1996 Volkswagen Passat

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1996· STRUCTURE

  DOOR SEALS LEAK.

• 12/27/2004· VISIBILITY

  DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOISY WHEN CLOSING, NOW HAS FAILED SUCH THAT WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, SLIDES DOWN ALLOWING WATER AND WIND TO ENTER VEHICLE. MOTOR WILL FUNCTION, BUT MAKES SOUNDS AS THOUGH COGS IN REGULATOR ARE STRIPPED. MANY OTHER OWNERS ON VARIOUS DISCUSSION FORUMS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

• 12/27/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH OF THE 1996 AUDI A4. THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE VW PASSAT. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, IT CAUSES THE RUNNING OR HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DEFROSTER, AND HEATER BLOWER TO FAIL. ALL OF THESE ELECTRICAL TOOLS ARE NECESSARY FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN BAD WEATHER. MY DEALER SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE AUDI RECALL AND ALSO DID NOT SEE WHY I FELT THIS INTERMITENT PROBLEM MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED...ONCE THE SWITCH DID FAIL COMPLETELY AND WAS NO LONGER AN INTERMITENT PROBLEM, THE ELECTRICIAN WAS ABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE. *AK

• 12/27/2000· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES WENT CRAZY. WITH ENGINE OFF SPEEDOMETER READS 80 MPH AND TACHOMETER READS 4000 RPM. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A COLD START-UP AND IS KNOWN TO BE AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. IT APPEARS TO BE SPECIFIC TO 1996 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX MODELS AND IS REPORTED TO BE A $600. OR MORE DEALER REPAIR WITH A NEED TO SPECIAL ORDER THE REPLACEMENT GAUGE/CLUSTER ASSEMBLY FROM GERMANY REQUIRING 4-6 WEEKS FOR PARTS DELIVERY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ! PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE NOT WEAR ITEMS AND SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. I AM NOT ABOUT TO PAY VW $600. OR MORE TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE TO USE THE VIN NUMBERS TO DETERMINE IF THIS DEFECT IS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN PRODUCTION TIME PERIOD. PERHAPS THE VENDOR SUPPLIER TO VW HAD SOME PRODUCTION PROBLEMS THAT WERE DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED. OWNER'S OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT RESULTS FROM NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. *AK

• 12/11/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IN A 1996 PASSAT VR6. WAS A RECALL ON SWITCH. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND ON PARTS AND LABOR. *JB

• 12/11/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN

  FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEEDLE WILL NOT SET AT ZERO EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. *AK

• 12/08/2005· VISIBILITY

  HEATER CORE IS LEAKING, AND MAKES DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO DECREASED VISIBILITY, AND THE FUMES COMING OFF THE HEATER CORE CAUSE ME TO COUGH FOR A FEW DAYS IF I ACTUALLY DRIVE MY CAR. *NM

• 12/05/2000· TIRES

  FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING (DOTAN7JT451179 - BF GOODRICH 185-6514). NLM

• 12/03/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE DASHBOARD AND ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BURNT. CONSUMER STATES' NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING AND BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/02/2003· VISIBILITY,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DOOR HANDLES WORE OUT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TWO VEHICLES THAT HAD DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLES. NOT LONG AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. *AK DEALER FOUND THE WORN DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN OUTSIDE MIRROR SWITCH REPLACED. TRUNK LOCK WAS LOOSE. *TT *JB

• 12/02/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERINCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DAY RUINNING LIGHT/ HEAD LIGHT, HEATER / COOLING SYSTEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT OR STOP OPERATING. SOMETIMES IF KEY IS JIGGLED IT WOULD CAUSE IT TO COME BACK ON OR OPERATE AGAIN. ASLO, SPEEDOMETER / ODOMETER FAIL EDTO OPERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

• 11/30/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER HAD 1996 VW PASSAT IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *TS THE FIRST TIME THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE AND NOW THAT IT HAS FAILED AGAIN THE DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH UNDER THE RECALL AGAIN BECAUSE THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 8 YEARS OLD. *JB

• 11/27/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 VW PASSAT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHICH SHUT DOWN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V256000 I WAS INFORMED BY VW CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VIN#, DESPITE IT BEING A 1996 PASSAT. I THINK IT SHOULD. *TR

• 11/26/1996· POWER TRAIN

  MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF 3RD GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL UNTIL MANUALLY PUT BACK INTO GEAR. *AK

• 11/21/2002· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  CONSUMER STATES THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. SPEEDOMETER IS NOT SHOW ACCURATE SPEED, NEITHER THE GASOLINE GAUGE AND OTHER PANEL INSTRUMENTS. POR FAVOR ENVIE EL CUESTIONARIO. TS

• 11/18/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE OFF POSITION THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 11/14/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING THE HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND TURN SIGNALS WILL GO OUT. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 11/13/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMERS NOTICE THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 11/12/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEATER CORE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, BLOWING HOT STEAM OUT OF THE VENTS, DUMPING HOT COOLANT ONTO MY FEET AND FOGGING UP THE WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY. *TR

• 11/12/2002· SEAT BELTS

  THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AND COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR JG *JB

• 11/07/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTS IN WINDSHIELD WIPER, WINDOWS, AND BLINKER FAILURE AS WELL AS THE ENGINE NOT STARTING OR STOPPING ONCE STARTED. VERY DANGEROUS AND PRONE TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY AND HARM AND INJURY TO OTHERS IN AN HIGHWAY ACCIDENT. DT

• 11/07/2002· VISIBILITY

  BOTH POWER WINDOWS FAIL AND WINDOW DEFOGGER DOESN'T WORK. SO WHEN THIS OCCURS I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE OPTION OF ROLLING DOWN MY WINDOWS TO CLEAR THE CAR SO THAT I CAN OPERATE THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS LED TO NEAR ACCIDENTS ON 4 OCCASIONS. DRIVER'S WINDOW COMPLETELY FAILED. MUST TRY TO OPEN DOOR WHILE DRIVING TO CLEAR AIR. MUST TRY AND OPEN DOOR IF STOPPED BY POLICEMAN OPENING YOUR DOOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BY POLICEMAN. AS WITH OTHER VOLKSWAGEN MODELS, THIS MODEL HAS MAJOR POWER WINDOW FAILURE WHICH POSSES A SAFETY THREAT BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO OPERATE BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. DT

• 11/07/2002· VISIBILITY

  BOTH POWER WINDOWS FAIL. DRIVER'S WINDOW CIMPLETELY FAILED. MUST TRY AND OPEN DOOR IF STOPPED BY POLICEMAN OPENING YOUR DOOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BY POLICEMAN. AS WITH OTHER VOLKSWAGEN MODELS, THIS MODEL HAS MAJOR POWER WINDOW FAILURE WHICH POSSES A SAFETY THREAT BECAUSE OF INABILITY TO OPERATE BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. DT

• 11/07/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

  TRUNK LOCKING MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURE. RESULTS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THE TRUNK WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND NOT CLOSE AND LOCK. MAY CAUSE A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT WHEN THE TRUNK POPS UP, COMPLETELY BLOCKING DRIVER REAR VIEW CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DT

• 11/07/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND LIMITED CONTROL OF THE CAR. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURANCE. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON EXISTENT. AS FOR THE DOOR HANDLE AND WINDOW PROBLEM, AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. SO FAR NO ONE HAS LOST THEIR LIFE AT LEAST IN OUR CASE. M. *AK

• 11/04/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  COOLING SYSTEM/RADIATOR HOSE DEFECTIVE.

• 10/30/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN IN PROGRESS FOR PASSAT IGNITION SWITCH WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V256000. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS CAMPAIGN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE AS I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN. DT

• 10/30/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NHTSA# 15255-02-V-256-000 IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHT, WIDSHIELD AND WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE TO VIN# DEALER NOTIFIED TS

• 10/27/2006· VISIBILITY

  HEATER CORE FAILURE. VENTING OF NOXIOUS FUMES INTO PASSANGER COMPARTMENT. *NM

• 10/27/2003· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT STARTED WITH THE LEFT REAR DOOR WHICH I TRIED TO REPAIR MYSELF. THEN IT WAS THE DRIVER DOOR. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT A HIGH COST. NOW IT IS THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE THE OBJECT OF A RECALL.*AK

• 10/27/1997· STEERING

  GEAR BOX POPPING OUT OF GEAR.

• 10/25/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WITH FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER, HEADLIGHTS, TURNING SIGNALS AND AC/HEAT FAN. ALL EXCEPT FOR THE LETTER I CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. NHTSA POSTED A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL BUT VWOA DO NOT HAVE RECORDS OF SUCH RECALL AND CHARGE FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR OF REPLACEMENT. DT

• 10/25/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ALL VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAIL W/O WARNING. TS

• 10/24/2004· VISIBILITY

  OWNER OF 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX. DRIVING LOW SPEED WHEN I HEARD A POP & HISS SOUND. TONS OF STEAM CAME THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS & UNDER THE DASH. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND FOUND LEAKING COOLANT UNDER VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE. HEATER CORE FAILED. I HAD TO TOW MY VEHICLE BACK TO MY HOUSE AND CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO REPAIR. NO RESPONSE FROM VWOA AS OF YET AS I CONTACTED THEM VIA EMAIL A COUPLE DAYS AGO.*AK

• 10/24/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE IGNITION SWITCH CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTENTLY. ENGINE STILL RUNS BUT NO LIGHTS, WIPERS, ABS BRAKING, AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES OPERATE. DT

• 10/21/1999· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS SEEN AND GREASED THE DOORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

• 10/19/1999· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  NONE OF THE DOORS BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME, IN ORDER TO GET INTO MY CAR I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AND OPEN THE DOOR OR DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE, ANYONE COULD JUMP INTO MY CAR FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE AT THIS TIME. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WE WERE QUOTED AN EXTREMELY HIGH AMOUNT BY THE DEALER WHICH I THINK ISNT RIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS FAULTY CRAFTMANSHIP NOT FAULTY OWNERSHIP. *AK

• 10/15/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  CONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. MR

• 10/15/2002· VISIBILITY

  CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. MR

• 10/15/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CALLED VW - NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V256000 DESCRIBING RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR?! RIDICULOUS! I HAD THIS EXACT THING HAPPEN TO ME, IN SNOWY WEATHER. I DROVE 60 MILES WITH MY HAND ON THE KEY SWITCH TWISTING IT SO LIGHTS AND WIPERS WOULD STAY ON! THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED! MR

• 10/14/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  RE: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V256000 STATES THAT "ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. IF SUCH FAILURES OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE AT NIGHT OR IN A RAINY OR SNOWY WEATHER, A CRASH COULD OCCUR. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOFA AT 1-800-822-8987. WELL, AT THIS WRITING IT IS OCTOBER 14, 2002 I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION. THE PROBLEM STATED ABOVE HAPPENED TO MY CAR. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT MATCH THEIR LIST. DUH, PUT IT ON THE LIST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED. THE MORONIC "CUSTOMER ADVOCATE" AS THEY CALL THEMSELVES KEPT REPEATING THAT THE VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST SO HE CANNOT DO ANYTHING. CAN NHTSA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MR

• 09/30/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING 60MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED FOR NO REASON. THIS CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD. HAD NO WARNING. TOWED TO DEALER. INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS ALTERNATOR. THE BATTERY WAS ALSO DEFFECTIVE. BOTH ALTERNATOR & BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING. WAS GIVEN NO REASON CONCERNING ALTERNATOR. *AK

• 09/25/1996· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTION IN TRANSMISSION WHEN AT 60 MPH VEHICLE SHIFTS ON IT'S OWN FROM THIRD GEAR TO NEUTRAL, RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE.*AK

• 09/23/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING FOR OVER TWO HOURS VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, REVVING UP WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STALLED. *AK

• 09/21/2000· STRUCTURE

  I CANNOT GET INTO MY CAR DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT ROLLING ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL DOORS ONCE BEFORE AND THEN THE FRONT TWO DOORS BROKE ONCE AGAIN MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN, I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IF I WERE TO WRECK AND BECAME UNCONSIOUS IN A BURNING CAR THE PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR.

• 09/20/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 02V256000. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. DEARSHIP INDICATED TO CONSUMER SORRY THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

• 09/18/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS FAILURE.

• 09/18/1997· STRUCTURE

  TRUNK LEAKS.

• 09/12/2004· VISIBILITY

  NO EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE... I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN MY HEATER CORE FAILED.. CAUSING SOLDING HOT COOLANT TO RUSH ONTO MY FEET WHILE DRIVING.. I HAD TO BRAKE WHILE COOLANT WAS ALL OVER MY FEET...BURNING THEM...NEARLY CAUSING AND ACCIDENT!*AK

• 09/10/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER. *JB