2002 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

DIDNT EXPLAIN FULLY THE FIRST TIME, SO HERE GOES. MY VW HAS ENGINE FAILURE, VW HAD A LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM SOME YEARS BACK BECAUSE OF A ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE RAN HOT BECAUSE IT WAS A TURBO POWERED ENGINE, PLUS NOT HAVING ENOUGH OIL TO KEEP IT COOL. CAUSING THE OIL TO BREAKDOWN AND MAKE SLUDGE WHICH CLOGGED UP THE OIL PUMP AND STARVED THE ENGINE OF OIL LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. THIS IS WHAT IM EXPERENCING RIGHT NOW, I HAVE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE. VW LOST THAT LAWSUIT AND STILL WONT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DESIGN FLAW, IM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON MY CAR, IT RAN PERFECT. ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE DOCUMENTED, THE CAR IS IN ALMOST PERFECT CONDITION FOR A 2002. I WANT VW TO FIX WHAT THEY CREATED, I DONT HAVE 3000 DOLLARS TO BUY AN ENGINE FOR IT. ITS NOT MY DESIGN! I WAS DRIVING DOWN ATLANTIC AVE IN RALEIGH NC GOING 45 MPH WHEN MY ENGINE DIED, HAD TO PUSH MY CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT.

ENGINE FAILURE, CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECT NO PROBLEMS. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTS VIBRATING AND SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. CALLED MY MECHANIC HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT BY, I STARTED ON MY WAY TO DRIVE TO THE SHOP SO HE COULD TAKE A LOOK. CAR DIED 1 MILE FROM SHOP WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING 45MPH WGEN IT FAILED, I HAD TO GET OUT THE CAR PUSH IT OUT OF TRAFFIC BY MYSELF. A VW PASSAT WAGON! HEAVY? YES VERY MUCH SO. GOT IT TOWED MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WASNT GETTIN ENOUGH OIL.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING UPHILL. NEEDLE ON THERMOSTAT GAUGE SUDDENLY PERKED REALLY FAST TOWARDS HOT. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO SIDE OF ROAD AND ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF FRONT OF ENGINE. DRIVER STEPPED OUT OF CAR. WHILE INSPECTING THE FRONT OF THE CAR, THE DRIVER SAW FLICKERING FLAMES UNDER RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE (AS SEEN FROM INSIDE). DRIVER TOOK SLEEPING CHILD OUT OF CAR SEAT AND STEPPED AWAY FROM CAR. CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE WITHIN MINUTES AND COMPLETELY BURNT UP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LARGE FLAMES IGNITED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,808.

LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOW ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T GET FIXED. FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAD A LAW SUIT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,611.

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A SNOWY DAY WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE SIDE TO SIDE HAD TO TRY AND EASE UP THE HILL, WHICH INTERN RAISED HE RPM UP AND THE "STOP OIL PRESSURE LIGHT &TURN OFF ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AFTER RESEARCHING IT SEEMS TO BE A SLUDGE ISSUE AND IS GOING TO BE COSTLY REPAIR AND WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ON THIS ISSUE THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED USING SYNTHETIC OIL ON ALL OIL CHANGES SINCE PURCHASED DID PURCHASE USED BUT ACCORDING TO THE CAR FAX AND AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERS THAT SERVICE THE VEHICLE IT HAS ALWAYS HAD SYNTHETIC. *TR

MY CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED WHEN I ENTERED A CONVENIENCE STORE. NO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OR ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE WHEN I ENTERED THE STORE. I EXITED THE STORE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER ENTERING, AND THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE BELLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY GREW LARGE ENOUGH WHERE A STANDARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FLAME AND A FIREFIGHTERS WERE REQUIRED. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE SCENE AND A MECHANIC AFTERWARDS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT BELIEVED THAT IT WAS LIKELY MECHANICAL OF SOME SORT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ISSUE ACCELERATING AFTER SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PICK UP SPEED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

MY DAUGHTER PULLED INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOTICED A FAINT ODOR OF SMOKE. SHE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. SHE WENT TO GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND UPON HER RETURN THE FLAME WAS OUT AND THE SMOKE SUBSIDED. I HAVE INSPECTED THE AREA AND I CAN'T IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE. I JUST LEARNED OF A RECENT INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA INTO MY2002 VW PASSAT FOR ENGINE FIRES CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11002 - REPORTED INITIAL AS PE10-027). *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 45 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTOR BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER BEGAN TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE UPWARD AND DOWNWARD OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE MALFUNCTION PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

DECEMBER 30, 2011, THE ENGINE EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO PEP BOYS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON BRAKES/EMISSION. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. COST $100. FEBRUARY 10, 2012, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID. I STILL EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 15 DEGREES AND WIND CHILL). VW SUGGESTED BRINGING THE CAR IN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE SAME AS THE TEMPERATURE THAT I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS MARCH AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER COLD DAYS. I BEGAN TO THINK THE CAR WAS A WARM WEATHER VEHICLE. COST $776. DECEMBER 14, 2012, THE VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. COST $377. DECEMBER 26, 2013, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED HOSE AND VALVE TO CORRECT A VACUUM LEAK (VALVE STUCK). THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE FLUID. COST $376. JANUARY 8, 2014, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND. I HAD TO USE THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THE TOW DRIVER STATED IT WAS A BOOSTER PROBLEM. THE VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP REPLACED BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE FLUID. COST $848. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, THE BELLY PAN (BELLY SHIELD, SKID PLATE, LOWER ENGINE COVER) CAME OFF TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS ON APRIL 21, 2012 AND APRIL 12, 2014. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND POP THE PAN BACK UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOPS TO HAVE IT REATTACHED. NO COST. *TR

HEATER CORE LET GO AND CREATED A UNCONTROLLABLE FOG IN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.TRIED TO GET TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST HIT A TRUCK BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE. SMOKE(OR STEAM) WAS POURING FROM THE CAR EVEN AFTER I STOPPED PLUS THE FACT THAT I INHALED THE COOLANT FUMES. *KB

IGNITION COILS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC STATES THAT THEY "CATCH FIRE ALL THE TIME". *KB

MY COMPLAINT IS MORE GENERAL IN NATURE. I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN 2001. THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR I PURCHASED BRAND NEW. AS I THINK BACK OVER THE TIME THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE AND READING THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOGGED IN ON THIS SITE, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD OFFER SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANTIAL "HARDSHIP" REIMBURSEMENT BESIDES REPAIRS AND SUCH. IN THE TIME THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE, I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING INCIDENTS OCCUR: 1. HAVE A CONTROL UNIT REPLACED (HORN NOT WORKING, UNABLE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS, ETC..) 2. REPLACE IGNITION COIL (STOP MOTOR STATUS LIGHT COMING ON AS I'M DRIVING IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC) 3. HAD UNDERSHIELD FALL FORWARD AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE STATE HIGHWAY, PRETTY MUCH SCOOPING UP POTENTIAL DEBRIS FROM THE ROADWAY SURFACE. 4. DAMAGE TO ENGINE FROM OIL SLUDGE AND OIL PUMP REPLACEMENT NO LESS THAN THREE TIMES. (STOP MOTOR LIGHT AGAIN) 5. INTERIOR OF CAR FLOODED AND FROZEN OVER FROM SUNROOF FLAW AND ELECTRONICS ARE AFFECTED... JUST ON MERITS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND SHOWING THAT THESE SERVICES WERE INDEED RENDERED AT A VOLKSWAGEN AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY, I BELIEVE THAT AT MINIMUM, VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD AGREE TO REIMBURSE ALL EXPENSES, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. IT'S BECOME CLEAR THAT THE QUALITY OF THESE VEHICLES WAS SUBSTANTIALLY SUB-PAR AND POORLY DESIGNED ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN MY PARENTS DRIVEWAY, AS THE LAST TIME THE OIL PUMP WENT CAUSED SO MANY ISSUES THAT I ENDED UP NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR (LIVE AND WORK OUT OF STATE NOW AND REGISTRATION EXPIRED THE SAME MONTH THE PUMP WENT THEN COULDN'T AFFORD INSURANCE AFTER REPAIRS). TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE CLAIM NOTICE ABOUT FIXING THE SUNROOF ISSUE UNTIL A YEAR LATER, AS IT WENT TO MY OLD ADDRESS AND NOW IT'S TOO LATE TO EVEN FILE THE CLAIM. ALL I WANT IS HAVE A RELIABLE CAR TO OPERATE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT IF I'M GONNA HAVE SKIP LUNCH BECAUSE I SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON REPAIRS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, AND NOTICED SMOKE RELEASING FROM THE VENTS. WITHIN MOMENTS THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE AS 94,000.

IN 2002, I BOUGHT MY PASSAT NEW. AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2010, THE STOP OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TWO WEEKS LATER, A RECALL LETTER ARRIVED. I DROVE TO PASADENA AND BACK TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 2011. AFTER A LITTLE MALFUNCTION ON THE FREEWAY IN LIVERMORE, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND THE PASSAT STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. TOWED TO DUBLIN VW. THEY SAY THE ENGINE IS FRIED AND A NEW ONE WOULD COST $6800. ALL THIS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE AND WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

EMISSION RELATED ISSUES, SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND COMBI VALVE FOR 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THEY ARE INSTALLED IN A SPOT WHERE THEY ARE EXPOSED TO MOISTURE RESULTING IN A FAILURE. *TR