Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2013)

749 consumer complaints on file.

#10534814August 12, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STEERING: VEHICLE PULLS TO AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT POTENTIALLY LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH. IT DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT AT ALL, NO MATTER IF IT'S ON THE LEFT LANE OF THE ROAD, CENTER CROWN OF THE ROAD OR IN THE RIGHT LANE (NO CURVES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 4 TIMES THINKING IT MAY BE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THE SECOND TIME THAT IT PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AS A "SAFETY MEASURE", TO LEAD THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER TO GET OFF THE ROAD ON TO THE SHOULDER. ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO SHOW ME WHERE VW HAD DISCLOSED THIS AS A "SAFETY" MEASURE. THERE WAS NO SUCH DOCUMENTATION. I TOOK IT IN TO ANOTHER VW DEALERSHIP IN MY SAME CITY. THEY DID WHAT THEY SAID WAS THE 'BEST THEY COULD DO WITHOUT EXCEEDING VW'S SPECIFICATIONS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND THE SECOND DEALERSHIP ADMITTED TO ME THAT VW WAS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. LIGHTS/ELECTRICAL: THE LOW BEAM LIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS IN MY CITY. I THOUGHT IT WENT OUT TOO SOON BUT SUSPECT IT WAS AN ISSUE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE MORE THEN A SIMPLE BURNT OUT BULB. THE WHOLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF WHAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME WAS INDEED A PROBLEM VW WAS HAVING WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MAKING CONTINUOUS CONTACT (LIKE A PLUG & RECEPTACLE). HE STATED THAT THEY HAD CHANGED THE DESIGN IN THE 2014 MODELS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE 2013 MODELS. I REQUESTED THAT SINCE IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE, I WOULD LIKE THEM TO RETROFIT OR CHANGE OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT. HE STATED TO ME HE WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO CHANGE THE DEFECTIVE UNIT UNTIL IT ACTUALLY FAILS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN HAPPEN AT NIGHT WHEN LIGHTS ARE REALLY NEEDED, AND DURING THE DAY IF LIGHTS NEED TO BE ON FOR SAFETY WHERE IT IS REQUIRED ON SOME OF THE MORE DANGEROUS ROADS. GET IT IN WRITING WHAT IS WRONG-NO GLOSSING OVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523998July 9, 2013
AIR BAGS, STEERING
CAR OWNER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 60MPH REACHED ACROSS THE SEAT THE CAR SWERVED SHE OVER CORRECTED TWICE DUE TO VERY "TOUCHY" STEERING. THE CAR THEN CAREENED ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND DOWN A 30FT EMBANKMENT BOUNCING OFF SEVERAL TREES. THEN STRIKING ONE HEAD ON WITH ENOUGH FORCE AS TO BEND AND PUSH BACK THE FRAME. NONE OF THE FIVE AIR BAGS THIS CAR IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MANY BUMPS AND BRUISES ALONG WITH A SHATTERED ANKLE WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY TO PLACE TWO STEEL PLATES IN HER ANKLE. RECOVERY IS EXPECTED BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. UPON REPORTING THE CRASH AND NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, ALL THE SALESMAN HAD TO SAY WAS "THANKS FOR GETTING OUR LEMON OFF OUR LOT". *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515528June 6, 2013
AIR BAGS
BRAND NEW CAR AND THE PLASTIC OVER THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG IS CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATING. IT HAS FORMED A CRACK THAT IS STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AND FORMING A CIRCLE AROUND THE EMBLEM IN THE CENTER. RESEMBLES A QUESTION MARK. PICTURE OF IT STARTING SHOWN HERE IN THE LOWER RIGHT OF THE EMBLEM. HTTP://S191.PHOTOBUCKET.COM/USER/LIGHTFLYER1/MEDIA/2013%20PASSAT%20TDI%20SEL/IMG_20130603_122923_ZPS5DBE1CA3.JPG.HTML OTHER REPORTED OCCURRENCES AT WWW.TDICLUB.COM HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4206936#POST4206936. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512945May 21, 2013
SEATS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
I PURCHASED THE VW PASSAT IN DECEMBER 2012. I NOTICED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK THE SLOW RESPONSE OF THE NAVIGATION BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN. WHEN SPRING CAME AROUND I STILL SAW THE SLOW RESPONSE AND IT WAS AGITATING ME. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND THE CAMERA STILL DOESN'T COME ON TILL AFTER. AT THE SAME TIME MY SEAT WAS SQUEAKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SEAT IS FINE AND THEY WILL ASK ABOUT THE NAVI UNIT. AT ONE POINT THE NAVI RESTARTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND SHOWED THEM HOW SLOW IT RESPONDS AND THEY GOT APPROVAL TO REPLACE IT. I ALSO SHOWED THEM THE SEAT THEY LOOKED AND SAW THAT IT WAS CRACKED. HOW CAN A SEAT CRACK? THE SECOND NAVI UNIT HAD THE SAME RESPONSE TIME. IT ALSO RESTARTED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED VW AND THE TECHNICIAN ON THE PHONE TOLD THEM THAT THE SD CARD I AM USING FOR MY MUSIC IS TO LARGE OF MEMORY PROBABLY THAT'S WHY ITS SLOW. NOW I AM AN ENGINEER AND THAT IS JUST ABSURD. I CALLED VW AND THEY SAID I CANT TALK TO A TECHNICAL EXPERT THEY WILL HAVE TO CALL THE DEALER SHIP. HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING AND THE DEALER HAS NOT AS WELL. I THEN MOVED ALL MY MUSIC TO THE INTERNAL HARD DRIVE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID WILL CALL THEM AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE MUSIC IS NOT THE PROBLEM EVEN WITH OUT ANY MUSIC THE UNIT IS VERY LAGGING. IF THE NAVIGATION UNIT BOOT UP IS SLOW THAT IS FINE. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CAMERA IF I CAN BACK OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY OR ANY PARKING SPOT START TO DRIVE THEN SEE THE CAMERA. NOW SOMETIMES IT WORKS BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE UNIT TAKES CLOSE TO A MINUTE OR SO TO BOOT UP. ALSO THE NEW SEAT THEY PUT IN IS BEGINNING TO SQUEAK AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511419May 10, 2013
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE STATED ON THIS SITE AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THE BACK-UP CAMERA IS RIDICULOUSLY SLOW TO COME ON. MOST TIMES, I CAN BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, STOP, AND BE GOING FORWARD DOWN THE STREET BEFORE THE BACK-UP CAMERA EVEN COMES ON. AT THAT POINT, I'M DRIVING UP TO A BLOCK AWAY WITH MY BACK-UP CAMERA STILL ON. WHILE MOST OF THE TIME THIS IS SIMPLY AN ANNOYING INCONVENIENCE, IT IS ALSO A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE. ONE OF THE REASONS I BUY CARS WITH BACK-UP CAMERAS IS TO MAKE SURE I'M ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING SMALL (LIKE A CHILD, BIKE, ETC.) BEHIND THE CAR WHILE BACKING THAT MY MIRRORS WON'T SHOW. MY LEXUS ALSO HAS THIS CAMERA (AS DID MY PRIUS THAT I TRADED FOR THE PASSAT) AND IT CAME ON WITHIN ONE SECOND OF PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE. THE PASSAT IS ROUTINELY TAKING 6-8 SECONDS, AND HAS TAKEN AS LONG AS 15 SECONDS TO TURN ON. I'VE NOTICED THAT IT IS NOT JUST THE CAMERA THAT IS SLOW. MANY OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE TOUCH SCREEN ARE ALSO SLOW TO REACT. THE VW DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM SAYS THAT VW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT IT IS SIMPLY A SLOW PROCESSOR SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510360May 2, 2013
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, EQUIPMENT
THE BACKUP CAMERA IS VERY SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE (15-25 SECONDS). FREQUENTLY, THE CAMERA WILL NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETED BACKING UP AND THE VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HAVING IDENTIFIED IT IN A VW TECHNICAL BULLETIN. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE IN AUBURN, MI, ABOUT RESOLVING THE ISSUE. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM[XXX], DATED 22 APRIL 2013, WHICH STATED: ". . . YOUR VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS PER ITS DESIGNED INTENT. AS SUCH, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A REPAIR TO [THE] SYSTEM." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 05/05/14.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504475March 25, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE REAR VIEW CAMERA TAKES 10-15 SECONDS TO START UP NEGATING THE SAFETY IT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE. VW USA NOTIFIED AND WERE NOT HELPFUL AND SAID THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497969February 13, 2013
ENGINE
DRIVING MY PASSAT TURBO DIESEL ON I-81 NOTED A LOSS IN POWER; DROVE THE CAR HOME (ABOUT ANOTHER 3 MILES) AND NOTED A STRANGE HUMMING SOUND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. NEXT DAY THE SOUND WAS STILL THERE, WITH A BLINKING GLOW PLUG LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. SPOKE WITH DEALER AND CAR WAS TOWED IN; TWO WEEKS LATER THE CAR WAS BACK WITH A NEW TURBO IN IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498037February 13, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CRASH FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO A CONCRETE WALL. A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE WALL A SECOND TIME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE SCENE AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT THE HOSPITAL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Passat