Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2006)

576 consumer complaints on file.

#10274546June 21, 2009
STEERING
ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN CONTINUES TO PRODUCE WARNING LIGHTS AFTER BEING SENT IN FOR SERVICE. WARNING MESSAGE THAT ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK IS DEFECTIVE CONTINUES COMING ON. ERROR MESSAGE CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT START, SOMETIMES TAKING 2-10 RESTARTS TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. POWER ASSISTANCE AND ELECTRONIC STEERING CAN FAIL (ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL) IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO SELF AND OTHERS OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF THIS IS NOT FIXED. HAVE RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO HAVE DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY. ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,500-2,600. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE, AND MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IF NOT FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274212June 18, 2009
STEERING
THE CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" WARNING APPEARED ON THE IN-DASH CONSOLE. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I REMOVED THE KEY AND TRIED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND THE CAR STARTED OKAY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE STRETCH OF ONE WEEK OR SO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274148June 17, 2009
VISIBILITY
HUMID DAY, BEGAN RAINING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT FUNCTION IN 2006 VW PASSAT. CAR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ON THIS ISSUE AND A MOISTURE KIT INSTALLED BY DEALER. NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273995June 16, 2009
STEERING
CAR WILL NOT START, DASHBOARD WARNING "STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE" I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH B6 PASSAT OWNERS. THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY FAULTY CONTACTS YET THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND COULD COST UP TO $2000.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273572June 11, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. SHE REMOVED ALL OF THE FUSES, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATED. SHE FEELS THAT THE FAILURE WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10273066June 8, 2009
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT, AMONG MANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR, THE MOST RECENT AND MY SERIOUS CONCERN FOR SAFETY IS THE ""STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" THE CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START AT ALL OR WILL START AND IMMEDIATELY DIE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF VW CUSTOMERS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET! THE COST TO FIX THIS IS IN THE UPWARDS OF $1500. ONE THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND TWO THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN HERE THAT THIS IS A VW DEFECTIVE ISSUE! THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I AM PREGNANT AND CAN'T EVEN GET HOME AFTER DRIVING TO WORK OR THE STORE! I FEEL VW HAS AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS RECURRING PROBLEM! I HOPE YOU CAN PURSUE THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270254May 28, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A FAULTY BOLT. THE OIL PUMP BOLT FAILS ON 3.6'S AND THE ENGINE SELF-DESTRUCTS DUE TO NO OIL PRESSURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270102May 27, 2009
STEERING
WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR, IT WILL INITIALLY TURN OVER BUT WILL THEN SHUT DOWN. THE IN DASH COMPUTER STATES A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT THE REPAIR BILL WOULD BE $2000.00. THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON THEM WHILE DRIVING. THE GENTLE I SPOKE WITH EXPLAINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP CAN ALSO OCCUR WITH MINE. HE THEN STATED THAT VW AMERICA WAS GOING TO PAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 800.00 OF THE REPAIR BILL AND I WILL HAVE TO COVER THE REST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269475May 20, 2009
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP ON HER VEHICLE AND PREVENTS IT FROM BEING DRIVEN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AND AN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED A MODULE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 05/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF UPDATED 6/16/09 *NJ THE LEFT REAR CALIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK, THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 06/17/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269501May 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
VEHICLE WILL NOT START 70% OF THE TIME. VEHICLE STALLS ONCE STARTED. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. QUOTE WAS PROVIDED TO REPAIR, BUT PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269568May 20, 2009
STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2006 VW PASSAT, WHO HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LATEST BEING OF MOST CONCERN. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, IT WILL EITHER NOT TURN OVER AT ALL, OR THE ENGINE TURN OVER, THEN DIE. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERYTIME I AM IN THE CAR. MY VEHICLE IS 4,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, SO NEITHERVOLKSWAGON, NOR MY LOCAL VW DEALER WILL ASSIST ME WITH THE COST (BEING AN '!@#$% AMOUNT OF $1643.00 OUT OF POCKET), NOR HAS A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AT VW CORPORATE LEVEL, WITH NO RESULTS. IN DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS, WITH MULTIPLE POSTS OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, SPECIFICALLY THE 2006 MODEL. I HAVE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO ATTEMPT TO GET ANSWERS ON WHY VW IS NOT DOING MORE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. BELOW IS THE REPLY EMAIL I GOT FROM THEM, INSTRUCTING ME TO CONTACT YOUR COMPANY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME ON THIS MATTER. COPY OF EMAIL FROM BBB-- {I AM IN RECEIPT OF YOUR EMAIL SENT TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, INC. UPON REVIEW OF YOUR EMAIL, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THOUGH YOU HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I SUGGEST YOU BEGIN THERE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) IS AN OFFICE WITHIN THE NHTSA. ODI CONDUCTS DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS AND ADMINISTERS SAFETY RECALLS TO SUPPORT THE NHTSA'S MISSION TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS. NHTSA IS AUTHORIZED TO ORDER MANUFACTURERS TO RECALL AND REPAIR VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT WHEN ODI INVESTIGATIONS INDICATE THAT THEY CONTAIN SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS IN THEIR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OR PERFORMANCE. ODI ALSO MONITORS THE ADEQUACY OF MANUFACTURERS' RECALL CAMPAIGNS. BEFORE INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION, ODI CAREFULLY REVIEWS THE BODY OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OTHER AVAILABLE DATA TO DETERMINE WHETHER A DEFECT TREND MAY EXIST. WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV}. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269428May 19, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK UP. THERE WERE TWO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MESSAGES DISPLAYED WERE "EMBOLIZATER ACTIVATED MOVE STEERING WHEEL" AND "STEERING LOCK DEFECTIVE". IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY WAS STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE FAILURES OCCURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED BETWEEN SIX TO TEN TIMES WHILE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM HER RESIDENCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268711May 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN 2.0T & ON THE 18TH OF APRIL AS I CROSSED OVER A RAILROAD TRACK THE CAR EXHAUST GOT VERY LOUD. I HAD TO PULL OVER & SHUT CAR OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY LATE AFTERNOON SO I HAD MY MECHANIC (NOT VOLKSWAGEN DEALER) LOOKED & FOUND THE FLANGE THAT BOLTS THE WHOLE EXHAUST TO THE MANIFOLD HAD BROKE (CLEAN BREAK ALL THE WAY AROUND ) @ THE FACTORY WELD, ALMOST LIKE IT HAD NEVER BEEN "TIG" WELDED COMPLETELY @ THE FACTORY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267729May 5, 2009
STEERING
2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM INDICATED BY WARNING MESSAGE IN DASHBOARD. WE'VE SEEN THIS MESSAGE ON AND OFF OVER SEVERAL DAYS. ACCORDING TO SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE VW DEALER THE STEERING COLUMN WILL LOCK. THEREFORE, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE IS 1,500.00 DLLS. I DID A WEB SEARCH TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS AMAZED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AND SO FAR THERE IS NO RECALL FROM VW FOR WHAT IS APPEARS A DESIGN ERROR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10266555April 23, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2006 VW PASSAT 3.6 L IN SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW WITH SEIZED MOTOR AT JUST OVER 64K MILES - OIL LIGHT ALARM CAME ON SUDDENLY AT 70MPH ....IMMEDIATELY STOPPED VEHICLE AND HAD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOW TO VW DEALER...BEEN THERE EVER SINCE...STILL WAITING FOR VW TO DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR ME... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265924April 18, 2009
STEERING
CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AND DISPLAY READS "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE". HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. DEALER DENIES ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR AFTER INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264098April 3, 2009
STEERING
2006 VW PASSAT STEERING LOCK FAILURE..WILL COST ME 1500 TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE COUNTLESS PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS BIG ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262691March 22, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK OF MY 2006 PASSAT. FINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT PIECES OF THE PLASTIC COATING OF THE LATCH MECHANISM WERE CHIPPING OFF AND FOULING THE LATCH. THE LATCH WAS REPLACED WITH A BARE METAL PIECE AND THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS WAS NOT RESOLVED, HOWEVER, UNTIL AFTER SOME ANONYMOUS DO-GOODER DENTED MY TRUNK TRYING TO SHUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262699March 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
POWER BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (WI WINTERS). OCCURS WHENEVER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 30'S OR LOWER. VACUUM HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. APPARENTLY CONDENSATION IS BUILDING INSIDE THE HOSE (REPORTED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261393March 10, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR: 1. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE & PERIODICALLY WILL NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. 2. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING BRAKING MY CAR IS SLIPPING AND TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY A RECALL ON OTHER VW PASSATS BUT NOT ON MY MODEL PASSAT BUT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MY MODEL AS WELL. BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTED TO GET THIS LOOKED AT WITH DEALER BUT WANTED YOU TO HAVE A RECORD OF THIS AND INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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