2000 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT EMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 V6 VW PASSAT SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE MAF/OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW I HAVE AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AGAIN (NOW OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY) THAT TRACES BACK TO SOMETHING IN MY SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM (ERROR CODES 1411, 1423). THESE EMISSION PROBLEMS ARE REGULAR AND PERSISTENT AND VW SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM WITHOUT ME SPENDING HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN! *NM

AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CIRCLE VOLKWAGEN DEALER QUOTED ME $900 TO FIX FOUR SENSORS. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGON U.S. AND THEY SAID VW WOULD PAY ALL COSTS TO FIX THE AIR BAGS SENSORS. *AK

OWNER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A SMELL, THEN HE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH VENTS. HE THEN SAW FIRE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOTWELL AREA. THE FIRE WAS FIRST OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR WHERE IT SLOPED UPWARD, WHERE THE PASSENGER WOULD PLACE THEIR FEET. HE PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND THREW SOME SNOW ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FLOOR AREA. HE OPENED A REAR DOOR AND TOOK SOME PERSONAL BELONGINGS OUT AND THEN OBSERVED THE DASH BREAK OUT INTO FLAMES. *NM

WINDOWS FOGGED UP DUE TO A FAULTY HEATER CORE. THIS WAS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. *AK *SC *JB

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

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

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CV-JOINT BROKE. AS A RESULT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FELL OFF. MANUFACTURER STATED SO WHAT THERE IS NO BIG DEAL. DEALER REPLACED BOTH CV-JOINT. *NLM *MR

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

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2000 PASSAT WITH 927 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ON JULY 21, 2000 (ANCIRA, SAN ANTONIO, TX). THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER THREE FOR A FLUID LEAK (3/29/01, 2/13/02, 1/17/03). EACH TIME, WE WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. FOUR MONTHS AGO- "EMISSION CONTROL," "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO THE FOLLOWING QUIT WORKING: POWER MIRRORS, THE TRAVEL COMPUTER, TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS ERRATIC, FUEL DOOR QUIT AND THE FUEL MILEAGE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND A CLEAR, VISCOUS FLUID APPEARED ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS 25,000 MILES. WE CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY. IT HAD A 15,000-MILE CHECK-UP. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC (MANDER AUTOMOTIVE IN HELOTES, TEXAS). THE OWNER OF MANDER (BOB MANDER) WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR HAD SO MANY ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. ANCIRA INFORMED (MANDER) THAT THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY 900 MILES (24,990) THAT VISIT (11/6/03). COMPUTER SCAN AND ANALYSIS SHOWED SEVERAL CODES RELATED TO MISFIRES AND RUNNING LEAN. ALSO: TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAK AND BATTERY FAILED THE LOAD TEST-WOULD NOT HOLD ACHARGE. MANDER FIXED: SEAL LEAK, REPLACED THE BATTERY, CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE ACTUATOR (FUEL DOOR), REPAIRED VACUUM LEAKS, RESET THE T.E.H. COMPUTER AND CORRECTED THE FAULTY WIRING TO THE MIRRORS. WE SPENT $649. 24 HOURS LATER-"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT RE-APPEARED. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE HARD. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MR. MANDER (11/14/03). HE FOUND A DEFECTIVE OXYGEN SENSOR AND PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SENSOR- BOTH REPLACED. THAT TIME WE SPENT $358. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH MANDER AUTOMOTIVE AND TRUST THEIR WORK AND ANALYSIS. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND "EMISSIONS CONTROL" LIGHT IS BACK ON. THE CAR IS RUNNING HARD, AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED VW (REFERENCE #30522917) AND MY HUSBAND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO (ROD EAST). *LA

THE CV BOOT COVER HAS FAILED ON BOTH CV JOINTS. THIS ALLOWED GREASE FROM THE CV JOINTS TO SLING ONTO THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO OPERATE WITH MUCH LESS STOPPING POWER. THE CV JOINTS ARE NOW DAMAGED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

FAULTY ABS SPEED SENSOR. *AK

BOSCH ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT CAUSES ABS, BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON DESPITE THERE BEING NO ACTUAL ABS FAULT.*AK

HEATER CORE DEFECT - THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES AND NOW NEEDS A NEW HEATER CORE - A $1500 REPAIR! WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON, AN ANTI-FREEZE MIST (NOT TOO HEALTHY FOR THE DRIVER!) COMES OUT OF THE VENTS AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS FOG UP. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS IS TO TURN THE HEAT OFF AND SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK AND WE HAVE TO TURN THE A/C ON TO GET THE WINDOWS DE-FOGGED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT VOLKSWAGENS (VW) HAVE HAD HEATER CORE PROBLEMS FOR 10+ YEARS, AND SOME OF THE OLDER VW'S WERE IN FACT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. VW HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE HEATER CORES BEING PUT INTO NEWER CARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE SPRING AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE UNTIL IT STARTED TO GET COLD OUTSIDE. NOW I'M STUCK TRYING TO GET VW TO OFFSET THE COST. *LA

MY CLUTCH FAILED AT ONLY 21,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CLUTCH FAILING IN A VW THAT EARLY. VW DID COVER PARTS, BUT I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY $600.00 IN LABOR. *LA

WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT STALLED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR VALVE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ROUGH IDLE. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL IDLED ROUGH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT PRIOR TO REPAIR. *SC *JB

IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER LINKS ON MY 2000 PASSAT HAD FAILED WITH 48,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *LA

2000 VW PASSAT WAGON- LESS THAN 50 THOUSAND MILES- MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE SHOT. CONTACTED VW WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE RATE OF FAILURES OF MANY PARTS OF THIS CAR. THESE FAILURES ARE WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED PREMATURE. VW ASKED ME TO BRING IN VEHICLE FOR A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND CONFIRMED TIE ROD FAILURE- REPLACEMENT TO BE AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE CHECK OIL PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARED AT 38000 MILES; BROUGHT TO VW DEALER - TOLD THAT THE SENSOR LIGHT WAS STUCK ON CAR IS TAKEN TO VW DEALER AT 40444 FOR 40000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK OIL PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARS AT 44578 MILES; CAR TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND DEALER CLAIMS ENGINE IS TOTAL LOSS.

AT 62K MILES 3 CONTROL ARMS/BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD END HAVE FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AUTHORIZED DEALER'S MECHANIC SEEMED SURPRISED THAT THIS PART FAILED SO EARLY. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2000 PASSATS (AND AUDIS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO USE SAME PARTS), AND THE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN SUPPOSEDLY ISSUED FOR IN GERMANY. WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN ADDRESSED HERE IN THE U.S. IF IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SAFETY RISK? *LA

THE FLOOR WELL OF MY VW PASSAT BECOMES WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS. ACCORDINGLY TO THE VW DEALER THERE IS A CRACK IN THE POLLEN FILTER HOUSING WHICH RESULTS IN THE LEAK. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURING IN OTHER PASSATS, ALONG WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURES. BESIDES BEING INCONVENIENCED, MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND/OR OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHICH COULD RESULT IN HARM TO DRIVER, PASSANGER(S) OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I WOULD LIKE VOLKSWAGEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIGN FAULT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY BY RECTIFYING THE ISSUE.*AK

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND ACTUATOR VALVE ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD REPLACED.*AK

3 EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILURES IN ONE YEAR. SECONDARY AIR PUMP REPLACED TWICE AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED ONCE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 24000 MILES. *LA

I HAVE A '00 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED ADEQUATELY SINCE SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE "NEW" IN JULY/AUGUST '00. DURING THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TWICE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. IT WAS TEMPORARILY REPLACED AND SOON AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I HAVE NOT HAD A WORKABLE FUEL GAUGE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VW '00 4 MOTION MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I URGE A RECALL TO BE MADE FOR ALL '00 PASSATS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS OF ABOUT 35 TO 45 MPH, CAR ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND ALL ACCESSORIES (LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC.) WERE ON, BUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL LEAD TO NO MOVEMENT BY THE CAR. EPC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AT THE TIME OF POWER LOSS AS DID THE ASR WARNING LIGHT. STOPPING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON REMEDIED SITUATION, BUT IT RECURRED ON 9/2/2003 UNDER SAME CONDITIONS. DEALER ANALYSIS SHOWED A STICKING TURBO BOOSTER VALVE AND A BAD OXYGEN SENSOR (THIS IS THE 2ND O2 SENSOR TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR). DEALER HAD TO ORDER PARTS AND THEY WILL NOT BE IN UNTIL AT LEAST 9/9/2003. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO DRIVE A 79 MILE ROUND TRIP COMMUTE DAILY IN TRAFFIC, AND FEAR THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN I AM AT 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITH POSSIBLE FATALITIES IF IT OCCURRED.*AK

MALFUNCTION OF ROBERT BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE. *AK

I WAS DIRIVNG THE CAR WHEN SMOKE STARTED ENTERING THE CABIN AREA. PULLED OVER, AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGLUFED IN SMOKE. HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO FLAMES, BUT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO USE A HOSE TO KILL THE SMOKE. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN TALLAHASSEE INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR "MALFUNCTIONED". I'D LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW A MALFUCNTION INT HE ALTERNATOR COULD CAUSE A NEAR FIRE HAZARD, AND IF IT WAS A MALFUCNTION -- WHAT CAUSED IT, AND A BULLETIN POSTED AS TO HOW TO AVOID IT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AS THE CAR WAS PARACTICALLY IN FLAMES.*AK

SUNROOF MAKING LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN IN OPERATION SINCE PURCHASE BACK FOR REPAIR ONE MONTH LATER NOW INFOMED BY DEALER NEEDS NEW SUNROOF FRAME AT A COST OF $850 TO ME. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING FUEL TANK BURST. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCED A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE LATERAL AIR BAG IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT. WITH DEPLOYMENT, ALL ELECTICAL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OF THE AUTO. THERE HAD BEEN NO COLLISION OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG JUST WENT OFF BY ITSELF. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO PASSENGERS FROM THE AIRBAG, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

PROBLEM EXTENDED OVER THE PERIOD OF ABOUT 2 YEARS. THE CHECK EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON SPORADICALLY, THEN STAYED ON AT ALL TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS WORKED ON BY 3 MECHANICS : 1ST TIME- DIAGNOSIS UNSEALED GAS CAP - STAYED OFF FOR 6 MONTHS; 2ND TIME - 4TH TIME- "JUST HAPPENS ON VWS" AND COMPUTER RESET - STAYED OFF ABOUT AVERAGE OF 2-4 WEEKS BEFORE LIGHTING UP AGAIN; 5TH TIME - ON ALL THE TIME, MECHANIC WOULD RESET, WOULD TAKE ON TEST DRIVE AND IT WOULD COME ON AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I HAD MOVED TO NC WHERE THE CAR PROCEEDED TO FAIL INSPECTION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THE SECOND LOCAL MECHANIC MANAGED TO FIX PROBLEM; CAR PASSED EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND LIGHT HAS BEEN OFF FOR 6 MONTHS. *JB

OWNER OF A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND PARKING CAR, IT WILLNOT RESTART. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMESAND HE REPLACED MOBILIZER CONTACT RELAY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON MONDAY 8/4 AND THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR SINCE

HAD A REAR TIRE BLOW UT A WHILE BACK AND NOW MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING A SIGNIFICANT SIZE GAS LEAK( IN THE REAR LEFT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR), WHICH IS THE SUMMARY AND CONSEQUENCE OF THE VW PASSAT RECALL ISSUED JAN 23, 2002. I, HOWEVER, JUST RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE 2 WEEKS AGO. I DID REPORT MY TIRE BLOW OUT WITH NHTSA BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED I HAD A DEFECTIVE TIRE. IT APPEARS THE REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL IS TOO LATE FOR ME, I ALREADY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCE OF VW'S DEFECT. I ONLY HOPE VW RECTIFIES THIS PROBLEM ASAP.*AK

(2000 VW PASSAT) MECHANIC INDICATED EXCESSIVE TIE-ROD-END WEAR DUE TO SEAL FAILURE -- IDENTICAL TO FAILURE SUBJECT TO RECALL IN 1999 MODEL. VW WAS NOTIFIED ON 7/7/2003 AND DECLINED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN BUT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 60000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL (99V24800) ON THE INTERNET WHICH DESCRIBED THE SYMPTOMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WITH THE TIE RODS. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *PH *NLM

APPARENTLY THE FUEL INJECTORS IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT WAGON 4MOTION ARE DEFECTIVE. THE CAR HAS 63,000 MILES. STARTING AND IDLING PROBLEMS LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF EXCESS CARBON BUILD-UP IN THE VALVES AND THE FAILURE OF THE COMBINATION VALVE. THIS VALVE COST ME ABOUT $400 TO REPLACE. VW SAYS THE FUEL INJECTORS SHOULD BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE A CERTAIN COLOR (OF MANUFACTURE), IMPLYING THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. REPLACING THEM WILL COST ME ABOUT $600, OR ABOUT $1000 FOR EVERYTHING. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING WARNING BELL TO SOUND, WHICH INDICATED FOR THE DRIVER TO STOP. DEALER STATESD PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED DURING THE ENTIRE TIME THE ENGINE WAS ON. IT SEEMED TO START AT EVERY IGNITION ACTIVATION, THE PROBLEMS DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR IDLE. IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME I AM READY TO GO TO WORK!! I TOOK THE CAR THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD - THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN ALL THREE TIMES. THE MAIN INDICATOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "ENGINE SYMBOL W/THE VOLT" SYMBOL THAT GOES ON IN THE DASHBOARD. THE FOURTH TIME IT HAPPENED (PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD, NOW), IT WENT AWAY WHILE THE DEALER WAS CHECKING IT OUT. AGAIN THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DETECT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ON JULY 11, AS I WAS COMING HOME THE PROBLEM AGAIN SHOWED UP. THIS TIME THE DEALER CHANGED AN ENGINE PART "COIL" AND SAID THAT THE COIL WAS THE PROBLEM AND THESE PASSAT CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. I AM REALLY MAD BECAUSE I DID NOT EXPECT THE ADDED EXPENSE $620 TOTAL, THE TIME LOST, THE INCONVENIENCE, AND THE LACK OF RESPECT BY THE DEALERS (THESE GUYS BEHAVE AS IF THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR, I AM PAYING DEARLY BY CHOOSING WV BRAND). *JB

THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 5/24/2003, AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. SIX DAYS LATER LIGHT THE ILLUMINATED AGAIN.*AK THE VOLKSWAGEN HEADQUARTERS DID PAY FOR THE HOSE WHEN THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROX. 24,000 MILES. *PH *JB

ARM CONTROL BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS PREMATURELY FAILED ON VEHICLE. BALL JOINT FAILURE WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT COULD HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE RACK AND DISABLED STEERING OF VEHICLE.*AK

TIE ROD AND CONTROL ARMS ARE PRONE TO FAILURE, I.E. BUSHINGS BECOME WORN AND WILL TEAR AFTER TIME. THE BUSHINGS ON MY VEHICLE FOR BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS (CURRENTLY @ 48000 MILES) ON BOTH SIDES AND TIE RODS HAVE STARTED TO CRACK AND TEAR. *JB

CONTROL ARMS ON THIS MODEL ARE CHRONICALLY FAILING. EVERY PASSAT OWNER I HAVE TALKED TO IS HAVING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY AT 40000 AND THE CONTROL ARMS ARE STARTING TO CRACK AND TEAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER A SAFETY RECALL. A CONTROL ARM FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED COULD BE FATAL.*JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT AT 43000 MILES CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, AT 90,000 MILES ANOTHER ONE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR FREE.*AK

CONTROL ARM FAILURE LEADING TO SUSPENSION BREAKDOWN. SECOND OCCURRENCE IN 60000 MILES. FIRST OWNER. NOT HAPPY ABOUT VW'S INABILITY TO CLAIM FAULT FOR PROBLEM. *NLM

SEVEN OF THE EIGHT CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT HAVE FAILED. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED IN EUROPE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. LIKEWISE, THE AUDI A4 SHARES THE SAME CHASSIS AND SAME FRONT END SUSPENSION. JUST LIKE THE VOG RECALLED THE PASSAT AOA HAS RECALLED THE A4. HOWEVER VOA HAS DECIDED TO NOT ISSUE A RECALL AND RISKING THE PASSAT CUSTOMER BASE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. WHY IS IT THE EXACT SAME PARTS WERE RECALLED AND THE SAME CHASSIS, BUT VOA HAS NOT RECALLED THE PASSAT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT IT WILL COST 1,400.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS. NHTSA NEEDS TO QUESTION VOA ON THIS MATTER. MY CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND IS BEING MAINTAINED BY A VOLKSWAGEN TECHNICIAN. THERE IS JUST NO REASON WHY A PART THAT IS DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR HAS FAILED AT 40,000 MILES. *JB

FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM NEEDS REPLACEMENT BECAUSE BALL JOINT IS LOOSE. THIS CAUSES SEVERE RATTLING WHEN DRIVING OVER EVEN LITTLE BUMPS. *JB

OUR VOLKSWAGEN DEALER (MARTENS VOLKSWAGEN) WAS INITIALLY CONTACTED FOR SERVICE WHEN AN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MY 2000 PASSAT GLS WAGON THAT SAID "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP". THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE IT WASN'T A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND WE SHOULD JUST KEEP DRIVING IT. AFTER A FEW MORE DAYS OF DRIVING THE CAR, WE SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (WHILE DRIVING, NOT WHILE STARTING). WE THEN INSISTED THAT MARTENS LOOK AT THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT ALL FOUR FUEL INJECTORS WERE LEAKING FUEL THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE INJECTORS INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND NEEDED REPLACING. HE CLAIMED THAT SOMETHING IN THE GASOLINE WAS MELTING THE SEALS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 33,421 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICE AT VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS AND WAS ONLY FILLED UP WITH 93 OCTANE GASOLINE BOUGHT IN THE US AS REQUIRED BY VOLKSWAGEN. IN ADDITION WE HAVE NEVER USED ANY FUEL ADDITIVES. I BELIEVE THAT THESE FUEL INJECTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THERE MAY BE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO BEING TOLD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON WHO MAY IN FACT HAVE GASOLINE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO LEAKING INJECTORS. THEREFORE WE RECOMMEND THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE IF A SAFETY RECALL IS NEEDED TO PREVENT ENGINE FIRES THAT MIGHT RESULT FROM DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS IN THIS MODEL VOLKSWAGEN. *NLM

FIRE: 2000 VW PASSAT GL - SEDAN/V6. SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 HOURS. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON RIGHT SIDE AND DESTROYED MAJOR COMPONENTS. FIRE WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL FUEL LINE BREACHED AT WHICH TIME FIRE CONSUMED VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY INSURANCE COMPANY INDICATED FAILURE OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, HOWEVER EXACT CAUSE REMAINS UNDETERMINED.*AK

THIS IS REGARDING A 2000 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS AN "ACTION PLAN" BY VOLKSWAGEN FOR 2001 AND NEWER PASSATS FOR COIL WIRES. I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD INCLUDE THE 2000 AS WELL. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO COIL FAILURES. UNLIKE CARS WHICH ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL I HAVE TO GET THEM REPLACED AS THEY FAIL. I BELIEVE VW IS JUST TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY NOT INCLUDING THE 2000 CARS. *JB

INTERMITTENTLY CAR WILL NOT START. USUALLY I CAN MANEUVER THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM THE PARK POSITION DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS, (NEUTRAL, DRIVE, ETC...) THEN BACK TO THE PARK POSITION & THEN THE CAR WILL START. VW DEALER IS UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE A PART FOR A FEE OF $400.00 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

MY 2000 VW PASSAT WITH 60,000 MILES HAS 2 SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS FIRST ONE WAS WHEN I NOTICED A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON BUMPS AND STEERING WAS VERY UNSTABLE ON BUMPS. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS AND THAT BOTH WERE DEALER ITEMS. SO UPON GOING TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED $90 DOLLARS BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN LOOK @ IT. SO I SAID NO BUT HOW MUCH ARE THE PARTS AND TURNS OUT THERE MORE THAN $500 DOLLARS. THREE WEEKS LATER MY ABS LIGHT AND ASR LIGHT COMES ON AND IT READS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH TO STOP! BRAKE FAULT SO READING THIS WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR I IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER FIND OUT WHERE THE NEAREST VW DEALER IS AND ASK THEM TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM. WELL THAT WAS EASIER SAID THAN DONE FIRST THEY WANTED THE $90 DOLLARS AGAIN BEFORE THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO! NOTHING THEY CAN DO!! THAT'S CRAZY!! AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM ON WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT IT BUT IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THEY SAID THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM ITS OK TO DRIVE BUT IT COULD BE THE ABS MODULE OR THE DASH CLUSTER ITS SELF. SO I ASKED THE PRICE ABS $1200 DOLLARS NEW DASH OVER $700 AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING LABOR.. SO SORRY TO SAY BUT VW LOST A CUSTOMER WITH ME AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE CAR IS JUST TO NEW FOR THIS TYPE OF STUFF TO HAPPEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE I KNOW IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. AND JUST TO ADD, MY OLD CAR WHICH I HAVE TO DRIVE NOW SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VW IS A HONDA PRELUDE WITH 185,000 MILES AND STILL NO PROBLEMS. *JB