2005 Volkswagen Passat

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

• 12/31/2015· UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  THIS IS THE 4 TH TIME I HAVE HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON ALONG WITH MISFIRE ISSUES. EACH TIME COSTING ME AT LEAST 2000.00 TO CORRECT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. HAVE CHANGED OIL PUMP, PLUGS, INJECTORS JUST TO NAME A FEW. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THIS HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT FROM DAY ONE. VW NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ISSUES. OIL SLUDGE, IS A BIG PROBLEM TOO. I JUST HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED WITH INJECTORS AND A NEW GASKET SET UP AND RAN GOOD FOR TWO MONTHS AND NOW I'M BACK IN THE SAME POSITION OF NEEDING THE SAME REPAIRS ONCE AGAIN. CAR WAS DRIVING BEGAN TO SHUTTER TRYING TO STALL. HELP!

• 12/30/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I WENT TO START MY 05 PASSAT AND GOT SEVERAL ERROR WARNINGS: AIRBAG FAULT, ESP, CHECK ENGINE, ABSORBER INTERMITTENT WARNINGS. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) GOT WET FROM A (KNOWN BY VW) WATER LEAK PROBLEM FROM THE SUNROOF AND HVAC SYSTEM. VW HAS A RECALL TO TRY AND SEAL THE LEAKS, BUT WILL NOT FIX RESULTS OF THE LEAKS. I AM LUCKY I WASN'T GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TCM MALFUNCTIONED. I'VE RESEARCHED, AND THIS PROBLEM IS A RECURRING ONE WITH NOT ONLY PASSATS, BUT ALSO GOLF AND JETTA MODELS FROM THE LATE 90S TO 2005. A MALFUNCTIONING TCM ISN'T THE ONLY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY THE WATER LEAK. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE CAN ALSO GET WET AND MALFUNCTION, CAUSING SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES IF THIS OCCURS WHILE MOVING. *TR

• 12/29/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NUMEROUS REPORTS OF VW BHW DIESEL ENGINE OIL BALANCE SHAFT / CHAIN FAILURE ARE REPORTED. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR DESPITE THE FACT THAT VW HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND CHANGED THE DESIGN. FAILURE OF THE BALANCE SHAFT / CHAIN RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE LACK OF POWER CREATING A POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. VW OF CANADA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED RESPONSIBILITY IN SOME DOCUMENTED CASES. VW OF AMERICA SHOULD BE COMPELLED BY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TO RESOLVE THE MATTER ON BEHALF OF US CITIZENS. I AM HAVING THE REPAIR DONE PROACTIVELY TO PREVENT ANY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BUT VW SHOULD STEP UP AND REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE PAID FOR THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR ON OUR OWN. *TR

• 12/29/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  NUMEROUS REPORTS OF VW BHW DIESEL ENGINE OIL BALANCE SHAFT / CHAIN FAILURE ARE REPORTED. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR DESPITE THE FACT THAT VW HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND CHANGED THE DESIGN. FAILURE OF THE BALANCE SHAFT / CHAIN RESULTS IN IMMEDIATE LACK OF POWER CREATING A POTENTIAL LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. VW OF CANADA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED RESPONSIBILITY IN SOME DOCUMENTED CASES. VW OF AMERICA SHOULD BE COMPELLED BY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES TO RESOLVE THE MATTER ON BEHALF OF US CITIZENS. *TR

• 12/28/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PUMP CHAIN WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. KMJ

• 12/27/2007· UNKNOWN OR OTHERFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THERE IS A FIRE REPORT BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT HAVE A COPY. THERE WERE NO DEATHS, INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES ARE 40000.

• 12/23/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  ON NOVEMBER 4,2005, AROUND 7:30 PM WHILE A I WAS DRIVING MY CAR FROM NEW JERSEY TO NEW YORK CITY, A NEW JERSEY TRANSIT AUTHORITY BUS DANGEROUSLY CUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR. MY WIFE WAS ACCOMPANYING ME. AS I STOPPED TO AVOID THE BUS, THE BUS MADE A SUDDEN AND FULL STOP ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT OF ME. INSTINCTIVELY, I PUT THE CAR GEAR IN NEUTRAL. ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED WITHOUT TOUCHING ANY PEDAL. I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SEE IF THE ACCELERATION WOULD STOP. WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL , THE CAR STARTED RUNNING TOWARD THE STATIONARY BUS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR GEAR WAS IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. AS A RESULT, MY CAR MOVED FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF THE BUS. THE BUS DRIVER GOT OUT AND ASKED IF WE WERE OK. SHE SAID SHE WAS FINE AND WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE BUS. WE WERE ALL RIGHT TOO. THERE WERE NO POLICEMEN TO MAKE A REPORT. THE BUS GET A MINIMAL DAMAGE. MY CAR WAS MOSTLY DAMAGE ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT WAS DRIVABLE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING THE SAME CAR ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE AND EXPERIENCE THE SAME SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR ENGINE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE CAR CONTINUED RUNNING NORMALLY. IN VIEW OF THE SERIOUS EVENTS WITH THIS 2005 PASSAT WHICH HAS ONLY AROUND 10,000 MILES, I CONCLUDE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO FAULTY PERFORMANCE AND IS DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE ON THE ROAD. I PARTICULARLY BLAME VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AS THE DIRECT RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 11-04-05, AROUND 7:30 PM, NEAR THE LINCOLN TUNNEL , ON THE NEW JERSEY SIDE, WHEN A CLEAR MALFUNCTION OF THE 2005 PASSAT THAT I LEASED FROM VOLKSWAGEN, PROVOKED AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUS. CAR REFERENCE: 2005 VW PASSAT GLS, 1,8 SEDAN. SERIAL NUMBER: [XXX], LEASED FROM THREE COUNTY VOLKSWAGEN, 701 RIVERSIDE AVENUE, LYNDHURST, NJ 07071. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 12/22/2015· SEATS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER'S COAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB

• 12/21/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  EXCESSIVE AND INCREASED RATTLING NOISE NOTICED ON MY 2005 PASSAT TDI. EVALUATION REVEALED THAT THE CHAIN AND TENSIONER DRIVING THE BALANCE SHAFTS AND OIL PUMP WAS FAILING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND VW HAS ISSUED A GEAR DRIVE TO REPLACE THE CHAIN, HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB THEREFORE THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. OVER $2000 TO REPAIR. *TR

• 12/16/2011· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CHAIN DRIVE OF THE OIL PUMP AND TENSIONER WAS WORN, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CRANKCASE. AS A RESULT, THE CHAIN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A GEAR ASSEMBLY. ALSO, THE LOWER HOUSING, OIL PAN AND TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 12/14/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 2 YEARS OLD SON, AND OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR STOP AND AS SOON AS STOP ONE OF THE MESSAGE FROM MY CAR WAS STOP COOLING ENGINE, THAT WAS THE FOUR TIME THAT LIGHT APPEARS ON MY CAR, I BEEN TALKING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR THAT PROBLEM BUT THEY TOLD ME IT IS A DEFECT I ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN $3,000.00 ON MY CAR AND IS NOT WORKING, MY CAR IS A WV PASSAT 2005. *TR

• 12/12/2011· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ

• 12/12/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THIS REFERENCE A VERY SPECIFIC VEHICLE, I.E. NAMELY THE 2005-2005 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL) CAR, BOTH SEDAN AND STATION WAGON VERSION, WITH THE VW BHW ENGINE. WHAT STARTED OUT AS AN OCCASIONAL NEED TO REPLACE THE CHAIN THAT DRIVE THE OIL PUMP, BECAME A CERTAINTY THAT THE CHAIN WOULD BREAK. IF THE CHAIN BREAKS, YOU LOOSE OIL PRESSURE IMMEDIATE, AND THE ENGINE IS GOING TO SEIZE (NOT TO MENTION THE CHAIN ITSELF FLOPPING AROUND IN THE CRANK AREA WHICH COULD LODGE IN THE DRIVE SYSTEM AND DO THE SAME). IN ANY SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE ACCELERATING, THAT IS GOING TO BE CATASTROPHIC , AND CERTAINLY ANY HIGHER SPEED ON A FREEWAY/HIGHWAY BEING THE SAME) VW HAS RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AND HAS NOW ISSUED A TSB ON THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT INSTITUTED A RECALL. THE CHANGE IS TO REMOVE THE CHAIN DRIVE SYSTEM AND CONVERT THE ENGINE TO A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. WHAT THIS DOES TO THE COUNTER BALANCER SHAFT IS UNKNOWN (I.E. WHAT CAUSED WHAT TO FAIL HAS NOT HAD ANY INDICATION FROM VW). WW SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE MANDATED TO RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES WITH THE TDI BHW ENGINE AND OR ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN BEFORE THE 100K TIMING BELT CHANGE INTERVAL LISTED IN THE MANUAL AND HAVE THAT TSB CHANGED TO A RECALL AND SAFETY REPAIR. ANY OWNER HEARING THE SIGNATORY NOISE OF THE FAILURE DEVELOPING SHOULD HAVE THAT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NOT LATTER THAN THE 100K POINT. THIS IS BASED ON A SURVEY OF A FEW AT 40 TO 60K, MOST HAVE IT DEVELOPING BY 100K (IF NOT FAILED OR CLOSE TO FAILURE AT THAT POINT. ALL OTHER VW DIESEL ENGINE USE A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP SYSTEM. *TR

• 12/12/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I OWN A 2005 VW PASSAT GLS TDI SEDAN DIESEL AND THE OIL PUMP BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING OIL PUMP DRIVE CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND SPROCKET ARE BAD AND MAKING A HORRENDOUS NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 60,000 MILES BUT, IS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. THE VW DEALER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAS NO IDEA OF SUCH A PROBLEM. MY RESEARCH HAS PROVEN OTHERWISE. IT IS SAID THAT IF SUCH A FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DISASTER COULD RESULT. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A FIX FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH ENTAILS THE REMOVAL OF THE WHOLE OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY AND REPLACING IT WITH A GEAR DRIVEN ASSEMBLY. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A FACTORY DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE TO WHERE VW ISSUES AN IMMEDIATE SERVICE BULLETIN FOLLOWED BY A MANDATORY RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR

• 12/10/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I OWN A 2005 PASSAT TDI GLS. MY CAR HAD DEVELOPED A VERY SERIOUS NOISE CAUSED BY THE OIL PUMP CHAIN UNIT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THIS VEHICLE. I DID TALK TO VW AND MY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE THRASHING CHAIN NOISE. I GOT POLITE DENIALS AND BLANK STARES WHEN I TOLD THEM OF THIS ISSUE. MEMBERS OF THE WWW.TDICLUB.COM DISCOVERED A VW ENGINEERED FIX FOR THE VEHICLES INVOLVED. MEMBERS WHO HAVE DRIVEN THEIR CARS BEYOND THE 80K OR SO SEEM MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THE CHAIN SNAP DURING OPERATION WHICH RENDERS THE CAR INOPERATIVE AND DANGEROUS DURING THE BREAKAGE. THE FIX IS NOT EXACTLY AN INEXPENSIVE REPAIR AS THE PARTS ALONE ARE AROUND $1500 AND THE INSTALLATION REQUIRES EXTENSIVE DISASSEMBLY OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACING THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WITH A GEAR DRIVEN ASSEMBLY. THE BELOW LINK HAS VIDEOS/SOUND CLIPS OF MY CAR BEFORE THE NOISE, AFTER THE NOISE AND AFTER THE FIX. THIS WAS TAKEN WITH 44,444 MILES ON THE CLOCK: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=K0WMGCDJFQI THIS THE CAR PRIOR TO BALANCE SHAFT REPAIR IN MAY 2009 WITH 56,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=TTQX3SJ6_FK THIS IS A POST-OP RECORDING JUNE 2009 AT 57,000 MILES OF MY PASSAT AFTER BRIAN JOHNSTON OF CARDOCAUTOMOTIVE IN ST. LOUIS MISSOURI. HE IS A NATIONALLY KNOWN INDEPENDENT ASE CERTIFIED EXPERT ON THIS ISSUES REPAIR. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=XTQIAK-CWD4. *TR

• 12/10/2008· FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

  DIESEL FUEL FILL BACK PRESSURE OVERFLOW. 2005 VW PASSAT TDI. *TR

• 12/07/2013· ENGINE

  WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STOP DRIVING LIGHT, LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND A BUZZER WENT OFF. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS NO OIL PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WITH THIS MANY MILES SHOULD NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NO OIL PRESSURE. THE MECHANIC TELLS US THAT IT MIGHT BE "SLUDGE" OR THE OIL PUMP IS SHOT. EITHER OF WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON ANY VEHICLE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAS ONLY 89000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS TYPICAL WITH THIS MOTOR AND WAS RECALLED UP TO THE MODEL YEARS 2004. THE 1.8 L TURBO MOTOR IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE MOTOR FOR THIS AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. ONE ONLY HAS TO SEARCH ON LINE TO SEE THAT THEIR IS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. VW OF AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL AND THEIR CULPABILITY UP TO 2004, IN AN EMAIL TO ME, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR NEWER VIN HAS DENIED COVERAGE. *TR

• 11/30/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD HEAR A CHAIN NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. AFTER A YEAR, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALANCE CHAIN WOULD BREAK SOON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF UPDATED 04/14/11

• 11/17/2021· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  Approximately back in June 2021, I noticed the smell of diesel fuel coming from the rear of the vehicle, noticed hours and days after the vehicle was parked. The smell is partially present from the interior in the trunk area, but mostly evident when standing near the vicinity of the fuel tank when outside of the vehicle. After driving the vehicle, I occasionally notice small puddles of diesel fuel (as evidenced by the oily texture and smell) coming from below the fuel tank. On occasion, I can also spot actual drops of diesel fuel on the lower car frame from underneath the vicinity of the fuel pump. These puddles usually evaporate or dissipate within an hour or two after appearing. Given that these puddles only appear after driving, and not after extended periods of the vehicle sitting in my driveway, I suspect that there is a leak in the fuel pump. A more recent VCDS scan of the ECU on 29 October 2021 results in a Gateway and Dashboard fault code in the fuel pump, which may or may not be related to the fuel pump leak. The fault code is 00476, relating to the fuel pump control module, indicating "no communication"; the code is marked as "static". This fault code may not be related to the underlying fuel leak, but since it relates to the fuel pump, I thought it would be worth mentioning. Last but not least, a recall notice was issued on the diesel fuel pump assembly that impacted the make and model of my vehicle, issued in December 2004, just a couple months before the manufacture date of my vehicle (February 2005). As a result of this cut-off date, my vehicle's VIN number was not included in the official recall notice (NHTSA # 04V586000); see: https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/Volkswagen/PASSAT/2005/fuel%20system,%20diesel/recall/04V586000. Due to the commonality of my vehicle's components with the 2004 Volkswagen Passat TDI and close temporal proximity to the recall notice, I highly suspect that my vehicle's fuel pump is impacted by this latent recall.

• 11/11/2010· POWER TRAIN

  VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT PASSENGER VEHICLE MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 WITH 2.0L DIESEL TDI ENGINE. BALANCE SHAFT AND OIL PUMP ARE DRIVEN WITH A CHAIN MECHANISM WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 100,000 MILES USAGE. THIS PROMPTED A DESIGN CHANGE AND A RECALL OF AFFECTED VEHICLES IN EUROPE. NO RECALL IN NORTH AMERICA. RECALLED VEHICLES IN OTHER AREAS OF THE WORLD WERE RETROFIT WITH A GEAR DRIVE MECHANISM THAT IS RELIABLE. FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND RAPID ENGINE DAMAGE INCLUDING POSSIBLY ENGINE SEIZURE. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WOULD BE A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

• 11/09/2006· STRUCTURE

  PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR MOLDING HAS WARPED TWICE NOW AND FIRST REPLACEMENT DONE MONTHS AFTER LEASE INCEPTION, HAVING BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY BY POTAMKIN VW IN MANHATTAN, NY. CALLED VW AND POTAMKIN ABOUT SECOND WARPING ON REPLACED MOLDING, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I MUST HAVE HIT IT AND THAT I PULLED IT OFF (WHICH I DID TO KEEP IT FROM FURTHER SCRATCHING THE FRONT DOOR)...JUST READ ZILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CAR, SOME CITING THAT IT COULD BE DOOR'S ALIGNMENT AND OTHERS THAT IT COULD BE MOLDING ALIGNMENT...DON'T KNOW, BUT NEITHER DEALER NOR VW CUSTOMER SERVICE COOPERATING. *JB

• 11/08/2010· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ARRIVING TO HIS RESIDENCE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GRILL OF THE VEHICLE WAS MISSING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SENT HIM A REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT GRILL AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE GRILL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE GRILL STAYING ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

• 11/04/2009· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS EXPERIENCED SCARY ACCELERATION WITHOUT ME PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, BOTH WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I CHECKED MY MATS, BUT THEY WERE NOT OBSTRUCTING ANYTHING. I WAS SO SURPRISED TO SEE THE NEWS TONIGHT ON CHANNEL 5 BOSTON COVERING THIS STORY! *TR

• 11/04/2009· SEATS

  SEAT HEATER REMAINED ON AFTER SWITCHED TO THE OFF POSITION. HEAT INCREASED TO UNCOMFORTABLE LEVEL, IN-DASH SWITCH BECAME TOO HOT TO TOUCH, AND SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC FILLED COCKPIT (NO SMOKE THOUGH). *TR

• 10/30/2008· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  TL*THE CONTACT'S FRIEND OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DOES NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

• 10/30/2008· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IDLING, THE ENGINE MAKES A CHAIN RATTLING NOISE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

• 10/27/2013· ENGINE

  ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE FAILURE (TDI ENGINE), CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE OPERATION INCLUDING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. *TR

• 10/21/2011· SEATSFire

  ON 10/20/11, I STARTED MY CAR AND TURNED ON THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER TO 2, TO WARM THE SEAT. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO A 9 AM APPOINTMENT WITHIN 2 MILES FROM MY HOME. AFTER DRIVING JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS, I SMELLED A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL, BUT THOUGHT IT NORMAL SINCE I HAD NOT USED THE SEAT HEATER IN QUITE SOME TIME; IT WAS JUST LIKE TURNING THE HEAT ON IN A HOME AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF NON-USE. WITHIN A FEW SHORT BLOCKS, I FELT A STING IN MY LEFT LEG AND THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PINE NEEDLE, SO I SHIFTED MY BODY POSITION TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE. AFTER A COUPLE MORE SHORT BLOCKS, ANOTHER STINGING SENSATION. AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN, I REACHED DOWN WITH MY HAND TO FEEL WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE STINGING OF MY LEG. I FELT A HOT SPOT IN THE LEFT SIDE OF MY SEAT AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER SINCE MY SEAT HAD WARMED ENOUGH TO BE COMFORTABLE, BUT I DID NOT THINK MY SEAT WAS BURNING, SO I CONTINUED ON TO MY APPOINTMENT. I WENT IN TO MY APPOINTMENT AND CAME OUT TO MY CAR AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER. I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL CIGARETTE BURN IN THE SEAT AND A HORRIBLE SMELL IN THE CAR. I RETURNED HOME AND TOLD MY BOYFRIEND ABOUT THE INCIDENT. *TR

• 10/19/2010· AIR BAGSCrash

  VW PASSAT WAS INVOLVED ON HEAD-ON COLLISION (35MPH), WITH MOST OF THE DAMAGE OBSERVED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BY THE SEATBELT. *TR

• 10/18/2009· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,TIRES,EQUIPMENT

  HELLO, I BOUGHT VW PASSAT WAGON GLS BRAND NEW FROM VW DEALER IN OHIO DURING JUNE,2005. THE CAR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP IS COMING ON THRICE SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW. I ALREADY MADE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DURING MY SERVICE VISIT. EVERY TIME THEY FIX IT AT A COST TO THE CUSTOMER.BUT I DO NO KNOW HOW SAFE TO DRIVE IN A HIGHWAY WITH THIS MIL COMES ON SUDDENLY.VW NEVER ADDRESS TO THIS UNTIL. YOUR ACTIONS ARE APPRECIATED. *TR THANKS, MOHAN RAJAMANI

• 10/18/2007· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  2005 VW PASSAT WITH RECALL FOR A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR OVERSEAS. HE STATES THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *KB THE DEALER STATED THEY WERE NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM IN EUROPE. *JB

• 10/17/2005· POWER TRAIN

  DT THE CONTACT STATED ON OCTOBER 9, 2005 THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD POWER. PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE REVVED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE IT WOULD MOVE BACKWARD. THERE WAS NO PRIOR FOR WARNING ,AND NO TYPE OF ODD NOISES. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER, AND THERE WERE PUTTING IN A NEW TRANSMISSION . THE DEALER BELIEVED THIS HAPPENED DUE TO SOME TYPE OF SWITCH IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 8,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

• 10/15/2012· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  MY 2005 PASSAT IS LEAKING GAS, LOCATION IS CLOSE TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. I CALLED LOCAL VW DEALER (WHERE I PURCHASED CAR FROM ) ALONG WITH VW 800 NUMBER- BOTH TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL REPAIR PLACE WOODYS IN ANKENY, IOWA. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME BACK TO TELL ME THAT HE DID BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL 26E5-R5. I CALLED BACK VW AND HE TOLD ME THAT INDEED THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL HOWEVER THE MECHANICS FIXED THE CAR PRIOR AND WOULD NOT FIX IT AGAIN. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL VW MECHANIC, PAY FOR THE TOW, PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TRUE GAS LEAK SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS RECALLED/FIXED, THEN VW WOULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER COVERING THE CHARGES. I'M LEFT PAYING FOR 2 TOWS NOW (ONE TO THE PLACE ITS AT SINCE THEY TOLD ME IN THE FIRST PLACE IT WASN'T COVERED) AND THEN A TOW TO VW, PLUS THE DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT, AND POSSIBLY THE ENTIRE COST TO FIX IT, IF VW DECIDES THEY DON'T WANT TO COVER THE COST AGAIN. THERE WAS A RECALL, THE RECALL OBVIOUSLY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED AND THEY DID A POOR JOB, MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL OUT OF IT (RAW FUEL) AND SMELLS HORRIBLE, AND THEY WANT ME TO 'CHECK' TO SEE IF THERE IS AN ISSUE AND POSSIBLY PAY TO FIX IT. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT. *TR

• 10/13/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THE CONTACT NOTICED A SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING AND A FUEL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL PREVIOUSLY AND ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

• 10/12/2010· SEATS

  SMALL HOLE HAS BURNED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WHEN HEATED SEATS ACTIVATED. WHEN THE SEAT IS ACTIVATED, IT BURNS THROUGH TO MY SKIN, MAKING HEAT FEATURE NOT USABLE. *TR

• 10/11/2006· VISIBILITY

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN RAINY WEATHER, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WEATHER STRIPPING ALONG THE SUNROOF AND LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE DRAIN LINE ALONG THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

• 10/03/2014· STEERING,ENGINE

  VEHICLE ENGINE MADE UNUSUAL NOISE AND STOPPED RUNNING. STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE AND HEARD LOUD BANGING FROM ENGINE WHEN STARTER WAS TURNING ENGINE. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE PUSHED OUT OF ROADWAY. INSPECTION OF ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. *TR

• 09/27/2019· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  2005 VW PASSAT WAGON, 4 MOTION, 128,000 MILES, W/ INTENSE ODOR OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR; AFTER DRIVING 15 MILES TO WORK, I DEVELOPED A HEADACHE AND ILLNESS SYMPTOMS WHICH LASTED FOR 2 -3 DAYS. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL VW DEALER. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, WHO AGREED TO DIAGNOSTICS. LARGE FUEL TANK FRACTURE CONFIRMED. AFTER MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT VW OF AMERICA, THEY REFUSED TO COVER REPAIRS, THOUGH THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THIS FAILURE WAS THE SAME FAILURE WHICH HAD LED TO A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THE FUEL TANK/SYSTEM, BUT SINCE MY CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED (2015) W/ A SUPERSEDED PART AND IT WAS PAST THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD, I DID NOT QUALIFY, NOR WOULD THEY OFFER GOODWILL SERVICE. THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I VERBALIZED IN MANY CONVERSATIONS THE SAFETY CONCERN THIS POSED NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY BUT FOR OTHERS WHO HAD THE POTENTIAL TO FACE THE SAME SITUATION. I ASKED WHAT PROCESS VW HAD FOR DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING THESE CONSUMER SAFETY CONCERNS OF SUCH A SERIOUS NATURE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS REPORTED INTERNALLY BUT THERE WAS NO ONE I COULD SPEAK WITH TO DISCUSS FURTHER ANY ASPECT OF THE CASE, NOR WOULD VW REPORT THIS TO NHTSA, AS IT HAD BEEN REPORTED UNDER THE PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS REPEATED FAILURE SHOULD BE REPORTED AND THEREFORE AM DOCUMENTING HERE. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY D/T THE FUMES BEING AT A TOXIC LEVEL WHEN THE CAR IS IN THE CLOSED GARAGE. THE CABIN OF THE CAR ALSO REMAINS WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF GAS FUMES. I HAVE ASKED FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION FROM VW OF AMERICA RELATED TO MY CASE, BUT AS OF YET HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED WITH SUCH.

• 09/24/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VW PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE LOW PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; WHICH INSTRUCTED HER TO DISCONTINUE OPERATION. IT THE CONTACT CHOSE TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ENGINE FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE TURBO ALONG WITH THE OIL AND PICK-TUBE; TO AVOID OIL FROM ENTERING INTO THE INNER COOLER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000. UPDATED 10/21/09 *BF UPDATED 10/20/09*JB

• 09/23/2009· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED CHUGGING AND DIED. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND A NEW PUMP AND FILTER WERE REPLACED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP FOR THE 2003 VW PASSAT BUT THE DEALERSHIP WON'T RECOGNIZE IT FOR THE 2005. *TR

• 09/22/2014· ENGINE

  OUR PASSAT IS THE TDI (DIESEL) MODEL. WE PURCHASED IT USED AND AT AROUND 185,000-190,000 (LOW MILES BY DIESEL ENGINE STANDARDS), THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THAT THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CHAIN BROKE AND GOT ALL UP IN THE ENGINE AND OIL WAS NO LONGER BEING PUMPED INTO THE ENGINE SO THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REPAIR. ABOUT 16,000 MILES LATER, I WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED AN INTERNAL TECHNICAL BULLETIN TELLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIX IS CHANGING OUT THE CHAIN DRIVEN ASSEMBLY WITH A GEAR DRIVEN ONE. THEY ALSO NEVER MADE ANOTHER MODEL WITH A CHAIN DRIVEN ASSEMBLY AFTER THAT MODEL YEAR. SO THEY BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A FAULTY SYSTEM YET WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. CHANGING OUT THE ASSEMBLY IS $1500 FOR THE PART ALONE AND IF YOU'RE CHANGING OUT THAT PART, THE CHANCES ARE GOOD IT'S BECAUSE IT FAILED AND YOU NOW HAVE A DESTROYED ENGINE AS WELL WHICH IS A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR JOB EVEN FOR A USED ENGINE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN IT'S GOING TO FAIL AND IT'S NOT PART OF ANY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM TO ISSUE A RECALL AND YET IT'S A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM TO HAVE TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ABOUT IT. I FIND IT ABOMINABLE THAT THEY KNOW THIS HAS AND IS HAPPENING WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ARE NOT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. EVEN IF THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB. SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED IF THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THEM WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY. NO POWER STEERING. NO BRAKES. IT'S COMPLETELY UNETHICAL. *TR

• 09/19/2014· ENGINE

  LOW OIL PRESSURE DO TO SLUDGE BUILD UP. BOUGHT THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT AROUND 60K AND AT 100K I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. *TR

• 09/19/2014· AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR STATE INSPECTION AND NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRESENT AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

• 09/19/2007· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN MAKING A TURN FROM A STOP POSITION, THE CAR STALLS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN GOING FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB THE MECHANIC WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THE CONSUMER AND HE NOTICED THAT SHE DROVE WITH BOTH FEET, THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE SHOULD SSTOP OR GO FORWARD WHEN TURNING, AND THEREFORE IT STALLED. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS MADE AN EFFORT TO USE ONLY ONE FOOT AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. UPDATED 10/31/07. *JB

• 09/16/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH STALLING.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED.

• 09/13/2007· SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TIRES,EQUIPMENT

  2005 PASSAT AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE, BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT IT BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY THEN WILL STOP FOR NO REASON AND BLOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AIR. **NAR**KB THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS WITHIN THE AC UNIT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE AC FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR THE WIRING HARNESS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED TWO TIRES DUE TO EXTREME CUPPING. *TR

• 09/12/2013· TIRES

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA TIRES 8VID IN VIGOR 205/55/16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE POPPED AND HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE SHOP WHERE THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,269.

• 09/04/2007· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE REAR BUMPER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700.

• 08/26/2007· POWER TRAIN

  OVER 2 YEARS SINCE NEW, CAR HESITATES WITH SOFT THROTTLE ACCELERATION LIKELY BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR, NO THROTTLE RESPONSE FOR UP TO 5 SECONDS, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS ACROSS TRAFFIC OR JOINING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. 2005 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT TDI MOST RECENT DATE GIVEN, HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS OF SAME. VW DEALER SAYS NORMAL, HE EXPERIENCES IN MOVING CARS AROUND HIS LOT. I SAY NEEDS FIXING AND VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

• 08/24/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY 2005 PASSAT TDI WAS LEAKING A HUGE AMOUNT OF OIL SO I TOPPED OFF THE OIL AND TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. HE SHOWED ME A HUGE GASH IN THE OIL PAN, RESULTING IN THE LEAK. WHEN WE TOOK THE PAN OFF THE OIL PUMP CHAIN TENSIONER AND CHAIN CAME OUT IN PIECES. THE TENSIONER BROKE AND SLAMMED THE CHAIN INTO THE OIL PAN, MAKING THE GOUGE. WE REPLACED THE OIL PAN, CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND COMPLETED AN EARLY TIMING BELT CHANGE INCLUDING A WATER PUMP. THIS WAS AROUND $2000 TOTAL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BALANCE SHAFT MODULE / CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP SETUP ON THESE CARS. I FOUND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH I SPENT $2000 FIXING THIS I MAY NEED TO COMPLETE THE SAME REPAIRS AGAIN OR REPLACE THE BALANCE SHAFT MODULE WHICH WOULD BE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS UPGRADED THE DESIGN OF THE BALANCE SHAFT/OIL PUMP DRIVE SO OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM. I'VE READ THAT I WAS RATHER LUCKY, IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND HAD THE ENGINE SEIZE UP, WHICH COULD BE DEADLY. I'M BASICALLY JUST AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW. *TR