Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2000)

507 consumer complaints on file.

#10003757January 14, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE IGNITION COIL BROKE CAUSING LOST OF ACCELERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000417December 29, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I DRIVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX 4MOTION. I HAVE FELT THAT I GOT A BAD CAR SINCE VERY EARLY ON IN MY LEASE (I NOW HAVE 8 MONTHS LEFT). ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCAISION, I HAD A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY OIL PAN THAT MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A ROCK (I DON'T RECALL FEELING ANYTHING HIT THE CAR HARD ENOUGH TO PUT A HOLE IN ANYTHING). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTEED ITEM, RATHER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED 5 OTHER CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING WHEN THE BREAKS ARE APPLIED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. I ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY KIND OF BREAK PROBLEMS WITH THAT FEW MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTEE EITHER, AGAIN, NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE OTHER 5 CARS THAT I OWNED EASILY HAD OVER 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND WITH THIS VEHICLE. EARLY ON IN MY LEASE, I HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. EACH TIME IT WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP ON MY SPARK PLUGS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THERE WAS ONLY 2,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THAT SPARK PLUGS WERE STANDARD MAINTENENANCE ITEMS AND I MUST NOT BE TAKING CARE OF MY CAR PROPERLY. 2 YEARS LATER, THERE WAS AN EMISSION CONTROLS RECALL WHICH FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH THE DEALER INITIALLY CALLED DRIVER ERROR, NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001553December 27, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY ON DISABILITY AS THE RESULT OF THE INJURIES OBTAINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001555December 27, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE PRESSURE OF THE DRIVER IMPACTING THE CONSOLE, CAUSED THE CONSOLE TO TWIST AND ACTIVATE THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BOTTOM. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING THROWN FROM THERE SEAT, WHICH CAUSE THEM TO HAVE HEAD INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001228December 19, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
THERE ARE FOUR OIL PACKETS LOCATED INTO HER VEHICLE. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003935December 16, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NAR 1/15/2003. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE. THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH HAD COME ON AND DID SO SPORADICALLY. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WHICH BEGAN MOVING ERRATICALLY, TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC THERE WAS A READING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. AS OF NOW THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023591December 3, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. IN THE OWNER MANUAL IT STATES WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON DON'T DRIVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEIRS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH COIL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALERSHIP. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770022November 22, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP INDICATOR HAVE BEEN COMING ON 2-3 MINUTES AFTER START UP. VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR 40,000 MILE SERVICE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSTIC. VISIT # 1) REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON NEXT DAY. VISIT # 2)RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON NEXT DAY. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR FULL DIAGNOSTIC NEXT WEEK. VISIT #3) REPLACED VACUUM LINES, THOUGHT 40,000 MILE SERVICE WAS STRESSING OLDER PARTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEXT DAY. VISIT # 4) RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEXT DAY. SCHEDULED ANOTHER FULL DIAGNOSTIC. VISIT # 5) ORDERED AND REPLACED SECONDARY AIR PUMP, LEFT VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT PICK UP. NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE, AGREED TO RETURN VEHICLE NEXT DAY. VISIT # 6) REPLACED RELAY FOR SECONDARY AIR PUMP. PLAN TO RETURN VEHICLE TO ME AFTER 3 MORE DAYS. HOPING 6TH REPAIR ATTEMPT IS SUCCESSFUL (11/22/02) DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769830November 18, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE BOOT COVERING THE BALL JOINT FOR THE TIE ROD ENDS AND BOTH FRONT AND REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE BOOT FAILING HAS CAUSED THE BALL JOINT TO FAIL CAUSING EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE WHEELS. THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. VOLKSWAGEN RECALLED THE PARTS DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE FOR 1998 & 1999 PASSATS, SO THEY SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE 2000'S. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769530November 10, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
BRAKE PAD SENSORS FAILED BY CRACKING DOWN THE MIDDLE PREMATURELY, SETTING OFF BRAKE LIGHT SNESOR ON DASHBOARD. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769192November 1, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM A GEAR INTO NEUTRAL (FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRAKING). TODAY IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES STOPPING AT STOP LIGHTS, AND 2 TIMES IN PARKING LOTS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING, OFTEN, ALL WEEK (ONCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOWING FOR AN EXIT RAMP - ENGINE STALLS, POWER STEERING AND BRAKING GOES OUT, NOT GOOD). THIS PROBLEM WAS 'FIXED' AT AROUND 40K MILES WHEN A 'WASTE SOLENOID GATE' AND A 'TURBO VALVE' WERE REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP OVER 3 SEPARATE VISITS. THE STALLING WAS GONE FOR ABOUT 6000 MILES, BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED. THIS MAY BE CONNECTED WITH THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' WHICH WAS ON AT THAT TIME, AND HAS FLASHED ON RECENTLY. I'M PLANNING ON TAKING IT TO A LOCAL VW SHOP SOON TO GET THIER OPINION. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769063October 29, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE BELLY PAN BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE AS I ACCELERATED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WHEN I STOPPED FOR ASSISTANCE AT THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE TWO MECHANICS ON DUTY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN EIGHT SIMILAR INSTANCES THAT WEEK, ALL INVOLVING VOLKSWAGENS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I HADN'T RAN INTO ANY CURBS OR BELGIAN BLOCKS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR RECENTLY. I BELIEVE THAT ALL THE SCREWS/BOLTS THAT HAD HELD UP THE PAN HAD FALLLEN OUT OVER TIME. THREE DAYS LATER, I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER, BECAUSE ONLY A DEALER HAD THE RIGHT FASTENERS TO SECURE THE PAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PAN WAS SCRAPED IN THE FRONT, THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING FOR THE PAN TO FALL OFF. I DISAGREE I THINK THE SCREWS FELL OUT OVER TIME. THE MECHANICS HAD THE OPINION THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SCREWS/BOLTS IS FLAWED, SINCE THEY HAD SEEN THIS SITUATION HAPPEN ON SO MANY RECENT MODEL VWS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A TREND OF VW BELLY PANS COMING LOOSE OVER TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BELLY PAN SERVES TO DEADEN ROAD NOISE. ISN'T IT PURPOSE ALSO TO PROTECT THE UINDERCARRIAGE? IF SO, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SCRAPING UP AGAINST CURBS OR SURVIVNG ASSAULT FROM OTHER REGULAR ROAD DEBRIS. THE FACT THAT THE BELLY PAN MAY FALL OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768943October 26, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I BOUGHT MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM GEORGIA AUTO SQUARE IN ATHENS, GA. IT WAS BRAND NEW WITH NO MILES. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS DONE AT THIS DEALER. MY CAR HESITATES & LOSES POWER WHEN TRYING TO PASS OTHER CARS ON TWO LANE ROADS, ACCELERATING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY OR ACCELERATING WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER ONE HOUR AWAY SIX TO SEVEN TIMES OVER A YEAR (NOT INCLUDING THE TIMES IT WAS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE). THEY HAVE KEPT MY CAR OVER 50 DAYS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY CLAIM, IS A WET AIR FILTER. THEY TOLD ONCE THAT THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE SNOW GUARD, WHICH WORKED WITH OTHER CARS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM (OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE). THIS SEEMS BIZARRE SINCE IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE WEATHER RELATED. HOW DOES WATER GET INTO AN AIR FILTER (IF THAT IN FACT IS THE PROBLEM) AND WHY AFTER ALL THIS TIME HAVEN'T THEY BEEN ABLE REMEDY IT? I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS INVOLVING MY FAMILY & OTHER DRIVERS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE NEAR ME DURING THESE POWER FAILURES. BEING IN SEVERAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED, THEIR SERVICE MANAGER APOLOGIZED FOR "MY INCONVENIENCE". THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING TO A FUNERAL, MY CAR STALLED WHILE MERGING AT I-985 & I-85. AFTER SUDDENLY LOSING POWER & TERRIFYING ME AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME, WHO SAW THAT I EXPERIENCING TROUBLE, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED JERKING, LET OUT A BILLOW OF SMOKE & FINALLY (AND THANKFULLY) CAUGHT & DROVE ON. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE A NISSAN WITH 240,000 MILES ON IT WHILE I PAY FOR A VOLKSWAGEN WITH A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES, WHICH ONCE AGAIN SITS AT THE DEALER'S. THIS TIME HE HAS HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK (TEST DRIVING, YET AGAIN) THE CAR I AM PAYING FOR. HE HAS ADMITTED PREVIOUS TIMES EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEMS I REPORTED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. YET, THE DEALER AND THE VOLKSWAGEN REP CONTINUE TO EXERCISE RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR MY LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIVES, AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020378October 8, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL ROCK AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. REPLACED AIR BAG, SENOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767409September 19, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, I HAVE HAD THE WINDOW REGULATOR IN MY VEHICLE REPLACED 4 TIMES. UPON RESEARCHING, THERE APPEARS TO BE (LITERALLY) HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENT PARTS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. WILL VOLKSWAGEN DO NOTHING UNTIL SLAPPED WITH A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT BECAUSE SOMEONE DIES FROM A WINDOW MALFUNCTION IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016599August 19, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP USED FOR IGNITION HAS FAILED. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT MAKES A LOUD WINING NOISE. HARD PART REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#6901313August 12, 2002
AIR BAGS
RIGHT FRONT SEAT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE, DAMAGE TO RIGHT WHEEL AND TIRE, VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT, CLAIM 13-7212-517. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015830August 8, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 5MPH, LIKE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. CONSUMER PRESSED ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. DROVE VEHICLE AT 15 MPH. VEHICLE DECELERATED AT 5 MPH, AND MASHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR DID NOT INCREASE THE SPEED. BOTH HAPPENED IN A DURATION OF 5-7 MINS. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED AT NORMAL OPERATION. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, NO PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE VW FACTORY CONTACT HAD NO RECORD OF ABERRANT ACTION AND HAD NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765379August 8, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FIRST PROBLEM 07/2002 DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, CAR DECELERATED AS THOUGH BRAKES APPLIED TO ABOUT 5MPH. TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC) DROPPED TO LOW GEAR. RESPONDED BY DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH NO INCREASE IN SPEED. CAR ACTED LIKE THERE WAS EITHER A TRANSMISSION OR FUEL FEED PROBLEM. A SECOND SIMILAR OCCURRENCE TOOK PLACE 08/2002 EXCEPT THIS TIME CAR EXHIBITED SIMILAR TRAIT AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM LASTED APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES AND THEN THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. AFTER THE SECOND EPISODE, CONTACTED VW DEALER, THE IMPORTED CAR STORE, 1432 S HARBOR CITY BLVD., MELBOURNE, FL WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, BUT COULD FIND NO CAUSATIVE FACTOR. WHILE IN THE DEALER SERVICE WAITING ROOM, AFEMALE OWNING A VW JETTA, SPOKE OF HAVING A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HER 2001 0R 2002 MODEL. HAD WE BEEN TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND HAD THESE PROBLEMS, THE ACTION OF THE VEHICLE COULD VERY LIKELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. EVERY TIME I OPERATE THE CAR, I FEEL AS THOUGH A REPETITION OF HTE BEHAVIOR COULD HAPPEN AND I FEEL THE SAFETY OF ANY OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR ARE IN JEAPORDY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8014774July 25, 2002
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT PROBABLY WAS A ROCK.*JB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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