Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10101420November 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. *NM *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098898November 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
AFTER RAINY DAYS MY 2003 PASSAT WAGON (4 MOTION) HAS 1 -2 INCHES OF WATER ON FLOOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THIS HAS NOW BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE (I JUST TOOK IT BACK TODAY) - THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS A DRAIN PROBLEM FROM THE SUN ROOF THAT WAS CLOGGED. THE CARPET SMELLS AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE ELECTRIC SEATS WILL SOON SHORT OUT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098762November 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
8/01/03 - CAR INSPECTED AND TOLD HAD PROPER J IGNITION COILS INSTALLED 8/18/03 - CAR AGAIN INSPECTED AND TOLD HAD PROPER J IGNITION COILS INSTALLED 11/18/03 - COIL IGNITION RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR FOR A 3RD TIME. AFTER ALL THREE ATTEMPTS OF CHECKING THE IGNITION COILS THEY YET FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS THE 12 COIL I HAVE HAD REPLACED ON A VOLKSWAGEN IN 2 YEARS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098310November 5, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
2003 VW PASSAT; HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH CUSHION AND STARTED SMOLDERING. DEALER REPLACED SEAT. SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE HEATING ELEMENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097623October 25, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND STARTED TO BURN THE CONSUMER'S CLOTHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096278October 23, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
1.) DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVIATED. 2.) DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH SEAT LEATHER AND SCORCHED DRIVER'S PANTS 3.) DEALER CONTACTED, APPOINTMENT SET FOR WARRANTY EVALUATION. DEALER STATED "WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE OCCUR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096255October 22, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I AM A SCHOOL TEACHER AND WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 A.M. I WAS SMELLING A STRONG SMOKE ODOR AS I STARTED DRIVING AND AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE I LOOKED OVER TO MY PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE WAS SMOKE SMOLDERING THROUGH THE SEAT. AS I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING TO THE CAR, I TURNED OFF THE PASSENGER HEATED SEAT (AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN IT). NO ONE WAS INJURED! WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR STALLED ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY AND I WAS STRANDED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO ENTIRE WEEKS. IT'S VERY UNFAIR THAT A VEHICLE UNDER TWO YEARS HAS FAILED IN THIS WAY. THIS SITUATION WAS VERY UNSAFE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF MY CAR. I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093757October 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR BRAKE PADS AND DISKS WORN OUT AFTER 19000 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WITHIN SPEC. DEALER STATES IT'S NORMAL FOR PASSAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO ENGAGE, IF NEEDS A HARDER BRAKING - THEN THE REAR BRAKES BECOME ACTIVE! DID THE VW RE-INVENT THE WHEEL??? OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'VE HAD JAPANESE AND AMERICAN CARS BEFORE - USUALLY YOU HAVE TO SERVICE THE REAR BRAKES AROUND 50K MILES! AS FOR THE DEALER - THE SERVICE MANAGER IN THIS CASE - HE CONVEYED SOME KIND OF NONSENSE JUST TO GET RID OF ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093457October 2, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I WANTED TO NOTE THAT ON OCTOBER 1ST, MY HEATED SEAT ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGENW PASSAT MALFUNCTIONED. IT ACTUALLY BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT, FILLED MY CAR WITH SMOKE, AND LEFT ME WITH A SMALL BURN ON MY THIGH. LUCKILY, I AM FINE. BUT, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, AND I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10093422October 1, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON, VIN NO. [XXX]; HILE DRIVING IN GREENSBORO NC NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ELM, MCGEE AND GORRELL STREETS I MISJUDGED A CURVE AND SCRAPED THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS AGAINST A CURB. BOTH TIRES SUSTAINED SIDEWALL DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH THE BODY OR UNDERCARRAIGE OF THE CAR. THE TWO RIGHT SIDE WHEELS SUSTAINED MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE ONLY AND THE IMPACT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO AFFECT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE AUTOMOBILE CONTINUED FORWARD THROUGH THE CURVE AND THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL FROM THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, UPON CONTACT WITH THE CURB THE RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS FIRED UNNECESSARILY. BUT FOR THE FIRING OF THE AIRBAGS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MINOR EVENT WITH ONLY TIRE DAMAGE TO BE REPAIRED. FORTUNATELY, THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED OR THE OCCUPANT COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TIRES AND WHEELS. I BELIEVE THE AUTMOBILE CONTAINS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT CAUSING THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WHEN NOT NEEDED FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION (IE - IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY CONTACT WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR), AND IN CIRCUMSTANCES PART OF ORDINARY DRIVING - THE IMPACT WITH THE CURB WAS LESS THAN THAT EXPERIENCED WITH SOME POTHOLES. THUS FAR, VW HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTION OF THIS DEFECT.*AK THE AUTOMOBILE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIED, AND PRESUMABLY, EVENT DATA IS STILL STORED IN THE CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091311September 20, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH HEATED LEATHER SEATS. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATERS ON THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS GOING TO WORK AND THEY STARTED TO BURN MY BACK SIDE. THEY BURNT THROUIGH THE LEATHER. THEY DID TURN OFF BUT IF THEY DIDN'T I WOULD HAVE HAD A CAR FIRE. I CALLED HOBART'S VOLKSWAGEN IN WARRINGTON, PA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THESE SEATS. THEY ARE TAKING THE CAR IN THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL REPAIR IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF IT IS WIDESPREAD! SINCERELY, MIKE AND MARTA GROTHMAN NEWTOWN, PA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092764September 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *MR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ODOMETER READING. THE ECP LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY COME ON, THE ENGINE WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS ROUGH IDLING. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091927September 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088987September 2, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN FOLLOW UP TO READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS IN VW'S. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED ON A 2003 VW 1.8 LITER TURBOCHARGED PASSAT. THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083845August 31, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN 3-4 TIMES. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE EC MODULE/FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074719June 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, WHEELS:HUB
WE PURCHASED A NEW VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON FROM LIVONIA VOLKSWAGEN AUTOPLEX (NOW THAYER AUTOMOTIVE LIVONIA, INC.) IN JULY, 2003. AT 18,500 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAR HAS AFTERMARKET BRAKES THAT FIT DIFFERENTLY FROM VW BRAKES, HENCE THE RATTLE. HOWEVER, THESE ARE THE BRAKES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO US. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THREE OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE BRAKE PADS APPEARED "TOO NEW" TO HAVE 18,500 MILES ON THEM (IMPLYING THAT WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED). BASED ON THIS, VW OF AMERICA STATES THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE VW BRAKES TO BE PUT ON THE CAR. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR REPLACED OR SERVICED IN ANY WAY, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THE CAR SERVICED ANYWHERE BUT THIS DEALERSHIP. INCIDENTALLY, THE DAY AFTER THE 10,000 MILE SERVICE, THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, AND THE DAY AFTER THE BRAKE INSPECTION A HUBCAP FLEW OFF. THIS MAY SPEAK TO THE SKILL AND INTEGRITY OF THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF REGULATORY SERVICES WHO STATE THAT THIS MATTER WAS NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER LICENSED BY THE STATE, AND SUGGESTED WE CONTACT YOU. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH, ASSUMING, OF COURSE, THAT IT WAS MADE OF ALL VW PARTS. APPARENTLY IT IS NOT. CURRENTLY, OUR NEW CAR HAS SQUEAKY BRAKES, AN INCREASINGLY LOUD RATTLE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND A MISSING HUBCAP. VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP US. THE SALES MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT RETURN OUR CALLS. WE WOULD LIKE VW BRAKES ON OUR VW CAR, ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR IS, IN FACT, A VW PRODUCT, AND A HUBCAP REPLACED. A FAMILY WHO BUYS A NEW CAR ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWELVE YEARS WOULD APPRECIATE HELP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074518May 31, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 PASSAT WITH 1.8T ENGINE. DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN ON NIEGHBORHOOD STREETS, CAME TO STANDING WATER (APPROX 2 INCHES DEEP), WITNESSED OTHER PASSENGER CARS PASSING THROUGH WATER AND PROCEEDED AT APPROX 2-3 MPH, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START, CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, TOLD A ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO WATER (APPROX 3 GAL.) IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, WAS TOLD WATER GAINED ENTRY VIA AIR INTAKE VENTS AT THE BOTTOM (FENDER LEVEL) OF THE ENGINE, WAS TOLD TO FILE CLAIM WITH INSURANCE COMPANY. PRESENTLY WAITING FOR APPRAISER'S REPORT. VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DRIVING CONDITIONS MENTIONED. APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT THE AIR COOLING INTAKE IS IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO ALLOW THE INTAKE OF WATER INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072731May 17, 2004
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
IT WAS CHILLY THE EVENING OF MAY 15, 2004. I STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL FROM 0 TO 5, AND DROVE ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM MY BROTHER'S HOUSE TO A HOTEL. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR I FORGOT TO TURN DOWN THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL. IT REMAINED AT 5. THE NEXT DAY (MAY 16), I MADE A SERIES OF 4 SHORT TRIPS WITH THE CAR. EACH TRIP WAS ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. ON THE 5TH TRIP, I STARTED THE CAR. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 1 BLOCK, I NOTICED AN ODD SMELL. AFTER DRIVING 1 MORE BLOCK, I DEFINITELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS SITTING ON A HOT COAL. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE SAME AREA -- MY PANTS WERE SMOLDERING! I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE AREA WAS STILL SMOKING. MY JEANS WERE SCORCHED. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL FROM 5 TO 0 AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR AWHILE TO MAKE SURE THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. ON MAY 17, I CALLED THE DEALER. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE APPOINTMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072469May 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS BECAME SEVERELY WORN OUT IN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OF DRIVING. AFTER THE FIRST ALL 4 BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, IN ANOTHER 10,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING STREET DRIVING. ALL 4 ROTORS, 4 BRAKE PADS, AND 2 REAR CALIPERS BECAME SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. VWOA MADE AN EXCEPTION, AND PAID FOR THE REAR BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072445May 11, 2004
TIRES
ONE CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT TIRE (205 55R16) ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WITH APPROXIMATELY 23,300 MILES FAILED UNEXPECTANTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROX 65 MPH). TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL AND DAMAGED BRAKE LINE AND WHEELWELL LINER. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH IS A PASSAT GLX WITH THE 4 MOTION ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WHEN TIRE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE (E.G. PUNCTURES, HOT SPOTS, TIRE NOT ROUND). KEPT OLD TIRE AND SIDEWALL PARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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