Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10153789March 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. TWO MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BROKEN DOWN TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE FAILED IN AUGUST 2005 WITH ONE YEAR/12000 MILE WARRANTY. A MONTH AFTER REPLACEMENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED IN MARCH 2006. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE BROKEN DOWN IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND SINCE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CONTACT CONTACT THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THE SAME THING AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS TOSSED BACK AND FORTH WITH NO ONE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OR ACTION. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VEHICLES, AND THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS RANKED AMONG THE WORSE CAR COMPANIES FOR RESOLVING CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. THEREFORE, THE CONTACT SOUGHT NHTSA ASSISTANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153842March 27, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED IN MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL YET AND WILL NOT BE COVERED THE ALL OCCURRED ON 3/27/03. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153168March 20, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH, THE SEAT WARMER STARTED SMOKING ALTHOUGH, NO FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT NOTICED A HOLE IN THE SEAT FROM WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PROPER REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153103March 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 8/4/03 8/8/05 - ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE DIAGNOSED W/ "ENGINE OIL SLUDGE" BY DEALERSHIP, WARRANTY ITEM. 8/11/05- SPOKE W/ DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM SLUDGE ISSUE AND PRESENTED OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS,(VEHICLE PURCHASED W/ 19637 MILES) , DEALER DECLINED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND RECOMMENDED A ENGINE FLUSH & OIL CHANGE 8/12/05 - RETRIEVED VEHICLE AND HAD ENGINE FLUSHED & OIL CHANGED 8/13/05 - VEHICLE CUT OFF & REMAINS INOPERABLE 8/21/05 - VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RECEIVE DIAGNOSES 8/26/05 - VEHICLE DIAGNOSED W/ NO OIL PRESSURE OR COMPRESSION. CAUSE - (BAD OIL PUMP) TIMING BELT JUMPED R&R VALVE COVER AND LOCKED UP CAM #1 CYLINDER. NO SLUDGE WAS FOUND IN ENGINE, VALVE COVER, OIL PAN OR ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE WAS FREE OF SLUDGE AND WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL (DOCUMENTED BY AUTO REPAIRMAN) 8/26/05 - TOWED VEHICLE TO ANOTHER (ENGINE REPAIR SPECIALIST) REPAIR SHOP. 9/22/05 - DIAGNOSES RESULT "NO" ENGINE OIL SLUDGE FOUND. (ENGINE WAS TOTALLY DISASSEMBLED AND EXAMINED IN EVERY DETAIL) SLUDGE WOULD BE EXPECTED IF POOR MAINTENANCE WAS THE ISSUE. A SIMPLE OIL FLUSH WOULD NOT HAVE REMOVED ENGINE OIL SLUDGE (DOCUMENTED BY SERVICE CENTER) 9/23/05 - CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO REPORT MY FINDINGS. NO RESOLUTION OBTAINED TO DATE. I WAS TOLD TO OBTAIN ANOTHER ENGINE ANALYSIS. 9/26/05 - CONTACTED VW AGAIN TO INFORM THEM THAT ANOTHER ANALYSIS IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS DISASSEMBLED. 10/7/05 - TOWED THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY HOME. VEHICLE PRESENTLY GARAGED AND INOPERABLE. * SINCE THEN, I'VE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS "SAME" ISSUE HAPPENING TO VW PASSAT OWNERS. VW HAS ADMITTED TO ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 4 CYLINDER TURBO ENGINES BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP ISSUE AND VW SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR AND REIMBURSE CONSUMERS FOR THESE COSTLY REPAIRS. I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MY ATTEMPT TO UNCOVER THE "REAL" PROBLEM WHICH IS A FAULTY ENGINE AND/OR OIL PUMP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152742March 15, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2003 VW PASSAT, BUILT 11/2002, FUEL PUMP FAILED 12/2004, AT 52695K MILES. NOW THERE IS A FUEL PUMP RECALL FOR 2003 VW PASSAT BUILT BETWEEN 09/01/2002-03/31/2003 WITH A RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS, THAT MINE APPEARS TO FALL IN, AND I AM BEING TOLD MY CAR SHOWS NO PENDING RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY VIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152412March 10, 2006
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THIS IS A 2003 VW PASSAT WITH 27,000 MILES. IT IS KEPT OUTSIDE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN RAINS HERE RECENTLY, EXPECTED THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE REAR FOOTWELL WAS FOUND TO HAVE WATER IN IT RECENTLY. NEITHER THE SUNROOF NOR WINDOWS HAD BEEN LEFT OPEN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY VW DEALERS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, THE BOTTOM OF THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBE WAS CLOGGED, BACKING WATER UP. THE RESULTING DAMAGE INCLUDED CARPET, DAMPENED TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, WIRING HARNESS AND A SAFETY RELAY AMOUNTING TO OVER $3,000 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE DAMAGED PARTS AND UNCLOGGING THE DRAIN TUBE. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152258March 9, 2006
STRUCTURE
FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DUE TO INTERIOR WATER LEAKS INTO THE FOOTWELL AREA FROM BLOCKED PLENUM DRAIN. AS STATED IN THE JUNE 18,2004 VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN VEHICLE HAS 28,000MILES . IT IS A LEASE. FIRST ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BEGAN AT APPROX 20,000 MILES WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND REPAIRED. SECOND PROBLEM KEY LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO RE-DO CODES AND REPLACE KEYS, ALSO CHANGED STEERING WHEEL. THIRD PROBLEM, DAMPNESS ON FLOOR OF DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AND BACK., TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNLESS TURNED OFF MANUALLY, DOOR LOCKS OPENED AND CLOSED RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF RANDOMLY, SOUND SYSTEM WENT ON AND STAYED ON AFTER CAR WAS VACANT. CAR NEEDED TO BE JUMP STARTED IN ORDER TO USE. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE DUE TO NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSING PROBLEMS. VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO COOPERATE STATING THAT THEY DO NO COVER DEFECTIVE PARTS IF IT RAINED ON THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME, CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS WHILE PARTS ARE ORDERED TO REPAIR AT MY COST. SO FAR BILL IS RISING ABOVE $4,000. REQUEST TO TERMINATE LEASE WAS DENIED. 90 DAYS EARLY TERMINATION WAS OFFERED BY VW LEASING BUT PAYMENTS MUST CONTINUE TO BE MADE AFTER CAR IS RETURNED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152246March 8, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT START. WITH ONLY 54000 MILES IT COMPLETELY FAILED TO START ON ACCOUNT OF A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151495March 1, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DESIGN DEFECT RESULTS IN FAILURE OF COMPUTER DUE TO WATER FLOODING. COMPUTER FAILURE RESULTS IN DISABLING OF VEHICLE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. THIS CONDITION CAUSED BY PARKING THE CAR WHERE LEAVES OCCASIONALLY FALL ONTO IT. REASON: WINDSHIELD DRAINS INTO COMPARTMENT CONTAINING THE BATTERY, WHICH HAS A DRAIN HOLE LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY, REQUIRING REMOVAL OF BATTERY TO PROPERLY CLEAN. DRAIN GETS CLOGGED DUE TO LEAVES, RESULTING IN BATTERY COMPARTMENT FILLING WITH WATER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WATER ENTERS PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FOOT WELL. I TOOK MY CAR TO VW DEALER WITH THIS CONDITION AND THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER COULD GET FLOODED/RUINED AND THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO "EXTERNAL INFLUENCE". THEY AGREED TO CLEAN THE DRAIN FREE OF CHARGE, BUT WERE UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ME WITH A SERVICE ADVISORY THAT THE DRAIN MUST BE CLEARED TO PREVENT COMPUTER DAMAGE. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OVER THE PHONE BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN, PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM, OR TO MODIFY THE CAR SO THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150378February 15, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATED SEAT IN CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. NO INJURY OCCURRED, BUT IF LEFT UNATTENDED THIS COULD BE A FIRE OR SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149869February 9, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
MY SIDE WINDOW BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON MOSTLY RURAL STRETCH OF HIGHWAY 94, DRIVING EASTBOUND NEAR WAUKESHA, WI. I WAS IN THE LEFTMOST LANE WITH NO VEHICLES WITHIN 50 YARDS TO THE FRONT OR BACK OF MY CAR. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING STRUCK THE WINDOW AND I DIDN'T SEE ANY CRACKS IN THE GLASS BEFORE I GOT ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS ABOUT 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND WE HAD OUR HEATER ON FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES INSIDE THE CAR. I DRIVE A 2003 VW PASSAT. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES TO MYSELF OR MY PASSENGER RESULTED FROM THE WINDOW EXPLOSION. I DIDN'T REPORT ANYTHING TO THE POLICE OR SHERIFF BECAUSE I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE WINDOW WAS DELIBERATELY SMASHED BY A PERSON WITH A WEAPON OR THROWN OBJECT. THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. I HAVE TWO PHOTOS OF THE WNDOW TAKEN BEFORE THE REMAINING SHATTERED GLASS WAS REMOVED. HOW COMMON IS THIS FOR SIDE WINDOWS? COULD IT BE A DEFECT IN THE GLASS? A SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE GLASS? COULD A PROJECTILE THAT I DIDN'T SEE OR HEAR STRIKE THE SIDE GLASS WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO SHATTER THE WINDOW? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149001January 30, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE JUST DIED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PUMP. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO CRUISE THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY CONSIDERING I HAD CARS IN FRONT OF ME, BEHIND ME, AND ON THE SIDE OF ME, ALL MOVING AT SPEEDS 50-60 MPH. IN OVER 27 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON, OR FUNNY SOUNDS BY THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148867January 27, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I65 FROM BIRMINGHAM, AL TO HUNTSVILLE, AL MID MORNING ON THE 27 JANUARY 2006. NEARING THE END OF JOURNEY TO THE HUNTSVILLE TURNED OFF ON I65 AND VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT 2003 LOST COMPLETE POWER. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO THE CAR, AND WAS FRANTICALLY TRYING TO FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WHILE TRYING TO CONTROL THE CAR TO A STOP AND GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. UPON CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP, LOCATED IN HUNTSVILLE, AL. DURING INITIAL INVESTIGATION LED THEM TO BELIEVE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND REPLACED IT AT A COST OF $200. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THEY SAID MY FUEL PUMP WAS DEAD AND NEEDED REPLACING, THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE CAR TO STOP AS NO PETROL COULD BE PUMPED INTO THE ENGINE. I DID NOT KNOW WHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BATTERY AS I HAD POWER IN THE CAR. CURRENTLY, CAR WILL NOT BE FIXED UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY AT A COST OF $600 TO ME. I READ ONLINE AT PASSATWORLD.COM FORUM THAT THEIR HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER VW OWNERS EXPERIENCING FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. THEY EXPECT THIS PROBLEM TO BE DOCUMENTED A LOT MORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS OUR 2003 YEAR VW PASSAT COME OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE SUSPECTED YEAR WITH THE FAULTY FUEL PUMP. I DO NOT SEE HOW THIS FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL UPON ANY DOING OF MY OWN AS I HAVE ALWAYS RUN THE CAR WITH A FULL TANK AND ON 93 OCTANE. VW NEED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS PART AS THERE IS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER OF VW OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, CAUSING A CAR TO LOSE POWER ON A HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY IS LIFE THREATENING AND WILL CAUSE AN OLDER AGE DRIVER TO NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CAR AND CRASH. CAR IS VW PASSAT GLS 2003, 60,000 MILES ON IT, I BOUGHT IT NEW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148447January 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 30,100 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN HAS 4 YR/50000 MILES MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, AND AN 8 YEAR/UNLIMITED MILE OIL SLUDGE WARRANTY. WE BROKE DOWN ON THE INTERSTATE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER REQUIRED OIL CHANGES IN INTERVALS OF 5000 MILES. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 4000 MILES INSTEAD. THE SERVICE WRITER FROM DON JACOBS CALLED AND STATED THAT OUR VOLKSWAGEN NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT WE NEEDED TO PROVIDE ALL OF OUR OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE. WE WERE SHOCKED, THIS WAS A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. A LONG STORY SHORT WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE 5 RECEIPTS. ONCE IT WAS CHANGED IN FLORIDA WHILE ON VACATION (NO RECEIPT),AND ONCE WE RECEIVED A FREE OIL CHANGE AT WAL-MART DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE WAIT (NO RECEIPT). THAT WOULD MAKE A TOTAL OF 7 RECEIPTS (ALL OF THEM).DON JACOBS WOULD NOT BEGIN THE WORK ON OUR CAR UNTIL WE COULD PROVIDE ALL OF THESE RECEIPTS INCLUDING THE 2 THAT ARE NON EXISTENT.THE CAR IS STILL UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY PERIOD,SO AGAIN WE WERE SHOCKED.NEXT THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THEY AND VW OF AMERICA HAVE DECIDED THAT OUR WARRANTY WOULD BE NULLIFIED DUE TO NEGLECT OF MAINTENANCE.THE FUNNY PART IS THAT THIS DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE WITHOUT EVER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD OF OUR VW.IT IS STILL IN THE SAME SPOT THE TOW TRUCK LEFT IT IN.BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO BELIEVE OR DISCREDIT OUR SIDE OF THIS STORY,OR MAYBE THINK THIS IS AN ISOLATED EVENT PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING SITES:WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM AND ALSO HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/VWSLUDGE/PETITION.HTML.I HAVE QUICKLY FOUND THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US IS LITTERALLY HAPPENING TO 100'S, AND PROBABLY 1,000'S OF PEOPLE IN THE US RIGHT NOW BY THEIR DEALERS AND ALSO VW OF AMERICA NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS. THE SIMILARITIES IN EVERYONES STORIES ON THE WEB ARE FRIGHTENING. .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148333January 23, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PASSAT 2003 GLX WITH 40437 MILES. WAS DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS THE CAR STARTED SHUDDERING FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THE ENGINE THEN INSTANTLY SHUTDOWN. I COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS REPORTED AS FUEL PUMP FAILURE, AND REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148372January 23, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING UP HILL AT 25MPH THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PREVIOUSLY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE WAS VIBRATION AND GRABBING IN FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE SERVICE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE FRONT ROTORS, THE REAR ROTORS AND BOTH CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS FOR TWENTY THOUSAND MILES AND HAS NOW RETURNED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148197January 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BOUGHT A 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T IN MAY 2005. SINCE THEN, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES NOW. THE CAR WILL ALL OF THE SUDDEN START RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REPLACED A "DEFECTIVE" SPARK PLUG. WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF GETTING IT BACK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THEY DECIDED TO REPLACE ALL THE SPARK PLUGS THAT TIME. IT HAPPENED A THIRD TIME AND THEY DID NOT TELL ME WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO THE CAR, BUT KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AGAIN (NOW FOR A WEEK AGAIN) BECAUSE IT BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, DEVELOPED A SLOW OIL LEAK, AND DOES NOT ALWAYS START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. I HAVE NOT YET HEARD FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK EVERYTHING ON THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO LODGED A COMPLAINT WITH VW OF AMERICA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148080January 19, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. AFTER COASTING DOWN A HILL APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, I EASED INTO THE ACCELERATOR TO CROSS INTERSECTION, ONLY TO EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VW DEALER DIAGNOSED ENGINE LOSS DUE TO FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AND SAVED OLD PUMP AT MY REQUEST. OLD PUMP IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I CONSIDER ENGINE LOSS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MOST CARS THESE DAYS HAVE STEERING AND BRAKES THAT ARE POWERED BY THE ENGINE. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR AND BRING IT TO A SAFE STOP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148001January 18, 2006
STRUCTURE
LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH HEAVY RAIN RESOLUTION PENDING PASSENGER AIR BAG CAN BE AFFECTED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147491January 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I ALMOST GOT HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRYING TO GET THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY. THREE RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THE TIMING BELT WENT WELL BEFORE THE SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT,THUS DESTROYING THE ENGINE+.THE CAR HAS 83K MILES AND NOT RECOMMEND TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 105K. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES REPORTED ON THE WEB OF THE HAPPENING. MY CAR WAS IN FOR A SERVICE CHECK AT 78K AND OTHER PROBLEM ITEMS WERE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION; HOWEVER, A TIMING BELT PROBLEM WAS NOT. VOLKSWAGEN IS BLAMING THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE DEPARMENT IS BLAMING VOLKSWAGEN. SO FAR NO RESOLUTION. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF VW AND AUDI HAVING TIMING BELT ISSUES ON THE INTERENET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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