2001 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

DT: CALLER SAID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING CALLER SAID BOTH CURTIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED OVER THE DOORS. CALLER SAID HE DID NOT HAVE A CRASH OR HIT A BUMP. CALLER SAID AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ,AND THERE WA SA BLINKING WARNING LIGHT. CALLER MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT DID NOT MAKE IT BEFORE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

I OWN A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGEN AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE SLUDGE AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I WAS MISSING ONE OIL CHANGE RECEIPT THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON IN THE CAR TELLING ME I HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS ONCE AGAIN, AND I BRING IT IN FOR REGULAR REPAIRS AND CHECK UPS. CURRENTLY THE SUSPENSION PART OF THE CAR HAS GONE AND THAT WILL COST ANOTHER $2000 ON TOP OF THE $7000 I ALREADY PUT INTO IT. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE NEW TIRES AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS IDIOT CAR. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT STAND BY ITS CUSTOMERS AT ALL AND I WILL NEVER EVER BUY FROM THEM AGAIN AND WILL TELL PEOPLE I KNOW THE CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP. THE PLACE I BRING IN MY CAR TO FOR REPAIR ALREADY KNOWS THAT. DO NOT BRING IT INTO A VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR PLACE TO HAVE IT FIXED> THEY ARE THE BIGGEST RIPP OFFS AND SO TOTALLY DISHONEST!!!! I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM JACK DANIELS IN FAIRLAWN, NJ AND HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED AT TREND MOTORS, IN DENVILLE, NJ *JB

AT APPROX. 70,000 MILES MY 2001 VW PASSAT 4 CYL AUTOMATIC HAS AN ABS FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE CERTIFIED USED IN 2002 FROM A VW DEALER AND HAVE HAD IT REGULARLY SERVICED. OTHER VW OWNERS THAT I KNOW HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. IN ACT IT IS APPARENTLY WELL KNOWN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY THAT VW`ABS UNITS ARE SUB-STANDARD AND PRONE TO DEFECTIVENESS. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY LOCAL VW DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE UNIT COST $1300. THE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP ALSO MADE A COMMENT THE REFLECTED ON THE SUB-STANDARD QUALITY OF PASSAT ABS MODULES. I HAVE SEEN INTERNET POSTINGS DETAILING THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF VW PASSAT ABS UNITS. *NM

A/C SLOWLY STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR, FUMES OR SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. COOLANT LEAKED ALL OVER THE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD WHICH IS NOW RUINED. DEALER SAID THE HEATER CORE NEEDED REPLACED WHICH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $1700, ALL THIS AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. EYES HAVE BEEN BURNING LATELY FROM THE SMOKE THAT WAS BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE VENTS. DEALER REPLACED HEATER CORE AND THERE IS STILL A BIT OF SMOKE BEING BLOWN OUT. VERY DISPLEASED.

DT: CONSUMER RAN OUT OF GAS ON A TWO LANE STREET GOING OVER A [XXX], THERE WAS NO PLACE TO PULL TO THE SIDE WHEN VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF LOW GAS FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT, NO WARNING TONE, OR WARNING OF ANY KIND. GAUGE DID NOT SHOW EMPTY OR SHOW THE CORRECT GAS LEVEL. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY WITH TWO KIDS IN THE VEHICLE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).* TR

RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATES THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE TANK.

MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND I GOT A "STOP", "BRAKE FAILURE", "SERVICE MANUAL" SIGNS WITH SEVERAL BEEPS. I HAD TO STOP OVER THE SHOULDER, TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DETECTED THAT IT WAS A ABS COMPUTER MODULE MALFUNCTION (NOT REALLY AN ABS MECHANICAL ISSUE). THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I CALLED VW AMERICA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO KNOWN RECALLS. THE DEALER QUOTED $700 FOR THIS PART. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND I'M SURPRISED THAT VW HAS NOT RESPONDED SO FAR. THE EFFECTS OF THIS ARE THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER MODULE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME DEFECTIVE AND STRANGE SIGNS/WARNINGS/BEEPS WOULD COME OVER THE DASHBOARD. VW PASSAT GLX V6, 2001. (ITS ONLY 5 YRS OLD AND 60K MILES). PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY (ONCE PER DRIVING SESSION) WE WOULD NOT KNOW WHEN THERE IS A REAL ABS PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC INCIDENTS (PER SERVICE MANUAL). *NM

AUTOMOBILE: 2001.5 VW PASSAT 1)THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING - BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DAYLIGHTS, THE FOGLIGHTS AND THE BRIGHTS CONTINUED TO WORK. 2) THE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. 3) WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER. THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HAD MELTED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. QUESTION: IF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS MELTED, ISN'T THERE A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE WILL ALSO MELT?

TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT BREACH OF WARRANTY REGARDING THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR *JB

CONTACT STATES: TURN SIGNAL/ HAZARD SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. HAD PROBLEM FOR TWO WEEKS. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO CALL VOLKSWAGEN. THERE WERE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SAFETY RECALL 15.*AK

FAILURE TO START WHEN IT DOES THE FUMES RESEMBLE PAINT THINNER VERY CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. *NM

ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOES ON AND OFF, WHEN BLINKING ON, THE CAR SHAKES, AS IF IT IS ABOUT TO STALL, AND A BAD ODOR EMITS. WHEN DRIVING , THE CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 20-30 MPH, EVEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. BROUGHT THE CAR TO VW FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IDLE FOR A DAY OR SO. THE 2ND TIME, AFTER GOING TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND HAVING ALL THE PLUGS REPLACED AND A COMPLETE TUNE-UP, SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY. INDEPENDENT SHOP SAID THE ONLY OTHER THING WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND THAT THEY WERE EXPENSIVE. CALLED VW DEALERSHIP(CAR IS ON EXTENDED WARRANTY-LESS THAN 30 THOUSAND MILES & A 2001), WAITED 9 DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD LOOK AT THE CAR, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE PROBLEM, AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT VW DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THE IGNITION COILS, THEY REPLACED THE NEWLY PURCHASED PLUGS AGAIN, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE COILS??? COST ME $261.00 PLUS A RENTAL CAR, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG.*AK

BAD HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 48,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE UNWILLING TO COVER REPAIRS.*AK

SINCE BUYING THE CAR, THERE HAS BEEN AN ODOR FROM THE HEATER VENTS. ON FEBRUARY 25, WHEN USING THE HEATER, MY SON REPORTED LARGE AMOUNTS OF MIST COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE DEALER CHECKED AND FOUDN THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE HEATER CORE, AND THE MIST WAS FROM POOLED ANTIFREEZE. THE MIST IS CLEARLY TOXIC, YET WE WERE BREATHING IT FOR WEEKS, ONLY NOTICING WHEN THE CRACK WORSENED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 17,500 MILES ON IT. WHY DID THE HEATER CORE CRACK? *AK

1.NORMAL DRIVING 2.REAR BRAKE ROTOR WARP AND EXCESSIVE PAD WEAR 3. 3 SEPERATE INCEDENSES OF REAR BRAKE REPAIRS. (THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY ON THE FRONT BRAKES TO DATE) 4 REAR ROTORS AND 3 SETS OF PADS IN 52,000 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER INSISTS THIS IS THE NORMAL WEAR PATTERN FOR THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY THE INNER PAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR..VW OF AMERICA IS BACKING THE STANCE THAT THE DEALER IS CORRECT. THIS HAS CREATED AN UNSAFE BRAKING CONDITION BECAUSE TH THE BRAKE PEDAL OSCILLATES DURING ALL BRAKING.

UPPER LEFT CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE AT 35,000 MILES. NEEDS REPLACING.*AK

FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY. AFTER TURN SIGNAL (LEFT OR RIGHT) WAS DEACTIVATED (WHETHER MANUALLY OR AUTOMATICALLY AFTER COMPLETING TURN, PROMINENT SCRATCHING OR "SHORTING" NOISE COULD BE HEARD AND VIBRATION FELT UNDERNEATH THE FLASHER SWITCH FOR VARYING PERIODS OF TIME. DEALER REPLACED SWITCH, HOWEVER, A NOISE CONTINUED FROM BEHIND THE FLASHER SWITCH AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY DEFECT IN TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM IN STEERING COLUMN. THAT REPAIR IS PENDING. CONCERN IS FOR FAILURE OF EITHER THE FLASHERS OR TURN SIGNALS AND/OR ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS. THE SITUATION BEARS SIMILARITY TO THE EXISTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V584000 INVOLVING SOME OF THE SAME COMPONENTS IN VW JETTAS OF THE SAME MANUFACTURING YEAR.*AK

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THE CAR IS NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT, I ALSO GET THE EPO LIGHT ON, TOOK IT TO VW SERVICE CTR THEY SAID IT WILL COST $1500 + 2.5 HRS LABOR. I CALLED UP VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP, EVEN THOUGH 1000S OF OTHER VOLKSWAGENS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE OWNER STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE THROUGH STATE INSPECTION THE VEHICLE FAILED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ADJUST. THE ADJUSTMENTS WERE DONE FROM THE REFLECTOR. THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW VIBRATED, AND EVENTUALLY FELL OFF, MAKING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PLASTIC GEAR VIBRATED. THE LIGHT FELL OUT OF THE ADJUSTMENT. THE PLASTIC GEAR FELL OFF AND THE LIGHTS WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ON FEB 4 THE VEHICLE FAILED A STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE LIGHTS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *TC BOTH HEAD LAMPS WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO A SMALL ADJUSTMENT SCREW ON THE LAMP ASSEMBLY. *SC *JB

NHTSA 01V157000 SITES A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK GAUGE MY VEHICLE ABSOLUTELY HAS THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE GAS GAUGE WILL RECORD 280 MILES THEN AFTER DRIVING A FEW HOURS IT WILL SAY 380 MILES LEFT FOR FUEL THEN IN A 30 MILE DISTANCE IT WILL PLUMMET DOWN TO 60 OR LESS. THE CAR IS A 2001 PASSAT AND NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS THIS AS A RECALL AS OF 08/04/05 *JB

2001 PASSAT ALL NEW PIRELLI TIRES 12/03. REAR TIRES CUPPING ON THE INSIDE AFTER 20,000 MILES. VEH WAS LOUD IN THE REAR, LESS TRACTION, HANDLING FUNNY. FIGHTING WITH TIRE PLACE RIGHT NOW.*AK

STRONG SMELL OF GAS EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTO CABIN THROUGH HEATING SYSTEM, DROVE TO VW DEALER, WHO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THE CAR DID NOT EXPLODE, THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH HEATS TO 1000 DEGREES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL LINE, ALTHOUGH THEY CHARGED A LOT TO DO SO.*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE. DEALER HAD TO TIGHTEN THE RACK AND PINION IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.*AK...MECHANIC REPORTED THAT PART WAS ALMOST OUT ON ONE SIDE, AND HAD IT COME OUT ABILITY TO STEER WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST. *AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE 2001 VW PASSAT V6 GLS ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND THE MOMENTUM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE FORWARD ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DISASTROUS SITUATION. DURING THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED TODAY THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE BEING RESTARTED. *NM

TRUNK LID LOCK BROKE ABOUT 5 DAYS BEFORE THE 8TH AND IT SLOWLY DRAINED THE BATTERY. WITHOUT MY KNOWING THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN I DID NOT ATTEND THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. THE CHARGES FROM VW TO FIX ARE: TRUNK-$ 120.85 BATTERY- $318.18. *NM

I OWN A 2001 1.8 TURBO VW PASSAT WITH GIVE OR TAKE 57,000 MILES. THE 1.8 TURBO HAS AN ISSUE WITH OIL SLUDGE. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8 TURBO AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ACCORDINGLY, VW HAS EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I HAVE RECORDS SHOWING THAT ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES WERE DONE WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER. HOWEVER IN TWO INSTANCES I EXCEEDED THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE": IN THE FIRST CASE IT WAS BY 26 MILES AND IN THE SECOND CASE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 290 MILES. IF VW HAS DENIED MY CLAIM DUE TO THOSE SITUATIONS, THEY SHOULD NOT STATE IN THE WARRANTY THAT THE OWNER FOLLOW THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE" SCHEDULE BUT THAT THE OWNER SHOULD FOLLOW A "REQUIRED MAINTENANCE" SCHEDULE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT A 2001 CAR, THAT COST OVER $22,000, THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAS LESS THAT 60,000 MILES, SUCH AS MINE, SHOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE FAILURE. EVEN IF I WENT OVER THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE" BY 500 OR 700 MILES, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT GIVE OUT. VW NEEDS TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM VWOA REGARDING THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. I HAVE ALL OF MY RECORDS STATING THAT I HAVE PERFORMED THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE" NOT REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, IN A TIMELY MANNER. YET VW HAS DENIED MY CLAIM TO COVER THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' ISSUED FOR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2001, OIL SLUDGE WARRANTY EXTENSION. *BF THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS, THE OIL AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP FROM LACK OF OIL. THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT PROVIDED RECEIPTS FROM AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE COMPANY DOCUMENTING THAT HE HAD THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. THE WARRANTY DEPT. STATED THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ENTITLED TO WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE ENGINE AND THE TURBO CHARGER REPAIRS. (LAWYER ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER) *JB

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE UPPER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

THE CRANK SHAFT SCREW GOT LOOSE, BACKED OUT, AND RATTLED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AT 50 MPH. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE SCREW RUINED THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE ENGINE.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SLUDGE WAS INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT. *NM RECALL#01V157000. *SC

IDENTICAL TO COMPLAINTS 10089069 AND 10097846. SUDDEN WARNING LIGHT APPEARANCE WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY. INDICATED "LOW OIL PRESSURE -- STOP MOTOR". BY THE TIME AN EXIT WAS REACHED ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING AND KNOCKING. MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE -- CAR IS AT DEALER ABOUT 50 MILES DISTANT. AR IS WITHIN WARRANTY MILEAGE AND YEARS (7 YEARS/70,000 MILES FOR POWER TRAIN). VOLKSWAGEN IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE MILEAGE WAS NOT RECORDED ON RECEIPTS AT TIME OF OIL CHANGES. HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH BOTH THE VW DEALER RECEIVING THE CAR AS TOWED, AND VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE. *AK

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED AND THE VW DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT AT JUST 67000 MILES. THIS IS PREMATURE. I UNDERSTAND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A SAFETY RISK.*AK

AT 13,000 MILES, STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO "CLUNK" WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. NEW STEERING COLUMN INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 27,000 MILES, SAME PROBLEM RETURNED. INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT ISSUE MAY BE DUE TO DESIGN OF COLUMN UNIVERSAL JOINT WHEN PASSING THROUGH FIREWALL (SHARP ANGLE LEADS TO MORE STRESS AND LIKELY FAILURE OVER TIME.) WHEN WARRANTY EXPIRES, THIS WILL BECOME MY ISSUE.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ON 2001 (B5) PASSAT MODEL ARE DEFECTIVE AND FAIL PREMATURELY AT 30,000-50,000 MILES. FAILURE IS SYSTEMIC AND WIDESPREAD. FAILURE OF FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS CAN LEAD TO THE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND POSSIBLY DEATH. INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET HAS SHOWN THIS PROBLEM TO BE WIDESPREAD BOTH IN EUROPE AND THE US, YET VW HAS NOT TAKEN ANY OWNERSHIP OF THIS SERIOUS PRODUCT DEFECT. CORRECTIVE ACTION BEING TAKEN IS TO INSTALL AFTERMARKET COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED TO ELIMINATE THE DEFECT AND ARE MANUFACTURED BY MEYLE OF GERMANY. AS THIS MODEL AGES, THE DEFECT PROBLEM WILL INCREASE.*AK

THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2001.5 PASSAT HAVE BURNED OUT AT A RATE THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ONE HEADLIGHT TWICE AND THE OTHER FOUR TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY CAR. BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS THAT ONLY A DEALER REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH ONE OR THE OTHER LAMP OUT. FORTUNATELY THEY HAVE NOT FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. DURING A VISIT TO MY LOCAL DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AT THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED THIS FREQUENTLY. SINCE THAT VISIT, AND SEVERAL MORE LIGHT REPLACEMENTS, THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED IT, ALTHOUGH THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF PASSATS THAT I SEE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT, I SUSPECT THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

AT APPROX 60K CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON READ "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP". DEALER HOOKED UP COMPUTER AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR AND SOME OF THE VACUUM HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE O2 SENSOR PROBLEM AND REPLACED A FEW VACUUM HOSES. THE CARS COMPUTER WAS CLEARED AND TWO MONTHS LATER BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP INDICATORS WERE BACK. SHOP HOOKED UP TO THEIR COMPUTER AND CONFIRMED THAT NOW A PRE CAT O2 SENSOR WAS BAD. TWO SENSORS IN THREE MONTHS, BOTH MORE THAN $200 TO REPLACE IS UNACCEPTABLE. VW IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE EXTENDED PORTIONS OF ITS WARRANTIES BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS IT DOESN'T COVER THESE PARTS OR REPAIRS. THE CAR HAS APPROX. 62,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR. *JB

OIL SLUDGE BUILDS UP IN THE ENGINE. THE OIL IS BREAKING DOWN WHICH IS CLOGGING THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING A LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE DASHBOARD, STATING STOP DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM, AND COULD DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING UNTIL IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. CONSUMER CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP ("PROJECTOR TYPE") FAILED WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF REPLACEMENT. ASKED DEALER TO FIND SOURCE OF PROBLEM. DEALER FOUND LAMP SOCKET MELTED AND WIRING BURNED. REPLACED WIRE HARNESS AND SOCKET AND BULB. VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 9404-01, "HEADLAMP ELECTRICAL CONNECTION REPAIR", ISSUED 3/11/04, SUGGESTS THIS IS A RECOGNIZED DEFECT IN AFFECTED CARS. THIS ALSO SUGGESTS THAT REPLACEMENT HARNESSES MAY BE A REDESIGNED PART (E.G. HEAVIER WIRE, IMPROVED MATERIALS, ETC.). IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER THE HARNESS USED RESOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR BOTH SIDES OF CAR OR NOT. CHARGED $54.45 FOR HARNESS, $188.30 FOR ENTIRE JOB. THIS WAS PARTIALLY COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTY. REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM BOTH DEALER AND VWOA FOR OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR REPAIRS TO APPARENT DEFECTIVE COMPONENT, BUT WAS DENIED BASED ON AGE / MILEAGE (86,485) OF VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: POTENTIAL UNDERHOOD FIRE HAZARD. LOSS OF VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER/ONCOMING VEHICLES.*AK

2001 PASSAT GLS V6. WATER COLLECTED IN THE ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY DRAINAGE PLUGS AND RUINED THE COMPUTER. WATER ALSO ENTERED INTO CABIN AND SOAKED THE RUGS. THE POLLEN FILTER ALSO DID NOT WORK. COMPUTER AND POLLEN FILTER WERE REPLACED. *AK ALSO DOOR ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS BECOME UNALIGNED. ALSO BRAKES NEEDED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED AFTER 24,000 MILES BECAUSE ROTORS GOT WARPED. ALSO FAULTY IGNITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. ALSO CV JOINTS ARE RIPPIING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. ONLY HAVE 25,000 MILES ON CAR AND SERVICE IT REGULARLY.

I WAS TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED OUTSIDE OF PENDELTON OREGON WHEN THE WIND BLEW MY SUN ROOF OFF OF MY CAR. THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED, AND THE CAR JUST ERUPTED AND THE ROOF WAS LITERALLY PEELED OFF THE TOP OF MY CAR. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMS VOLKSWAGEN IS USING A PLASTIC CALIPER SYSTEM TO CONNECT THE SUNROOF GLASS ASSEMBLY TO THE DRIVE MECHANICS ON THE MOTOR DRIVEN CARRAIGE. THE PLASTIC FATIGUED BECAUSE OF USE AND VOLKSWAGEN COULD CARE LESS. THE NEW ASSEMBLAGE IS $2200 AND THERE IS NO SECOND CHOICE, PURCHASE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY OR GO WITHOUT A SUNROOF..... AFTER CALLING VOLKSWAGEN AND GETTING NOWHERE I AM PROCEEDING TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN OREGON FOR PURSIUT OF MY MONEY BACK.*AK

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX 2001, DEFECTIVE BRAKES. *BF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE FRONT WHEEL OVERHEATED AND STARTED TO SMOKE. THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *JB

POWER BRAKE BOOST FAILED; BRAKE APPLICATION REQUIRED INCREASED PEDAL FORCE AND DISTANCE TO STOP. PROBLEM ABATED AFTER 30 SECONDS, THEN RECURRED AT NEXT VEHICLE START- ALSO SUBSIDED AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. *AK TOOK CAR TO DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT 2 SUPPLY LINES TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED AND CRACKED. WAS TOLD THAT REPAIR WOULD COST $150, BUT COULD NOT BE FIXED THAT DAY. OLD PARTS AVAILABLE (INCLUDING IMAGES PRIOR TO REMOVAL).

LOWER RIGHT SIDE NEAR THE VENT CONTROL OF DASHBOARD RATTLES AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN ON UNEVEN ROADS. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT IT, BUT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH TIME. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO THE VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE WAS JUST THE LEATHER RUBBING; HOWEVER, WHEN THEY APPLIED FELT TAPE TO THE AREA, THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. ASKED IF IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH HOW THE DASHBOARD WAS MOUNTED, POSSIBLY A FAULTY CLIP, AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS QUITE RUDE SAYING THERE WAS NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH HE HEARD THE NOISE DURING TEST DRIVE. I READ ON SOME VW MESSAGE BOARDS THAT THERE IS AN UPDATED CLIP KIT FOR THE PASSAT BECAUSE SO MANY VW/PASSAT DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. IS THIS TRUE? *AK

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - OIL SLUDGE - MY CAR HAD A STOP LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. I PULLED OVER, CHECKED OIL AND OIL PRESSURE WAS NOT LOW. PROCEEDED AND CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS PULLING OVER.*AK VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THE $6000 REPAIR. ENGINE SEIZED. VOLKSWAGEN IS TRYING TO LOOK LIKE THE NICE GUY WITH THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE BIG CATCH--MUST HAVE EVERY RECEIPT FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE TO PROVE THEY WERE DONE EVERY 5,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CAR. HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MANY PASSAT OWNERS AFFECTED.

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - OIL SLUDGE - MY CAR HAD A STOP LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW OIL PUMP FOR $900. VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR, SO I DID. 10,000 MILES LATER MY ENGINE FAILED AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR $11,000. AGAIN VW WOULD NOT COVER THIS FIALURE.. VOLKSWAGEN IS TRYING TO LOOK LIKE THE NICE GUY WITH THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE BIG CATCH--MUST HAVE EVERY RECEIPT FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE TO PROVE THEY WERE DONE EVERY 5,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT STANDING BY THEIR CAR. HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MANY PASSAT OWNERS AFFECTED.*AK

I,M SENDING THIS COMPLAIN ON BEHALF OF MY BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO WILL NOT PURSUE THIS MATTER.HOWEVER, I'M ADIMANT AS TO THE NATURE OF THIS COMPLAINT.HE HAS A 2001 VW PASSAT.AFTER HITTING A BUMP AT NORMAL SPEEDS, TWO OF HIS AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VW SAID THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AS THE SENSOR DECIDED IT WAS THE THING TO DO. HE'S LUCKY HE DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. OBVIOUSLY IF THIS WERE A COMMON MALADY IN VEHICLES TODAY, I DARE SAY MANY ACCIDENTS WOULD OCCUR. VW WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT SINCE HE'S OUT OF WARRANTY. SIMPLY SPEAKING, THIS AIN'T RIGHT!! DON BROWN. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH SHE SMELLED GAS. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHILE FUEL WAS ESCAPING FROM THE FUEL LINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED APPROVAL FROM THE FIRE MARSHALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH REPLACED THE FUEL LINE FOR $700. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 40,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB

THE ACCELERATOR STICKS. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *NM

SHIELDING ON EXHAUST SYSTEM SEPARATED AND MADE CONTACT WITH MANIFOLD, CAUSING A FIRE. *AK