Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2000)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10090569September 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS IS CONCERNING MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T AUTOMATIC(TIPTRONIC) VEHICLE. I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. MY CAR WARNS ME OF AN ABS FAILURE RANDOMLY (WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND GO AWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON) I HAVE FOUND A MULTITUDE OF OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME EXACT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE CAR (NO RECALL) AND THAT IF IN FACT THERE ARE AS MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, THAT THEY SHOULD CALL VW AND ALSO REPORT IT TO THE NHTSA. SHE SAID THAT IF THE NHTSA GOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS THAT THEY COULD FORCE VW TO DO A RECALL. HERE ARE SOME LINKS WHERE I FOUND ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR/SAME ISSUE: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/SEARCH!EXECUTE.JSPA? RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS A $2000 REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS UNIT TO "SEE" IF THAT FIXES IT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THESE GUYS TO ADMIT TO HAVING FAULTY PARTS IN THESE MODEL VEHICLES. ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS, STEVE BRICKHOUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089686August 25, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE BROKE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089791August 25, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089642August 24, 2004
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
BRITAX, MODEL # E900232/72501, THE CHILD WAS INSIDE OF THE CAR SEAT AND THE MECHANISM HOLDING THE STRAP STRAIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088180August 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILS AT 70,000 MILES, AND IT COST ME AROUND $1,500. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT THE COST OF RECALLS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086776August 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY APPEARS ACCOMPANIED BY WARNING MESSAGE "STOP - BRAKE FAULT" AND LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM. MY INDEPENDENT VW MECHANIC RETRIEVED VEHICLE FAULT CODES AND ADVISES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE ABS IS INOPERABLE AND THE DRIVERS NORMAL BRAKING EFFORT COULD RESULT IN THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP. FAILURE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ABS UNIT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE HIGH PART COST ($1,123.25) AS THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY VW OWNERS (EVIDENCE OF THIS IS READILY AVAILABE ON THE INTERNET), THE DRIVING PUBLIC'S SAFETY IS BEING JEOPARDIZED FOR ECOMOMIC REASONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086543August 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AFTER RANDOM INTERVALS THE ABS WARNING OCCURS, SOMETIMES IT WILL END BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE ERROR WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE CAR IS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES. AFTER THE FIRST ABS WARNING I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE THE UNIT (BOSCH ABS AND CONTROLLER) WOULD NEED REPLACING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES BUY BACK THESE PARTICULAR UNITS FOR REMANUFACTURING DUE TO THE COMMON FAILURE OF THIS PART. SINCE THIS PART IS COMMON ON 1996-2001 AUDI A4'S, A6'S AND VW PASSAT AND IS FAILING CONSISTENTLY THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE NOW IN THE BUSINESS OF REMANUFACTURER THESE UNITS, I FIND IT HARD THAT SUCH A VITAL COMPONENT TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE CAN FAIL SO CONSISTENTLY. IN ADDITION, SUNNYVALE VOLKSWAGON DEALER SAID THAT VW NO LONGER SELLS THE ABS CONTROLLER SEPERATE FROM THE ABS PUMP DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN REPLACING A FAILED CONTROLLER IT WAS COMMON FOR THE PUMP TO FAIL WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086199August 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE AT 67,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083689July 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT AT 43000 MILES CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, AT 90,000 MILES ANOTHER ONE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR FREE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082657July 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICAL ARE FAILING. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS VERY ODD TO SEE THESE ITEMS FALING AT ONLY 67,000 MILES. IF THEY WERE TO COMPLETELY FAIL IT WOUD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL. THIS SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICALS OF THE SAME MODEL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082597July 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
ANALYSIS OF SYSTEM AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED ONE OF TWO OXYGEN SENSORS DEFECTIVE. ITEM WAS REPLACED. NO OTHER CODES INDICATED FURTHER PROBLEMS..TWO DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT AGAIN. SECOND OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. . ANALYSIS DETERMINED AIR MASS METER DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. REPAIR COSTS = $841.25. VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAPPENS FREQUENLY TO VW'S??? VW WILL BE NOTIFIED AND ASKED TO COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080750July 10, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR BRAKES REPLACED/TIE ROD BOOTS/ FRONT AXLE RUSTED/REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080593July 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARMS ON 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ARE FAILING. THE CAR HAS 55,000 MILES; ARMS ALSO FAILED AT 36,000 AND WERE REPLACED. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE; I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE CONTROL ARMS BREAK WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY, MANY OWNERS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080603July 8, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING OF THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE, CAUSING IT TO FAIL AROUND 50000 MILES. THROUGH SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN 1998-2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS UPON REACHING APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A RECOGNIZED COMMON ISSUE BY VW SERVICE SHOPS, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL OF THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONTROL COMPONENT NOR OFFERED TO SHARE THE COST OF REPAIR. FURTHERMORE, THEY HAVE INCREASED THE COST OF THIS COMPONENT FROM $200-$300 A FEW YEARS AGO TO $1100-$1700 TODAY. *AK INFORMED IF NOT CORRECTED, COULD CAUSE REAR BREAKS TO LOCK UP UPON SUDDEN STOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075627July 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 62 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, LOST POWER THEN COASTED TO A STOP. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE LEFT REAR ROTOR MELTED DOWN AND GUMMED UP THE BRAKE FLUID. THIS RESULTED IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION BEING INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE ROTOR MELT DOWN ,THEY ONLY REPLACED THE MELTED AND DAMAGED PARTS. *NM *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078625June 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
STEERING WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE - BROGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT HOME. HAD TO REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARMS (4) DEALER SAID THIS WAS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. CAR HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT. THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO SOON - COST $1600 TO REPAIR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079560June 21, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE FUEL SENDING RECALL 01V157000 REPAIRS THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO WORK. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS WORKING PRIOR TO HAVING REPAIRS DONE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE NOT TO WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078450June 18, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE DISPLAY READ"STOP, BRAKE FAILURE IMMANENT". AFTER TALKING ON MY CELL PHONE WITH MY REGULAR VW MECHANIC HE SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE EXCEPT I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ANTI-LOCK BRAKING CAPABILITY. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOST THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROLER AND PUMP. THE DIAGNOSTIC COST ME $90.00 AND LATER WHEN THEY FOUND THE PART THAT BILL WAS $1580.85. WHY IS A SAFETY ITEM LIKE THAT NOT PAYED FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER? THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. SEEMS A LITTLE TO SOON TO BE REPLACING SUCH A SELDOM USED AND EXPENSIVE PART.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078349June 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
2000 VW PASSAT 4 MOTION RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE GAUGE SHOWED FUEL. UPON CHECKING I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ISSUED OCT. 2001. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK THE GAUGE DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT BACK IMMEDIATELY AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK ANOTHER TIME AFTER THEY CALLED TECH SUPPORT. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID IT NEEDED A FUEL PUMP (THE FUEL PUMP HAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT BUILT IN). THE RECALL STATED THAT THERE ARE 3 SENDING UNITS IN THE TANK AND ANY ONE OF THEM CAN GIVE TROUBLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO DO ANY MORE WORK UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THE VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. WHAT CAN I DO? CAN YOU HELP ME? THE DEALERSHIP IS PETE MOORE VW PENSACOLA FL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078291June 15, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. THE FIRST TIME FRONT AND SIDE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED, COSTING $1200. THE SECOND TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON VW WAS CONTACTED AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, $300 FOR A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE ADVISE, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAPPEN CONSIDERING THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. SERVICE MANAGER AT VOLKSWAGEN COMPARED AIR BAG TO A "LIGHT BULB." SAYING THAT LIKE LIGHT BULBS AIRBAGS ALSO BURN OUT AFTER A WHILE, A RATHER POMPOUS STATEMENT TO MAKE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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