2001 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE RAINWATER DRAINAGE TUBES UNDER THE CARPETED FLOORBOARD AREA LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WHICH CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TO MALFUNCTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE WIRING TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD OIL LEAKS FROM EVERY SEAL AND GASKET. OIL WAS ALL OVER THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED.

TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS WORKED PERIODICALLY. NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. WENT TO VW BUT WAS TOLD THAT NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 DOESN'T COVER MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME FOR SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH OUT MY PAYING THE 150.00 DIAGNOSIS FEE FIRST, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 100.00 AN HOUR FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

I AM A PRIVATE FIRE INVESTIGATOR THAT RECENTLY INVESTIGATED A FIRE IN 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE FIRE WAS VERY MINOR ORIGINATING BELOW THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER AT THE IGNITION COIL MODULES AND PLUG CONNECTOR BETWEEN CYLINDERS #3 & 4. APPEARS TO BE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION AT THE PLUG CONNECTOR CAUSING THE PLUG CONNECTOR TO OVERHEAT AND IGNITE. *JB

ABS MODULE ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT FAILED. THIS WAS A $1000 REPAIR. I T FAILED AT ABOUT 81,000 MILES. *TR

THE SQUEAKING AND CREAKING OF THE FRONT END OF MY VW PASSAT 2001 IS HORRENDOUS. MY LOCAL VW AND THE VW OF A HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND, REGARDLESS OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INCREASING PROBLEMS IN CONTROLLING THE CAR, ARE ASKING FOR APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. *TR

FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF NOT HAVING ANY BRAKES AFTER MY CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

WE HAVE A 2001 PASSAT AND PUT ABOUT 10K MILES/YEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ABOUT TWICE EVERY YEAR AT OUR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW. WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE CAR WITH SAFETY IN MIND. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR SEIZED/STALLED AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP. ONCE THEY REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THEY BECAME VERY HOSTILE. THEY ASKED US FOR ALL OF OUR RECORDS. THEY HAD INCOMPLETE ONES FOR US AS THE DEALERSHIP HAD CHANGED HANDS A FEW YEARS AGO. WE HAVE ALMOST EVERY RECORD BUT THIS WILL NOT SUFFICE FOR THEM. THEY ARE ASKING FOR HALF OF THE 11K REPAIR BILL (AND SUGGESTED THAT WE REPAIR IT AND TRADE IN FOR ONE OF THEIR USED CARS). WHAT REALLY BOTHERS US IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM OF MISSING RECORDS IS DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THE CAR HAD FAILED, THE TOW GUY SHOWED ME THAT THE OIL CAP WAS ENCRUSTED WITH SLUDGE. WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT WHILE THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS AT THE LAST OIL CHANGE, THAT THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO INFORM THE CUSTOMER OF SUCH A POTENTIAL HAZARD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND VW/VW DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE OBLIGED TO WATCH FOR THIS AND AT LEAST SUGGEST AN ENGINE FLUSH. AFTER TOO MUCH TRUST, WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW FOR THIS. THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER. *JB

HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT AND CONSTANTLY NEED REPLACING, ONLY PROBLEM IS IT MUST BE COMPLETED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 7 LIGHTS SINCE PURCHASE OF CAR. *JB

WATER PUMP FAILED ON FREEWAY, UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *JB

MY 2001 PASSAT------MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED IN BIG RED LETTERING AND PROCEEDED TO SAY THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. WE GOT TO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL AND IT LOOKED FINE. GOT HOME AND LOOKED AGAIN WITH BETTER LIGHTING, STILL THE SAME. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE THE SERVICE CENTER HAD TOLD US THAT THIS WAS DUE TO "OIL SLUDGE" AND WILL BE COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY IF DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED FOR ALL OIL CHANGE SERVICES. NOT TO MENTION THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE IN 2001 WITH 6 MILES AND HAS ONLY GOT 53000 NOW IN 2006. I HAVE GOTTEN THE ROUTINE OIL CHANGES UP TO DATE AND THEY ARE REQUIRING ME TO SHOW PROOF OF ALL OIL CHANGES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO KEEPS EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT!!! THIS IS INSANE. I AM SO FED UP WITH THE WAY VW IS TAKING CARE OF THIS ISSUE, THEY ARE USING THIS AS AN EXCUSE SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND ALL THE "DOCUMENTATION" THAT IS NEEDED. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT LESS THAN 3 WEEKS OF MY LAST OIL CHANGE VW STILL WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH MODERATE SERVICE. I WILL NEVER, REPEAT NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR RECOMMEND VW TO ANYONE!! I HAVE READ ALL OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND I CAN SEE THAT VW HAS NO REMORSE FOR THE FISHY SERVICE IT IS PROVIDING. I WILL TAKE THIS ACTION FURTHER. I JUST WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT THERE VEHICLES WITH THE "SLUDGE" COVERED UNDER WARRANTY??? WHY EVEN PURCHASE THE WARRANTY IF IT IS NOT COVERING THE PROBLEM??? *JB

ABS / TRACTION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE NOT COVERED BY BOSCH OR VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

2001 VW PASSAT V6. A DEFECTIVE POLLEN FILTER SEAL ALLOWED WATER TO PULL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. THIS OCCURRED AFTER 24 HOURS OF RAIN. THE WATER HAS DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THOSE REPAIRS AND THE REPAIR OF THE WATER DAMAGE TO THE CARPET AND RESULTING MOLD IS ESTIMATED AT OVER $2,000. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THIS IS AN LONG-STANDING DEFECT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH VW AND AUDI. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER ENTERS THE FLOOR ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE DUCTS THAT DISTRIBUTE HEAT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT RAN AT REDUCED POWER. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE COOLING JACKET. *KB MOISTURE INVADED THE SENSOR, MIGRATED UP THE WIRING HARNESS AND DESTROYED THE COMPUTER WHICH MANAGED ALL ENGINE FUNCTIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS BILLED $3200. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER EXPLAIN THAT THIS WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP IN THE RAIN, WATER IS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSPECTED THE POLLEN FILTER IN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS THE CAUSE. *AK

HI, I HAVE A VW PASSAT 2001.5 SEDAN. I RECENTLY HAVE NOTCIED THAT WATER ENTERS INTO THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR WHEN IT RAINS. I HEAR THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOTICED BY A NUMBER OF FELLOW PASSAT OWNERS ON VARIOUS FORUMS. I HAVE LEARNT THAT WATER CAN DAMAGE PREVIOUS ELECTRONICS AND CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I FEEL THAT THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM HERE WITH THE VW PASSAT THAT ALLOWS WATER INTO THE CAR WHEN IT SHOULD BE KEPT OUT. I STRONGLY HOPE VW WOULD RECALL THE VEHICLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. -- ARAVIND. *NM

FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 14 MONTHS THE SYSTEM THAT DRAINS RAIN WATER OUT OF MY CAR HAS BECOME CLOGGED. THE RESULT IS THAT WATER COLLECTS UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHERE COMPUTERS ARE LOCATED INSIDE AN UNSEALED PLASTIC BOX. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, IN DEC 2004, I WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN UNUSUALLY STRONG RAIN STORM AND THE RESULTING WATER DAMAGE EFFECTED THE BREAK SYSTEM. AT THAT TIME THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME IT'S HAPPENING OFF WARRANTY AND I'M BEING TOLD THAT ONE OF THE COMPUTERS HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THERE COULD BE FURTHER DAMAGE WHICH WILL ONLY BE DETECTED AFTER A NEW COMPUTER IS INSTALLED. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE SEATS AND CARPETING HAD TO BE REMOVED AND THE CARPETING AND WIRING SYSTEM HAD TO BE FAN DRIED. THIS TIME AROUND I SPOKE WITH A VW MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE REPAIRS ARE BEING DONE AND HE SAID THIS IS NOT AN INFREQUENT OCCURRENCE AFTER A RAIN STORM. NOW, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT LOCATING A COMPUTER SYSTEM IN A FLAT, LOW LYING AREA OF THE CAR WHERE WATER CAN COLLECT IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW, BUT THAT BEING THE CASE, HAD I BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT REGULAR FLUSHING OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM COULD HAVE PROBABLY PREVENTED A NOW COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING REPAIR, I WOULD HAVE GLADLY TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR SUCH A SERVICE. RECORDS WILL SHOW THAT I FOLLOWED VWS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, HAVING THE SERVICE DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED VW DEALERSHIP ON TIME. SURPRISINGLY, FLUSHING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS NOT PART OF VWS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROBLEM EXISTS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FLUSHING THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN, SAY, FILLING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, BUT THEN I GUESS VW STANDS TO BENEFIT FAR MORE FROM REPAIRING A WATER DAMAGED COMPUTER SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO REPLACING A WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE. *NM

CONSUMER HAS HAD THREE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS REPLACED IN HIS 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *TS ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER THIS PROBLEM IS RARE AND IS LIKELY A WIRING PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HASN'T TAKEN ANY STEPS TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM, INSTEAD THEY JUST KEEP REPLACING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *NM

THE DASH MODULE BEGINS TO SMOKE AND BLOWS OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ALTHOUGH THE FIRE IS INSIDE THE DASH, IT CAUSES A SERIOUS DRIVING DISABILITY. IT HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ASSIST. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ALSO REFUSES, THEY JUST KEEP REPLACING THE PART. *NM

THIS FAILURE IS DOCUMENTED WELL BY DOZENS OF CONSUMERS: HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=12789&PAGE=1. AK THIS COMPLAINT IS AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN FOR PASSAT YEAR GLS 2001.5 (1) HEAVY RAIN (2) GALLONS OF WATER COLLECTED IN REAR PASSENGER FOOTWELL (3) POLLEN FILTER REPLACED (TWICE SO FAR)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 REGARDING THE HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND REPAIRED AS INSTRUCTED IN THE RECALL. *AK UPDATED 2/24/2005 - THE TURN SIGNAL MADE A TICKING NOISE ALTHOUGH IT WASNT ACTIVATED. *NM

ABS MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE ABS BRAKING TO STOP FUNCTIONING. BECAUSE THE MODULE WOULD ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY IT WAS HARD TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE ABS MODULE WAS WORKING SO EXTREME CAUTION HAD TO BE TAKEN WITH BRAKING. ABS MODULE WAS REMOVED BY MYSELF AND SENT TO A REFURBISHER TO BE REPAIRED AND THEN REINSTALLED.*AK

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT IS FILLED WITH SLUDGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON MY OWN I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THAT ENGINE PROVIDED THE CONSUMER CAN PRODUCE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS SHOWING THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. I SENT THEM THE PROPER RECEIPTS SHOWING MY CAR WAS MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND THEY STILL DENIED ME. MY CAR ONLY HAS ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON IT AND I JUST BOUGHT IT 10 MONTHS AGO. *JB

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT LOW MILEAGE OF 21,000 MILES. NORMALLY GARAGED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. AFTER RAIN, FOUND AN INCH OF WATER IN REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. TRANSMISSION NON-FUNCTIONAL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON. DEALER SAID THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL WAS NO GOOD AND THAT WATER LEAKED IN AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. COST OF REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $3,100. VW REFUSES TO COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY BECAUSE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR TWO YEARS. TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN ARE COVERED FOR 5 YEARS, BUT VW SAYS THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO "OUTSIDE INFLUENCE". I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY ANGRY OWNERS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE LEAKS FROM THIS SEAL HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHECKING THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IS NOT PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK IT, YOU'D NEED TO DISASSEMBLE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW AN OWNER COULD POSSIBLY KNOW IF THE SEAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HE REPLIED "YOU FOUND OUT HOW". I AM CLEARLY NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM A PART THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY MAINTAINABLE (THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL) AND THAT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PASSAT THAT VW SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR. THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OWNER TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION -- IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. IT GOT TO DO WITH THE PASSAT LEAKING WATER AND THE LOCATION OF AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPONENT IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE AREA WHERE ANY WATER THAT LEAKS MIGRATES TO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING, I MIGHT HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. *JB

MY VW PASSAT GLS 2001'S ABS/ASR LIGHT KEEPS ON AT ALL TIMES NOW. WENT TO THE TECHNICIAN TO PUT A REPAIR KIT SINCE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE MAIN COMPUTER. ON TRYING 3-4 DIFFERENT KITS, TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIPS, THE ERROR CODE SHOWED SENSOR FAILURE BUT ALL THE SENSORS WORKED FINE, ELECTRICAL WERE WITHOUT ANY OPENS OR SHORTS. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS TO COMMUNICATE. I AM TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI ESPECIALLY THE BOSCH MODULES. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE ABS DOESN'T WORK ON THIS EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. *JB

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAD A TIMING BELT FAILURE DUE TO AN INTERNAL COMPONENT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO JUST TURN OFF. THIS BELT DID NOT FAIL, BUT THE COMPONENT DID WHICH CAUSED IT TO FAIL. HERE IS THE CONCERN: JUST THINK IF YOU ARE TRAVELING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND THIS PART FAILS, YOU ARE ALL DONE. YOU LOSE THE CAR, NOTHING IS AVAILABLE TO GET YOU OVER TO A SAFE SPOT. ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN SOMEONE IS TRAVELING AND THIS HAPPENS. NOTE - VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND OFFERS A UPGRADE KIT TO REPLACE THIS PART. ALSO, NO WHERE IN THEIR SERVICE GUIDE LINES WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DETECT THIS PART THROUGH THE TECHS. I'M HOPING BY SUBMITTING THIS WE MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. I DO HAVE THE BELT WHICH SHOWS THAT IT DID NOT FAIL AS THEY PITCHED IT.*AK

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

OIL PUMP FAILURE: THE WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON "STOP, OIL PRESSURE LOW" CONTACTED VW AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR AN INSPECTION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE OIL WHICH CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO FAIL. RECENTLY VW HAS ISSUED A NEW WARRANTY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OIL PUMP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, ONLY IF YOU HAVE YOUR OIL RECEIPTS FROM DAY ONE. I WISH TO KEEP MY VW FOR A LONG TIME AND YES OIL WAS CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS, HOWEVER RECEIPTS ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND FROM DAY ONE. FROM MY FINDINGS AND WHAT MAKES SENSE IS THAT THE TURBO IS OVER HEATING THE OIL AND BUILDING UP A SLUDGE IN THE OIL. AS OF TODAY MY PUMP WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE CAM. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE NECESSARY WORK BUT HAS NOT REALLY INFORMED ME AS TO ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS THAT WILL ARISE. WHERE AS OTHER OIL REPAIR SHOPS KNOW OF VW WITH TURBO THAT HAVE FAILED AT 20,000 MILES AND THEN AGAIN AT 40,000 MILES. AS OF TODAY I QUESTION IF THE TURBO WAS INSPECTED FOR SLUDGE OR WAS AN OIL FLUSH DONE. *JB

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAS PARKED, LOCKED AND SEALED FOR PERIOD OF ONE WEEK. DURING THIS PERIOD, HEAVY RAINS FELL AND INTERIOR OF CAR WAS FLOODED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS ON 10/21. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DEFECTIVE SUNROOF FRAME AS SOURCE OF LEAK CAUSING DAMAGE TO "TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND AIRBAG MODULE." MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE AVOIDING AND OR CONCEALING INFORMATION ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MONETARY DAMAGES AND VEHICLE'S DEFECT. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS AIRBAG MODULE DAMAGE AND ANY OTHER COMPONENTS OF THIS SYSTEM THAT COULD BE DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE ALSO. PLEASE ADVISE. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 PASSAT WITH 66,XXX MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. IT IS GOING TO COST 4000.00-5000.00 TO HAVE THIS FIX. I DO NOT THINK A CAR WITH THIS MANY MILES SHOULD HAVE A TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND TO TOP IT OFF WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR 6 MONTHS AGO WITH 51,060 FROM WALSHER IN BLOOMINGTON, MN THEY SAID I HAD A 10YR/100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY ON IT, WELL COME TO FIND OUT SINCE I AM A SECOND OWNER IT ONLY GOES TO 50,000 MILES WHICH MEANS *JBWHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE WARRANTY.

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

A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO MY ABS, BRAKE AND ASR LIGHTS CAME ON NOT NECESSARILY TOGETHER. THE ABS AND BRAKE WOULD BE TOGETHER WITH THE MATRIX DISPLAY SHOWING STOP SERVICE MANUAL AND LATER THE ASR LIGHT WOULD BE ON WITH THE REST GOING OFF. FUNNY, I WAS GOING DOWN A SLOPE, NO BRAKING, THE ABS/BRAKE CAME ON AND WENT OFF IMMEDIATELY! ITS VERY RANDOM, COMES ON OR OFF AT ANY TIME. CHECKING ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS LIKE ITS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH VW CARS. *JB

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

ALL BOLTS HOLDING COMPRESSOR IN PLACE BROKE. *NM

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE- I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT VOLKSWAGENS PROBLEM WITH 1.8 TURBO ENGINES CREATING A SLUDGE THAT RESULTS IN LOW TO NO OIL PRESSURE. I HAVE ONE OF THE CARS AFFECTED, A 2001 PASSAT. RECENTLY MY "STOP ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I DID STOP AND CHANGED THE OIL AND FILTER IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND HE SAID THAT YES MY CAR WAS COVERED FOR 8 YEARS FROM IN SERVICE DATE. HE DID SAY HOWEVER THAT TRYING TO GET EVERYONE TO "SIGN OFF" MIGHT POSE SOME DIFFICULTY WHEN THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY ARISES. MY FRIEND HAS A 2003 AUDI WITH THE SAME 1.8 T AND HE HAS HAD HIS CAR IN FOR THIS PROBLEM TWICE. I THINK THERE NEED TO SOMETHING FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO DOCUMENT THIS PROBLEM AND HOLD VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE STILL ALLOWED TO MAKE THESE SAME ENGINES. *JB

MY VW PASSAT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE ALREADY REPLACE MY EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS/TAILIGHTS REPLACED 9 TIMES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE DEALER ALONG WITH THE VW CUSTOMER CARE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. BASICALLY, I HAVE TO KEEP PAYING TO GET NEW HEADLIGHTS THAT ONLY LAST ABOUT A YEAR. *NM

I OWN 2001 VW PASSAT WITH 43200 MILES. THIS PAST YEAR I NOTICED FAILURES OF OUTER CV JOINT BOOT BOTH SIDES AND RUBBER DUST BOOTS ON ALL BALL JOINTS WHICH CAUSES A DIRT AND WATER TO DESTROY BALL JOINTS. I CHANGED OUTER CV JOIN BOOT BOTH SIDES AND ONE UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT AND OTHERS WILL FAIL SOON. *JB

DT: 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE PLUG IN THE BULB FAILED. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO BUY A HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. ALL CONNECTORS DON'T RESIST HEAT. CALLED DEALER, CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *AK *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE "STOP VEHICLE DO NOT DRIVE", AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE ENGINE. THE PREVIOUS REPAIR REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN AT THE DEALER FOR ONE MONTH. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. IN ADDITION, DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, FIVE INCHES OF WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PANEL. THERE WAS ELECTRICAL FAILURE DUE TO THE WATER LEAKAGE THAT CAUSED GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT CONSISTS OF INSTALLATION OF A DRAINAGE FILTER AND FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THESE MALFUNCTIONS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE DISPLAY OF "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP!" AROUND 73K MI. THE CAR DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE O2 SENSORS, BUT IT TURNED OUT NOT BE TO. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A "RECALL/SERVICE BULLETIN" PROBLEM OF SOME SORT SO THEY RESET MY ONBOARD COMPUTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE SHORTLY THERE AFTER. I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALER AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED BOTH OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (WHICH WERE COVERED BY THE VW EMISSIONS WARRANTY). THIS SEEMED TO HAVE RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. (THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THE SAME DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SO IT WOULD BE A GOOD ASSUMPTION THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED BEFORE I ATTAINED THE VEHICLE). *NM

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE PAST FIVE WEEKS. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS A "FULL" READING FOR THE FIRST 100-150 MILES OF DRIVING, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. AFTER 100-150 MILES, THE GAUGE DISPLAYS 7/8 FULL, AND THE NEEDLE DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 300-380 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DISPLAYS 1/2 TANK OF FUEL REMAINS. THIS VEHICLE WILL GENERALLY YIELD 400 TO 430 MILES ON A FULL TANK OF FUEL. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY, AND HAS NEARLY RUN OUT OF FUEL TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO A FALSE READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATES THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN ON MY VEHICLE, AND REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AT THEIR EXPENSE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS A 2001.5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS FOGGING. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 50 DEGREES OR LESS. THE FOG WILL APPEAR ON THE WINDOW AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. SOMETIMES THE FOG WILL APPEAR AFTER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. IT WILL OCCUR WITHER OR NOT THE HEATER OR FAN TURNED ON. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE LESS SEVERE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS HEATED . THE ONLY WAY THE FOG WILL GO AWAY IS IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON HIGH. SHE HAS ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, EACH TIME THEY DID A PRESSURE CHECK TO THE HEATER CORE , BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE IS TAKING IT BACK AGAIN TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE FOG PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK

DT: ON AUGUST 25 ONWER WAS UPSET BECAUSE HE HAD TO REPLACE TIE RODS, AND HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. HE SAID THE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECUASE THEY WERE FROZEN. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE TIE RODS.*AK *NM

AT APPROX. 74,300 MI. OUR 2001 VW PASSAT GLS V6 AUTOMATIC HAD AN ABS FAILURE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM A VW DEALER IN 2001 AND HAVE IT SERVICED BY VW DEALERS. OTHER VW OWNERS I HAVE SPOKEN TO (SOME WHILE IN THE SERVICE AREA OF THE DEALERSHIP!) HAVE ALSO HAD ABS FAILURE. THE ABS UNIT IS BACK-ORDERED AND WAIT LISTED BECAUSE SO MANY HAVE FAILED AND BEEN REQUESTED. I AM ON MY 4TH WEEK OF WAITING FOR THE PART, AFTER HAVING TO PAY FOR IT IN FULL UP FRONT. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART: REBUILD KIT IS $650 WHILE THE UNIT ITSELF IS APPROX. $1,100. I BELIEVE THIS PART SUFFER CHRONIC FAILURE AMONG VW'S AND AUDI'S. I ALSO BELIEVE THE IGNITION COILS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS MINE ARE FAILING AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE FAILING.*JB

LACK OF POWER WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS DUE TO WATER LEAK IN POLLEN FILTER BOX (CRACKED) WHICH AFFECTED THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID, AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *NM

THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 54K MILES ON IT. *JB

CAR WAS MAKING NOISE AT SLOW SPEED AND WOULD SHAKE AT FASTER SPEEDS. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED 2 TIE RODS WHICH WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND I WAS THEN TOLD IT WAS THE CONTROL ARMS AND I NEEDED ALL 4 REPLACED. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 45,000. I UNDERSTAND FROM OTHER SITES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON VW'S AND AUDI'S. *JB

FUNCTION OF TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ON MY 2001 PASSAT (40,000 MILES) HAS BEEN DEGRADING OVER TIME. BOTH SYSTEMS ARE NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. VW (800-822-8987) CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH THERE IS AN ACTIVE VW RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2000-2002 GOLF, GTI AND JETTA, AND THE NHTSA REPRESENTATIVE TO WHOM I SPOKE HAS TOLD ME THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON 2001 PASSATS (BUT NO CURRENT RECALL). OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL BE GETTING THIS FIXED ASAP. HOWEVER, I WOULD REQUEST THAT 1) A RECALL BE INITIATED AND 2) VW PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO ALL OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF WHO WILL HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR OUT OF THEIR POCKETS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT IS CLEARLY WIDESPREAD ON 2000-2002 VW VEHICLES OF ALL MODELS. *NM