2000 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY APPEARS ACCOMPANIED BY WARNING MESSAGE "STOP - BRAKE FAULT" AND LOUD AUDIBLE ALARM. MY INDEPENDENT VW MECHANIC RETRIEVED VEHICLE FAULT CODES AND ADVISES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE MECHANIC SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THE ABS IS INOPERABLE AND THE DRIVERS NORMAL BRAKING EFFORT COULD RESULT IN THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP. FAILURE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ABS UNIT IS LIKELY DUE TO THE HIGH PART COST ($1,123.25) AS THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY VW OWNERS (EVIDENCE OF THIS IS READILY AVAILABE ON THE INTERNET), THE DRIVING PUBLIC'S SAFETY IS BEING JEOPARDIZED FOR ECOMOMIC REASONS. *AK

AT 40,000 MILES, THE WATER PUMP BEARING FAILED. FOUTUNATELY, I STOPPED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND DID NOT INCUR FURTHER ENGINE DAMAGE. WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT WV "UNDER-ENGINEERED" THE WATER PUMP BEARING, RESULTING IN PREMATURE FAILURE.*AK

ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE AT 67,000 MILES. *AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICAL ARE FAILING. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS VERY ODD TO SEE THESE ITEMS FALING AT ONLY 67,000 MILES. IF THEY WERE TO COMPLETELY FAIL IT WOUD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICAL. THIS SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURED ON A NUMBER OF OTHER VEHICALS OF THE SAME MODEL.*AK

ABS FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AT 55000 MILES. ABS NOT OPERATIONAL. DEALER TO CHARGE $1200 FOR NEW ABS MODULE. RIDICULOUS. THIS IS NOT A WEAR COMPONENT!!! THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *AK

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

WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT IN JULY OF 2004, I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS VERY STRONGLY IN THE CABIN OF MY 2000 V6 PASSAT AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMELL. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE CAR WAS RANDOMLY AND VISIBLY LEAKING GASOLINE ONTO THE GROUND JUST IN FRONT OF THE FUEL FILTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT LEAKED GASOLINE IN PUDDLES AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING 'LEAN' ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, WITH SIGNIFICANT VALVE CLATTER. DUE TO THE SERIOUS SAFETY RISK POSED BY THE PROFUSE GASOLINE LEAK, I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPUTABLE VW DEALER IN A NEARBY TOWN. UPON INSPECTION AT THE DEALER, THE FUEL LINE HAD CLEARLY SPLIT ON THE TOP SIDE JUST IN FRONT OF THE FUEL FILTER....FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT AND A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA RE. THIS ISSUE, DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK AND REPAIR COST CREATED BY THE FUEL LEAK. UNFORTUNATELY, VW ULTIMATELY REFUSED TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT CITING THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME, THE CAR WAS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD JUST OVER 55K MILES. I PAID OVER $700 TO HAVE THE LINE REPLACED, PLUS TOWING FEES, AND VW PROVIDED EXACTLY $0 IN REIMBURSEMENT. THIS EPISODE IS ON RECORD WITH VWOA AND WITH MARTENS VW IN BETHESDA, MD. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME OR VW DIRECTLY FOR MORE DETAILS.*JB

AFTER RANDOM INTERVALS THE ABS WARNING OCCURS, SOMETIMES IT WILL END BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE ERROR WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE CAR IS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES. AFTER THE FIRST ABS WARNING I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE THE UNIT (BOSCH ABS AND CONTROLLER) WOULD NEED REPLACING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES BUY BACK THESE PARTICULAR UNITS FOR REMANUFACTURING DUE TO THE COMMON FAILURE OF THIS PART. SINCE THIS PART IS COMMON ON 1996-2001 AUDI A4'S, A6'S AND VW PASSAT AND IS FAILING CONSISTENTLY THAT SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE NOW IN THE BUSINESS OF REMANUFACTURER THESE UNITS, I FIND IT HARD THAT SUCH A VITAL COMPONENT TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE CAN FAIL SO CONSISTENTLY. IN ADDITION, SUNNYVALE VOLKSWAGON DEALER SAID THAT VW NO LONGER SELLS THE ABS CONTROLLER SEPERATE FROM THE ABS PUMP DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN REPLACING A FAILED CONTROLLER IT WAS COMMON FOR THE PUMP TO FAIL WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS.

TL*CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IT WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON, AND WHEN SHE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE AIR PUMP AND FUSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE RISK INVOLVED SINCE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,971 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75200. *AK

CONTROL ARMS ON 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ARE FAILING. THE CAR HAS 55,000 MILES; ARMS ALSO FAILED AT 36,000 AND WERE REPLACED. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE; I HAVE ALSO HEARD OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE CONTROL ARMS BREAK WHILE DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY, MANY OWNERS.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1,300 REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 143,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE ABS MODUEL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKES GOING OUT. UPDATED 08/01/08. *JB

ANALYSIS OF SYSTEM AFTER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED ONE OF TWO OXYGEN SENSORS DEFECTIVE. ITEM WAS REPLACED. NO OTHER CODES INDICATED FURTHER PROBLEMS..TWO DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT AGAIN. SECOND OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. THREE DAYS LATER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. . ANALYSIS DETERMINED AIR MASS METER DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. REPAIR COSTS = $841.25. VERY REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAPPENS FREQUENLY TO VW'S??? VW WILL BE NOTIFIED AND ASKED TO COMPENSATE FOR REPAIRS. *AK

IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MONTH BEFORE BUYING MY PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2000 VW PASSAT THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE FAILED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS ISSUE AS IT COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND ALL OTHERS WHO TRAVEL THE SAME ROUTES AS I DO. I HAVE HELD OFF COMPLAINING, BUT OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF MEMBERS WITH THE EXACT ISSUE. OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY ONLY CONSTITUTES A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PASSAT OWNERS, YET WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAVEN'T KNOWN WHERE TO TURN. I PURCHASED THE PART ALONE FOR $1200 AND THEN HAD TO PAY ADDITIONAL LABOR COSTS. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A SCAM ON THE PART OF VW. IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. *TR

DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING OF THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE, CAUSING IT TO FAIL AROUND 50000 MILES. THROUGH SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A PREVALENT PROBLEM IN 1998-2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS UPON REACHING APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS IS A RECOGNIZED COMMON ISSUE BY VW SERVICE SHOPS, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL OF THIS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONTROL COMPONENT NOR OFFERED TO SHARE THE COST OF REPAIR. FURTHERMORE, THEY HAVE INCREASED THE COST OF THIS COMPONENT FROM $200-$300 A FEW YEARS AGO TO $1100-$1700 TODAY. *AK INFORMED IF NOT CORRECTED, COULD CAUSE REAR BREAKS TO LOCK UP UPON SUDDEN STOP.

ABS MODULE FAILS AT 70,000 MILES, AND IT COST ME AROUND $1,500. MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT THE COST OF RECALLS. *AK

STEERING WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE - BROGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT HOME. HAD TO REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARMS (4) DEALER SAID THIS WAS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE. CAR HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT. THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO SOON - COST $1600 TO REPAIR. *AK

2000 VW PASSAT 4 MOTION RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE GAUGE SHOWED FUEL. UPON CHECKING I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ISSUED OCT. 2001. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK THE GAUGE DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT BACK IMMEDIATELY AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK ANOTHER TIME AFTER THEY CALLED TECH SUPPORT. WHEN I TOOK IT BACK THEY SAID IT NEEDED A FUEL PUMP (THE FUEL PUMP HAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT BUILT IN). THE RECALL STATED THAT THERE ARE 3 SENDING UNITS IN THE TANK AND ANY ONE OF THEM CAN GIVE TROUBLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO DO ANY MORE WORK UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THE VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT BUT THEY REFUSE TO HELP ME. WHAT CAN I DO? CAN YOU HELP ME? THE DEALERSHIP IS PETE MOORE VW PENSACOLA FL.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. THE FIRST TIME FRONT AND SIDE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED, COSTING $1200. THE SECOND TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON VW WAS CONTACTED AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, $300 FOR A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE ADVISE, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAPPEN CONSIDERING THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. SERVICE MANAGER AT VOLKSWAGEN COMPARED AIR BAG TO A "LIGHT BULB." SAYING THAT LIKE LIGHT BULBS AIRBAGS ALSO BURN OUT AFTER A WHILE, A RATHER POMPOUS STATEMENT TO MAKE. *LA

REAR BRAKES REPLACED/TIE ROD BOOTS/ FRONT AXLE RUSTED/REPLACED. *AK

OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. SHORTLY AFTER HE WENT INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSED SEVERE SCORCHING TO THE FRONT OF THE FLOOR PAN. EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD MELTED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE DISPLAY READ"STOP, BRAKE FAILURE IMMANENT". AFTER TALKING ON MY CELL PHONE WITH MY REGULAR VW MECHANIC HE SAID IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE EXCEPT I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY ANTI-LOCK BRAKING CAPABILITY. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOST THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROLER AND PUMP. THE DIAGNOSTIC COST ME $90.00 AND LATER WHEN THEY FOUND THE PART THAT BILL WAS $1580.85. WHY IS A SAFETY ITEM LIKE THAT NOT PAYED FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER? THE CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. SEEMS A LITTLE TO SOON TO BE REPLACING SUCH A SELDOM USED AND EXPENSIVE PART.*AK

FAULTY OUTER TIE ROD END SEAL FOR VW PASSAT 1.8T. CAR WITH ONLY 46000 MILES ALREADY NEEDS NEW OUTERS TIE ROD END DUE TO PREMATURE/FAULTY BRAKAGE OF SEAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 62 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, LOST POWER THEN COASTED TO A STOP. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE LEFT REAR ROTOR MELTED DOWN AND GUMMED UP THE BRAKE FLUID. THIS RESULTED IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION BEING INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE ROTOR MELT DOWN ,THEY ONLY REPLACED THE MELTED AND DAMAGED PARTS. *NM *LA

AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE FUEL SENDING RECALL 01V157000 REPAIRS THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO WORK. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS WORKING PRIOR TO HAVING REPAIRS DONE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE NOT TO WORK.*AK

I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT AND HAVE CARBON BUILD UP ON THE VALVES DUE FROM PREMIUM GAS USE AS REQUIRED IN MANUAL. 2 SEPERATE OCCASIONS I HAD TO PAY HUNDREDS TO REPAIR THIS RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT FUEL I SHOULD USE. VW HEADQUARTERS FIRST SAID A YEAR AGO TO STRICTLY USE PREMIUM. NOW THEY TELL ME TO USE REGULAR BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I HAD TO REPLACE A RE CIRCULATION VALVE AND VACUUMS. I BELEIVE THERE IS A CONSUMER ISSUE HERE THAT SOMEONE HAS TO ADDRESS BECAUSE I CANNOT GET ANYBODY TO AGREE WHICH FUEL TO USE. THEY SHOULD REPAIR MY PROBLEM FOR FREE.

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. ALSO, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1,500. *AK

I PURCHASED A VW 2000 PASSAT IN 5/00. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL 01V157000 NOTIFICATION ON MY CAR. THIS RECALL WAS FOR PASSATS MANUFACTURED FROM 9/99 TO 12/00 AFFECTING 70,000 VEHICLES WHERE THIS IS A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM PROBLEM. IT'S FROM SULFUR DEPOSITS IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH CAUSES THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ FULL WHEN IT IS NOT AND EVEN CLOSE TO EMPTY. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN ABOUT A QUARTER TANK FULL OR HALF FULL AND FUEL GAUGE CONSISTENLY SHOWS FULL. I'M STILL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT GONE TO A DEALER YET BECAUSE I WANTED TO CALL VW DIRECTLY AT 800-822-8987. I WAS INFORMED SINCE MY VIN # WAS NOT ON VW'S LIST FOR RECALL NOTIFICATION THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM? I FEEL I DO HAVE THIS PROBLEM MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. AGAIN MY FUEL GAUGE CONSISTENLY DISPLAYS FULL WHEN CAR IS HALF-FULL OR NEAR EMPLY. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND I FEEL A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU!

OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, PARKED IT, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE A RESTAURANT TO PICK UP A PIZZA. WHILE OWNER WAS INSIDE, THE VOLKSWAGEN CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED CARPET IN FRONT CENTER OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, PLASTICS IN FRONT CENTER OF DASH. ALL DAMAGE ABOVE LOCATION OF EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR.

1. I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE 2000 WITHOUT ISSUES. 2. IN MARCH 2004, SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND DIDN'T TURN OFF. 3. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACED IT FOR $1500. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULES. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DO GET A LOT OF THEM BUT VW HASN'T YET ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PART. I ALSO CALLED VW AND THEY DECLINED TO COVER THE PART. I'VE RECENTLY LOOKED INTO THIS AND APPEARS THAT IT'S HAPPENING TO MORE AND MORE PASSATS. *TR

2000 VW PASSAT- WHEN YOU TRY TO LOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IT WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE DOOR CONTROL UNLESS YOU OPEN ALL THE DOORS AND THEN PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON. THIS DOES NOT CONCERN ME AS MUCH AS WHEN YOU PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND CLOSE IT BEIND YOU. THE DOOR WILL LOCK YOU IN AND THE PANIC ALARM STARTS GOING OFF. IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE KEY IT WILL LOCK YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WILL SET THE PANIC ALARM OFF.

2000 VW PASSAT WAGON. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (70 MPH) WHEN HER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, BUMP OR INCIDENT WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN MOTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/MELTDOWN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WIRING. FUTHER INVESTIAGTION IMPENDING. THANKFULLY THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THAT RATE OF SPEED AND A FULL FLEDGED FIRE DID NOT DEVELOP.*AK

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXLE BROKE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED. *AK

ABS CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED,- SUSPECTED THE PART WAS FAULTY BECAUSE OF MANY OTHER INSTANCES DOCUMENTED W/VARIOUS AGENCIES. AFTER FULLY ENGAGING ABS - TWO DAYS LATER, STOP BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS COMING ON AND DEALER DIAGNOSED AS ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. *AK

DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP. GAUGE CAUSING TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *AK

IDLE PULSATES HEAVILY AT STOPS WHEN IN GEAR. IDLE IS ROUGH WHEN CAR IS COLD. CAR HESITATES HEAVILY SOMETIMES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. NO FAULT CODES DISPLAYED. HAVE REPLACED COMBINATION VALVE DUE TO FAULT CODE STORED IN ECU, VALVE SHOWED HEAVY BUILDUP OF CARBON. HAVE REPLACED SECONDARY AIR PUMP DUE TO WATER BUILDUP IN PUMP. PROBLEM OCCURRED 1 YEAR AGO, WAS RESOLVED BY REPLACEMENT OF THROTTLE BODY AND COOLANT TEMP SENSOR AT COST OF $600. PROBLEM NOW BACK. *AK

ENGINE SPEED PULSATES AT IDLE WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR AND BRAKES APPLIED. NO FAILURE OR WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYED. TO PREVENT SURGING OF CAR WHILE STOPPED, TRANSMISSION MUST BE PUT IN NEUTRAL. ALSO HESITATES SIGNIFICANTLY DURING SOME ACCELERATIONS FROM STOP DUE TO CONDITION, AND IDLES ROUGH WHEN COLD. SAME FAULT LAST YEAR IN JAN. 2003, RESOLUTION THROUGH REPLACEMENT OF COOLANT SENSOR AND THROTTLE BODY.*AK

ABS MODULE FAILURE ON A 2000 PASSAT WITH 55,230 MILES. *AK

I HAVE A VW PASSAT 4-MOTION WAGON TIPTRONIC THAT EXHIBITS THE PROBLEM OF REFUSING THE DOWNSHIFT FROM SECOND INTO FIRST AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED FIRMLY. THEN, THE ENGINE RACES WILDLY FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN "BANGS" INTO GEAR. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, BUT THUS FAR THERE'S NO FIX FOR IT. ENGINE: 2.8 V6 YEAR: 2000 GEAR: MOVING FROM 2ND INTO 1ST ERRATIC AND SEEMS SOMEWHAT HEAT-RELATED--WORST IN HOT WEATHER FIRST NOTICED: ABOUT 49,000 MILES CAR CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS IF PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE MERGING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. REFER TO AUDIWORLD WEB PAGE FOR SIMILAR OWNER AUDI QUATTRO PROBLEMS WITH 2.7L V6 AND TIPTRONIC. *AK

I OWN A 2000 VW PASSAT. MY ABS LIGHT AND BREAK LIGHT ARE GOING ON INTERMITTANTLY. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPAIR WILL BE APPROX. $1200 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH THE COST BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE 50K ON THE ODOMETER. I FEEL THAT THE ABS IS A SAFETY FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE AND VW SHOULD BE WILLING TO COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE COST. I HAVE HAD NO SUCH LUCK THUS FAR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM IN VW FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME STORY $1100 - $1500 FOR REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. IT SEEMS A BIT ODD THAT A PART THAT HAS LITTLE USE WOULD GO BAD SO FREQUENTLY ON THIS VEHICLE. GANTED I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FREQUENCY RATE IS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ANOTHER VOICE FILING A COMPLAINT. MY MANUAL STATES THAT I SHOULD AVOID SUDDEN STOPS BACUASE THIS COULD CAUSE MY BACK BREAKS TO LOCK AND CAUSE ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. YET THEIR IS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD DO TO HELP! WELL MAYBE YOU CAN!!

I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT GLS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC) 1.8T ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVICE EVERY 5K MILES TO VW AND THEN TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC (HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS). IT IS CURRENTLY AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS AGO THE CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD. THE OIL CHECK LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR AWHILE. I HAD CALLED VW REGARDING THE SENSOR LIGHT AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS ONLY A SENSOR PROBLEM, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THE CAR IS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. CAM SHAFTS 3 AND 4 WERE DRY AND NOT RECEIVING OIL. I SUBMITTED THE CAR TO VW TO CLAIM UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIONS, VW USA HAS DENIED MY CLAIM AND STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO IS VERY REPUTABLE. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO GO TO THIS SHOP AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. I AM IN THE STAGES OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VW USA.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED FRONT END WOBBLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLES BRAKE LOCKED UP. THE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ON FOUR OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM

THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FUEL WAN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO FUEL AND THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER. 01V157000. *JB

HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS ON MY 2000 PASSAT GLX 4-MOTION WAGON. FIVE OUT OF 8 CONTROL ARMS WERE IN VERY POOR CONDITIONS WITH TORN BOOTS OVER THE BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS IN THE CONTROLL ARMS WERE TORN AND BALL JOINS WERE DRY AND NOISY. THE TIE ROD BALL JOINS WERE WORN OUT AND MAKING NOISES. THE CAR HAS NOT BE WRECKED OR DAMAGED OTHER WISE.*AK

DEALER INFORMED OF A $2,200 CLUTCH REPAIR AT 32K MILES WHICH SEEMS VERY EARLY. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDES NO ASSISTANCE.

ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILS, FAILURE OF UPPER CONTROL ARMS

MOLDING ON THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE!!! THE DEALER NOR THE WARRANTY WANTS TO HELP ME OUT. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE OF THE MOLDING AND I WAS HOPING THAT THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME!!!! AM I NOW NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR TO PREVENT THE MOLDING BEING RIPPED OFF AS THE DOOR OPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? *AK

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.

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