Volkswagen Passat Complaints (2003)

637 consumer complaints on file.

#10487555December 6, 2012
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE ON THE CAPITOL BELTWAY (495 INNER LOOP) I STARTED TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL. MOMENTS LATER WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND EXITED THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT AS A SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485895November 24, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE EVEN AFTER THE SIGNAL HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL ENTERS THE WHEEL CONSOLE. I BEGAN TO PULL OVER AT THE NEXT SAFE AREA AND BEFORE I COULD I NOTICED SMALL FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME AREA WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL ENTERS THE WHEEL CONSOLE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE SMOKE/FIRE SLOWLY SUBSIDED. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE TURN SIGNAL FUSE IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH NO RECALLS ISSUED YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478307October 2, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND POURING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND WATER AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER LEGS DUE TO THE HOT LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,256.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10475311September 13, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS CRACKED AND LEAKING ON 2003 VW PASSAT 4MOTION/AWD (UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 08V156000). CONTACTED MULTIPLE DEALERS AND VW DIRECTLY AND DEALERSHIP/VW WILL NOT REPLACE FUEL TANK UNDER RECALL. BOTH STATED THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED IN 2009 HOWEVER WORK COMPLETED WAS ONLY ONE PART OF THE RECALL THAT INCLUDED ADDING ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDS. VW CUSTOMER CARE STATED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. CUSTOMER OBJECTED STATING THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. *TR *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10474241September 7, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY 2003 VW PASSAT FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE THAT DISABLES THE ABS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473061August 30, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING 45MILES ON THE ROAD WHEN MY 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T STARTED TO SHAKE LIKE CRAZY. THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING OUT..SMOKE CAME FROM MY HOOD. MY CAR STOPPED AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME SWERVED OUT THE WAY BUT CLIPPED ME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR MY OWN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471474August 19, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT AND SOMETIMES THE ANTI-SKID INDICATOR. THIS IS A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR VOLKSWAGENS FOR MANY YEARS: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=40&TSTART=0 VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469470August 7, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467051July 23, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE FUEL LINES AND DID NOT FIND ANY ABRASIONS HOWEVER 20,000 MILES LATER, THE FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465667July 14, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FUEL SUPPLY LINE BEGAN LEAKING AT MOUNTING POINT ON FIREWALL ABOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BREAK/CRACK IN LINE WAS SIGNIFICANT AND POSED A HIGH PROBABILITY OF FIRE, AS ANY FUEL LEAK, BUT SUBSTANTIALLY MORE SO DUE TO THE LOCATION ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465066July 10, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN CAR (2003 VW PASSAT 4MOTION) AFTER THE TANK IS FILLED UP. TOOK CAR TO REPAIRMAN WHO DIAGNOSED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. TOOK CAR TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL ON CRACKED FUEL TANKS (NEAR THE VALVES), BUT VW HAS STATED THAT THIS CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460499June 5, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL 26E5/R5 CONCERNING UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE RECALL, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $ 1343.00 TO REPLACE. RECALL # 08V156000 *JB THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN IF THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL, SHE WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/13/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457764May 8, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A NOISE IN WHICH IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS LOW ON FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,008.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456577April 26, 2012
SUSPENSION
FRONT CONTROL ARMS FAILURE. VERY COMMON IN THIS SUSPENSION DESIGN. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED IN EUROPE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. LIKEWISE, THE AUDI A4 SHARES THE SAME CHASSIS AND SAME FRONT END SUSPENSION. THESE CONTROL ARMS ARE SERIOUSLY UNDER DESIGNED. THIS IS DANGEROUS! HAVING THIS FAIL WHILE DRIVING WILL RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND IS BEING OVERLOOKED. THE BUSHINGS ON MY CONTROL ARMS (ALL 4 FOR EACH OF MY FRONT WHEELS, EIGHT IN TOTAL) ARE SERIOUSLY CRACKED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FAILING AT 50K AND 70K MILES. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING FAILED CONTROL ARMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449707February 29, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL POURING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE CAR. FIRE COULD HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449674February 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
COILS FAILING RANDOMLY AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY. POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO BE CAUSED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. IE OXYGEN SENSOR ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445093January 24, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT A STOPLIGHT CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER, I MADE IT HOME WITH THE CAR SHAKING THE ENTIRE TIME. HAD TO REPLACE COILS. HAVE BROKEN DOWN TWICE AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED SINCE THEN AND REPLACE COILS. NOT TOO MENTION THE OTHER SEVERAL TIMES COILS WERE REPLACED WITHOUT THE CAR ACTUALLY BREAKING DOWN. DUE TO THE COILS CONSTANTLY GOING BAD CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO GO BAD, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED MAY 2011 ALONG WITH THE COILS AND O2 SENSOR. BUT TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN DUE TO THE COILS. THEY WERE REPLACED, AND ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON THE CONVERTER DUE TO THE ISSUE WITH THE COIL PACKS! THE CAR NOW SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING WHEN ONLY DRIVING FOR 20-30 MINS. HAD TO GET A EMISSIONS WAIVER FROM THE DOT FOR 2 YEARS DUE TO THE PROBLEM SINCE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH MORE THAN JUST THE COIL PACKS THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED A DOZEN TIME, YET THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE WHOLE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WIRES, TOO PREVENT FIRE AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441607December 29, 2011
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
HEATER STOPPED WORKING AND BLEW COLD AIR. BROUGHT CAR INTO VW DEALER BE SERVICED. HEATING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED WITH CLEANER. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER "REPAIR," CAR WAS DRIVEN WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER ON AND A 1 1/4" HOLE BURNT THROUGH SEAT EXPOSING BURNT HEATING ELEMENT AND BURNT FOAM. HEATER STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER ABOVE "REPAIR." RETURNED TO DEALER TO REDO REPAIR AND REQUESTED THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT UPHOLSTERY LEATHER REPLACED. TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $1000.00 AND THAT IT WOULD BE THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. CLEARLY THE SEAT HEATERS ON THIS CAR MODEL ARE DEFECTIVE GIVEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND PRIOR RECALLS. VW REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WITH A RECALL...WHICH LEADS TO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: "WHY WEREN'T THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECALLED AS WELL?" WAS THIS A CALCULATION ON THE PART OF VW CORPORATE....THAT THE COST OF REPLACING THE DRIVER SEATS THROUGH A RECALL WAS LESS THAT THE LIABILITY DUE TO BURNS/ACCIDENTS/LOSS OF LIFE...BUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE PASSENGER SEATS THROUGH A RECALL WAS CALCULATED TO BE MORE THAN THE LIABILITY THERE? THIS DOES NOT SMELL GOOD. CLASS ACTION SUIT SEEMS APPROPRIATE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438893December 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER DROVE THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (2.8 V6 ENGINE) HOME AND PARKED IT. HE CAME BACK OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS LATER AND FOUND THE VEHICLE SMOKING. SMALL FIRE AT RIGHT FRONT FLOOR PAN/MINOR MELTING OF DASH PLASTICS CAUSED BY HEAT FROM RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST PIPE/CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HEAT SHIELD MELTED, RUBBER BODY PLUG IGNITED AND CONSUMED, CARPET JUST ABOVE BODY PLUG WAS CHARRED. CAR JUST HAD RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND PIPE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428868October 5, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
HEATED SEAT COILS OVERHEATED AND BURNT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE. 1 YEAR AFTER RECALL WAS DONE BY [XXX] VW BROCKTON MA, THEY TOLD ME THE HEATERS IN THE SEAT ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO CALL VW USA WITH MY PROBLEM, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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