Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2001)
432 consumer complaints on file.
- #10376640January 14, 2011UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2001 VW PASSAT 1.8 AND I JUST GOT SOME INFO ON OIL SLUDGE I BEEN HAVING THAT PROBLEM A LONG TIME AND DEALER ALWAYS SAID IT WAS THE OIL PUMP OR SOME THING ELSE MY FATHER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS PASSAT FIRST THE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTS TO MAKE NOISE WE ALWAYS CHANGE THE OIL WITH THE RECOMMENDED OIL AND STILL THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO USE THE CAR AFTER THE LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE TO PARK THE CAR AND FIND ANOTHER WAY TO MOVE AROUND AND TRY A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER TO SEE IF THE NOISE AND THE LIGHT IS GONE MY CAR I PAID 7900 9 MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS 138000 AND ITS NOT FAR FOR VW SAY YOUR NOT COVERED I COME FROM A VW FAMILY MY MOM HAS A 06 JETTA MY DAD A 99 PASSAT MY BROTHER HAS A 03 GOLF MY SISTER HAS A 07 GOLF AND JUST TO ALLOW TO JUST SAY SORRY CANT HELP YOU KNOWING THAT THEIR ARE CARS WITH MORE MILES THAN 120 OUT THEIR AND EVEN THY HAVE RECORDS OF US HAVING SERVICE HOUR CAR WITH THEM IT IS NOT WRITE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373775January 2, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
"OIL PRESSURE. STOP ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SEVERAL MILES DRIVING AND LOT OF NOISE FROM BACK OFF THE ENGINE. NEED NEW OIL PUMP PASSABLE REBUILT ENGINE. IT IS SITTING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10373779January 2, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372686December 28, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT SETTLED WITH VW FOR OIL SLUDGE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE BY THE TIME THE SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED MY 2001 VW PASSAT, 1.8 TURBO WAS NOT COVERED. 7 OR 8 WEEKS AGO I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE VW DEALER (HALMARK VW OF MADISON) THEY TOLD ME I HAD A SLUDGE PROBLEM AND DID NOT EVEN MENTION THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM OR THAT THE LAW SUIT WAS UNDERWAY- VERY SNEAKY. THEY TOLD ME TO REPLACE MY ENGINE OR TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 1000 MILES FOR AWHILE. MY ABS AND COMPUTER MODULE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME WITH NO ONE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. NOW I HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO WAY TO GET IT RESOLVED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372528December 27, 2010SUSPENSION:REAR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 02/11/11 *BF UPDATED 05/02/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10371845December 20, 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION COIL FAILURE AFTER 13 MONTHS AFTER VW REPLACED ALL 4 COILS UNDER PRIOR RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10355263September 13, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE LENSES OF BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES OF MY 2001 VW PASSAT STATION WAGON HAVE BECOME VERY CLOUDED. THE RESULT IS THAT THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHT IS GREATLY DIMINISHED LEADING TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AT NIGHT. I HAVE CLEANED AND POLISHED THE EXTERIOR OF THE LENSES AND THAT HELPED SOMEWHAT BUT CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE INTERIOR. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10352219August 27, 2010VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
01 VW PASSAT HEATER CORE. IT DOESN'T PUT OUT ENOUGH HEAT TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING UP OR DEFROSTING IT EITHER. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM IN THE COLDER MONTHS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE I'M DRIVING AT TIMES. THERE HAS BEEN OCCASION WHERE I'VE DRIVEN OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE CLEARLY. I HAD THE HEATER CORE CLEANED THOROUGHLY AND BACK FLUSHED. STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10346045July 29, 2010STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIE RODS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DUE TO LOOSE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH TEN PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,747.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10339849June 24, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONTACT STATED HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND HE WAS TOLD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACING. THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT SINCE JULY 1, 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. VWB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10336855June 17, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
AFTER 130000 MILES, 2001 VW PASSAT ABS/BRAKE LIGHT LIGHTS UP AT RANDOM AND BEEPS 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, NO BREAK DEPRESSION NECESSARY FOR THIS LIGHT TO GO OFF. MECHANIC DIAGNOSES AS ABS CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTION. THIS OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES DURING OPERATION. PART TO COST $635.00 AND LABOR AND REPROGRAM OF NEW PART TOTALING $900.00. DIAGNOSIS OF THE ISSUE 100.00. ALL TOGETHER, $1000.00. PART HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10321628March 23, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VW ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10300059January 17, 2010EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MAT ON OUR 2001.5 VW PASSAT - WHILE DRIVING - WHEN I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING BUT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED AND STOP THE CAR BY BRAKING. I WILL BE TRIMMING THE FLOOR MAT SO THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10290918November 4, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A TECHNICIAN ADVISED HIM THAT THE ABS WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST A MINIMUM OF $1,000.00. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10290286October 29, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
KEPT SMELLING GAS THREW THE VENTS, STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEREVER IT WAS PARKED WHEN YOU APPROACHED OR GOT DOWN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LAST FEW TIMES BEFORE THE FUEL LINE SNAPPED THERE WERE SMALL PUDDLES OF GAS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHEN ONE DROVE AWAY FROM A PARKED POSITION. WHEN I NOTICED THE PUDDLES I OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL LINES HAD SNAPPED, WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT RUBBER FUEL LINE AND CLAMPS TO TEMPORARILY PATCH THE LEAK. STILL SMELLING STRONG GAS ORDER EVEN THOUGH DOES NOT SEEM LIKE LINE IS STILL LEAKING BUT CANNOT GET IT TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN UNTIL THE WEEKEND. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10289774October 26, 2009AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
RECENTLY I WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION (I WAS CAR IN THE BACK) AND I TOTALED MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO PASSENGER AND MY DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO GO OFF AT ALL. THIS WORRIES ME AS TO THINK IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER THEN 20MPH WHETHER THE AIRBAG WOULD'VE GONE OFF AT ALL. MY FATHER IN LAW WHO IS A MECHANIC SAYS HE HAS NEVER IN HIS LIFE SEEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BUT NOT THE DRIVERS GO OFF. HE HAS SEEN IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND BUT NOT THIS WAY. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10289209October 21, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
HEATER CORE FAILURE,PLUGGING UP. VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT UNABLE TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD TO SEE. HEATER CORE PORSES TOO SMALL AND CLOGGED FROM REACTION FROM ANTI FREEZE CALCIFIED REACTION WITH METAL USED IN CORE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10287249October 13, 2009STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 2001 "NEW" PASSAT GLS V6 HAS BEEN FLOODING EVERY TIME THERE IS RAIN AND IT SOAKS THE DRIVER FOOTWELL AS WELL AS THE SAME SIDE'S REAR PASSENGER FOOT WELL. IT'S CREATED A MOLDY UNPLEASANT ODOR IN THE CAR THAT I'M CONCERNED WILL SICKEN MY FAMILY AND ME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10286229October 4, 2009VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
VW PASSAT WINDSHIELD SHATTERS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND THAT I DISCOVERED WHILE TALKING WITH OTHER VW OWNERS AND SEARCHING THE WEB....THIS HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHILE DRIVING. TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AND MONEY OUT OF PEOPLES POCKETS!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10285456September 28, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO FIRESTONE FOR A ROUNTINE TUNE-UP AND TO REPLACE MY AXLE. BECAUSE OF FIRESTONES MIS-DIAGNOSIS OF THE TUNE-UP, THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE ENGINE COIL. MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO AUDI OF BROOKLINE FOR A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY FOUND THIS.....A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION - E.C.M..THE ENGINE COIL WAS ONLY A SYMPTOM OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM IN THE FAULTY E.C.M. MISFIRING. PRIOR TO BRINGING MY VEHICLE INTO FIRESTONE, IT WAS OPERABLE. BECAUSE OF THEIR TAMPERING WITH THE IGNITION COILS; MY VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED. REGARDING THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, THE CURRENT AND PASSED CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS NORMALLY A HEALTHY, SAFE, VEHICLE, IS AS FOLLOWS: "FUEL DELIVERY INSPECTION AT PRESENT TIME, IGNITION SYSTEM CHECK, AND POWER PROVIDED TO COILS TECH FOUND NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (E.C.M.) AND A.B.S. CONTROL MODULE BECAUSE A.B.S. CONTROL MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED. RECONNECT AND ACCESS A.B.S. SYSTEM AND FAULT DETECTED CUSTOMER AWARE OF THE A.B.S. PROBLEM AND WARNING HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. THAT IS TRUE, AND NOT THE REASON FOR THIS LETTER. CONTINUED: FOUND E.C.M. FAULT FOR #3 IGNITION COIL OPEN CIRCUIT. PIN CHECK WIRES ON #3 IGNITION COIL PLUG #3 POST FROM CONNECTOR TO E.C.M. FOUND HEIGHT RESISTANCE IN WIRE, REPLACED #3 CONNECTOR AND RE-TESTED OK. ALSO CLEAN AND REPLACE TERMINAL ON TOP OF VALVE COVER FOR PROPER GROUND. START ENGINE AND ROAD TEST VEHICLE, FOUND ENGINE MISFIRE ON #1, #2, #3, #4 IGNITION COILS". I HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 4 IGNITION COILS, CATAYLTIC CONVERTER, AND E.C.M. THIS IS THE SECOND IGNITION COIL REPLACED IN THE 1 YEAR I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS MORE MECHANICAL ERRORS THAN IMAGINABLE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS IN THE THOUSANDS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO MAINTENANCE THIS TEMPERMENATL VEHICLE. I WILL HAVE TO JUNK THE CAR. I REFUSE TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. PUSHING FOR A RECALL!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0