2000 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

ABS /BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES. FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE ABS PUMP SEEMS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT KNOWN AS THE EBCM. I REALIZE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, OTHERWISE VW WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESSURED TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STATE OF NJ WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IN REALITY IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING IN THE PRE-ABS DAYS. SO, THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY $1500-$2000 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. OF COURSE VW AND BOSCH, WHO MADE THE FAULTY COMPONENT, GET OFF THE HOOK AND IN FACT PROFIT THIS EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE. WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? PLEASE HELP! *TR

WHEN I DO NOT USE THE CAR AFTER A FEW DAYS, AND THEN START IT, FUEL LEAKS FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO DRIP QUITE A BIT AT FIRST AND COMES FROM THE FRONT SOMEWHERE. DRIVING ALONG THE FIRST MILE YOU CAN SEE THE DRIP CONTINUES ON THE GROUND. THE LEAK STOPS AND AS LONG AS I USE THE CAR DAILY, NO LEAK REAPPEARS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A FEW YEARS AGO, THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT STOPPED LEAKING. I SHOULD HAVE LEFT IT THERE A FEW DAYS I GUESS. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM AND ONLY AFTER A FEW DAYS OF SITTING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE FRONT END MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF

LIT ABS WARNING LIGHT AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. ON A 2000 GLS PASSAT AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY ABS MODULE. *TR

MY 2000 VW PASSAT 4 MOTION HAS 9K MILES. JUST RECENTLY THE ABS BRAKES LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR PUTS ON THE BRAKES BY ITSELF. YOU ARE DRIVING 65 MPH AND THE CAR SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE HIT A BIG HOLE IN THE ROAD, BUT ONLY WITH THE FRONT WHEELS. VERY SCARY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT FELT AS IF THE REAR TIRES WERE LOCKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE WITH THE ABS AND THE ENTIRE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,978.

MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8 MANUAL SMELLS STRONGLY OF GASOLINE ON A SEMI-REGULAR BASIS. DESPITE THE FACT THAT OTHER PASSATS FROM 1999-2005 ARE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, VW HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY CAR, BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER. *TR

EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. FIRST THE FUEL TANK DOOR SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE FORCING ME TO REMOVE THE OPENING MECHANISM WHICH ALLOWED ME TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. TWO DAYS LATER THE ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND ON IT'S OWN, AND DID SO FOR AT LEAST 8 HOURS OR MORE. BY THE END OF THE NIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ALL THE FUNCTIONS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS WELL AS THE ALARM, CEASED TO OPERATE APART FROM THE LOCKS. I HAD TO REMOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND CARPET TO ACCESS THE CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE AND SUBSEQUENT WIRING, WHILE UNDERNEATH THE CARPET I TRIED TO SUCTION UP AS MUCH MOISTURE AS I COULD OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR AND OUT OF THE PADDING. AS OF KNOW I AM QUOTED TO PURCHASE A NEW CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. *TR

A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4MOTION WAGON. THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON US 80 NEAR AUBURN. MY LIFE WAS SAVED BECAUSE A COUNTY SHERIFF WAS TRAVELING BEHIND ME AND SUMMONED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AS I HURRIED TO EXIT CA 49 AT AUBURN, CALIFORNIA. FLAMES AND SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHICH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FLOODED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, NOT TO DESTROY THE CAR FOR PARTS IN LIGHT OF THE VW SAFETY RECALL 26E5/RF (1999-2002 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND PASSAT WAGON.) I INCURRED CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE (CAR RENTALS OVER THE SIX MONTHS THAT AAA INSURANCE TOOK TO SETTLE THE CLAIM). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AT A COST TO ME OF MORE THAT $25,000 OVER THE PAID CLAIM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE WHOLE, FOLLOWING THIS COSTLY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AAA DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT BEGAN IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MARY COADY *TR

ABS LIGHT ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. BIG LETTERS SAYING TO STOP! *TR

2000 VW PASSAT EBTCM (ABS MODULE) FAILURE @ 80K MILES. *TR

MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHES AND BEEPS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTICS SHOW ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER QUOTES $1400 FOR REPAIR. *JB

ABS MODULE FAILED AT APPROX 80K MILES. REPAIRED BY DEALER. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT WAGON AWD V6 WHICH HAS A FAULTY ABS MODULE, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON ALONG WITH A BLINKING AND BEEPING BRAKE LIGHT. I GET A STOP! BRAKE FAULT; SERVICE MANUAL MESSAGE WHICH MANY, MANY OTHERS ARE ALSO GETTING. VW SHOULD ABSOLUTELY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS AS MANY VW DEALERS ARE SEEING THIS EXACT ISSUE (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND DIAGNOSE). *JB

MY CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED 3 TIMES, TO WHICH I ADHERED. TWO MONTHS AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, WITH 45,000, THE ABS SENSOR MODULE FAILED. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FAILED AS THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS INFREQUENTLY RETURN TO NORMAL STATE; WITH NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM, ONLY TO RETURN TO ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, STOP, SERVICE MANUAL, LIGHTS FLASHING. VW OF AMERICA OFFERED $300 TOWARDS A $1024.00 REPAIR ONLY TO RETRACT OFFER WHEN I VOICED I COULD NOT BUY ANOTHER VW NOR RECOMMEND TO ANYONE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T, A BRAKE FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEIR COMPUTER COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTROL MODULE AND IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO TROUBLESHOOT THE REASON. THEY SUGGESTED A BRAKE FLUSH AND I AGREED. I ALMOST ENDED UP IN AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY AND MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FULLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT DIFFICULTIES HAVING THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. TO MY SURPRISE, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. MORE TO MY SURPRISE IS THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL; I AM DISAPPOINTED IN VW AND AGENCIES PROTECTING OUR SAFETY ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START HIS VEHICLE ON A COLD MORNING, THE DEFROST FEATURE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE HEATER CORE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,600.

I OWN A 2000 V6 PASSAT WITH 80500 MILES. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER BANKS 1 AND 2 HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH NECESSITATING A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. VW USA REFUSED TO OFFER ME ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POINTING OUT THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ITEM EXPIRED 500 MILES AGO. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND HOPE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ALLOW THIS CAR MANUFACTURER TO SHIRK ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS CONSUMERS AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

VW PASSAT V6 WAGON 2000 65K MILES ABS BRAKE FAULT WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, BRAKE AND WARNING ILLUMINATED; STOP MESSAGE) APPEARED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY. INTERMITTENT FOR FIST DAY, REMAINED ILLUMINATED DAY 2 -3. DEALER SERVICE INDICATED THE ABS COMMUNICATION MODULE FAILED; WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON ABS WILL NOT ACTIVATE. ABS MODULE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1189. *JB

BOUGHT A VW PASSAT USED FROM PRIVATE DEALER~I OWNED THE CAR FOR EXACTLY 1 YEAR, TURBO FAILED ~ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE ISSUES FROM PREVIOUS OWNERS. JUST PAID FOR TURBO AND TWO OIL LINES TO BE REPLACED. VW OF AMERICA STATED THEY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ~ NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, I KEEP CALLING ~ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE DAY ONE ~ NO ONE WANTS TO HELP ME ON THIS QUEST TO SEEK ACTION. I OWE 11,000.00 MORE ON THE VEHICLE CAR WAS SMOKING SEVERELY ~THOUGHT IT WAS AN UNDERCARRIAGE~BUT IT IS NEAR THE TURBO LINE SO IT COULD BE MISTAKEN. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A NEW "USED" VEHICLE. BECAUSE IT IS OVER 5 YEARS OLD, THE VEHICLE IS SOLD "AS IS" - NO WARRANTY. SINCE GETTING THE CAR HOME, IN THE FIRST 120 MILES I DROVE, NOT 1, BUT 2 WINDOW REGULATORS BROKE CREATING A LOAD CRASHING NOISE AND A SAFETY CONCERN. THE NOISE CAUSED ME TO BRAKE SUDDENLY SINCE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE NOISE CAME FROM. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLES BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING, BUT IT WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. THE CAR IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP RIGHT NOW AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR IS COST $501.75. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS AND IN MY LIFETIME, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE HAVE 2 WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURES WITHIN A ONE HOUR TIME SPAN, ALSO WITHIN A 20 MILE DRIVING SPAN. IT SEEM TO ME THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGON. ALL THIS AFTER I JUST SPENT $7000.00 FOR THIS VEHICLE. IN DOING RESEARCH, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VOLKSWAGON. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY 2000 VW PASSAT FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT! I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS SINCE A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, TEST DROVE THE CAR, HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC, AND I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST BEFORE MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL THINKING I MADE A WONDERFUL CHOICE, AND I HAD TO REPLACE A NEW RIGHT SIDE BOOT JUST AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ABS/AIRBAG KEPT COMING ON AND BEEPING AT ME, AND I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW BRAIN TO THE CAR OVER $1500. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT WAY BEFORE THE MILE WARRANTY, OIL LEAKS WHICH RUINED SOME WIRES, NEW SHOCKS/SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOW THE WINDOW WILL GO PART WAY DOWN, BUT WILL NO LONGER GO UP... AND MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED UP WHICH I HAVE NOTICED ON ALL OTHER 2000 PASSATS...! MANY THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I AM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE CAR. I DO NOT RECOMMEND A VW TO ANYONE! I AM GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AND HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY SAVINGS ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK. I THINK AFTER FIXING A PART OF THE CAR THAT IT SHOULD RUN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. SINCE I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS CAR I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET A RELIABLE CAR. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH VW AND THE RECALLS! AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!! *TR

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. A WARNING IS DISPAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT THERE IS A BRAKE FAULT AND THE ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY BUT WITH GREATER FREQUENCY WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEG F. BELOW 60F THE WARNING ONLY APPEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP. ABOVE 75F THE WARNING DISPLAYS AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED FROM COLD. BETWEEN 60F & 75F THE OCCURRENCE IS MORE RANDOM. THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS BEFORE THE WARNING IS DISPLAYED BUT DOES NOT WORK AFTER THE WARNING IS DISPLAYED. ONCE DISPLAYED THE WARNING REMAINS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE JOURNEY AND UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ESTIMATES TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT ARE APPROX $1500 PLUS FITTING. *TR

2000 VW PASSAT. ABS MODULE WENT OUT CAUSING LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REDUCED SAFETY OF CAR. REPLACEMENT WILL BE $1200-$1500. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THIS WA SCOMMON TO VOLKSWAGEN CARS BETWEEN 50-100K MILES.*AK

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAULT LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (NHTSA ACTION # PE07024). THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT READ THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A FUEL SENDER MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFERENCED RECALL # 01V157000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THEY STATED THAT ONCE A RECALL REPAIR IS PERFORMED, THEY DO NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

2000 PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE SUMMER 07. NO UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES... ABS LIGHT JUST CAME ON WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CONFIRMED "LACK OF COMMS WITH ECM FOR $80 AT VW DEALER IN AUGUST 07. VW WANTS $1300 TO REPAIR. I PLAN TO ORDER REPAIR THROUGH BBS FOR $250. STILL HAVE GOOD BRAKING JUST NO ABS ASR. *TR

CAR IS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN W PASSAT,V6 ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH 68000 MILES ON IT. ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILED. REPAIR COST WAS $1000. WEB AND FORUM SEARCHING SHOWED THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI. SEE TP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA? *THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0 FOR NUMERIOUS EXAMPLES. *AK

I OWN A 2000 PASSAT V6 GLX WAGON. IT HAS 94,000 MILES. THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO CERTIFIED IMPORT MECHANICS, WHO STATED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR BRAKE FUNCTIONS. I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW ARE WE AS CONSUMERS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHEN TO TAKE THE WARNING LIGHT SERIOUSLY? IN MY ONLINE INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY VOLKSWAGEN. THEY WERE CHARGED THOUSAND OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND VOLKSWAGEN NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL POPPED UP RANDOMLY. CONSUMERS PAY FOR A FEATURE SUCH AS ABS BRAKES FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR OWN SAFETY, BUT THIS VOLKSWAGEN SITUATION WAS DISCONCERTING. *AK

1) RAIN WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE , 2000 PASSAT, 6CYLINDER, AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION AND POOLED APPROXIMATELY 2-3 INCHES) IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SOURCE OF LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS WERE CLOSED. *AK 2) THIS LED TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, WHICH IS HOUSED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE, TO BECOME WET AND MALFUNCTION. THE TRANSMISSION THEN BEGAN SHIFTING UP, AND DOWN ERRATICALLY, WHILE DRIVING. 3) THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1351 DOLLARS FOR THE PART AND $250 FOR LABOR. RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S AND IS LIKELY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN CERTAIN DRAIN HOLES BECOME CLOGGED.

MY 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT HAS STARTED REPORTING ERRORS, INCLUDING BRAKE FAULTS, ABS ERRORS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SIMPLY RESET THE CODES AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING AND THE ERRORS COME BACK. ALL THE ERRORS ARE INTERMITENT. IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND VW ONLY SAYS THAT OUR MODEL YEAR DOES NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO WARRANT A RECALL. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS WITH THESE SYMPTOMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE HELP.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ABS, ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER MODULE STARTED WITH THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON OR FLASHING FROM TIME TO TIME, THEN, ALL THE TIME, AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, WARNING - STOP SIGN CAME ON, AND THE TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO. NEVER HAPPENED ALL THE TIME, BUT IT DID GET MUCH MORE FREQUENT , PROBABLY ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING. *AK

TURBO STARTED SUCKING UP OIL, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THE HEATER CORE BROKE ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING A FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED A FOG ON THE WINDOWS REDUCING MY VISIBILITY SEVERELY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER QUICKLY. THE SMOKE HAS AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE AND IN FACT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE ANTIFREEZE AND IT HAD DROPPED TO HALF OF WHAT IT WAS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AT VOLKSWAGEN WHOSE ONLY RECOURSE IS THAT I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS ENTIRE EXPERIENCE IS THAT AFTER NEARLY CRASHING MY CAR I HAVE TO PAY $1200.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT. *NM

AM I FILING THIS REPORT IN THE CORRECT PLACE? I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT. THREE OF THE 4 WINDOWS HAVE DROPPED INTO THE DOOR. OPTIONS: COSTS $350 EACH TO FIX OR $60 TO HAVE MECHANIC FREEZE WINDOW IN PLACE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. MANY MAY GO THIS ROUTE AS THEIR ONLY OPTION. CONSIDERING IT MYSELF. THE REGULATOR IS THE SAME ONE USED IN THE VW JETTA AND THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE PASSAT NEED TO BE RECALLED ALSO. CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TEENAGE DRIVERS WHO MAY NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW (FRONT PASSENGER) IN TIMES OF POOR VISIBILITY. *JB

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT, THERE WAS A 1 TO 2 SECOND DELAY IN BRAKING POWER. THE ROADS WERE WET AND THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WET DUE TO LACK OF SHIELDS TO PREVENT WATER FROM MAKING THE BRAKE ROTORS WET. THE 1-2 SECOND DELAY (FROM THE TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKE) CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO NOT STOP IN THE TYPICAL STOPPING DISTANCE AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO IMPACT ANOTHER VEHICLE. VW PASSATS FROM 2003-NEWER SEEM TO ALL HAVE THESE BRAKE ROTOR SHIELDS "SPLASH SHIELDS", BUT NOT THE OLDER 1998-2002 PASSATS. A CALL TO THE VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE HOTLINE (800-822-7661) DID NOT ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT TO MY SATISFACTION. THE AGENT KEPT SAYING "THERE'S NO CURRENT OPEN CAMPAIGN FOR YOUR VEHICLE". I KNOW OF NUMEROUS VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *NM

2000 VW PASSAT WITH ~72000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED. VW SAYS IT WILL COSTS ~$1400 TO REPAIR. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MANY VW OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. LONG PAST TIME TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER A RECALL IS WARRANTED. *JB

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

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

BOUGHT USED 2000 PASSAT. ABS BRAKE FAULT LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAS TRIED REPLACING ABS SENSOR, ABS CONTROL MODULE AND HYDRAULIC BOOSTER, CHANGED WIRE HARNESS, AND INSTALLED INSTRUMENT PANEL TWICE. LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MECHANIC ASSURES ME BRAKES ARE WORKING AND ABS IS WORKING. HOPE I DON'T PROVE HIM WRONG. VERY FRUSTRATED. HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM VW SERVICE. THEY SEEM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO ALSO. RECALL THIS VEHICLE PLEASE!! *JB

(1) NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES (2) ABS MODULE FAILURE, NO ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY (3) REPLACED ABS MODULE, PROBLEM FIXED. *NM

ABS MODULE FAILURE: THIS PROBLEM INITIALLY AROUSED IN 2004 WHICH WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE CODE WHICH MADE THE BEEPING STOP AND MADE THE LIGHT DISAPPEAR TEMPORARILY. WHEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER, I CONTACTED THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED ME THAT SINCE "IT'S NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, I DIDN'T NEED TO GET THAT PROBLEM FIXED RIGHT AWAY." IN THE BEGINNING, THE ABS LIGHT WAS TEMPERAMENTAL. IT WOULD COME ON AND OFF BUT IT HAS BEEN ON CONSISTENTLY SINCE APRIL/MAY 2005. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT FIXED A FEW TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME NEARLY $2000 OUT OF POCKET. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I BECAME AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BUT VW OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND CONSUMERS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, I FILED AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS (BAR) WHO ATTEMPTED TO ADVOCATE ON MY BEHALF BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS WELL. I WAS TOLD BY THE BAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE VW OF NORTH AMERICA YET. VW OF NORTH AMERICA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACT RESPONSIBLY TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE TRAGEDY HITS. IF GOVT ENTITIES SUCH AS NHTSA AND OTHER ORGANIZATION CANNOT FORCE VW TO ACT THEN THE VW OWNERS NEED TO CONSIDER FILING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND I FOR ONE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN LOOKING IN TO THIS OPTION. I AM TIRED OF DEALING WITH VWOFA AND THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTION. PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO READ COMPLAINTS REGISTERED BY OTHER VW OWNERS. HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?MESSAGE ID=261419 *JB

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. MESSAGE SECTION DISPLAYS STOP, BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PRICE QUOTED WAS $1,000. APPARENTLY, A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW AND AUDI CARS. VW OWES US A RECALL. *TR

2000 VW PASSAT STATIONWAGON V6; 82,000 MILES- LAST WEEK, THE ASR, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE MULTI-FUNCTION INDICATOR DISPLAYED THE "STOP", "BRAKE" AND "SERVICE MANUAL" LIGHTS, ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD BEEPS. ALL OF THE WARNINGS ARE INCONSISTENT-AS ANOTHER PERSON SAID, "[THE LIGHTS] WILL COME ON AFTER DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, OR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL, OR WILL STAY ON ALL THE TIME" (THE LIGHTS AREN'T NECESSARILY ON AT THE SAME TIME EITHER). I READ THE MANUAL AND PROMPTLY MADE AN APPT. W/DEALERSHIP, COULDN'T KEEP THE DATE AND HAVE SINCE RECEIVED ONLINE NOTIFICATION THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I DO NOT HAVE A GRAND BURNING A HOLE IN MY POCKET SO, DESPITE THE MANUAL'S DIRE WARNINGS, I CANNOT FIX MY CAR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR! UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL VERY SOON, I'LL BE BUYING A NEW CAR THAT I CAN FEEL SAFE ABOUT DRIVING (I HAVE CHILDREN).

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A STREET, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

WITHOUT PRIOR ISSUES, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE TRIP COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STOP", "BRAKE FAILURE" AND "SERVICE MANUAL" LIGHTS, AND THERE WERE A SEQUENCE OF LOUD BEEPS. AFTER TALKING TO THE VW MECHANIC, WHO READ AND LOOKED UP THE DTCS, HE DISCOVERED IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THERE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR JUST THE CONTROL MODULE AND NOT THE ENTIRE ABS UNIT. THE VW DEALER CHARGES $716 FOR REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLATION, AND WILL TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK FOR THE PART TO BE ORDERED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT! IT IS A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *NM

HELLO I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T WITH 36000 MILES. AFTER I DROVE IT HOME, TWO DAYS LATER MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI CARS, BUT MY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1500 FOR THE PART AND 2.5 HOURS OF LABOR + TX =$2000 OUT OF MY POCKET. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY ISN'T VW DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW AND GOVERNMENT FORM DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? HOW MANY DEATHS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL IT TAKE? PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY VW 2000 V6 PASSAT HAS THE ABS LIGHT ON AND BLINKING BRAKE LIGHT. PER VW DEALER SCAN SERVICE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED TO FUNCTION. MY CAR IS ONLY 58,000 MILES. *NM