Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#750432August 14, 2001
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED INTERMITTENTLY, SUNROOF SLIDER JAMBS/HARD TO SLIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562490August 13, 2001
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE R/F AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DUE TO AN UNDERSIDE IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE SIDE IMPACT BEAM OR ANYWHERE ON THE STRUCTURAL FRAME. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894146August 13, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #00V1471000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE APPOINTMENT WAS GIVEN. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS,HAD TO WAIT. WAS INFORMED REPAIRS WERE DONE. ONE (1) WEEK LATER, VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE REPAIRS WERE DONE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT GAS GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894192August 13, 2001
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, STEAM AND HOT ENGINE COOLANT FLUIDS STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATION SYSTEM, BURNING DRIVERS FEET AND LEGS, AND REDUCING VISIBILITY OUT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND MADE REPAIRS TO HEATER CORE. THEN ON AUGUST 2, 2001, AIR CONDITIONING STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE, AND STARTED PRODUCING STEAM AND HOT FLUIDS FROM THE VENTILATION AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#750297August 13, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750374August 13, 2001
AIR BAGS, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
STARTED WITH AIRBAG LIGHT TURNING ON. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE PARKING BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TURNED ON BUT ONLY FOR THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING. WHILE THESE WERE ON, THE AC FAN, WIPERS, AND HEADLIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE. THESE LIGHTS NOW STAY ON MOST OF THE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750041August 8, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PASSAT OWNERS, VW HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A CLEAR WORKMANSHIP FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO VW AND NO RESOLVE HAS BEEN TAKEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749646August 2, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHEEL BEARINGS MALFUNCTIONED, REQUIRING NEW PARTS - PREMATURE WEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749665August 2, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE ENGINE FAILS TO RESPOND IN EMERGENCY SITUATION / PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749493July 31, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
CONTROL ARM: NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE LOWE RCONTROL ARM/ BALL JOINTS. LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN, WHO COVERED COST OF PARTS BUT NOT LABOR. AFTER REPAIR LEARNED THAT A FRIEND HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN A 1999 PASSAT AT ALMOST THE IDENTICAL MILEAGE. THEN SAW ON THIS WEBSITE THAT ABOUT 17 OF 160 COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE 1998 PASSAT ARE FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. VW SHOULD REPLACE THIS PART FOR ALL PASSAT OWNERS AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED. SUNROOF: SUNROOF OPENS SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN SWITCH IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION. PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED ON WARM DAYS WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN OVER SHARP BUMPS. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS ALARMING TO DRIVER AND COULD POSE A SAFETY RISK. OBSERVED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHERS ALREADY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749441July 30, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPED, RUNS POORLY, A/C DOES NOT COOL. SHOP CAN NOT FIX. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749399July 29, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
AFTER SPEAKING WITHTHE SERVICE MANAGER, PARTS MANAGER, AND TECHNICIAN AT DOVER VW IN DOVER, DELAWARE-THEY ALL AGREED THAT THE POWER STERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BATTERY ACID DRAINING ONTO THE POWER STEERING RACK. THEY ALL AGREED THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN A VEHICLE THIS NEW AND RE-ROUTED THE DRAIN OUTLET FOR THE BATTERY SO THAT THIS DAMAGE COULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. THEY ALL AGREED THAT THE DRAIN WAS POSITIONED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND TRIED TO ASSIST ME IN WORKING WITH VOLKSWAGON AMERICA TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR, $920.16. AFTER MUCH DEBATE WITH VW AMERICA, THEY WOULD ONLY OFFER 50% OR $460.08 SUPPOSEDLY MAILED TO ME 7/26/01. I BELIEVE ALONG WITH VW'S OWN TRAINED PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP, THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY VW, AS IT IS THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THE BATTERY DRAIN TO DRAIN AWAY FROM THE BATTERY. IT IS MY INTENTION TO RAISE THIS CONCERN THAT IN THE EVENT YOU CAN RECOVER THE BALANCE OF THE REPAIR, THAT WOULD BE PHENOMENOL. I ALSO WANT TO ALERT OTHER OWNERS THEY MAY HAVE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR LURKING UNDER THE VEHICLE'S HOOD. BECAUSE TE ACID DRIPPED ONTO THE STEERING RACK, IT CAUSED A HOLE IN THE PART, WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE ALL OF MY POWER STEERING FLUID, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED ME TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH VW AMERICA 800 822-8987 (3)THEY SAY THEY REVIEW THESE MATTERS INTERNALLY, BUT REFUSED TO LET ME KNOW IF THERE WERE OTHER REPORTS ALTHOUGH NO " CAMPAIGNS " WERE EVER ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749279July 26, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2-3 SEC DELAY WHEN BRAKES ARE USED IN WET WEATHER. PROBLEM PRESENT SINCE NEW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#893184July 26, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OUTISIDE OF DRIVEWAY AND THE RED LIGHT DISPLAYED ON DASHBOARD SAYING STOP CHECK COOLIANT, DON'T DRIVE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND KEPT VEHICLE OVER NIGHT. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#893168July 25, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTED A BLURRED VISION ON RIGHT SIDE OF GLASS, MAKING EVERYTHING DISTORTED. HORIZONTAL LINES LOOK CHOPPY AND GUARD RAILS LOOK WOBBLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WINDSHIELD ON JULY 5TH AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD ALSO HAS STRESS FRACTURES THAT LOOK LIKE STRANDS OF A COBWEB, DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749068July 24, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW AND NOTICED DISTORTION ON FRONT WINDSHIELD LATER THAT DAY. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH ONE THAT HAS EVEN MORE DISTORTIONS. I STRESSED STRONGLY TO EXAMINE PRIOR TO PUTTING IN AND THEY DIDN'T. AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING TO VW OF AMERICA THEY AGREED TO PUT IN WINDSHIELD #3 BUT CAN NOT PROMISE IT WON'T HAVE BAD DISTORTIONS. THEY SAY PASSAT WINDSHIELD ARE JUST THAT WAY. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH POOR QAULITY GLASS IN ANY PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. I'M ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DON'T CARE. I POSTED ON VW BOARD AND RECEIVED MANY RESPONSES FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WHO ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE USA. AT THIS POINT DON'T WANT MY CAR TORN APART FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PIECE OF GLASS. I COULD GET A GENERIC WINDSHIELD (HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT YET) BUT PREFER A VW WINDSHIELD FOR WARRANTY AND LOOKS WITHOUT VERTICAL DISTORTIONS CAUSING THINGS TO APPEAR WAVY WHILE DRIVING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748771July 19, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748685July 18, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE FAILURES OF THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IN EACH INSTANCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY. EACH FAILURE RESULTED IN A SEVERE LOSS OF POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS ONLY REPLACED THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WITH NO OTHER CAUSE FOUND REPORTED FOR THE PREVIOUS FAILURES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785540July 17, 2001
TIRES, AIR BAGS
AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE CONSUMERS WERE CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE TIRES LOOKED DRY ROT AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF CRACKING RUBBER, ONE MONTH LATER ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, THERE WERE NO INJURIES, THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE GUARD RAIL THAT WAS HIT WHEN THE CAR LOST CONTROL AS A RESULT OF THE FLAT TIRES, NEITHER PASSENGER OR DRIVER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHICLW HIT THE GUARD RAIL (GOODYEAR EAGLE GA 215 50R15). NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892863July 16, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, TIRES
RECEIVED A SAFETY ADVISORY LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN REGARDING FUEL TANK SYSTEM AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LETTER SHOULD BE CALLED A RECALL. PEOPLE MIGHT IGNORE IT BY BEING CALLED A SAFETY ADVISORY. PLEASE ADD VIN #*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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