT MY SAFETY CONCERNS HAVE TRIED FIXING THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY. THE CAR IS NOT RELIABLE AT ALL AND MY GREATEST FEAR IS THAT IF THIS CAR KEEPS GIVING ME ENGINE PROBLEMS, ONE DAY I'M GOING TO FIND MY SELF INVOLVED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTALBLE. IF NEEDED, FURTHER DETAILED NFORMATION REGARDING SERVICE REPORTS CAN BE PROVIDED. - CA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753682October 25, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
TWICE, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON MY 1999 PASSAT, BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS AUDI A4 AND VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES. THE COST TO REPAIR THE CONTROL ARMS IS IN EXCESS OF $1200 AND VW HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY PITIFUL TO DEAL WITH AND HAVE NO REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY THESE PARTS ARE FAILING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IN A CAR THAT COSTS OVER $25,000 THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753393October 18, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY WENT TO FLOOR. VEHICLE AT MAJOR INTERSECTION AND SITUATION DANGEROUS. NEXT TIME, BRAKE PEDAL WENT DIRECTLY TO FLOOR AND HAD TO BE PUMPED TO STOP THE CAR. REPORTED TO DEALER ON FIRST WARRANTY CHECK. DEALER FAILED TO CHECK BRAKES AT ALL. RETURNED TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT THAT THEY FAILED TO CHECK BRAKES. FLUSHED HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND CHECKED COMPLETELY AT REQUEST OF OWNER. DEALER ASSERTS "BRAKE SYSTEM IS TO FACTORY SPECIFICATION." I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE PROBLEM RESOLVED AS DEALER STATES HE MUST STILL REFER TO VW IN GERMANY FOR ADVICE AND INSTRUCTIONS. VW IN GERMANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY CAN ONLY REFER TO SUBSIDIARY IN AUBURN MI WHO DOES NOT KNOW ANYTHING EXCEPT MATTER IS ENTIRELY IN HANDS OF DEALER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004827October 15, 2001
TIRES
TIRE SHREADED, 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER PULLING OVER, TIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DID 3700 DOLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753223October 14, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
RT FRONT PASSSENGER DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE SECURELY. I WILL BE BRINGING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785727October 10, 2001
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED. YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753033October 9, 2001
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS AND MOVES WHILE CAR IS MOVING. MANUFACTURING COMPANY SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS AND THAT ITS "NORMAL". THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND ITS DANGEROUS. IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE IT IS MOVING! THE NTSB BOARD HAS A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER DRIVERS, SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS NEEDS THE COMPANY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND CORRECTION. IT SHOULDN'T DO THIS FOR ANY REASON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752916October 4, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT (AND MY 1998 VW PASSAT) DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS NOT ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT THIS IS INDEED THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. I DISCOVERED THIS DESIGN FLAW WHEN PARKED IN A GAS STATION WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF GETTING GAS. ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED INTO THE STATION AND APPARENTLY DIDN'T SEE ME. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO LEAN ON THE HORN. I TRIED BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY, THE OTHER CAR NARROWLY MISSED ME. HOWEVER, I CAN THINK OF PLENTY OF SCENARIOS WHERE ONE WOULD ABSOLUTELY NEED AN OPERATIONAL HORN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION TO THOSE INVOLVING POTENTIAL VEHICULAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS, THERE ARE ALSO PERSONAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS (E.G. MY WIFE GETS IN THE CAR AND IS ATTACKED BY AN INDIVIDUAL PRIOR TO STARTING THE CAR). I DID CONTACT VW THROUGH THEIR ONLINE CUSTOMER CARE SITE. WHILE A CUSTOMER CARE CASE WAS OPENDED (#10644291), I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION OF THE HORN DESIGN. BY THE WAY, IT APPEARS THAT MERCEDES AND BMW HAVE A SIMILAR HORN DESIGN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE MANUFACTURERS REGARDING HORN DESIGN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752876October 3, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTING ON STARTUP. THE VEHICLE THEN GOES INTO "LIMPING MODE" WHICH CAUSES VERY SLOW ACCELERATION. THE PROBLEM CAUSES A SENSOR IN THE CAR TO DISPLAY "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" WARNING ON THE DASH INDICATOR. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE FAULT. VW DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS "1 DTC RECOGNIZED 18227 P1819 035 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID 2 OPEN/SHORT TO GROUND SPORADIC DTC 1551 DIAGNOSIS". THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTUP, AND ON A SECOND OCCASSION WHILE IN GEAR STANDING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. SUBSEQUENT TESTING COULD NOT IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND NO CORRECTIVE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE VEHICLE FAILS TO OPERATE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS WHEN OPERATED ON HIGH SPEED CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS. FAILURE TO ACCELERATE ON A FREEWAY AT A CRITICAL TIME COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752891October 3, 2001
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
THIS WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED RIGHT IN MY PASSAT. WITH LESS THAN 800 MILES ON MY CAR, I DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. WITHIN AN HOUR THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CV JOINT WAS "BAD". WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THERE NONCHALANCE. NO OFFER OF A LOANER CAR (THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE RENTAL OF A MUCH CHEAPER CAR), NO ATTEMPT TO RUSH DELIVERY ON THE NEEDED PART (AT THE EARLIEST, IT WILL ARRIVE 4 DAYS AFTER IT WAS ORDERED), NOT EVEN THE SIMPLIEST APOLOGY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752892October 3, 2001
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MECHANISM WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (2 YEARS/20,000 MILES) TWICE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO (CAR ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY) LEFT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. TODAY RIGHT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. I DRIVE CAR 99% OF TIME. NO ONE IN BACK SEAT, SO NO KIDS PLAYING, ETC. THE REAR POWER WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS NOW 3-4 MONTHS & 2,370 PAST TWO YEAR/20,000 MILE WARRANTY. I REQUEST THAT THESE REPAIRS BE COVERED BY MAUFACTURER AS THE PROBLEMS FIRST OCCURRRED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CONTINUE. APPEARS TO BE DESIGN DEFECT. WINDOWS WIL ONLY RETRACT 1" AND THEN FAIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752779October 1, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2001 VW PASSAT ON AUGUST 21,2001 FROM PATRICK MOTORS IN AUBURN, MASS. IN THE 5 WEEKS I HAVE OWED THE CAR IT HAS HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES ( 2 X TOWED) FOR THE SAME RELATED PROBLEM. MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS GONE ON EACH OF THOSE TIMES. CAR HAS DRIVEN IN LOW GEAR AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS FRAYED WIRES REPAIRED THAT CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAR HAS BE UNDRIVEABLE PER THE DEALERSHIP DURING THESE TIMES. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE TYPE OF COMMUTE I DO EVERY DAY TO WORK. I DRIVE 50 MINS ONE WAY DOWN RT 2, 495 AND RT 3. I HAVE BEEN IN THE POSITION OF CONCERN IF MY CAR WILL MAKE IT HOME, TO WORK, WILL I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH THE HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. TO ME THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHER INFO CAN BE PROVIDED WITH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AS WELL AS COPIES OF SERVICE REPAIR ORDER. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897151October 1, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TRANSMISSION COOLANT IS LEAKING OUT ON TO GROUND, AND COOLANT IS RUNNING INTO CYLINDER BLOCK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896865September 26, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING FIRE STARTED IN VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752543September 25, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (APPROXIMATELY 2"-3" HIGH 6"-12" INCHES WIDE) NO ACTION TAKEN BY FACTORY AFTER 10 DAYS OF HAVING THE CAR IN THE DEALER. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 14 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS ON FIRE WITHIN 59 MILES ON IT AND FACTORY & DEALER TOLD ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT HOME. AFTER MY PERSISTANCE THAT FIRE DOES NOT JUST STARTS ON IT'S OWN AND PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED, DEALER NOW AFTER 10 DAYS IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM MEAN WHILE I PURCHASED THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR VOLKS WAGEN SELLS IN U.S.A. AND ONLY HAD IT FOR LESS THAN 20 HOURS. BECAUSE OF THE INSTANT PROBLEM AND THEIR LESS THAN INTERESTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM I ASKED FOR MY TRADE IN BACK AND RECIND THE DEAL, ALSO I ASKED FOR NEW CAR AND BOTH THE DEALER & FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME NO! NOW AFTER TECH. FINALLY TAKING CAR FOR A 15-20 MIN. TEST DRIVE( I'VE BEEN TOLD) THEY REALIZED SMELL AND DRIPPING OF SUBSTANCE (WHAT I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER) STILL NO NEW CAR AND NO RESELOTION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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