Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1996)

142 consumer complaints on file.

#760037March 31, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE DAYTIME AND NORMAL HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES I WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. ANOTHER TIME, I JUST TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LET THE CAR SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS. THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON WHEN I START IT. AT OTHER TIMES, IN ADDITION TO THE HEADLIGHT NOT COMING ON, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY PASSAT, WHICH I HAVE FIXED AND REPORTED HERE. NAMELY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006366March 26, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM'S IDLING HIGH WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT, SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND WAS STILLL IDLING HIGH RESULTING IN THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756069December 27, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH OF THE 1996 AUDI A4. THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE VW PASSAT. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, IT CAUSES THE RUNNING OR HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DEFROSTER, AND HEATER BLOWER TO FAIL. ALL OF THESE ELECTRICAL TOOLS ARE NECESSARY FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN BAD WEATHER. MY DEALER SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE AUDI RECALL AND ALSO DID NOT SEE WHY I FELT THIS INTERMITENT PROBLEM MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED...ONCE THE SWITCH DID FAIL COMPLETELY AND WAS NO LONGER AN INTERMITENT PROBLEM, THE ELECTRICIAN WAS ABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754215November 7, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND LIMITED CONTROL OF THE CAR. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURANCE. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON EXISTENT. AS FOR THE DOOR HANDLE AND WINDOW PROBLEM, AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. SO FAR NO ONE HAS LOST THEIR LIFE AT LEAST IN OUR CASE. M. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751393August 30, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
LOST POWER ASSIST AND HAD TO USE HAND BRAKE TO STOP. VACUUM LINE WAS REPLACED AND FAILED AGAIN AT 79363 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745357May 15, 2001
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
INTERMITTENT POWER WINDOW FAILURE COULD CAUSE VEHICLE INHABITANTS TO NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#744067April 14, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN IN ONE SECTION, CAUSING FREQUENT CREAKING NOISE. VW SERVICE KEEPS TELLING MY AUTO REPAIR GUY THAT THEY ARE ORDERING IT. THEY NOW SAY THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PART; PUT OUT NATIONWIDE SEARCH!I'M WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY.ORIGINAL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006395April 8, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OUR MAIN COMMENT IS THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO OUR DAUGHTER ILLEGALLY. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE MILEAGE INDICATOR HAD BEEN ROLLED BACK. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RUN, ALL THE HARDWARE IS FALLING OFF. AFTER FINALLY IN. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****743725
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743491April 3, 2001
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. DOOR OPENS BUT UNABLE TO CLOSE. DOOR MUST BE HELD CLOSED WITH CORD OR HELD CLOSED BY DRIVER, CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743493April 3, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CAR BEGAN FAILING TO START. BATTERY REPLACED. SYMPTOMS REAPPEARED IN 2 WEEKS. CAR RUNNING ROUGH, DIFFICULT TO START. STALLING DURING HIGHWAY OPERATION. REQUIRED TOW TO DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT COMPUTER MODULE WIRING HARNESS RUSTY AND CORRODED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#882744March 12, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740391February 3, 2001
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DOORS DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. YOU MUST SLAM THEM AT TIMES TO MAKE THEM CLOSE, THEN THEY WILL WORK OK AT OTHER TIMES. THE TRUNK LOCK DOES NOT WORK WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. IT MUST BE OPENED FROM INSIDE WITH THE RELEASE BUTTON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#740392February 3, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CAR BLOWS SMOKE SO BAD I CANNOT KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN. I HAVE THE DEALER GET THE CAR PAST EMISSIONS BECAUSE IT FAILS EVERY TIME. THIS NOT ONLY EFFECTS MYSELF BUT EVERY PERSON IN THE AREA THAT I HAPPEN TO BE PASSING THROUGH. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR EVEN A DIESEL. THIS IS A HEALTH PROBLEM. A RAW FUEL SMELL IS ALSO PRESENT, THERE ARE NO VISIBLE LEAKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738705January 3, 2001
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHEN AT FREEZING TEMP, PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH PARTIALLY FROZE OPEN CAUSING DOOR TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER DOOR LATCH FROZE PREVENTING DOOR TO BE CLOSED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738314December 27, 2000
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES WENT CRAZY. WITH ENGINE OFF SPEEDOMETER READS 80 MPH AND TACHOMETER READS 4000 RPM. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A COLD START-UP AND IS KNOWN TO BE AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. IT APPEARS TO BE SPECIFIC TO 1996 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX MODELS AND IS REPORTED TO BE A $600. OR MORE DEALER REPAIR WITH A NEED TO SPECIAL ORDER THE REPLACEMENT GAUGE/CLUSTER ASSEMBLY FROM GERMANY REQUIRING 4-6 WEEKS FOR PARTS DELIVERY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ! PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE NOT WEAR ITEMS AND SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. I AM NOT ABOUT TO PAY VW $600. OR MORE TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE TO USE THE VIN NUMBERS TO DETERMINE IF THIS DEFECT IS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN PRODUCTION TIME PERIOD. PERHAPS THE VENDOR SUPPLIER TO VW HAD SOME PRODUCTION PROBLEMS THAT WERE DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED. OWNER'S OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT RESULTS FROM NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#737626December 11, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN
FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEEDLE WILL NOT SET AT ZERO EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#557891December 5, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING (DOTAN7JT451179 - BF GOODRICH 185-6514). NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732158September 21, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
I CANNOT GET INTO MY CAR DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT ROLLING ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL DOORS ONCE BEFORE AND THEN THE FRONT TWO DOORS BROKE ONCE AGAIN MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN, I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IF I WERE TO WRECK AND BECAME UNCONSIOUS IN A BURNING CAR THE PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729121August 25, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AFTER CAR LEFT OUT IN COLD. HAD TO GET REPLACEMENT ACCORDING TO DEALER FROM GERMANY. TOOK 4-6 WEEKS TO GET REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY LEFT DRIVERS DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE ONLY WAY INTO THE DOOR WAS EITHER FROM PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR, OR ROLL DOWN THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. IF CAR LEFT OUT IN COLD, WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. LOCK COME UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. DEALER SAID WOULD COST BIG BUCKS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM. I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY SAID NOT COVERED. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES AS WE ARE RAISING MY GRANDCHILD AND SHE RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT WHILE THESE LOCK MECHANISMS FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868065August 17, 2000
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY OR LOCKS ARE NOT SECURING PROPERTY. DOOR OCCASIONALLY WOULD FLY OPEN. CONSUMER HAS TO USE A BUNGY CORD & SEAT BELT TO KEEP SHUT. MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM. VEHICLE CAN'T BE SECURED TO KEEP OTHERS FROM GETTING IN. CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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