Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10146881January 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2003 VW PASSAT SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING ENGINE NOISE AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING CAME ON. VW DETERMINED PROBLEM WAS SLUDGE, AND THEY CLEANED THE ENGINE LEAVING A BILL OF $1900 PLUS THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER WITH MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY UNLESS I CAN PRODUCE OIL CHG RECEIPTS. I HAVE DONE 2 OF THEM MYSELF AND ONLY HAVE BANK STATEMENTS WITH CREDIT CARD CHARGES. THE OTHERS, I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR. THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO COVER. THIS IS A MAJOR WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE FROM REGULAR OIL TO SYNTHETIC OIL CAME IN 2004, A YEAR AFTER I WAS FOLLOWING THEIR PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. FOR A KNOWN ISSUE, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD CONSUMERS HOSTAGE ON A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I DO MY OWN OIL CHGS TO SAVE MONEY. MY 10K OIL CHG AT VW WAS $110. I CAN DO IT FOR LESS THEN HALF OF THAT AMOUNT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146841January 3, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
THE HEATED SEATS IN MY 2003 VW PASSAT HAD A MALFUNCTION AND BURNED THROUGH THE CUSHIONING AND PANTS THAT I WAS WEARING. LOOKS LIKE A LARGE CIGARETTE HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FRONT DRIVER SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146544December 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING POWER STEERING TO FAIL. DIAGNOSED AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE. ALSO, IN 2004 OIL PUMP FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. REPAIR NOT COVERED DUE TO INABILITY TO PRODUCE SERVICE RECORDS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146226December 28, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVING A 2003 VW PASSAT GLX WAGON ON A ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. LUCKILY, THIS SHOCKING INCIDENT DIDN'T CAUSE US TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT DID FILL THE CAR WITH SMOKE AND WE HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND GET OUR 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OUT OF HER CAR SEAT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP (KING VOLKSWAGEN, GAITHERSBURG, MD) AND THEY CHARGED ME $100 TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THE CAR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR PROBABLY HIT A CURB AT 35 MPH AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND I KNOW THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWED DOWN AT ALL, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE HITTING ANYTHING. BECAUSE THIS ROAD WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WE MAY HAVE BRUSHED A MAN HOLE COVER THAT WAS STICKING UP INTO THE ROAD, BUT NOT HARD ENOUGH TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN OR TO CAUSE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE. I LOOKED AT THE IMPACT POINT IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND IT IS JUST A SMALL DENT TO A METAL CUP. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS SMALL DENT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO BLOW. THE CAR DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY REPAIRS EXCEPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. I COMPLAINED TO VW CORPORATE AND THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO TAKE PICTURES AND READINGS FROM THE AIRBAG SENSOR. THEY SENT THAT INFORMATION TO VW CORPORATE AND CORPORATE CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THAT THIS WAS CONSIDERED TO BE AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146175December 27, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SUNROOF IMPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NO FOREIGN OBJECT WAS FOUND IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. SUSPECT DEFECT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145949December 22, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 44385 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145823December 21, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
INSTANT FUEL PUMP FAILURE. LATE SATURDAY NIGHT WITH 9 WEEK OLD CHILD IN THE CAR. CAR SIMPLY STOPS RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY. DOES NOT RESTART. DID MANAGE TO GET BABY INTO WARM VEHICLE AND HOME. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145594December 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STOP ENGINE NOW- LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD FOR INSPECTION. SHE CHECKED THE DIP STICK FOR AN OIL READING. THE READING INDICATED THE VEHICLE CONTAINED NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. SHE ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO HOWEVER, REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144681December 7, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WITHOUT WARNING, MY 2003 PASSAT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THANKFULLY THE POLICE WERE QUICK TO ARRIVE AND HELPED DIRECT TRAFFIC SO THAT I COULD BE PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE VW DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PREMATURELY FAILED FUEL PUMP. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THEY ARE DENYING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR DEFECT ACROSS THE BOARD. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS FAILURE DEPENDING ON WHEN THE PUMP STOPS WORKING (THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS), AND I THINK VW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144093November 30, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
EARLY FUEL PUMP FAILURE. 22,000 MILES (VOLKSWAGEN). THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOCKING THE ROADWAY. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT IT HAS BEEN COMMON FOR 2003 PASSAT TO HAVE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 12/01/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143585November 23, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEATED SEATS ON, NOTICED BURNING IN MY LEFT THIGH. SMELLED SMOKE, BURNED MY INDEX FINGER IN SMOLDERING HOLE IN SEAT. TURNED OFF HEATER AND NOTED JUST LIGHT SMOKE. VW SAYS IT WAS A RECALL ITEM, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE (ORIGINAL OWNER). THEY WILL REPLACE IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10143111November 18, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
ON THE MORNING OF NOV. 18, 2005, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THOUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WAS A COLD MORNING, SO I HAD THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT WARMER ACTIVATED AT LEVEL 4 (HIGHEST SETTING IS 5). AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. AT FIRST I DISCOUNTED IT AS MERELY THE SMELL OF THE CAR'S HEATER OR SOMETHING EXTERNAL. BUT I SOON FELT EXCESSIVE HEAT ON MY BUTTOCKS AND STOPPED THE CAR, LEAVING IT RUNNING. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT, THERE WAS A SMOLDERING HOLE ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER ON THE BACK-LEFT SURFACE OF THE LEATHER SEAT. THE SEAT WARMER UNIT HAD BURNED A HOLE THOUGH THE SEAT SURFACE AND, WERE IT NOT FOR MY WOOL PANTS, COULD HAVE BURNED MY SKIN. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF MY LOCAL DEALER, GOSSETT VOLKSWAGEN. THE SERVICE ASSISTANT TOLD ME THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCOMMON AND THAT IT THE HEATING ELEMENT AND SEAT WOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE SOME OF THE NECESSARY PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED, I WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AT A LATER DATE. THE SERVICE ASSISTANT INSTRUCTED ME NOT TO USE THE SEAT WARMER FEATURE IN THE INTERIM. WHILE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE OBVIOUS EQUIPMENT FAILURE, I AM MORE CONCERNED THAT SUCH AN EVENT COULD IGNITE THE SEAT COVER, THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE ITEMS, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND/OR BODILY HARM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143224November 15, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER 2003 PASSAT BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE DIED. *TS THE DEALER DID A PRESSURE TEST AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142669November 14, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON MERRITT PARKWAY IN WILTON, CT. THE PUMP FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE PARKWAY, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED, AND I MANAGED TO HAVE ENOUGH FORWARD MOMENTUM TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. NO WARNINGS AT ALL. THE FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 FULL. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. I DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE PART BY THE NEXT DAY. I DISASSEMBLED THE OLD PUMP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BRUSHES IN THE MOTOR HAD WORN EXCESSIVELY- THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 58200 MILES. I AN KEEPING THE OLD PART IN MY CUSTODY. THE NEW FUEL PUMP PART NO. IS 8E0906087D. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUMS ON VW ENTHUSIAST WEB SITES REVEALS THAT THE FAILURES APPEAR ON A HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL RATE ON '03 MODEL YEAR VW PASSATS. DISCUSSIONS HERE: HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=188629 HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1982739&POSTID=22264430#22264430 AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HAVING THE FUEL PUMP FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAN HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142423November 10, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I RECENTLY WAS NOTIFIED OF VOLKSWAGEN'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN M2 CONCERNING SEAT HEATERS FOR 2002-2003 VW PASSATS. I HAVE HAD LESS THAN AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE FROM BOTH THE DEALER AND THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL LETTER FROM VW FROM MY FTP SERVER USING THE FOLLOWING LINK: <FTP://PUBLIC:[email protected]/VW%20M2/VW%20M2%20LETTER.PDF> YOU CAN DOWNLOAD A COPY OF MY RESPONSE TO VW USING THE FOLLOWING LINK: <FTP://PUBLIC:[email protected]/VW%20M2/CAMPAIGN%20M2%20RESPONSE%20--%2020051110.PDF> IF YOU CANNOT ACCESS EITHER FILE, PLEASE CONTACT ME SO THAT I CAN DETERMINE AN ALTERNATE METHOD TO SEND THE INFORMATION TO NHTSA -- THIS FORM LIMITED SIZE TO 2,000 CHARACTERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141621November 3, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DOING 65 MPH. CAR JUST STARTED SLOWING DOWN, LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. DANGEROUS PROBLEM. TOWED TO VW DEALERSHIP AND FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. CAR HAD 53000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141418November 1, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I DRIVE A 2003 VW PASSAT AND WHILE DRIVING A TWO LANE ROAD THE SEAT HEATER INSIDE THE LEATHER SEATS IGNITED BURNING THROUGH THE SEAT, BURNING A HOLE IN MY PANTS AND BURNING MY BEHIND CAUSING ME TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND EXIT THE VEHICLE TO AVOID OTHER INJURY AS THE SEAT BURNED. THIS HAS BEEN APPARENTLY REPORTED HUNDREDS OF TIMES YET VW REFUSES A RECALL. VW AGREED TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND PANTS BUT REFUSED ANY OTHER COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10141296October 31, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BURNED THE CONTACT'S LEG WHILE USING THE SEAT HEATER. ALSO, SHE PULLED THE MUSCLES IN HER BACK AND HIP WHEN SHE JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. SHE IS CONCERNED THAT THE SAME TYPE OF SEAT IS BEING USED TO REPLACE THE CURRENT SEAT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10140839October 26, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING, I TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER TO POSITION 5, WITHIN 1 MINUTE, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SMOKE WAS RISING FROM MY SEAT, I FELT A HOT BURNING SENSATION UNDER MY LEFT UPPER THIGH AND REALIZED THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON FIRE. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. THE SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH MY LEATHER SEAT AND LEFT DAMAGE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. CONTACTED LOCAL VW DEALER (MARTENS VOLKSWAGEN, BETHESDA, MD) WAS ASKED TO BRING CAR IN IMMEDIATELY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED, SEAT WARMER DISCONNECTED, DRIVER'S SEAT WILL BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140656October 24, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
AFTER TURNING ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER TO 5, WITHIN 2 MINUTES NOTICED BURNING SMELL, FELT HOT BURNING SENSATION ON LEFT BUTTOCK AND SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE. ONE CENTIMETER BURN HOLE IN SEAT. TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL IN CAR. TURNED OFF SEAT HEATERS IMMEDIATELY, SEAT SMOKED FOR 10 MORE MINUTES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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