Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2009)
152 consumer complaints on file.
- #10427932September 29, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. NONE OF THE FRONT OR REAR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES FROM A BUMP TO THE FOREHEAD. ALSO, THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT, WHO SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE BRAIN AND REMAINED HOSPITALIZED. A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED AND WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10427541September 27, 2011STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WOULD NOT TURN IN ANY DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,199 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,400.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10403913May 31, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY CAR IS 2 YRS OLD ITS A VW PASSAT. HAS STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG WITH THE COMPUTER. ALSO GOT A PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION SIGN POPPED UP, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. NOW MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND IS IN SERVICE YET AGAIN. PLEASE HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10379968February 2, 2011STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING. STEERING GAUGE LIGHT TURNS ON, ALONG WITH ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT. STEERING WHEEL HARDENS AND IT IS UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE. SECOND TIME THAT HAS OCCURRED. CRASH AVERTED DUE TO LOW SPEEDS. HAD THE INCIDENT OCCURRED MINUTES BEFORE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVE, CERTAIN ACCIDENT WOULD'VE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE. INCIDENT HAPPENED AT APPROX. 7000 MILES FIRST AND NOW AGAIN AT APPROX. 24K MILES. VEHICLE BEING REVIEWED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367752November 24, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PILLAR HOLDING UP A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10357690September 26, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PARKED CAR AND WENT INTO THE STORE TO SHOP AND APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER SOMEONE SAID A CAR WAS ON FIRE AND THAT IT WAS A SILVER VW. MY HUSBAND WENT OUT AND FOUND THE WHOLE FRONT END ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10327258April 24, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT
THE VEHICLES MOTOR BEGAN MAKING AN IRREGULAR NOISE ( SOUNDED LIKE AN AIRPLANE ENGINE) BETWEEN 2-3RPMS AND THERE WAS SERIOUS VIBRATION THROUGH THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CHUGGED ALONG AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND NOT THAT RESPONSIVE. THERE WAS SERIOUS VIBRATION THROUGH THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE SERVICE CENTER ON FRIDAY AS IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY. UPON RETURNING ON MONDAY MORNING, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS (TWO) WERE MISSING AND THE THREADS FOR EACH WAS COMPLETELY STRIPPED. THE MOTOR WAS ROCKING BACK AND FORTH CREATING THIS DREADFUL NOISE.THE THREADS WERE RESTORED USING TAP AND DYE SET AND NEW BOLTS WERE INSTALLED. I WAS INFORMED THAT SOMETIMES THE BOLTS SNAP AND THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THERE WERE OTHER SIGNS OF DAMAGE AND I KIND OF FEEL SOMETHING WILL BE FOUND ONCE MY WARRANTY IS UP AS A RESULT OF THIS MISHAPS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10296333December 18, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT UNDER THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR A LEAK IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS PERFORMING AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10294542December 4, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ENGINE COLD. TRANS. IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE. UPON RELEASING BRAKE CAR MOVES TOO FAST. WHEN APPLYING BRAKE NOTHING HAPPENS. AFTER REPEATEDLY APPLYING BRAKE THEY FINALLY CATCH HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES. THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T CATCH AND I REARENDED A PICKUP WAITING AT A STOP SIGN. I DON'T THINK I FAILED TO APPLY THE BRAKES PROPERLY BECAUSE I RAISED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED THEM AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE IMPACT BUT THAT IS NEVER-THE-LESS STILL A POSSIBILITY. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10293315November 23, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FAILURE OF KEY (FOB OR WHAT EVER VW CALLS IT) TO START VEHICLE WHEN INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED TWICE AND RESULTED IN IGNITION SWITCH NEEDING TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER. ON THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE KEY ITSELF SHORTED OUT AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO OPEN POWER DOORS; HOWEVER, THE KEY WOULD ALLOW ME TO OPEN THE POWER REAR HATCH SO THAT I COULD CRAWL THROUGH CAR TO UNLOCK DOORS. TODAY THE OTHER KEY STARTED ACTING UP FOR MY WIFE AND WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO UNLOCK DOORS AND SHE HAD TO CRAWL THROUGH CAR TO UNLOCK DOORS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER HAS THE FIRST FAULTY KEY FOR WHICH HE WAS TO GET US A REPLACEMENT AND WE ARE WAITING ON VW TO REPLACE FAULTY KEY. I DO NOT KNOW IF DEALERSHIP STILL HAS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER STILL HAS MY KEY. THE DATES OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENTS ARE 01/20/2009 & 09/09/2009. THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE LESS THAN 15 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I LEFT MY KEY WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WHEN WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON 09/13/2009. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10284348September 16, 2009POWER TRAIN
2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE ON A CAR DOLLY BEING PULLED BY A 2006 NISSAN X-TERRA. *KB ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPT AND TOW TRUCK OPERATOR THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED LEAKING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE 3 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0747-91.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10260517March 2, 2009POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC SPORT VEHICLE THROUGH BOARDWALK VOLKSWAGEN OF RICHARDSON TEXAS, WHO HAD THE CAR SHIPPED TO THEIR LOCATION FROM TYNAN'S VW IN COLORADO. I PICKED UP MY BRAND NEW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CC SPORT VEHICLE WITH 24 MILES ON THE AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2009. ON SUNDAY, AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND FUMES STARTED COMING OUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED OUT AND SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE RENDERING THE CAR A SAFETY HAZARD AND FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO BOARDWALK VW, WHICH UPON CLOSER INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION LINES MISPOSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE COOLING FAN MOTOR CUT THE LINES OPEN CAUSING CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH POTENTIALLY FLAMMABLE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RUN WITH EXTREMELY LOW LEVELS OF FLUID BY THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SERVICE TO GET IT ON AND OFF THE TOW VEHICLE, SERIOUSLY REDUCING THE MARKET VALUE AND SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE COMPROMISED VEHICLE WITH THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTING AND ANOTHER PASSAT CC VEHICLE WITH THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTING. TO SEE THE PROBLEM, THE CAR WAS RAISED, AND THE UNDERSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER WAS TAKEN OFF. IN THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION, THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE ROUTED IN FRONT OF A RADIATOR TUBE, LEAVING THEM IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROTATING RADIATOR FAN, WHICH EVENTUALLY CUT OPEN THE LINES CAUSING THE LEAK. THE FLUID LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WAS BLOWN INTO THE ENTIRE ENGINE BY THE RADIATOR FAN. IN THE OTHER VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE ROUTED BEHIND THE RADIATOR TUBE, WHICH SHIELDS THEM FROM COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE FAN. THIS CAN BE USED TO START A RECALL ON ALL PASSAT CC MODELS TO HAVE THEM CHECKED FOR INCORRECT ROUTING OF THE TRANSMISSION LINES, WHICH CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CUSTOMER PROBLEMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0