Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2006)

576 consumer complaints on file.

#10318056March 9, 2010
STEERING
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THAT VW HAS FAILED TO OFFER A RECALL FOR 2006 PASSAT STEERING COLUMN AND COMFORT MODULE MALFUNCTION. THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SAFETY ISSUE IS A POTENTIALLY STRANDED DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316077March 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2.0T FSI ENGINE WITH 44K MILES HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MISFIRES IN CYLINDER #2, UNRESOLVED AFTER 5 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. DEALER HAS FOLLOWED VW CORPORATE TECHLINE INSTRUCTIONS AND REPLACED IGNITION COILS (TWICE), CAMSHAFT, FUEL PUMP, HYDRAULIC LIFTER IN BAD CYLINDER, INTAKE BREATHER HOSE, INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSOR AND OTHER PARTS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. CAR WILL RUN OK WITH NO ERROR CODES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 3 - 5 DAYS AFTER REPAIR BEFORE PROBLEM RECURS, AND CONDITION OF ENGINE CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. DUE TO MISFIRES, UNBURNED FUEL IS NOW REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (DETECTED BY SULFUR SMELL) AND LIKELY DAMAGING THAT COMPONENT AS WELL. ENTIRE ENGINE VIBRATES SEVERELY DUE TO IMPROPER FIRING SEQUENCE AND FEELS AS IF IT WANTS TO JUMP OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR HAS 1 MONTH LEFT ON WARRANTY; WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT "WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FIXED WHILE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS OUT OF POCKET," BUT THEY APPEAR EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FIX THE ROOT CAUSE. DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO PROVIDE RENTAL OR LOANER CAR DURING MULTIPLE REPAIRS, SO I HAVE HAD TO RELY ON A 15-YEAR OLD VEHICLE AS PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION DURING MULTIPLE REPAIRS LASTING 1 TO 5 DAYS. WILL CALL VW CUSTOMER CARE TODAY BUT DO NOT EXPECT SATISFACTION, DESPITE THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313745February 24, 2010
STEERING
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY STEERING COLUMN LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON AND OFF. IT STATES STEERING COLUMN DEFECT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER I RESTART MY CAR A FEW TIMES. I FIGURED IT WAS AN ELECTRIC ISSUE. NOW FOR THE PAST WEEK OR SO, MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS TURNING ON AND IT CONTINUES TO STATE STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE. IT TOOK 10 TIMES TO GET MY CAR STARTED TODAY. MY STEERING COLUMN LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE ALL CAME ON EACH TIME I TRIED TO START MY CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BEFORE I FINISHED EXPLAINING MYSELF, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, BUT MY CAR IS CERTIFIED SO IT MAY BE COVERED. THERE ARE OVER 40 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO RECALL WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313756February 24, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START, HAVE TO KEEP TRYING OVER AND OVER HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY. AFTER A FEW MINS ANYWHERE FROM 2MIN TILL 15MIN OF RESTARTING IT WILL START. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312871February 22, 2010
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I AM A PHD COMPUTER SCIENTIST AND MY VW'S COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE SPONTANEOUSLY CHANGED ITS SETTING. A VW DEALER TECHNICIAN DOCUMENTED THE CHANGE, AND RESET THE PARAMETER TO FACTORY SETTINGS. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES ON MY CAR AT COSTCO. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" WARNING LIGHT LIT. I REPORTED THIS TO THE COSTCO EMPLOYEE WHO HAD DONE THE WORK. HE CHECKED THE FACTORY SETTINGS BY THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND MADE SURE ALL TIRES WERE SET TO THAT PRESSURE, 35 LBS. THE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON EVERY TIME I DROVE. I SCHEDULED A REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH A VW DEALER. THE TECHNICAL FOUND THAT THE CONTROL UNIT'S SETTING HAD CHANGED TO 100101 FROM 100100. HE RESET THE PARAMETER, AND THE START-UP WARNING STOPPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312426February 20, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS
I ADVISED VOLKSWAGEN THAT I HAD THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIX THE ISSUE FOR ME BUT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT 900 DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2006 PASSAT I OWN. THE REP TOLD ME THAT A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BUILT WRONG. IT IS TO SHORT AND THE TSB THAT IS OUT FOR THIS ISSUE EXPLAINS THAT A WIRING HARNESS WITH LONGER WIRES IS NEEDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THE ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING IT WAS NOT THERE FAULT AND THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR RECALLS I NOTICED THERE IS AN EXACT RECALL FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN CC WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305400February 4, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T WITH 30,000 MILES. I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST YEAR, KEY WILL NOT COME OUT IN PARK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, CAR CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, BUT WAS BRUSHED OFF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO "DO IT AGAIN." NOW THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT IS ON. VW DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. IF NOT REPLACED, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD FIX ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304574February 3, 2010
STEERING
1ST OCCURRENCE, STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING CAME ON UPON IGNITION, IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE CAR. TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER "A" IN OCTOBER OF 2007, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR COMPLAINT, THEY TREATED IT AS AN ISOLATED EVENT. WE CONTINUED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT TO DEALER "A", WITHOUT RESOLUTION. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO DEALER "B", THEY REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. DEALER "B" ALSO STATED THAT THEY SEE 2-3 CARS A WEEK FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1500, DESPITE THAT WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A TEMPORARY METHOD TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE CAR IS STARTED WAS DISCOVERED ON A FORUM FULL OF HUNDREDS OF REPORTS FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3656214&PAGE=1) ADDITIONALLY, VW IRELAND HAS DEVELOPED A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED IN A MAJOR IRISH NATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATION, HOWEVER VW AMERICA DENIES SUCH A FIX EXISTS AND REFUSES TO COOPERATE WITH VW IRELAND OR LOCAL DEALERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WHEREIN AN INEXPENSIVE SOFTWARE FIX WOULD CAUSE VW TO EITHER LOSE OUT ON A $1500 MECHANICAL REPAIR AND HAVE TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE FIX. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PREVALENCE OF THE DEFECT WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303538February 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING FROM A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO POWER. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,742. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303404January 31, 2010
STEERING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
VW 2006 PASSAT 2.0 T STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE SIGNAL AND THE CAR DOESN'T START. AFTER DOING INTERNET SEARCH, IT SEEMS MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH PASSATS AND JETTAS. IT SEEMS THE VW COMPANY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS SEEMS TO BE GENERALIZED. MANY OF US ARE BEING TOLD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT TO HAVE SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303408January 31, 2010
STEERING
FOR 2 TIMES THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAD APPEARED. MAY CAUSE STEERING WELL MALFUNCTION. RISK OF LOSE CONTROL. AFTER RESTART THE ENGINE THE PROBLEM WAS GONE, NO ERRORS ON ECU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302343January 26, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I OWN A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT SERVICED FOR DRIVERS AIRBAG FAULTS FIVE TIMES. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTY THAT THE AIRBAG WILL EVER DEPLOY IN CASE OF A CRASH. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300390January 20, 2010
AIR BAGS
VOLKSWAGEN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME, BOTH THE DEALER (DEAN TEAM IN KIRKWOOD) AND THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT GROUP 800-822-8987) THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS THAT THEIR IS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG IGNITER SWITCH - THE PROBLEM CONVENIENTLY TENDS TO OCCUR RIGHT AT THE TIME WHEN THE CAR EXCEEDS IT'S 50,000 WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF YET ARE IGNORING IT AND REFUSING TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR (UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER THAT HAS OWNED AT LEAST 3 OF THEIR CARS - THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME THIS!) I'M NOT ONE TO TYPICALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS BUT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF AND SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE AS THEY PREACH HOW 'SAFE' THEIR CARS ARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299790January 14, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN LOCAL ROADS AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER VERY QUICKLY. IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD SERIOUSLY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299697January 13, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2006 VW PASSAT TRUNK LATCH FAILS IN COLD WEATHER. WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND COMES OPEN WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS DURING THE ENTIRE COLD WEATHER SEASONS. NUMEROUS INFO ON WEB SEARCH. VW OF AMERICA DENIES PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299568January 12, 2010
SEAT BELTS
I PURCHASED A SECOND HAND VEHICLE ON 1/11/10 FROM KOEPPEL VOLKSWAGEN INC AND AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY OUR SALES PERSON TELLS US TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE HAS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED INCLUDING PASSENGER FRONT SEATBELT THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT ON AFTER HE PULLED LAST NIGHT. TODAY I CALLED ASKING THE MANAGER OF THE DEALER HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO SELL A CAR WITH SAFETY DEFECTS AND HE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE AND IF THAT'S THE CASE TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR . HOW THIS CAR PASSED SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297427December 29, 2009
STEERING
MY 2006 PASSAT WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND HE STEERING LOCK LIGHT WILL COME ON PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295694December 14, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STEERING, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
'07/19/2006: PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT '04/13/2007: RADIO WILL NOT EJECT CD- THE STEREO SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY RADIO '12/06/2007: CAR WILL NOT START ' CALLED TOW COMPANY, UPON ARRIVAL CHECKED BATTERY AND IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM; TOW COMPANY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START; CAR WAS TOWED TO LASHER VOLKSWAGEN '12/14/2007: CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN, SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE ON 12/06/2007; CALLED THE TOW COMPANY AND HAD IT TOWED TO LASHER DEALERSHIP; AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS BACK AND FORTH, VW DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM NOR HAVE THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE YET '01/12/08: PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM LASHER VW ' SEEMED TO WORK OKAY '01/14/08: WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO UNLOCK AND LOCK BY THEMSELVES AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY; ALSO, SUDDENLY LIGHT INDICATORS (BLINKERS) DID NOT WORK, HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, STEERING WHEEL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON; THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION '01/17/08: WHILE DRIVING TO BERKELEY, ON THE FREEWAY, THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, AND COULD NOT GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK; LOCKS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING; TELEPHONE CALL AGAIN, TO LASHER VW TO EXPRESS GREAT CONCERN AND WORRIED ABOUT BEING STRANDED; WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN ON FRIDAY 01/1/08 AT 7:30 AM; ONCE WE ARRIVED IN BERKELEY, WE PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION ' THE RADIO WAS STILL ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHUT OFF; WE STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED; WHEN LOCKING THE CAR WITH THE ALARM, THE DOORS LOCKED BUT THE ALARM DID NOT TURN ON; LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, FEARING THAT THE BATTERY WOULD RUN LOW AND WE WOULD BE STRANDED '08/05/09: TOOK THE CAR TO ELK GROVE VW AND TOLD THAT WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS '10/24/09-12/14/09: THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SINCE 10/23/09 AND SITTING IN OUR GARAGE & NOW AT NEILLO VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295332December 11, 2009
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING ON A BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10295121December 9, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH 2006 VW PASSAT WHERE IT WILL START BUT WILL NOT STAY RUNNING. HAVE CHECKED WEBSITE AND DETERMINED THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL OF VW. AM CONCERNED AS THERE IS A MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYS THAT SAYS DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 81K MILES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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