2001 Volkswagen Passat

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

• 12/29/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 VW PASSAT WITH 65,000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED APPROX 6 - 7 CARS IN MY LIFETIME AND HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THEM THE SAME. NEVER HAVE I EXPERIENCED THIS WITH A DEALER WHO REQUIRES ALL RECEIPTS. I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE 2 RECEIPTS AND THEREFORE WAS GIVEN THE VERDICT OF A $9000 BILL TO REPLACE THE 1.8 TURBO ENGINE. I AM SERIOUSLY APPALLED. MY FEELING THAT THAT THE DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM NEED TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBLITY RATHER THAN POUR THIS IN THE LAP OF THE OWNER. I WOULD EVEN THINK THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER 50 TO 70% OF THE BILL. I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR THEREBY HAVE TWO CAR PAYMENTS BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD $9000 AND NEEDED TO GET TO WORK AND CHILD TO SCHOOL, ETC. I WILL NEVER SUGGEST THIS CAR TO ANYONE!!

• 12/28/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT SETTLED WITH VW FOR OIL SLUDGE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE BY THE TIME THE SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED MY 2001 VW PASSAT, 1.8 TURBO WAS NOT COVERED. 7 OR 8 WEEKS AGO I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE VW DEALER (HALMARK VW OF MADISON) THEY TOLD ME I HAD A SLUDGE PROBLEM AND DID NOT EVEN MENTION THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM OR THAT THE LAW SUIT WAS UNDERWAY- VERY SNEAKY. THEY TOLD ME TO REPLACE MY ENGINE OR TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 1000 MILES FOR AWHILE. MY ABS AND COMPUTER MODULE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME WITH NO ONE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. NOW I HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO WAY TO GET IT RESOLVED. *TR

• 12/27/2010· SUSPENSION

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 02/11/11 *BF UPDATED 05/02/11

• 12/26/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  I LEASED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T IN FEB. 2001, WHICH I AM CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN DRIVING AND/OR WHEN STOPPED. IT ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPED. THIS IS A ACCIDENT HAZARD SINCE I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT/STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD THEREBY CAUSING IT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER THE STOP SIGN AND/OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT AT MY EXPENSE. UNFORUNATELY, MY CAR'S WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT MY CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES. I LATER FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ONLY ON THE 2002 PASSAT 1.8T, SINCE THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY VEHICLE. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT HOW COME THE 2001 AND 2002 PASSAT 1.8T VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, BUT ONLY THE 2002 PASSAT HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. I FIND THIS VERY UPSETTING, SINCE I NOW HAVE TO PERSONALLY PAY FOR THE SERVICE, BUT YET OWNERS OF THE 2002 PASSATS DO NOT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME LEASING A VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLE, AND IT WILL BE MY LAST. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT REPAIRS AND ALSO HAD 3 RECALLS. I WILL BE TURNING IN MY VEHICLE IN 5 MONTHS AND AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, SINCE I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE NOR VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE. *AK

• 12/21/2011· STEERING

  THE PASSAT HAS BEEN A WELL MAINTAINED FAMILY WAGON. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND HAS MOSTLY EASY HIGHWAY MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER ON A RAINY EVENING. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE LEFT PAST CENTERED. SHE STOPPED THE DISABLED CAR ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND CALLED ME AND THE TOW TRUCK. WHEN I ARRIVED I CONFIRMED HER ANALYSIS. THE TOW DRIVER HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE VW DEALER CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATED THAT THE STEERING RACK HAD FAILED. THEY ALSO REPLACED UPPER ARMS AND THE RIGHT AXLE. I SPENT $1950 FOR THE REPAIR AND ANOTHER $200 FOR THE RACK, IF NEEDED FOR ANALYSIS BY NHTSA OR OTHERS. IF THIS FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT PLACE OR AT HIGHER SPEED IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHE. *TR

• 12/21/2004· SUSPENSION

  DESPITE LIGHT USE OF THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON OUR 2001 VW PASSAT WAGON HAVE FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY RECOGNIZED A DEFECT WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REPLACED THEM AT ITS EXPENSE, WE WERE CHARGED $600 BY THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS -- EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD FEWER THAN 25,000 MILES AT THE TIME.*AK

• 12/20/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/20/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION COIL FAILURE AFTER 13 MONTHS AFTER VW REPLACED ALL 4 COILS UNDER PRIOR RECALL. *TR

• 12/20/2004· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE TURN SIGNAL /HAZARD SWITCH RELAY FAILED ON MY 2001 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION TWICE ON 11/20/2003 (REPLACED ON 11/23/2004) AND 12/19/2004. IT CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO MALFUNCTION.*AK

• 12/20/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  THE GAS GAUGE IS FLUCTUATING THE READING. USUALLY IT STATES THERE IS MORE GAS IN THE TANK THEN THERE REALLY IS. I HAVE READ THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE VW RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO AM NOT IN THE RECALL BECAUSE I HAVE THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL. I THINK VW NEEDS TO KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN MORE VEHICLES THEN JUST THE 4 MOTION MODEL. *LA

• 12/20/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH SUDDENLY LOSS POWER DUE TO A FAULTY COIL DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/19/2002· SEATSCrash

  MY 2001 VW PASSAT GLS WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A LARGE 89 CHEVY VAN. THE SEAT THAT I WAS SITTING IN RECLINED ALMOST ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BACK SEAT SO THAT I WAS LOOKING UP AT THE ROOF. MY SEAT BELT CUT MY HEAD AND WRIST OF MY LEFT ARM AS I FELL BACK. I KNOW IT WAS THE SEAT BELT BECAUSE THERE WAS SKIN ON THE SHOULDER PORTION OF IT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I LOOKED AT THE TOTALLED CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE SEAT HAD SHIFTED. THE FRONT THIGH SUPPORT PORTION CAME UP, AND THE BACK SUPPORT WENT DOWN. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION, I THINK THAT THE SEAT BRACKETS YIELDED IN THE COLLISION CHANGING THE OVERALL ORIENTATION OF THE SEAT. I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, AS FAR AS I KNOW I JUST HAD A CASE OF WHIPLASH. HOWEVER, I AM STAYING IN TOUCH WITH MY DOCTOR SHOULD ANY ADDITIONAL BACK OR NECK PROBLEMS COME OUT OF THIS. HOWEVER, I COULD HAVE BEEN EJECTED FROM THE SEAT OR THROW INTO THE BACK, NOT TO MENTION THE SERIOUS INJURIES THE SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED TO A PERSON SITTING IN BACK OF ME. I CALLED VW AND THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE CLAIMS THAT THE SEAT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE IN A SEVERE REAR IMPACT. I ASKED FOR A STATEMENT IN WRITING, AND THEY AGREED TO THIS BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE IT. (IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMING) I HAVE THE DATE AND TIME OF THAT PHONE CONVERSATION. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR, THE SEAT,AND THE BRACKETS. VW DOES NOT ADVERTISE ANY SPECIAL SEAT FEATURES LIKE VOLVO'S WHIPS PROTECTION, SO I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS SEAT DESIGN. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH SHOWED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR EVENTS IN A REAR IMPACT. CLUBB5.COM, AND AUDIWORLD.COM BOTH HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS IN THE FORUMS. IF THIS IS A POOR SEAT DESIGN, I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD ALL BE FIXED.

• 12/18/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  RE COIL PACKS. VW HAS SUPPLIED THE CARS WITH DEFECTIVE COIL PACKS THAT CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNIHG AT ANY TIME.I HAD ONE FAILED AT 18000 MILES. THE OTHER THREE CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME. CAN'T TAKE THE CAR ON LONG TRIPS WITHOUT TAKING A CHANCE OF A COIL PACK FAILURE.DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF THERE WAS A FAILURE. VW NEEDS TO RECALL THE CARS AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. AND IF YOU ARE UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A FAILURE YOU CAN WAIT FOR PARTS FOR MONTHS AND IN TURN NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DRIVE.

• 12/18/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL PACK. VERY ROUGH IDLE, LOSS OF POWER, STALLING. CAR IS AT DEALERSHIP OVER 2 WEEKS STILL AWAITING PARTS TO REPAIR. NO DEFINITIVE TIME SCHEDULE GIVEN BY DEALER OR VW OF AMERICA AS TO WHEN PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AND REPAIR CAN BE MADE.

• 12/18/2000· AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 65 MPH WITH ABOUT 400 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND BRAKES DID NOT TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL . VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. DRIVER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE, AND CRASHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS. *AK VW DID NOT GIVE CONSUMER A LOANER CAR AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *SLC

• 12/17/2008· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  DEC 12TH 2008 THE INTERIOR OF MY PASST WAS FLOODED WITH WATER, VW SERVICE REMOVED 10 + GALLONS OF WATER WHICH ENTERED FROM AIR PLENUM /POLLEN FILTER HOSING(CABIN AREA). SERVICE INFORMED ME OF THE P9 RECALL FOR THE PASSATS MANUFACTURED NOV '00 TO DEC '05. BUT, VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP ME THEY SAID MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE COMPUTERS ARE ON THE FLOOR OF CAR. AIR BAG IS IN DEFAULT DAMAGE FROM ELECTRICAL DAMAGE FROM WATER DAMAGE.. MY TRANS MOD IS WRECKED FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, JUST THE PART ALONE WILL COST $1,300. I HAVE LOST WORK AND CAN NOT DRIVE. THE MAKE OF CAR & YEAR IS IN RECALL SO WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED?! SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

• 12/17/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  VEHICLE WAS PURCHUSED IN JULY 2001. SINCE THEN, A HEADLIGHT HAS BURNED OUT 4 TIMES ON THE VEHICLE, WITH THE LAST HEADLIGHT GOING DEC 2003, FOR AN AVERAGE HEADLIGHT LIFETIME OF 15 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ON ONE SIDE; THE HEADLIGHT ON EACH SIDE HAS BEEN LOST AT LEAST ONCE. THE PREVIOUS HEADLIGHT LOSS (THE 3RD), I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT THE DEALER (CASEY VW, IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA) THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO FIX IT. THE ARGUMENT (WHICH I DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND CANNOT REPLICATE HERE) WAS SOMETHING LIKE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRENTY, THEY COULDN'T USE THEIR NON-STANDARD FIX. I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR THE FIRST THREE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENTS, WHICH GOES AT LEAST PART OF THE WAY TO MAKING UP FOR THE FACT THAT NONE WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR. ON MY MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE DEALER TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHT REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RATE OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS "NORMAL". THERE WAS NO OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. THE CAR IS NOW OFF THE COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD WARRENTY, BUT COVERED THROUGH THE VW OPTIONAL EXTENDED WARRENTY PROGRAM. THIS WARRENTY DOESN'T DO A LOT OF GOOD IF VW CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR THEM TO FIX (BEYOND A BURNED-OUT BULB).*AK

• 12/16/2011· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  SAME TURN SIGNAL ISSUE AS 04V584000 RECALL - TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS WORKED PERIODICALLY. NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER.. NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 FOR OTHER VW MODELS OF THIS YEAR, BUT NOT PASSAT. IS COMMON FOR THIS YEAR OF VW PASSAT ALSO PER MY INTERNET RESEARCH. VW PASSAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL. *TR

• 12/14/2008· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FAILED ABS MODULE AT 120,000 MILES. TYPICALLY A $1000+ REPAIR. *TR

• 12/13/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  AT APPROX. 70,000 MILES MY 2001 VW PASSAT 4 CYL AUTOMATIC HAS AN ABS FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE CERTIFIED USED IN 2002 FROM A VW DEALER AND HAVE HAD IT REGULARLY SERVICED. OTHER VW OWNERS THAT I KNOW HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IN ACT IT IS APPARENTLY WELL KNOWN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY THAT VW`ABS UNITS ARE SUB-STANDARD AND PRONE TO DEFECTIVENESS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY LOCAL VW DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE UNIT COST $1300. THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MADE A COMMENT THE REFLECTED ON THE SUB-STANDARD QUALITY OF PASSAT ABS MODULES. I HAVE SEEN INTERNET POSTINGS DETAILING THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF VW PASSAT ABS UNITS. *NM

• 12/12/2017· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  STARTED SMELLING GAS AND MILEAGE STARTED DROPPI G BAD AROUND THE END OF NOVEMBER. WE SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE GAS TANK AND FUEL LINES FOR 01 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT FOR THIS VIN # WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY SONS CAR. NOW ITS AT THE SHOP BECAUSE ITS GAS MILEAGE WENT WAY DOWN AND AND SMELLS LIKE GAS AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS DRIVING A BOMB BASICALLY. IT COULD BE AROUND $1000 TO FIX IT. NONE OF US HAVE THAT KIND OF $ AND HES STILL HAS $800 LEFT OWEING ON IT. HELP

• 12/10/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  2001 VW PASSAT, 1.8L 4 CYLINDER. AT 89,000 MILES ON MY ODOMETER, I AM NOW RECEIVING A STOP, BRAKE FAULT, SEE SERVICE MANUAL WARNING, WITH THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ALSO. IN REVIEWING THE VW OWNERS FORUMS AND OTHER INFORMATION ONLINE, IT SEEMS THIS IS A LIKELY FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE -- WHICH IS SAID TO COST $1,500 FOR THE PART ALONE. THIS IS SAID TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE....*NM

• 12/10/2003· SEATS

  I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 PASSAT WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED MOVING AND MOVED TO THE BACKMOST POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE SEAT IN THAT POSITION. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT READJUST THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE SEAT MOVE, BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED AS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT MOVING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *LA

• 12/10/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CONSTANTLY OVERHEATS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINOUSLY ILLUMINATES. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURING SINCE 1000 MILES. TS

• 12/09/2007· VISIBILITYCrash

  HEATER CORE FAILED. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED REGULAR ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECS. THE COST IS $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. IT FAILED ON A VERY COLD NIGHT TRAVELING THROUGH A WINTER STORM. TRY DRIVING A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. WRECKED DUE TO THE INABILITY TO SEE. *TR

• 12/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  AT APPROX 60K CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON READ "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP". DEALER HOOKED UP COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR AND SOME OF THE VACUUM HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE O2 SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED A FEW VACUUM HOSES. THE CARS COMPUTER WAS CLEARED AND TWO MONTHS LATER BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP INDICATORS WERE BACK. SHOP HOOKED UP TO THEIR COMPUTER AND CONFIRMED THAT NOW A PRE CAT O2 SENSOR WAS BAD. TWO SENSORS IN THREE MONTHS, BOTH MORE THAN $200 TO REPLACE IS UNACCEPTABLE. VW IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE EXTENDED PORTIONS OF ITS WARRANTIES BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS IT DOESN'T COVER THESE PARTS OR REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 62,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR. *JB

• 12/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. ENGINE FAILURE, VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT REPAIR EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED 13 TIMES IN 14 MONTHS. *AK

• 12/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE CRANK SHAFT SCREW GOT LOOSE, BACKED OUT, AND RATTLED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AT 50 MPH. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE SCREW RUINED THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE ENGINE.*AK

• 12/05/2007· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  FLASHER SWITCH IS FAILING. TURN SIGNALS BLINK ONCE OR TWICE AND THEN STOP. SAME WITH HAZARD LIGHTS. *TR

• 12/01/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH SHE SMELLED GAS. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHILE FUEL WAS ESCAPING FROM THE FUEL LINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED APPROVAL FROM THE FIRE MARSHALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH REPLACED THE FUEL LINE FOR $700. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 40,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB

• 12/01/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

  VEHICLE'S DRAINAGE HOLE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING A BLOCKAGE. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

• 11/30/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAD A SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT, NOVEMBER 7,2006 AT HERITAGE VW (DEALERSHIP) AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 22,2006 THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND THE DISPLAY SHOWED STOP WITH AN OIL ICON. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE OIL. THERE WAS OIL IN THE CAR BUT I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR, THERE IS PROBABLY SLUDGE IN THE CAR. I TOWED IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW OIL PUMP WITH A NEW OIL SCREEN AND IT DID HAVE SLUDGE. THIS REPAIR WAS $1267.00. I WAS NOT OFFERED ANY WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT AT THAT TIME. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH VW. WHY DID THEY NOT SEE THE SLUDGE WHEN THEY DID THE OIL CHANGE NOV 7,2006? *NM

• 11/30/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  BEFORE TAKING VEHICLE INTO DEALER TO GET RECALL 00-V-147-000 REPAIRS DONE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING JUST FINE. BUT AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, VEHICLE WAS ACTING JUST LIKE DEFECT MENTIONED IN RECALL. *AK

• 11/28/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COWL DRAIN BECAME CLOGGED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DURING HEAVY RAIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME FLOODED AND THE DASHBOARD ELECTRONICS BECAME FLOODED RESULTING IN OVER $2,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY PARENTS WHO ARE ELDERLY AND FRAIL. *JB

• 11/27/2000· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VISUAL DIFFICULTY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. OCCUPANT FOUND OUT THAT WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LOW, AND FILLED IT UP, AT WHICH WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE OPERATING. *AK

• 11/25/2007· SUSPENSION

  ALL 4 UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT 62,500 MILES. OEM CONTROL ARMS ARE UNFIT FOR PURPOSE AS DESIGNED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY VWOA. *TR

• 11/25/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NO SUMMARY. DT

• 11/24/2015· STRUCTURE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  VWOFA HAVE NOT TAKEN STEPS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE THIS FIRE HAZARD RECALL!

• 11/24/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK WITH GASOLINE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING ON THE GROUND FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

• 11/23/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MY 2001 1/2 PASSAT HAS 20,500 MILES. STARTED FEELING SLIGHT VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING FROM HIGH SPEEDS IE) 55 TO 65 AT 18,000 MILES. GOT WORSE OVER TIME VERY STRONG VIBRATION AT LOWER SPEEDS 15 TO 55 AN THAT IS WHEN I TOOK TO CAR IN FOR SERVICE. FELT AS IF THE WHEELS WERE GOING TO FALL OFF, AS WELL AS, BRAKE SYSTEM FAILING. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AT 20,500MILES. LEARN AT 20,500 MILES MY CAR NEEDS NEW ROTORS/DISC AND SOME BRAKE PADS BECAUSE OF WARPING. WARPING? WHO EVER HEARD OF NEW ROTORS/DISCS ON A NEW CAR AT 20,500 MILES FOR WARPING. I HAVE SINCE FIXED THE PROBLEM OFF COURSE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" WELL THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AT 20,500 MILES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM IN DISCUSSION BOARDS ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE COME TO LEARN MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IN FACT THE DEALER MENTIONED HE DID SEE THE SAME PROBLEM A FEW TIMES. I THINK WE HAVE PRODUCT DEFECT HERE THAT NEEDS TO BE MICROSCOPED. IT INVOLVES SAFTEY SYSTEMS IT INVOLVES LIVES. CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR THE PROBLEM AND FIXED AT NO COST OR AT THE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE CARS WARRANTY. DT

• 11/22/2005· SEATS

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT POST OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE. THIS CAUSED HIM TO FALL INTO THE BACK SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED.*AK

• 11/21/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER HAS HAD FOUR RECURRING IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS.

• 11/20/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED AND LEAKED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER HAD INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW IT'S OUT WARRANTY AND THEY HAVE A KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *PH

• 11/19/2007· STEERING

  I AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS WISH FOR VW OF NORTH AMERICA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, ETC. (THE WHOLE FRONT SUSPENSION OF PASSATS) DUE TO THE OBVIOUS FAILURE OF THESE SYSTEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF A MECHANIC IN STOUGHTON, WI WHO HAS REPLACED THIS SYSTEM ON 3 PASSATS THIS MONTH ALONE AND MY CAR IS NEXT. WE'RE TALKING TO THE TUNE OF $1800.00-$2000.00 FOR PARTS ALONE. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONE IS COMPLETELY HANDCUFFED BECAUSE ONE'S CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IF THIS ISSUE IS NEGLECTED. FURTHER, WHEN ONE CONTACTS A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (ZIMBRICK VW OF MADISON, WI) AND INQUIRES ABOUT THIS KIT TO REBUILD THE FRONT END, THE PARTS MANAGER ADMITS THAT THEY KEEP MANY OF THESE KITS IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. SO, WHY IS VW OF NORTH AMERICAN IGNORING THE OBVIOUS? COULD IT BE THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT A HANDSOME AMOUNT OF MONEY? BETTER TO LET THE CONSUMER TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS ISSUE AND HOPE IT EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY? PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

• 11/18/2008· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST HEADLIGHTS, THE PLASTIC GEARS BREAK EASILY RENDERING THE HEADLIGHTS NON-ADJUSTABLE. THE HEADLIGHT LENS ALSO DISCOLORS EASILY REDUCING TRANSMITTED LIGHT LEVEL. THE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY ALSO APPEARS INFERIOR AS BULBS BLOW VERY QUICKLY. THE BULBS LAST LESS TIME THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE KNOWN IN 30 YEARS. *TR

• 11/17/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE

  SO I GOT REAR ENDED AT THE OTHER PARTY'S FAULT AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THEY NEGLECTED TO STOP PUSHING ME INTO AN INTERSECTION FULL OF TRAFFIC...NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED..AND SINCE MY HEATER DOESN'T WORK BUT PASSENGER SEAT HEAT BURNED MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS BUTT...ANYONE HELP? I JUST WANT HEAT FOR MY BABIES..BELOW ZERO HERE :( THANK YOU!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 11/17/2012· ENGINEFire

  CAR HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY DROVE IT ONCE CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 4AM IN THE MORNING CAR TOTAL ALOT BURN BAD IN THE FRONT. I HAD NOTICE THAT SOME FEATURES WERE NOT WORKING BUT I DID NOT ATTRIBUTE IT TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPT WHO CAME TO PUT THE BLAZE OUT. *TR

• 11/17/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASED THE VEHCILE (SECOND-HAND) FROM THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON VETERANS DRIVE IN METAIRIE,LA BACK IN MARCH 2004. HERE IS MY COMPLAINT: MY FAMILY EVACUATED FOR HURRICANE 'KATRINA' AND WE LEFT THE VW BEHIND AT THE HOUSE. WELL, IT SAT FOR ABOUT A MONTH. ONCE WE GOT BACK TO THE VEHICLE, WE NOTICED IT WAS NOT RUNNING GOOD AT ALL. VERY ROUGH. VERY DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE THE STORM. I CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND FOUND OUT IT WAS VERY LOW ON OIL. YET, WE HAVE NO OIL LEAKS. I COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHERE THE OIL HAD GONE. AND THE OIL IN THE CASE OF THE VEHICLE LOOKED "GRAINY" AND "SLUDGEY". WE THOUGHT IT WAS STORM RELATED AND FILED A CLAIM WITH STATE FARM. WE THEN TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER NEAR MY OFFICE TO HAVE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE VW SERVICE GUY SAID, YES, VOLKSWAGEN HAS IDENTIFIED A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH OUR MODEL VEHICLE WHERE THE TURBO CAN NOT HANDLE CONVENTIONAL MOTOR OIL. THEY WOULD FIX THAT FREE OF CHARGE....HOWEVER, THEY NEED THE LAST 12 MONTH HISTORY OF OUR OIL CHANGES. WELL, AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. WE HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN OUR REGULAR OILL CHANGES SO THE RECEIPTS SHOULD BE HANDY. WELL, I DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR NEW ORLEANS HOME BY HURRICANE KATRINA. OUR HOUSE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND SO WERE THOSE RECEIPTS. I THINK WE MANAGED TO GET OUR HANDS ON TWO OF THEM. WELL, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR VW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY WON'T EVEN TAKE HAND-WRITTEN RECEIPTS FROM THE OIL CHANGE PLACES. I AM EXTREMELY ANGRY THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT'S THE VEHICLE MECHANISMS BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT COPIES OF RECEIPTS I CAN NEVER PRODUCE. ALL OF NEW ORLEANS WAS DESTROYED. NOW, MY WIFE, WHO HAS TO COMMUTE 50 MILES EACH WAY TO WORK, HAS TO DRIVE HER UNSAFE VEHICLE AND ENDANGER HER LIFE BECAUSE VW REFUSES TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY ADMIT THEIR CAR HAS. WE HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *NM

• 11/15/2017· ENGINE

  FAULTY CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE TO VALVES, PISTONS, CAMSHAFT, CAM TIMING CHAIN. I WAS STATIONARY WAITING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER. THE CAR LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS CLEAR TO SEE THAT THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER HAD SELF DESTRUCTED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL.

• 11/14/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  REAR LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY GO OUT, THEY INCLUDE TAIL/BRAKE/ REVERSE, AND STOP LIGHTS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK