2000 Volkswagen Passat

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

• 12/31/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  MY 2000 VW PASSAT CAUGHT ON FIRE DEC 28, 2007. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR (IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED) IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. I FIND IT VERY PERTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT VW KNEW OF THESE (COIL) DEFECTS YET DID NOTHING TO INFORM OWNERS. I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN AGES 2 AND 4 IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. FORTUNATELY, MY QUICK INSTINCTS PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH LIMITED ENGINE DAMAGE AND WITHOUT CASUALTIES. *TR

• 12/31/2004· SUSPENSIONCrash

  (1) DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED WHILE ROUNDING CURVE CAR MADE A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE AND BEGAN SWERVINGUNCONTROLABLY TO THE RIGHT. (2) CAR CAME TO REST HALF ON AND HALF OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, LANE HAD TO BE CLOSED AND TRAFFIC JAM RESULTED. (3) DEALER SAID RIGHT FRONT AND REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED. PARTS MUST BE REPLACED.*AK

• 12/30/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

  MY 2000 VW PASSAT GLS WAGON BEGAN EXHIBITING A FLASHING/BEEPING RED BRAKE LIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY A SOLID YELLOW ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO INDICATE A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. ALSO AT THIS TIME THE INFORMATION HUD HAS "STOP, BRAKE FAULT, SERVICE MANUAL" FLASHING. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS FAILURE IS FAIRLY COMMON ON 1998-2001 PASSATS, BUT NO ACTION HAS EVER BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. I INTEND TO HAVE THE ABS MODULE REBUILT AND DO THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION WORK MYSELF; THE RESULT SHOULD BE AROUND $220 OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT DEALERSHIP SERVICE WORK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE SPENT WELL IN EXCESS OF $1,000. GIVEN THE APPARENT FAILURE RATE OF THIS MODULE AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A CORE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL (INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE THE REPAIR). THANK YOU. *TR

• 12/30/2008· SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

  ABS BRAKE FAULT. *TR

• 12/30/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD A FULL STOP ACTIVATING ABS. TWO DAYS LATER THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING - TOOK TO DEALER WHO INFORMED THAT ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACING FOR $1300.

• 12/30/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  4TH WINTER IN A ROW SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IT HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM STARTING. EACH YEAR THE "DIAGNOSIS" HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT...BUT MAINLY A "PROBLEM WITH CARBONIZATION BUILDUP". 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, RESULTING IN NEW PLUGS, OIL CHANGE, THIS YEAR A NEW BATTERY, "DECARBONIZATION PROCEDURE"....HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. HAVE USED ONLY THE FINEST FUEL (VW CLAIMED THIS WAS THE ROOT PROBLEM, POOR QUALITY FUEL) SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN 2000. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

• 12/30/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE VEHICLE'S ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *MR

• 12/29/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I DRIVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX 4MOTION. I HAVE FELT THAT I GOT A BAD CAR SINCE VERY EARLY ON IN MY LEASE (I NOW HAVE 8 MONTHS LEFT). ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCAISION, I HAD A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY OIL PAN THAT MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A ROCK (I DON'T RECALL FEELING ANYTHING HIT THE CAR HARD ENOUGH TO PUT A HOLE IN ANYTHING). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTEED ITEM, RATHER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED 5 OTHER CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING WHEN THE BREAKS ARE APPLIED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. I ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY KIND OF BREAK PROBLEMS WITH THAT FEW MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTEE EITHER, AGAIN, NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE OTHER 5 CARS THAT I OWNED EASILY HAD OVER 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND WITH THIS VEHICLE. EARLY ON IN MY LEASE, I HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. EACH TIME IT WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP ON MY SPARK PLUGS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THERE WAS ONLY 2,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THAT SPARK PLUGS WERE STANDARD MAINTENENANCE ITEMS AND I MUST NOT BE TAKING CARE OF MY CAR PROPERLY. 2 YEARS LATER, THERE WAS AN EMISSION CONTROLS RECALL WHICH FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH THE DEALER INITIALLY CALLED DRIVER ERROR, NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM.

• 12/28/2008· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  2000 PASSAT 4 MOTION BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE HAS FAILED. 82,000 MI. *TR

• 12/28/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  THE MASS AIR FLOW METER GAVE OUT ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN AUGUST 2003. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART WAS EXTENDED TO 70,000 MILES. I RECEIVED A REBATE FOR THE EXPENSE (FIVE MONTHS AFTER SUBMITTING IT). NOW, 16 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR FLOW METER FAILED AGAIN, AND MY CAR IS PAST THE 70,000 MILE WARRANTY PERIOD (BUT THE PART IS ONLY 20,000 MILES OLD). VOLKSWAGEN IS CLEARLY HAVING A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THIS PART, WHICH HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY TWO DIFFERENT VOLKWAGEN DEALERSHIPS. *JB

• 12/28/2004· STEERING

  2000 VW PASSAT WITH ONLY 42,000 HAD WORN TIE RODS TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER MAINTENANCE/SERVICE WORK. THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S COST. VW REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE TWO RECALLS FOR TIE RODS ON 1999 PASSATS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #99V248000 AND 00V414000). VW ALSO JUST ISSUED A "SERVICE ACTION" IN NOVEMBER 2004 FOR CHECKING/REPLACING FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS SERVICE ACTION DID NOT INCLUDE TIE RODS. I BELIEVE VW IS ATTEMPTING TO CIRCUMVENT A RECALL BY ISSUING THIS "SERVICE ACTION" BULLETIN, AND BY NOT COVERING PROBLEMS WITH TIE RODS IN THIS SERVICE ACTION MAINTENANCE. SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR OF PASSAT (THE 1999 MODEL) HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIE ROD AND THE RECALL WAS AFTER THE 2000 PASSATS WENT ON THE MARKET, IT IS MOST PROBABLE THAT THE SAME PROBLEMS WERE STILL PRESENT IN THE 2000 PASSAT. *JB

• 12/27/2002· SEAT BELTSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE PRESSURE OF THE DRIVER IMPACTING THE CONSOLE, CAUSED THE CONSOLE TO TWIST AND ACTIVATE THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BOTTOM. THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER BEING THROWN FROM THERE SEAT, WHICH CAUSE THEM TO HAVE HEAD INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

• 12/27/2002· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY ON DISABILITY AS THE RESULT OF THE INJURIES OBTAINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

• 12/23/2000· SEATSCrash

  WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION THAT SANDWICHED MY CAR BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES.THE SEATBACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE(THE ONLY OCCUPIED SEAT).WENT BACKWARDS FROM A NEAR UPRIGHT POSITION TO APPROX 45 DEGREES.ALSO THE LUMBAR SUPPORT COLLAPSED ON THE LEFT SIDE.*AK

• 12/22/2003· STEERING

  TIE ROD ENDS FAILED ON 2000 PASSAT EFFECTING THE STEERING CONTROL. PRIOR TO 44000. DEALER STATED THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL FOR PASSAT . TIE ROD ENDS WERE RETURNED TO ME AND THE SEALS WERE NOT PROTECTING THE SWIVEL BEARING. *AK INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS RECALL IN 99 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. WE BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN MAY HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE WITH TIE ROD ENDS ON ADDITIONAL AUTOS.*AK

• 12/21/2020· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT, HE NOTICED A FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF EMPTY AFTER BEING REFILLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAM IN THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL LEAK. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

• 12/21/2005· STRUCTURE

  BATTERY DRAIN WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL, SO IT'S CLOGGED. THERE IS A WATER LEAK ENTERING FROM POLLEN FILTER THROUGH THE HOUSING DOWN TO TCM WHICH CAUSED A DAMAGE TO TCM(TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE SO IT DOESN'T COVER UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND THE GEAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND. SO I RESTARTED THE CAR THEN EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. BUT SHORTLY AFTER IT WENT BACK TO THE SAME. AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE. VERY DANGEROUS. NOTHING HAS DONE FROM DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY YET NOR THERE ISN'T ANY RECALL . I'M STILL WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM VOLKSWAGEN. BUT THE DEALER WANTS ME TO REPAIR IT AT MY COST FOR $2000 EVEN THOUGH IT IS POWER TRAIN COMPONENT. *NM

• 12/20/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTILOCKING BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE FAILURE. "NO COMMUNICATION" ABS SYSTEM CODE RECEIVED - NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. *AK

• 12/20/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON EVERY 2 WEEKS, MY TRANSMISSION IS JERKING WHEN GEARING DOWN. THIS IS A NEW CAR AND IT SHOULD BE MORE DEPENDABLE. THEY RESET MY LIGHT AND THEN WE START OVER BECAUSE IT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON.*AK

• 12/19/2005· STRUCTURE

  AFTER RECENT RAIN, A POOL OF WATER COLLECTED ON THE RIGHT REAR FLOOR. ELECTRONICS ARE STARTING TO MALFUNCTION. APPRENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT HASNT BEEN RESOLVED. HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-12789.HTML. *NM

• 12/19/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THERE ARE FOUR OIL PACKETS LOCATED INTO HER VEHICLE. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 12/16/2025· AIR BAGS

  Side airbag deployed for no reason while driving straight at the speed limit of 75 mph. The local VW dealer determined the side impact sensor is defective. This is a very interesting situation because a fail safe exists in these systems in that the supplemental restraint control module in the center of the car must simultaneously "see" a side impact g force in order to deploy the side air bag. In other words even with a defective side impact sensor The side air bag should not have deployed. At the time of the incident the vehicle was travelling straight ahead next to a semi truck. No such impact occurred and the VW dealer confirmed the vehicle has no evidence of such an impact. I had this investigated by Volkswagen AG and my local dealer. Suffered broken teeth, bruised ribs, hearing loss in left ear.

• 12/16/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NAR 1/15/2003. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE. THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH HAD COME ON AND DID SO SPORADICALLY. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WHICH BEGAN MOVING ERRATICALLY, TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC THERE WAS A READING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. AS OF NOW THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *JB

• 12/15/2008· SEAT BELTSCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND DROPPED DOWN APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS PINNED HALFWAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE OTHER HALF UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AND PASSED AWAY AT THE SCENE. THE OTHER PASSENGER, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, A CONCUSSION, AND MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT IN THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED HIS BODY WITHIN THE VEHICLE. HE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT A FRIEND REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. HE BELIEVES THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000. UPDATED 2/2/09 *CN UPDATED 02/04/09. *JB

• 12/15/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ABS MODULE.

• 12/14/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ISSUES MAY ALL BE RELATED, COULD BE VACUUM PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSTANT, OCCURRING EVERY DAY REGARDLESS OF WEATHER. 1. ENGINE REVS IN NEUTRAL, WHILE CREEPING AT LOWEST RPMS AND WHILE STOPPED IN DRIVE. RPMS FLUCTUATE EVERY SPLIT SECOND, 750-900 RPMS. WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE, THE REVVING OFTEN CAUSES COLLISION WITH OBJECTS IN GARAGE. 2. ALSO, ENGINE ALMOST STALLS ON TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START OR HOT RESTART. 3. POWER-ASSIST BRAKES FAIL IN REVERSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START AND BACKING OUT OF PARKING SLOT. DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. DEALER HAS CHECKED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, REPLACED PARTS, MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER REPAIRS, ALL PROBLEMS BEGIN OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK

• 12/14/2000· AIR BAGSCrash

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/10/2008· VISIBILITY

  ON RAISING THE WINDOW, THE GLASS FALLS INTO THE DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH FRONT AND REAR DOORS, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. EACH TIME, THE DIAGNOSIS IS THE SAME: THE "REGULATOR" FAILED. REPAIRS COST APPROXIMATELY $400 PER WINDOW. MY WIFE AND I OWN IDENTICAL CARS AND OF THE EIGHT WINDOWS, FOUR HAVE FAILED. AFTER ROUGHLY $1600 FOR THE FOUR WINDOWS, I'M LOSING PATIENCE. A COWORKER OWNS A SIMILAR CAR AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/10/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  ABS FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AT 55000 MILES. ABS NOT OPERATIONAL. GARGE TO CHARGE $13850 FOR NEW ABS MODULE. RIDICULOUS. THIS IS NOT A WEAR COMPONENT!!! THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *AK

• 12/10/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AGO THE FUEL GAUGE BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY - SHOWING LESS FUEL IN THE TANK THAN ACTUALLY EXISTED. CURRENTLY (12/04) AFTER A COMPLETE FILL-UP, MY GAS GAUGE SHOWS 3/4 FULL. ONCE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 1/4 TANK REMAINING, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT IN THE TANK IS APPROXIMATELY 1.3 GALLONS. I NOW HAVE TO REGULARLY MONITOR THE MILEAGE I HAVE DRIVEN ON EACH TANK TO MAKE SURE I DO NOT RUN OUT OF FUEL BEFORE FILLING UP.*AK

• 12/10/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MALFUNCTION IN ABS MODULE ABS BRAKE LIGHTS ON ALSO TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. *LA

• 12/08/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF (COMPUTER FAILURE?). MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS DRIVING, HAD TO USE BOTH FEET, PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS HE COULD, TO STOP THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US AND WE WERE FAR ENOUGH BACK THAT WE DID NOT ACCELERATE INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE SOUND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER 15-30 SECONDS AND WE DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT BUT WE HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN ADDITION, THE ABS COMPUTER MODULE HAS ALSO FAILED, THOUGH WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY INCIDENTS RELATED TO THAT FAILURE AS THE BRAKES ARE OTHERWISE FINE.

• 12/08/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  SULFUR DEPOSITS COLLECT ON SENDING UNITS CAUSING FUEL TO BE READ AS EMPTY WHEN TANK COULD BE EMPTY OR FULL. CAR WILL IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ISSUE BEGINNING IN JUNE OF 2000 FOR ALL 4MOTION PASSATS. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AT THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2000 NOR WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN INTIALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON SECOND VISIT TO LOCAL DEALER WAS A RECALL MENTIONED, BUT NOTHING WAS FIXED. I WAS INFORMED BY DEALER TO MONITOR FUEL LEVEL AT CERTAIN MILEAGE. ORIGINALLY 250 MILES, WHICH THEN DECREASED TO 200 AND THEN CURRENTLY 150 DUE TO LAST INCIDENT OF CAR FAILURE AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM AND CAR WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP ON 10/26, 11/1, 11/28 AND WAS TO BE FIXED 12/2. PROBLEM NOT FIXED. WRONG PART WAS INSTALLED IN CAR. THEREFORE, I WILL BE HAVING TO TAKE CAR IN FOR A ADD'TL VISIT WHEN CORRECT PART ARRIVES AT DEALERSHIP. I AM TO WAIT FOR NOTIFICATION FROM THE DEALER WHEN PART WILL BE DELIVERED AND READY. RECENTLY FOUND ON WEBSITE THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN RENDERED BY THE NHTSA AS POSSIBLE TO CAUSE A CRASH. ONCE I NOTIFIED DEALER OF THIS, A RENTAL CAR WAS THE OFFERED, BUT AT NO OTHER TIME WAS A LOANER CAR OFFERRED EVEN WITH THE RECALL STATING SUCH A CLAIM. PROPER FOLLOW UP HAS NOT BEEN DONE IN REGARDS TO MY SITUATION AND I AM SEEKING A NEW CAR. I WOULD LIKE DEALER TO BUY BACK CAR AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFAULT OF THIS CAR OR I REFUNDED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE CAR AS JUST COMPENSATION. THE PROBLEM HAS CAUSED MYSELF TO SUFFER LOST WAGES DUE TO TIME LOST AT WORK AND PLACED ME IN SEVERAL SAFTEY HAZARDS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT MY VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH AND I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN ON MY CELLULAR PHONE AND THE EMPLOYEE ARRIVED, REQUESTING $10 BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS GAS RELATED, ALTHOUGH I HAD JUST FILLED UP MY TANK THE DAY BEFORE AND HAD NOT DRIVEN MORE THAN 30 MILES THAT DAY OR THE PREVIOUS ONE. *AK

• 12/07/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  RADIATOR FAILURE. CRACKED RADIATOR ON PASSENGER SIDE BOTTOM. RADIATOR FAN FAILURE. BEARINGS IN MOTOR SQUEALING. *AK

• 12/07/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE ABS CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON THE VEHICLE. TAKEN TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

• 12/05/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  VOLKSWAGEN HAS A RECALL DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. BECAUSE I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, THE NEAREST VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IS IN THE NEXT STATE. WHEN I EXPLAINED THIS TO THE VOLKSWAGEN PEOPLE THEY SAID I HAD TO DO THIS RECALL AT A DEALERSHIP WITH NO COMPENSATION FROM THEM FOR MY TIME OR MY EXPENSE. THEY ALSO SAID THAT SINCE I CALLED THEM, THEY ARE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM IF MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I TOLD THEM THAT I AM NOT WAIVING ANY OF MY RIGHTS WITH THIS PHONE CALL AND ASKED TO HAVE THE CALL RECORDED. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS A SIX HOUR DRIVE FROM MY RESIDENCE AND BE EXPECTED TO WAIT THREE OR MORE HOURS FOR THE REPLACEMENT ON MY VEHICLE TO BE DONE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR ME DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM DISABLED AND ON A LIMITED INCOME. WE HAVE A VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR SHOP HERE IN MY TOWN. GERMAN MOTORS 1065 K ST ARCATA CA 95521 THEY WILL NOT LET ME HAVE THE RECALL DONE THERE. *TR

• 12/05/2001· SUSPENSION,VISIBILITY,SEATS

  SUN ROOF LEAKS - DRAINS CLEANED BY DEALER TWICE - STILL LEAKING. DRIVER'S SEAT BACK MOVES FORWARD WHEN BRAKE APPLIED. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. SEAT BACK CAN BE MOVED BY HAND. CAR HAS VIBRATION AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT MOST SPEEDS. DEALER CLAIMS TIRES ARE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, TIRES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED TWICE (AT MY EXPENSE) BY INDEPENDENT DEALERS WHO STATE TIRES ARE O.K. WHEELS REBALANCED, FRONT END ALIGNED, (ALL AT MY EXPENSE) AND PROPLEM PERSISTS. VW REFUSES TO HELP CLAIMING PROBLEM IS RELATED TO TIRES.*AK

• 12/05/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  RECALL 00V147000; BEEN PUT OFF BY DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY SINCE OCTOBER 2000, NO PARTS AVAILABLE.*AK THE PART WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER FROM FACTORY OVERSEAS. *YH

• 12/03/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS

  THIS VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED, AND THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, AND THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

• 12/03/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE ROUTINELY DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE ABS LIGHT AND THE ASR INDICATOR LIGHTS TURNED ON, AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE DASHBOARD COMPUTER SAID "ABS FAULT". THESE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY SINCE THEN.*AK I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER THE VERY NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED, WHICH IS A $1200 PART WITH AN ACCOMPANYING $500 OR SO IN LABOR. DESPITE THE CAR HAVING ONLY 33000 MILES AND THE NUMEROUS CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS COMMONLY OCCURRING FAILURE, THE DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA WERE BOTH UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ABS ANYMORE, WHICH REPRESENTS A SAFETY RISK. THE VEHICLE IS A 2000 VW PASSAT GLX V6, PURCHASED DECEMBER 1999.

• 12/03/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. IN THE OWNER MANUAL IT STATES WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON DON'T DRIVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEIRS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH COIL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALERSHIP. TS

• 12/03/2001· POWER TRAIN,EQUIPMENT

  TIRE JACK IS WEAK. CONSUMER JACKED UP VEHICLE TO CHANGE TIRE, AND JACK BENT/ TWISTED, CAUSING IT TO FALL FROM UNDER VEHICLE.ALSO, AXLE OF VEHICLE FELL TO GROUND. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE JACK TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

• 12/02/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  IN WET WEATHER BRAKES RESPONDED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL. *AK

• 12/02/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  IN WET WEATHER BRAKES RESPONDED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THIS WAS NORMAL.*AK

• 11/30/2004· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

• 11/30/2004· SUSPENSION

  OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE NOTICED VARIOUS NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, NO PROBLEMS WERE NOTED BY THE SERVICE CENTERS I TOOK THE VEHCILE TO.*AK HOWEVER, THE STEERING CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY GOTTEN VERY BAD. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE CENTER, THEY TOLD ME BOTH OF THE TIE-ROD ENDS IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT HAVE FAILED AT 100,000 MILES. BOTH OF THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF "PLAY" IN THEM WHICH LEADS TO THE CAR BEING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND IT IS VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE THESE CRITICAL PARTS GO BAD IN A VEHICLE THIS EARLY. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WORK WAS WELL OVER $500. I HAVE GOTTEN NUMEROUS SECOND OPINIONS, AND ALL HAVE COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION: THE TIE-RODS ARE BAD. ALL OF THEM ALSO TELL ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES BEFORE AND NOT ON ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. AS OF YET, I HAVE NOT HAD THE VEHCILE REPAIRED BUT I HOPE TO DO SO SOON.

• 11/28/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FAULTY ABS SPEED SENSOR. *AK

• 11/27/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE CAR WAS PARKED. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, BUT IT DID NOT TURN OVER. I TRIED A SECOND TIME AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE HOOD. BY THE TIME I WENT INSIDE TO CALL FOR ROAD SERVICE AND RETURNED TO THE PARKING LOT, THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. *TR

• 11/27/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I'VE HAD MY 2000 PASSAT NOW FOR 3 YEARS, MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF SEE TO IT THAT OUR CARS HAVE ANNUAL TUNE-UPS AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. FOR THE PAST MONTH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING NON-STOP. DURING MY MOST RECENT TUNE UP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC WAS CONVINCED THAT A RECALL HAD TO BE IN PLACE BECAUSE HE WAS SEEING THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. I CALLED THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED THAT $100 WAS NEEDED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. ALL OF THIS HAS ME FURIOUS. A RECALL IS NEEDED--RIGHT A WAY!!!!! *JB

• 11/22/2005· SUSPENSION

  DT: THE CONTACT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM PROBLEM. THE RUBBER BOOT PREMATURELY WORE OUT. HE RECEIVED A SPECIAL SERVICE ACTION FOR THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER 2004 FROM THE MANUFACTURER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER FOR REPAIRS. LATER, WHILE HE WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE DISCOVERED THE DEFECTIVE PART HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY WERE NO LONGER WILLING TO OFFER A FREE REMEDY UNDER THIS SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK