Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2005)

148 consumer complaints on file.

#10228263May 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE LEASED A 2005 VW PASSAT. I CHANGED MY OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS, MY MECHANIC DID NOT WRITE THE IN MILEAGE OR OUT MILEAGE WHEN HE GAVE ME MY RECEIPT. MY CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND VW STATES THAT I NEED A NEW MOTOR DUE TO SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR. THE ARE TELLING ME MY RECEIPTS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND WON'T COVER THE MOTOR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PALISADES, NY VW ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH. I'M NOT GETTING A NEW MOTOR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218144February 15, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIRS AT 42K MILES, WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY IN 2004. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED A FLANGE THAT WAS CRACKED, THE OIL PUMP/BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKET, CHAIN TENSIONER. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK IT WASN'T RUNNING RIGHT, VERY, VERY ROUGH AND LOUD (IT'S A DIESEL BUT USED TO BE QUIET). IT TURNS OUT THEY DID NOT BALANCE THE BALANCE SHAFT WITH THE ENGINE, THEY ORDERED THE PART/TOOL TO DO THIS. NEARLY 1K MILES LATER, AFTER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, THEY CALLED ME TO COME IN AND HAVE IT BALANCED, WHICH I DID. AT 65K MILES, ROUGHLY 9-10 MONTHS AFTER THIS INITIAL REPAIR, THE CHAIN SNAPPED FOR THE OIL PUMP. THE SPROCKET ON THE OIL PUMP THAT THEY REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CHAIN TENSIONER WERE DESTROYED. THE SPROCKET HAD OLD AND NEW WEAR, THE CHAIN TENSIONER ENDED UP IN PIECES, AND THE CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED THE INITIAL TIME BUT WAS NOT. THE CHAIN SNAPPED. THE ORIGINAL FLANGE THAT WAS LEAKING WAS ALSO LEAKING AGAIN. THIS CATASTROPHE LED TO THE CRANKSHAFT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TURBO WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY STARVED FOR OIL AND BURNED UP TOO. THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT (BOTTOM END), TURBO REPLACED, NEW CRANK, AND CURRENTLY IT STILL CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REPAIR AND FAILURE. VW OF AMERICA STATED THE PARTS THEY REPLACED DID NOT FAIL, AND IF THEY DID THEY ONLY HAVE A 12MO/12K MILE WARRANTY ON THEM. THE WARRANTY FOR THE CAR WAS UP AT 50K MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE FORUMS AND MESSAGE BOARDS IN REGARDS TO THE BALANCE SHAFT AND COMPONENTS (CHAIN, TENSIONER, SHAFT, HEX SHAFT, SPROCKET) BEING FAULTY OR FAILING. MANY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY IS UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216054January 26, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
SEE COMPLAINT # 10195352. DOOR CONTINUES TO POP OPEN, EVEN WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. IT HAS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT PRECEEDING FAILURE TO CLOSE OR LATCH PROPERLY. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP NEAREST TO MY HOME, AND THEY TOLD ME, "IT IS PROBABLY THE LOCK BOX. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BRING IT IN. WE CAN'T REPLACE IT UNLESS IT IS IN ITS FAILED STATE." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215564January 21, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR OPENED UNEXPECTEDLY THREE TIMES WHILE VEHICLE UNDER WAY. WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS WITH TEMPERATURE SWINGS. TWICE HAD UNRELATED FAILURE TO LATCH, BUT THOSE CASES WERE OBVIOUS. IN THESE THREE CASES, THE DOOR CLOSED AND LATCHED, BUT WOULD NOT LOCK MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRIC CONTROLS OR BY AUTOMATIC SPEED-RELATED LOCKING PROGRAM. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING FEATURE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LOCK THE CAR REPEATEDLY. THE DOOR WAS CLOSED SECURELY AND TESTED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE DURING EPISODES TWO AND THREE. DURING TURNS, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN FULLY, WITH FORCE, WITHOUT WARNING. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214213January 8, 2008
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
(1) TURNED ON DRIVERS-SIDE SEAT HEATER WHILE DRIVING (2) SMOKE BEGAN FILLING THE VEHICLE, AND (3) I TURNED OFF THE HEATER, BUT A HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THROUGH MY LEFT REAR PANT POCKET AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212951December 27, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THERE IS A FIRE REPORT BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT HAVE A COPY. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES ARE 40000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207130October 18, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
2005 VW PASSAT WITH RECALL FOR A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR OVERSEAS. HE STATES THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *KB THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM IN EUROPE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203471September 19, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP POSITION, THE CAR STALLS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN GOING FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB THE MECHANIC WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THE CONSUMER AND HE NOTICED THAT SHE DROVE WITH BOTH FEET, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE SHOULD SSTOP OR GO FORWARD WHEN TURNING, AND THEREFORE IT STALLED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS MADE AN EFFORT TO USE ONLY ONE FOOT AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. UPDATED 10/31/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203755September 13, 2007
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, TIRES, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 PASSAT AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE, BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT IT BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY THEN WILL STOP FOR NO REASON AND BLOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AIR. **NAR**KB THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS WITHIN THE AC UNIT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE AC FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR THE WIRING HARNESS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED TWO TIRES DUE TO EXTREME CUPPING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201766September 4, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200799August 26, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
OVER 2 YEARS SINCE NEW, CAR HESITATES WITH SOFT THROTTLE ACCELERATION LIKELY BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR, NO THROTTLE RESPONSE FOR UP TO 5 SECONDS, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS ACROSS TRAFFIC OR JOINING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. 2005 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT TDI MOST RECENT DATE GIVEN, HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS OF SAME. VW DEALER SAYS NORMAL, HE EXPERIENCES IN MOVING CARS AROUND HIS LOT. I SAY NEEDS FIXING AND VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199690August 15, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH: MY BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN MY FOOT IS NOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS LEAVES THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL. I LOOKED AT THIS WEB SITE AND IT DESCRIBES THE VERY SAME SYMPTOMS THAT MY CAR IS EXHIBITING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195447July 6, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
FAILURE OF CAR TO SHUT ENGINE OFF WHEN KEY SWITCHED TO OFF. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. PROBLEM TRACED TO SHORT IN WIRING ASSOCIATED WITH DRIVER'S SUN VISOR AND 'VANITY' LIGHTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEM. TECHNICIAN FOUND SOLUTION BY CHANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195352July 5, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE FIRST PROBLEM I NOTICED WAS WHEN I EXITEDTHE VEHICLE WAS THAT THE REMOTE CONTROL WOULD NOT LOCK THE DOORS. I THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD SO I MANUALLY LOCKED THEM. I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE AS WELL, SO I MANUALLY UNLOCKED THEM, STARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED ON. I STOPPED FOR FUEL, TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, REMOVED THE KEY AND REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. *AK I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT. I CONTINUED ON TO MY RESIDENCE WHERE AGAIN THE ENGINE FAILED TO STOP RUNNING WITH THE KEY OFF AND OUT OF THE IGNITION. I CALLED VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH A DEALER WHO TALKED ME THROUGH STALLING THE ENGINE BY CUTTING OFF THE AIR SUPPLY. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER THE NEXT DAY WHICH WAS A SATURDAY. THERE THE ENGINE WOULD AGAIN NOT STOP RUNNING, AND I SHOWED THE TECHNICIAN HOW I HAD CHOCKED IT PREVIOUSLY. FOLLOWING SEVERAL HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING, THE DEALER TRACED THE PROBLEM BACK TO THE SUN VISOR. THEY BELIEVED THAT THE HOME LINK SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE VISOR WAS CREATING A REVERSE CURRENT FLOW WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING EVEN WITH THE KEY OFF AND REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. WITH THE VISOR DISCONNECTED, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REPEATED. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON WITH THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173042November 9, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR MOLDING HAS WARPED TWICE NOW AND FIRST REPLACEMENT DONE MONTHS AFTER LEASE INCEPTION, HAVING BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY BY POTAMKIN VW IN MANHATTAN, NY. CALLED VW AND POTAMKIN ABOUT SECOND WARPING ON REPLACED MOLDING, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I MUST HAVE HIT IT AND THAT I PULLED IT OFF (WHICH I DID TO KEEP IT FROM FURTHER SCRATCHING THE FRONT DOOR)...JUST READ ZILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CAR, SOME CITING THAT IT COULD BE DOOR'S ALIGNMENT AND OTHERS THAT IT COULD BE MOLDING ALIGNMENT...DON'T KNOW, BUT NEITHER DEALER NOR VW CUSTOMER SERVICE COOPERATING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170559October 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN RAINY WEATHER, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WEATHER STRIPPING ALONG THE SUNROOF AND LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE DRAIN LINE ALONG THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164626August 6, 2006
AIR BAGS
SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, DESPITE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOORS FROM A DIRECT IMPACT. ALSO DAMAGED WAS THE "B" POST, ALONG WITH 12" INTRUSION INTO PASSENGER SPACE. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162924July 20, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
GOING HOME FROM WORK NEAR DUSK ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT THEN THE RIGHT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (ONLY A YEAR AND A HALF OLD) SO I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE. I BEGAN TO GET VERY NERVOUS ESPECIALLY WITH TRAILER TRUCKS DRIVING NEAR ME. AS I BEGAN TO PULL OVER I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COME FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. ONCE STOPPED, I QUICKLY WENT TO INSPECT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE I SAW THAT MY TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. AT THIS POINT, I REALLY GOT SCARED JUST THINKING OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IF I HAD COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL. THE GOOD THING IS THAT I AM USUALLY A SAFE DRIVER. I ASSUME THAT IF I WERE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF SPEED I WOULD NOT BE HERE NOW. AFTER TEN MINUTES OF RECOVERY, I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I WAS NEAR A SAM'S SO I DECIDED TO SEE IF I COULD HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THE TIRE AND HAVE IT CHANGED BUT IT WAS LATE (8 PM) AND THEY WERE CLOSED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161847July 7, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TWICE THE FLOOR BOARD IN THE RIGHT BACK SEAT FLOODED DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED POLLEN FILTER. THE SECOND FLOODING CAUSED MY AUTO TRANSMISSION MODULE TO SHORT AND PUT THE CAR IN LIMP MODE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159316June 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UPHILL, THERE WAS POPPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ALL POWER. AFTER THE INITIAL ENGINE STALL, THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, BUT STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAILED CONNECTION OF THE INTER-COOLER HOSE AND PRESSURIZED HOSE THAT CONNECTS TO THE TURBO CHARGER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSE FITTINGS ON THE TURBO CHARGER. UPDATED 6/27/2006 - THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE HOSE CONNECTION MECHANISM WASN'T SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT THE HIGH PRESSURE CREATED BY THE TURBO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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