Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10131132August 2, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
DT: CONSUMER OWNED VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2003. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REACH SEAT CONTROLS, BUT LATER SHE FOUND THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ANYWAY. THE SEAT MOTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE LAST TIME WAS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO. ON JULY 29, 2005 CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT PUSHED CONSUMER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. THEN VEHICLE STRUCK SOMETHING ON THE SIDE OF VEHICLE AND CAME TO A STOP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY MOVE SEAT BACKWARDS. CONSUMER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT PROBLEM. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO WALK WITH CANE BECAUSE OF NECK INJURY. SUFFERED PAIN IN HEAD AND SHOULDERS.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10130601July 29, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED TWICE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129949July 25, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, WHEELS, TIRES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASE A NEW 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM BURLINGTON VOLKSWAGEN 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 7 TIMES SINCE THEN FOR A MYRIAD OF PROBLEMS, FROM AIRBAG LIGHTS COMING ON TO CHECK ENGINGE LIGHT TO THE LATEST OF THE CAR SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129805July 23, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VW PASSAT MAINLY 2003 EXPERIENCE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING . THE CAR BECOMES UNMANAGEABLE, SHUTS DOWN AND STOPS. THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGHER DENSITY TRAFFIC RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGES AND INJURIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129648July 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1) MOTORISTS ALERT THAT REAR BRAKLE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THHIS CAN CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENTS. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128818July 14, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VW PASSAT DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN DALLAS MORNING RUSH HOUR. I TURNED MY HEATED SEAT ON AND I WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY AN EXTREME HEAT ON MY BACKSIDE/LEG. I DID NOT KNOW IF THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE OR WHAT. THE SEAT HAD MELTED LEATHER AND LEFT A SUPERFICIAL BURN ON MY REAR END. THE SEAT WILL SPARK AND SMOKE IF THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. I WANT OUT OF THIS LEASE!!! THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AND UPON RESEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10128041June 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PASSAT STATION WAGON ENGINE STOPPED AND FAILED TO RESTART.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. *JB *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125852June 16, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONCERNS REGARDING ENGINE FAILURE ON THE PASSAT STATION WAGON.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND DID NOT RESTART. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE INFORMED OF THE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122548May 31, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGON PASSOT 1.8 TURBO AND I HAVE HAD IT AT THE VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND IT IS STILL THERE.THE LIGHT IN THE CAR SAYING STOP OIL PRESSURE LOW KEPT COMING ON SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME.AND THEY WERE THE LAST ONES TO CHANGE THE OIL. THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAY I NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF OIL SLUDGE ON THE ENGINE.I HAVE PROVIDED THEM WITH ALL THE RECIEPTS STATING THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. AND THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO OTHER RECOURSE. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PUT OUT THE EXPENSE FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121856May 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, EMISSIONS LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 2. FAILURE OF IGNITION COILS (3) 3. 3 COILS BEING REPLACED AT VW DEALERSHIP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121733May 20, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE CRUISING ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST DIED; NO LIGHTS COME ON, NO DRIVAILITY PROBLEM OR NOISE BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT HALF-FULL. THE DEALER WORK ORDER INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121376May 19, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATER ONE MORNING, I SMELLED SMOKE AND THE LEATHER SEAT WAS SMOKING. THE SEAT HEATER MALFUNTIONED AND ALMOST BURNT ME AS WELL. I PULLED OVER AND IT BURNT A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH MY LEATHER SEAT!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120975May 16, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NOTICED RUST COMING THROUGH THE UPPER AND LOWER MOLDINGS SURROUNDING FRONT DOOR WINDOWS...UNIT STILL UNDER WARRANTY, LESS THAN 2 YRS OFF LOT, BOUGHT BRAND NEW...A 2003 VW PASSAT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120148May 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
AT 35005 MILES I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT I NEEDED REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS SO I HAD THEM INSTALLED AT 35005 MILES. LAST WEEK WITH THE CAR AT 52275 MILE I WAS AGAIN TOLD BY VW THAT MY REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FIND THAT 17270 MILES IS VERY QUICK WEAR FOR BRAKES. VW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18,000 MILES AND IF THEY DUE THEN THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117980April 16, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING SEAT COVER AND DRIVER'S LEG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10117920April 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON APRIL 14, 2005 I WAS GOING TO WORK WHEN A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID STOP. I CALLED COMMONWEALTH MOTORS AND WAS TOLD BY LARRY RIGGINS TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL TO SEE IF NEEDED TO ADD OIL, SO I DID. THAT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. I CALLED BACK THE DEALER, WHO GAVE ME THE TOW NUMBER FOR VOLKSWAGEN, AND SAID THAT HE WOULD SET UP AN APPOINTMENT THAT DAY. AFTER WAITING FOR TWO HOURS WE WERE TOWED IN ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT CAR TILL NEXT DAY. NEXT DAY, LARRY CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO PULL ENGINE AND LOOK AT OIL PAN WHICH COULD ADD UP TO A LOT OF MONEY. WHEN QUESTIONED DUE TO THE CAR'S WARRANTY, LARRY INFORMED ME THAT ONLY IF I HAD ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT HONOR THE 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, UNDER 50,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3 DAYS WITH NO RESOLUTION. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND A SITE CALLED VWLEMON.COM AND DISCOVERED THAT KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN ,BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH 1.8 TURBO ENGINE HAD A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSED ENGINE TO BECOME CLOGGED WITH SLUDGE WHICH COULD COMPLETELY SEIZE THE ENGINE. I WAS FORTUNATELY NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED SO THAT I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. CERTAINLY IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURED DESIGN FLAW THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT PAY FOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117929April 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK IT KEPT MOVING FORWARD. I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AND WAS GOING VERY SLOW. AGAIN, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR NOT TOO LONG AFTER. MY CAR DISPLAY READ STOP ENGINE, AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER PROBLEM INVOLVED THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON, DRAINING THE BATTERY, TWICE HAD TO HAVE A VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. YESTERDAY, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DISPLAY AGAIN READ STOP ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT UNLESS I HAVE A COMPLETE RECORD OF MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I HAVE READ LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS GOING ON!!! I AM FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATION TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM! HELP!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116072March 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DESIGN DEFECT IN BRAKE ROTORS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110950March 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED $11,000.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR OIL SLUDGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VW HAS CLEARLY ADMITTED TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. ARTICLE ATTACH FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO WORK WITH DEALERS TO IMPROVE GUIDELINES FOR SLUDGE REPAIRS. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114806March 26, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER THIGH AND BURNED HER FINGER WHEN SHE REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE PULLED OVER AND FOUND A 2CM HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HERB EASLEY MOTORS (OUR LOCAL VW DEALER), THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED THAT THE BURN WAS FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE (NO ONE IN OUR FAMILY SMOKES...). HE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM (VEHICLE HAS 22,000 MILES AND IS UNDER FULL WARRANT)Y, AND HE CLAIMED HIS VW REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE HAD TOLD HIM THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED VW CONSUMER CARE, THEY ARRANGED FOR ME TO WORK WITH CABLE VOLKSWAGEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY. CABLE TOLD ME THEY HAVE FIXED "DOZENS" OF THESE SEATS, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS WITHOUT MY TELLING THEM (THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN THE PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO WHAT OTHERS HERE ARE SAYING...). I HAD TO DRIVE 150 MILES FOR CABLE VW TO INSPECT AND ORDER PARTS, AND WE ARE NOW AWAITING BACKORDERED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR (THEY'VE WARNED ME IT COULD TAKE MONTHS FOR THE PARTS BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF REPAIRS BEING MADE). VW INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR HAVING TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR THE TWO MONTHS OF INFURIATING RUNAROUND FROM HERB EASLEY, THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE LOCATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Passat