Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2000)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10138450October 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILED ABS MODULE ON 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4 MOTION WAGON AT 71000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137202September 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FOLLOWING A 90,000 MILE SERVICE AND ENGINE VALVE SEAL REPLACEMENT MY ABS WARNING INDICATOR ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT TWO DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136848September 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
APPARENT DEFECT IN THE ABS CONTROL SYSTEM OR DISPLAY. INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES WARNING MESSAGE STOP BRAKE FAILURE OWNERS MANUAL. BULLETIN BOARDS INFORM ME THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE FOR MANY VW OWNERS. NO REPAIRS YET ATTEMPTED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136316September 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
(1)AT 79,000 MILES: ABS AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT WARNING MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD AND READ STOP, SERVICE MANUAL / BRAKE FAULT. A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH REVEALS HUNDREDS OF CARS WITH THIS COMMON FAILURE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. (2)DURING THIS FAILURE TRACTION CONTROL IS DISENGAGED ALONG WITH ABS SYSTEM, COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. (3)I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE CAR WITHOUT REPAIR AS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT THE OWNER SHOULD NOT BE PAYING TO REPAIR OR EVEN DIAGNOSE! I WILL ALSO CONTACT VW OF AMERICA TO LOG ISSUE WITH THEM AND REQUEST A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136260September 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS ABD BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT VR6 WAGON. MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $1100 AND THAT WILL ONLY ENABLE THEM TO DO THE DIAGNOSTICS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE COSTS OF THE ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WILL BE ADDITIONAL. IF I DON'T CHANGE THE MODULE, MY BRAKES ARE IN DANGER OF FAILING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136066September 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ON MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (2000 V6) STARTED BLINKING AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ABS NO LONGER WORKS IN MY CAR AND THE MANUAL STATES THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AS THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING AREN'T CORRECT WHEN THE ABS IS OUT AND THAT THE REAR WHEELS CAN LOCK UNDER HEAVY BRAKING. AFTER DOING THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST I FIND OUT THE THAT BOSCH ABS MODULE HAS STOPPED WORKING (8EO 614 111 AH). THE VW DEALER WANTS $1700 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON AND BECAUSE IT IS SAFETY RELATED I BELIVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. 8JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135909September 8, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHT CHIMES & COMES ON. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY COMES ON AND INDICATES TO STOP, BREAK FAULT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING RANDOMLY. DEALER SAYS THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF BETWEEN $900-2400 US DOLLARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134290August 26, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
CONTINENTAL ECOPLUS 195/65 R15 RADIAL TIRES WERE 2 YRS OLD WITH APPROX. 25,000 MILES ON THEM. MY MECHANIC NOTICED TWO TIRES HAD BUBBLES IN SIDEWALLS (DRIVER SIDE FRONT & REAR) AND WERE ON THE VERGE OF BLOWOUTS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE OR CRASH. NOW WITH 4 NEW TIRES (SAME MODEL) THAT ARE 2 WEEKS OLD, YESTERDAY I DISCOVERED THAT ONE TIRE HAD 12.5 PSI (FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) WHILE OTHER 3 WERE AT 30 PSI. FAULTY AGAIN? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134157August 25, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I RECENTLY HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT I BELIEVE WOULD BE OF INTEREST TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. IN JULY OF 2000 MY WIFE AND I RESEARCHED FOR AN FINALLY PURCHASED A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT [XXX]. WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH OUR PURCHASE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, UNTIL WHAT WERE DESCRIBED TO US AS "NORMAL" REPAIRS BECAME NECESSARY. SOME OF THE MORE MEMORABLE NORMAL REPAIRS INCLUDED REAR BRAKES AT 40,000 MILES (FRONT BRAKES WERE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION) FOR APPROX. $700.00, AND THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR ADJUSTOR FOR $400.00. WE BEGAN TO SUSPECT THE PRICING STRUCTURE OF VW PARTS AND LABOR WAS SKEWED TOWARD THE EXPENSIVE. A BIG PART OF OF OUR DECISION TO BUY VW WAS THEIR REPUTATION FOR SOLID TRANSPORTATION OVER A LONG TIME. THE CAR WAS EVEN LISTED AS A RECOMMENDED PURCHASE ON A NUMBER OF CONSUMER MAGAZINES! THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS SITUATION OCCURED IN JULY 1ST 2005, WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE RESULT OF THE CHECK WAS THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (2 OF THEM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A TOTAL COST OF $3,400.00! SINCE OUR STATE HAS VEHICLE TESTING, THIS IS A REQUIRED REPAIR TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND HAVE 108,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. CONTACTING VW GAVE NO RELIEF, AS THEIR STATED WARRANTY WAS FOR 5 YEARS, BUT ONLY FOR 80,000 MILES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE A VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT AGAIN, AND WOULD LIKE TO INFORM POTENTIAL PURCHASERS OF THIS TYPE OF UNEXPECTED COST. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133672August 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
VW PASSAT (2000 SEDAN): ABS BRAKE FAILURE INDICATOR COMES ON, TYPICALLY IN WARM WEATHER OR WHEN ENGINE IS WARM, ALONG WITH INDICATOR BELL. "STOP" INDICATOR ALSO COMES ON AT THIS TIME. FAILURE OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME THE CAR IS OPERATED UNDER THESE CONDITIONS AND CONTINUES UNTIL IGNITION IS SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS CONFIRMED NO FAILURE OF ABS AND NOTES THAT THIS IS COMPUTER MODULE/ECM PROBLEM THAT WILL COST BETWEEN $1,500 AND $2,000 TO REPAIR. OTHER COMPLAINTS AT THIS SITE AND ON OTHER SITES DOCUMENT A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM AT SIMILAR MILEAGE (~75,000).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133678August 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILURE LEADS TO REDUCYTION OF BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127306August 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONSUMERT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT. THE ABS MODULE FAILED PREMATURELY. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS.*AK *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133266August 18, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IN JULY OF 2004, I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS VERY STRONGLY IN THE CABIN OF MY 2000 V6 PASSAT AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMELL. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE CAR WAS RANDOMLY AND VISIBLY LEAKING GASOLINE ONTO THE GROUND JUST IN FRONT OF THE FUEL FILTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT LEAKED GASOLINE IN PUDDLES AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING 'LEAN' ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, WITH SIGNIFICANT VALVE CLATTER. DUE TO THE SERIOUS SAFETY RISK POSED BY THE PROFUSE GASOLINE LEAK, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPUTABLE VW DEALER IN A NEARBY TOWN. UPON INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, THE FUEL LINE HAD CLEARLY SPLIT ON THE TOP SIDE JUST IN FRONT OF THE FUEL FILTER....FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT AND A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA RE. THIS ISSUE, DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND REPAIR COST CREATED BY THE FUEL LEAK. UNFORTUNATELY, VW ULTIMATELY REFUSED TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT CITING THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME, THE CAR WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD JUST OVER 55K MILES. I PAID OVER $700 TO HAVE THE LINE REPLACED, PLUS TOWING FEES, AND VW PROVIDED EXACTLY $0 IN REIMBURSEMENT. THIS EPISODE IS ON RECORD WITH VWOA AND WITH MARTENS VW IN BETHESDA, MD. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME OR VW DIRECTLY FOR MORE DETAILS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132567August 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILED ABS CONTROLLER. ERROR CODES ON DASHBOARD. ABS IS NO LONGER WORKING. QUOTED ~1200 TO FIX. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132520August 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX 4-MOTION HAD A ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FAILURE AT 51,000 MILES DISABLING THE ABS FEATURE ON MY CAR. IT ALSO CAUSES DISTRACTING ABS FAILURE WEARING LIGHTS AND NOISES AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES CAUSING DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. ON THE CONSOLE DISPLAY IT ALSO TELLS YOU TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. PACIFIC VOLKSWAGEN SAYS IT IS A $750.00 PART THEY HAVE TO ORDER TO FIX PLUS LABOR. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON VARIOUS MESSAGE BOARDS I DISCOVERED IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AT ANY MILEAGE. MANY DRIVERS HAVE NOT ELECTED TO HAVE THIS MODULE REPLACED DUE TO COST AND ARE NOT DRIVING WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH. I AM AWAITING THE PART ORDERED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE AS I VALUE MY ABS SYSTEM. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT RECOGNIZE OR RECALL AND COMPROMISES SAFETY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132065August 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
PROBLEM EXTENDED OVER THE PERIOD OF ABOUT 2 YEARS. THE CHECK EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON SPORADICALLY, THEN STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS WORKED ON BY 3 MECHANICS : 1ST TIME- DIAGNOSIS UNSEALED GAS CAP - STAYED OFF FOR 6 MONTHS; 2ND TIME - 4TH TIME- "JUST HAPPENS ON VWS" AND COMPUTER RESET - STAYED OFF ABOUT AVERAGE OF 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LIGHTING UP AGAIN; 5TH TIME - ON ALL THE TIME, MECHANIC WOULD RESET, WOULD TAKE ON TEST DRIVE AND IT WOULD COME ON AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I HAD MOVED TO NC WHERE THE CAR PROCEEDED TO FAIL INSPECTION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THE SECOND LOCAL MECHANIC MANAGED TO FIX PROBLEM; CAR PASSED EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND LIGHT HAS BEEN OFF FOR 6 MONTHS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132074August 9, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
MY 2000 VW PASSAT, WITH 38,000 MILES, HAS WORN TIE RODS TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE BEEN ADVISED IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CAR WAS HAVING AN OIL CHANGE AND I MENTIONED I HAD BEEN HEARING CREAKING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT WHILE DOING 3 POINT TURNS OVER THE PAST MONTH. MY MECHANIC (NOT A DEALER) THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM. UPON CHECKING, THE RECALL WAS FOR 1999 PASSATS ONLY. SINCE THE 2000 MODEL IS THE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 1999 MODEL, WHY WAS THIS RECALL NOT EXTENDED TO THE 2000 CARS? I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS AT MY OWN EXPENSE. PLEASE NOTE THE SERVICE ACTION ISSUED BY VW IN NOVEMBER 2004 DID NOT INCLUDE THE TIE RODS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131900August 8, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. DURING THIS TIME THIS PASSAT HAS HAD SEVERAL SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT AS A PROBLEM BY VARIOUS SERVICE CENTERS AND VW. THE CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THE PASSAT HAS AGAIN DEVELOPED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131777August 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT GOES ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131469August 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8L TURBO IS BAD. I DISCOVERED THIS BECAUSE THE LIGHT INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH MY ABS CAME ON THE DASH. THE CAR FISHTAILS IF BREAKS ARE APPLIED SHARPLY GOING FASTER THAN 50 MPH, EVEN WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. I TESTED THIS IN A SAFE PLACE TO SEE IF THE ABS WAS REALLY NOT WORKING. NOW I HAVE NO ABS AND THE REPLACEMENT PART COSTS SO MUCH THAT I WILL HAVE NO ABS FOR AWHILE. AND THE BREAKS ON CARS THAT ARE BUILT TO USE ABS DON'T WORK PROPERLY WITHOUT IT. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF FORUMS WITH MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS SAFE, ONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES BEING ABS. HOPEFULLY THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS THAT IT CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE IT CAUSES TOO MANY ACCIDENTS OR ANY INJURIES. BY THE WAY, BOSCH MADE THIS ABS CONTROL MODULE AND IT IS THE SAME ONE USED IN THE AUDI A4 AND A6. I THINK THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH A NEW ONE THAT THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING THE OLD ONES WITH BUT THEY STILL HAVEN'T ADMITTED THEY SCREWED UP AND NOW THE CONSUMER IS PAYING FOR IT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Passat