2003 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

ENGINE SLUDGE IN 2003 VW PASSAT. ENGINE IS SHOT. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY GETS 3 TO 5 CALLS A DAY ON THIS ISSUE. VW WON'T PAY UNLESS YOU PRODUCE EVERY SERVICE RECEIPT. VW DEALERS VIA VW DIRECTIVE NOW ONLY USE SYNTHETIC OIL FOR OIL CHANGES ON THE 1.8 LITER PASSAT ENGINE. ITS A PASSAT NOT A FERRARI. THIS IS CLEARLY AN INDICATION OF A DESIGN FLAW. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH HEATED LEATHER SEATS. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATERS ON THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS GOING TO WORK AND THEY STARTED TO BURN MY BACK SIDE. THEY BURNT THROUIGH THE LEATHER. THEY DID TURN OFF BUT IF THEY DIDN'T I WOULD HAVE HAD A CAR FIRE. I CALLED HOBART'S VOLKSWAGEN IN WARRINGTON, PA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THESE SEATS. THEY ARE TAKING THE CAR IN THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL REPAIR IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF IT IS WIDESPREAD! SINCERELY, MIKE AND MARTA GROTHMAN NEWTOWN, PA. *AK

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2003 ENGINE WAS RUINED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH 26,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD BY MY PURCHASE DEALER THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY REPLIED THE SAME. MY INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A RAINY DAY IN MIDDLEBURY, IN. THE ENGINE STOPPED WORKING WHEN I WAS ON A BRIDGE AND IN A 2" PUDDLE. BOTH VW AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THEY DO NOT COVER ANYTHING RELATED TO WATER DAMAGE. AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE RUINED IN A 2" PUDDLE. I WROTE TO "CLICK AND CLACK" EVENTUALLY ABOUT THE DAMAGE. THEY TOLD ME OTHER VS PASSAT OWNERS HAD THEIR ENGINES DAMAGED AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED BUT IT WAS BY OTHER EVENTS. THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE HAPPENED IN THE PASSAT BECAUSE THE AIR INTAKE WAS THE LOWEST PART OF THE ENGINE AND WAS AFFECTED BY ANYTHING NEAR THE INTAKE. THIS HAPPENED IN 2004 IN MY CAR AND MY REPLACEMENT WAS OVER $11,000 AND HAD TO BE PAID PERSONALLY BY ME. I DID NOT KNOW THAT I COULD COMPLAIN TO THE GOVERNMENT AT THAT TIME. I WOULD STILL LIKE TO FILE THE COMPLAINT AND ASK FOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE NUMBER OF CARS INVOLVED WITH THE LOSS OF THE ENGINE. MINE IS THE VS PASSAT GLX, 4 MOTION. *TR

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. *NM *SC

I HAVE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX V6. WITH 35310 MILES ON THE DASH & DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD IN NJ GOING 4O MILES A HOUR MY CAR JUST LOSS POWER & CUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL HARD & PULLED OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. MY FUEL PUMP FAILED & WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT & WOULD HATE THIS HAPPEN TO OTHERS. *NM

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON, VIN NO. [XXX]; HILE DRIVING IN GREENSBORO NC NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ELM, MCGEE AND GORRELL STREETS I MISJUDGED A CURVE AND SCRAPED THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS AGAINST A CURB. BOTH TIRES SUSTAINED SIDEWALL DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH THE BODY OR UNDERCARRAIGE OF THE CAR. THE TWO RIGHT SIDE WHEELS SUSTAINED MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE ONLY AND THE IMPACT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO AFFECT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE AUTOMOBILE CONTINUED FORWARD THROUGH THE CURVE AND THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL FROM THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, UPON CONTACT WITH THE CURB THE RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS FIRED UNNECESSARILY. BUT FOR THE FIRING OF THE AIRBAGS THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MINOR EVENT WITH ONLY TIRE DAMAGE TO BE REPAIRED. FORTUNATELY, THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED OR THE OCCUPANT COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TIRES AND WHEELS. I BELIEVE THE AUTMOBILE CONTAINS A SIGNIFICANT DEFECT CAUSING THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WHEN NOT NEEDED FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION (IE - IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY CONTACT WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE CAR), AND IN CIRCUMSTANCES PART OF ORDINARY DRIVING - THE IMPACT WITH THE CURB WAS LESS THAN THAT EXPERIENCED WITH SOME POTHOLES. THUS FAR, VW HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORRECTION OF THIS DEFECT.*AK THE AUTOMOBILE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIED, AND PRESUMABLY, EVENT DATA IS STILL STORED IN THE CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN 3-4 TIMES. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE EC MODULE/FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

2003 PASSAT WITH 1.8T ENGINE. DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN ON NIEGHBORHOOD STREETS, CAME TO STANDING WATER (APPROX 2 INCHES DEEP), WITNESSED OTHER PASSENGER CARS PASSING THROUGH WATER AND PROCEEDED AT APPROX 2-3 MPH, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START, CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, TOLD A ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO WATER (APPROX 3 GAL.) IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, WAS TOLD WATER GAINED ENTRY VIA AIR INTAKE VENTS AT THE BOTTOM (FENDER LEVEL) OF THE ENGINE, WAS TOLD TO FILE CLAIM WITH INSURANCE COMPANY. PRESENTLY WAITING FOR APPRAISER'S REPORT. VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DRIVING CONDITIONS MENTIONED. APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT THE AIR COOLING INTAKE IS IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO ALLOW THE INTAKE OF WATER INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK.*AK

IT WAS CHILLY THE EVENING OF MAY 15, 2004. I STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL FROM 0 TO 5, AND DROVE ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM MY BROTHER'S HOUSE TO A HOTEL. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR I FORGOT TO TURN DOWN THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL. IT REMAINED AT 5. THE NEXT DAY (MAY 16), I MADE A SERIES OF 4 SHORT TRIPS WITH THE CAR. EACH TRIP WAS ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. ON THE 5TH TRIP, I STARTED THE CAR. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 1 BLOCK, I NOTICED AN ODD SMELL. AFTER DRIVING 1 MORE BLOCK, I DEFINITELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS SITTING ON A HOT COAL. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE SAME AREA -- MY PANTS WERE SMOLDERING! I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE AREA WAS STILL SMOKING. MY JEANS WERE SCORCHED. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL FROM 5 TO 0 AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR AWHILE TO MAKE SURE THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. ON MAY 17, I CALLED THE DEALER. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE APPOINTMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22. *AK

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CONSUMER REQUEST FOR EARLY TERMINATION OF THE LEASE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER MADE THE REQUEST DUE TO THE NUMEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS A DEFECTIVE PURGE VALVE, RIGHT FRONT HEAD LIGHT, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STARTED T O SMOKE DUE TO A FAULTY WATER PUMP. THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. *JB

FAILURE OF ALL BRAKE LIGHTS. *AK

ONE CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT TIRE (205 55R16) ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WITH APPROXIMATELY 23,300 MILES FAILED UNEXPECTANTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROX 65 MPH). TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL AND DAMAGED BRAKE LINE AND WHEELWELL LINER. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH IS A PASSAT GLX WITH THE 4 MOTION ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WHEN TIRE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE (E.G. PUNCTURES, HOT SPOTS, TIRE NOT ROUND). KEPT OLD TIRE AND SIDEWALL PARTS.

WE PURCHASED A NEW VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON FROM LIVONIA VOLKSWAGEN AUTOPLEX (NOW THAYER AUTOMOTIVE LIVONIA, INC.) IN JULY, 2003. AT 18,500 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAR HAS AFTERMARKET BRAKES THAT FIT DIFFERENTLY FROM VW BRAKES, HENCE THE RATTLE. HOWEVER, THESE ARE THE BRAKES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO US. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THREE OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE BRAKE PADS APPEARED "TOO NEW" TO HAVE 18,500 MILES ON THEM (IMPLYING THAT WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED). BASED ON THIS, VW OF AMERICA STATES THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE VW BRAKES TO BE PUT ON THE CAR. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR REPLACED OR SERVICED IN ANY WAY, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THE CAR SERVICED ANYWHERE BUT THIS DEALERSHIP. INCIDENTALLY, THE DAY AFTER THE 10,000 MILE SERVICE, THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, AND THE DAY AFTER THE BRAKE INSPECTION A HUBCAP FLEW OFF. THIS MAY SPEAK TO THE SKILL AND INTEGRITY OF THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF REGULATORY SERVICES WHO STATE THAT THIS MATTER WAS NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER LICENSED BY THE STATE, AND SUGGESTED WE CONTACT YOU. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH, ASSUMING, OF COURSE, THAT IT WAS MADE OF ALL VW PARTS. APPARENTLY IT IS NOT. CURRENTLY, OUR NEW CAR HAS SQUEAKY BRAKES, AN INCREASINGLY LOUD RATTLE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND A MISSING HUBCAP. VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP US. THE SALES MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT RETURN OUR CALLS. WE WOULD LIKE VW BRAKES ON OUR VW CAR, ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR IS, IN FACT, A VW PRODUCT, AND A HUBCAP REPLACED. A FAMILY WHO BUYS A NEW CAR ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWELVE YEARS WOULD APPRECIATE HELP. *JB

DESIGN DEFECT IN BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, 2/29/04, 3/5/04, AND 4/15/04 MY 2003 VW PASSAT (6 CYL.) HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED POWER SUCH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME WITHOUT ENDANGERING MYSELF ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER'S SERVICE GROUP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THUS FAR.*AK

UNDER STANDARD DAILY DRIVING 50/50 LOCAL AND FREEWAY MILES, REAR BRAKE ROTORS WARPED BEFORE THE CAR HAD 14,000 MILES DRIVEN. REAR BREAK PADS ARE AT 6MM WHICH I AM TOLD IS JUST LESS THAN 50% OF MAXIMUM. ALSO BEEN TOLD VWOA WILL NOT REPLACE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL PADS ARE AT 2MM. WARPED ROTORS CAUSE PUMPING AND POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE DRIVING UNDER HEAVY BREAKING.

I OWN A 2003 PASSAT (PURCHASED IN 8/2002) . IN THE BEGINNING OF MARCH 2004, A PEBBLE FLEW UP FROM THE ROAD AND PUT A CRACK IN MY WINDSHIELD. ON APRIL 6, 2004, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD. I WOULD THINK THAT IT SHOULD WITHSTAND AN AIRBORNE PEBBLE. MY PASSAT HAS ONLY HAS 15000 MILES TO DATE. IF THE CAR WAS ON THE ROAD MORE OFTEN, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO MORE CRACKS? IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE QUALITY OF THE GLASS? *AK

IN 2003 VW PASSAT GLS WAGON, THE HEATING ELEMENT IN THE HEATED SEAT BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC IN PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVER NOTICED BURNING SMELL AND TURNED OFF HEATER (WHICH WAS SET TO HIGHEST SETTING).

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS BECAME SEVERELY WORN OUT IN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OF DRIVING. AFTER THE FIRST ALL 4 BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, IN ANOTHER 10,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING STREET DRIVING. ALL 4 ROTORS, 4 BRAKE PADS, AND 2 REAR CALIPERS BECAME SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. VWOA MADE AN EXCEPTION, AND PAID FOR THE REAR BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS.

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH BRAKES OPERATED POORLY.*AK

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W6 2.8L CAR WILL NOT START OR FAILS TO RUN PROPERLY DUE TO IGNITION MISFIRE OR EXCESSIVE FUEL FLOODING ENGINE. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT REPAIR. CAR HAS BEEN SEVICED WITH THE BEST SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS AND HAS HAD EXTREMELY GOOD CARE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THE REASON THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN WAS BECAUSE THE OIL NEEDED CHANGING DUE TO IT BEING LOADED WITH GASOLINE. THE OIL HAD BEEN CHECKED 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS AND WAS AT SATISFACTORY LEVELS AND CLEAN. THE CAR HAD 6700 MILES ON THE SYNTHETIC OIL CHANGE AND WAS NOT DUE FOR A 3RD OIL CHANGE. THE CAR HAS 11813 MILES ON IT. THE RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVAL BY THE DEALER WAS 10000 MILES ON THE SYNTHETIC OIL. IF THE CAR IS FAILING TO RUN AND HAS ALLOWS SEVERE GASOLINE CONTAMINATION OF THE OIL THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE RELIABILITY OF THESE CARS AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER WEB SITES. THE ENGINE FAILING TO MAINTAIN OPERATION OR MISFIRING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR IF IT FAILS TO OPERATE IN AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT PROVES THIS VEHICLE TO BE A FAILURE IN ENGINEERING, AND RELIABILITY.*AK

DRIVING MY 2003 PASSAT FOR 1-2 MINUTES, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS GETTING EXTREMELY WARM. I CHECKED THE SEAT HEATER SETTING, IT WAS ON 1 (OF 5). I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF, BUT CONTINUED TO SMELL THE BURNING SMELL AND FEEL THE HEAT. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEAT HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH MY PANTS AS WELL. THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND PARTS WERE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE ELEMENT AND SEAT COVER. I ALSO REPORTED THE FAILURE TO VWOA.*AK

ON A SUPER HIGHWAY(315), COLUMBUS, OHIO,AT RUSH HOUR IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY JUMPS FROM ABOUT 3000 TO THE RED LINE AT 7500. THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATES TO ALMOST 100 MILES AN HOUR. I TRY TO PRESS THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I CAN, AND MANEUVER THE CAR TO AVOID COLLISION WITH SLOWER VEHICLES. IT TAKES ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES TO SLOW THE CAR TO A RELATIVELY SAFE SPEED. IN THE MEANTIME THE ENGINE IS REVVING AT 7500 RPM ALL THE TIME. I STOP THE CAR SAFELY AND WOTHOUT COLLISION. THE CLUTCH APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY UN-OPERATIONAL. THE CAR IS TOWED TO TO THE DEALER(MAG IN DUBLIN, OHIO). THE DEALER DIGNOSES DRIVER ERROR FOR CLUTH DAMAGE, AND NO FAULT WITH THE CAR. THEY ARE ADAMANT THAT I SIGN A LETTER ACCEPTING ALL THE BLAME. I REFUSE. THEY CHARGE ME $ 456.00 BEFORE RELEASING THE DISABLED CAR BACK TO ME. VW OF AMERICA CONFIRMS THE TWO FALSE DIGNOSES OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER IN WOLFSBURG IS NOT HELPFUL OR INTERESTED. I HAVE DRIVEN 7 MANUAL VW'S FOR 42 YEARS! I HAVE KEPT MANY OF THOSE CARS FOR 15 -20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCHES OR ENGINES BEFORE. THE CAR IS A MANUAL PASSAT, 2003 WITH 2400 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I OBSERVED SMOKE BILLOWING IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND FOUND A FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH I EXTINGUSHED USING AN EXTINGUSHER. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED WHEN A PLUG AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE FELL OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE OIL TO EMPTY ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS WELL BELOW ZERO. I WAS TOLD THE PLUG IN THE ALUMINUM BLOCK ENGINE WAS MADE OF STEEL WHICH HEATS AND COOLS AT DIFFERENT RATES AND APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED THE PLUG TO FALL OUT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS PER MY INSURANCE AND VOLKSWAGEN. THE CAR IS A 2003 VW PASSAT WAGON GLX 4-MOTION. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 PASSAT SEDAN. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CAR SLID TO A STOP WHILE TURNING IN AN ICY PARKING LOT. THERE WAS A SLIGHT IMPACT AT ABOUT 5 MPH WHEN THE THE CAR HIT A SNOW COVERED CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK AT ABOUT THE JACK POINT NEAR THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WHEEL. NOBODY WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR - EXCEPT TO THE INTERIOR AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED. IT WILL COST $3600 TO RE-INSTALL THE TWO AIRBAGS AND A LOT OF OTHER PARTS. THAT IS RIDICULOUS FOR A 5 MPH IMPACT THAT CAUSED NO DAMAGE! I AM HOPING THIS WILL BE SEEN AS A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG DEPOLYMENT AND COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IF NOT, VW NEEDS TO IMPROVE THEIR AIRBAG ENGINEERING BEFORE I'D CONSIDER BUYING ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

I BOUGHT MY 2003 VW PASSAT WAGON BRAND NEW. IN A SPAN OF 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR ROTORS AND BRAKES 4 TIMES AND HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES AND THE CAR IS AT 77,510. I HAD THE LEFT REAR ROTOR REPLACED JAN. 21, 2004, THE RIGHT ROTOR APRIL 1, 2004, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ROTOR NOV. 23, 2004, AND THEN BOTH AGAIN JULY 11, 2005. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS FROM THE BEGINNING AND STRESSED THE RECURRING ISSUE WITH VW CORPORATE SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS RUNNING OUT AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL PERSISTING. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT MY REGULAR CHECK UP IN JUNE OF 2005, AFTER ONLY 7 MONTHS AND 11,427 MILES FROM THE LAST TIME I CHANGED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS, I RAISED SOME RED FLAGS AND SUGGESTED THAT I LEMON LAW THE CAR, VW RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT "THERE WAS EXCESSIVE HEAT ON MY REAR BRAKES AND THAT MY BOOSTER ROD WAS BENT AND NOT RELEASING REAR BRAKE PRESSURE COMPLETELY". ON JULY 11, 2005 VW REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, ROTORS, AND BRAKES. WHICH BRINGS US TO THE PRESENT, I TOOK MY CAR TO GET MY REGULAR SERVICE AND FIND OUT THAT I HAVE TO CHANGE MY FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE FRONT I CAN UNDERSTAND GIVEN THAT IT IS NOW AT 77,510, BUT THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS AGAIN AFTER 18,500 MILES? I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND AFTER RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND FINDING OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS, I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM THERE IS DEFINITELY CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THOUGH IT HAS ONLY BEEN AT INCONVENIENCE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE IT RESOLVED ASAP. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BRAKE PADS, VW HAVE NOT CHARGED ME FOR THE ROTORS AND THOUGH THEY HAVE SAID THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKES AND THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR THE CHANGES EVEN THOUGH IT IS AFTER MY WARRANTY SO THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE AND THERE HAS TO BE A PROBLEM. *NM

NOTICED RUST COMING THROUGH THE UPPER AND LOWER MOLDINGS SURROUNDING FRONT DOOR WINDOWS...UNIT STILL UNDER WARRANTY, LESS THAN 2 YRS OFF LOT, BOUGHT BRAND NEW...A 2003 VW PASSAT

DEFECTIVE COILS ON EACH CYLINDER

OWNER WAS DRIVING WHEN SOMEONE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD POINTED AND INDICATED THERE WAS SOMETHING COMING OUT OF HER VEHICLE THAT LOOKED LIKE FOG. SMOKE WAS THEN NOTICED AND HER HUSBAND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND SAW FIRE. HE BEGAN THROWING SNOW ON THE VEHICLE. FD EXTINGUISHED FIRE. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OVERHEATED AND IGNITED THE FIRE DUE TO AN ENGINE MANAGEMENT PROBLEM - SPARK PLUGS SHOWED OVERLY RICH FUEL/AIR MIXTURE.

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 7000 FAILURE MILEAGE THE BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY TURNED OFF. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT TURNS OFF, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, AND THE HORN DID NOT OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY STILL COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,944. *AK

ON NOVEMBER 21, 2002, MY 2001 VW JETTA GLS 1.8 TURBO LOST THE OIL DRAIN PLUG ON THE HIGHWAY. I STOPPED THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ENGINE AND TURBO WERE DAMGED SEVERELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COST $6,500. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED. I REPLACED THE JETTA WITH A 2003 VW PASSAT W8. ON NOVEMBER 23, 2003 THE OIL WAS CHANGED BY THE DEALER AND THE DEALER CONTENDS THAT THE OIL DRAIN PLUG WAS TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS (20 NM), HOWEVER THE CAR HAD AN OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE DRAIN PLUG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PLUG FREE OF CHARGE. HERE IS WHAT IS COMMON TO BOTH SITUATIONS: BOTH DRAIN PLUGS WERE TIGHTENED TO AT LEAST THE FACTORY SPECIFICATION (I CHANGED THE OIL AND ALWAYS USED A TORQUE WRENCH ON THE JETTA) AND BOTH HAD DRAIN PLUGS PULL AWAY FROM THE PAN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ROOT CAUSE WAS BUT I HAVE A HYPOTHESIS ON TWO IMPORTANT VARIABLES: (1) BOTH PANS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM, WHICH CHANGES SHAPE EASILY WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGE, (2) THE DRAIN PLUG IS MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WASHER (SEAL RING) CANNOT BE REMOVED AND REPLACED. IF THE SEAL WERE WARPED OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY (PERHAPS OVERTORQUING OR DROPPING THE PLUG) IT MIGHT NOT SEAL PROPERLY. WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME AS VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN LESS THAN HELPFUL (ESPECIALLY WITH THE JETTA).*AK

ON A SAT. MORNING (NOV 22ND 10 AM) MY FIANCEE AND I GOT IN HER 2003 VW PASSATT. IT WAS A COLD DAY AND I WAS DRIVING. BOTH OF US TURNED THE SEAT HEATERS WITHIN HER LEATHER SEATS ON LEVEL 5 (HIGH). VERY SHORTLY AFTER, I FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT REAR END AREA. WE THEN SMELLED SMOKE. WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND I JUMPED OUT QUICKLY AS I COULD FEEL MY LEFT REAR END BURNING ONLY TO SEE THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND THROUGH MY PANTS AND BURNED MY REAR END! OUCH! NO JOKE! I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE SEAT, MY NYLON PANTS, AND MY REAR END! WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEILLAN VW OF BAY CITY MICHIGAN WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND SPOKE TO A SALESMAN. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED YESTERDAY. I WAS THEN GIVEN A COPY OF AUTOBEAT DAILY FROM WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10TH, 2003 AND ON PAGE 10 THERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH READS "NHTSA PROBES SMOLDERING VW SEAT WARMERS" I THEN THOUGHT I WOULD SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT FORMALLY TO INFORM NHTSA THAT THE ARTICLE READS THAT JUST 2002-2003 JETTAS WERE BEING PROBED. THIS HAPPENED ON A PASSATT AS WELL. THE VIN BELOW IS INCORRECT AS I DON'T HAVE THE VIN WITH ME AT THIS TIME. *LA

MANUAL FIVE SPEED 2003 PASSAT TURBO'S ENGINE SUDDENLY REVS UP TO 7500 RPM, AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD ABOUT 13 FEET AFTER STARTING FROM A STOP AT A LIGHT FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT NOT TO HAVE A COLLISION. *AK IT TOOK ABOUT 20 -30 SECONDS OF HARD BRAKING TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. THE RPM DROPPED TO NORMAL AT THIS TIME.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ONLY 300+ MILES. *AK

ENGINE CONTINUES TO MISFIRE, LOSES POWER AND STARTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING . FOUR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HAVE FAILED. PROBLEM PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *LA

TAIL LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DO NOT TURN ON WHEN HEAD LIGHTS SWITCH IS ENGAGED. DEALER REPLACED HEAD LIGHT SWITCH UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *MR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ODOMETER READING. THE ECP LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY COME ON, THE ENGINE WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS ROUGH IDLING. *SC *JB

ENGINE STARTS TO STALL AND MISFIRES IN TRAFFIC. DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE RECALLED COILS ON 8-15-03 . CONTACTED VW HELP LINE AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOW THAT DEALER REPLACED THE RECALLED COILS EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T. IT APPEARS THE DEALER FILED A FALSE WARRANTY SERVICE CLAIM WITH VW ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION THEY RECEIVED. DEALER STILL REFUSED TO CHANGE COILS ON 9-25-03.

FAILURE TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT COILS AFTER MANUFACTURER' S RECALL

VERY EXPESIVE UNRELIABLE CAR WITH NOTHING BUT EXCUSES FROM THE DEALER-MANUFACTURER FILLED WITH LIES, CONSTANT TROUBLE WITH CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT FIX PROPERLY PLUS REFUSES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CAR TWICE OVER! THEY TOLD ME WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR THAT ALL THE 2003 HAD FIXED COIL PROBLEMS. THEY FAILED AROUND 7000 MILES. ALSO HAVE REPLACE THE DASH, REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER,RUINED A PILLAR UPHOLSTERY,PUT IN WRONG OIL, REPLACE D A SPRK PLUG THINKING THAT WOULD FIX THE MISSFIRE, STILL RUNS BAD. EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER ITS A 260 MILE ROUND TRIP! I GOT OUT OF A 99 PASSAT THAT THEYSOLD ME (UNKOWINGLY)WRECKED AND THEN COLDNT FIX SO I TRADED UP TO THIS 2003 WITH LOTS OF TROUBLE. NIGHTMARE VW FOR SURE.*AK

BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT APPEARS EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE BRAKE REPAIRS. DRIVER?S SIDE REAR UPPER BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED FOR 29TH TIME IN LESS THAN 2 YRS. MULTIPLE COOLANT LEAKS STILL PRESENT EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. RADIO/AMPLIFIER NOT FUNCTIONING EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT (RADIO WAS ONLY USED TWICE IN VEHICLE?S LIFETIME). DIAGNOSTICS SHOW AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. REGULATOR PIN ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW KEEPS BREAKING (3RD REPLACEMENT SINCE 2003). ENGINE COVER BELOW CAR KEEPS FALLING OFF DUE TO RUSTED BOLTS. HOMELINK SYSTEM KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING. FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT. DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS OUT (ODOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.). CCM MODULE KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. CAR NEEDS TO BE JUMPSTARTED WHEN NOT IN USE FOR OVER 48 HRS. CLIMATE CONTROL (A/C AND HEATER) WORKS ONLY SPORADICALLY. ALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BY VW DEALERSHIP, YET SAME ISSUES KEEP REAPPEARING JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPAIRS. REPAIRS PERFORMED IN PAST 2 YEARS: ECU UNIT REPLACED, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED 3 TIMES, A/C COMPRESSOR UNIT REPLACED, ABS MODULE REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR

OUR CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER 6 TIMES IN NINE MONTHS. 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME, SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE CAR STALLS WITH NO WARNING AND FOR APPARENTLY NO REASON. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT UNABLE TO FIX IT AND UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THE NEXT 4 TIMES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL OTHER THAN IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ON HOT DAYS WHEN THE AIR CONDITION IS ON AND OFTEN IN TRAFFIC. WHEN THE CAR STALLS NEITHER THE BRAKES NOR THE STEERING WILL WORK UNTIL IT CAN BE RESTARTED. VW CANNOT FIX THE CAR AND WILL NOT REPLACE IT OR REFUND MY MONEY. THEIR RESPONSE, "SUE US." *LA

MY VOLKSWAGON PASSAT HAS MANY TIMES LUNGED FORWARD WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE FORTUNATELY NOT BEEN CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A REAR-END CRASH. *AK

DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT-END COLLISION.*AK

THIS IS PORTIONS OF A LETTER SENT TO THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SECTION OF THE WWW.VW.COM WEBSITE ON JUNE 22, 2003. I AM WRITING TO REPORT A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS IN THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX ON A RAINY AFTERNOON, MY SIX YEAR OLD SON AND I GOT INTO THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. I PUT HIM INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND HE SECURED HIMSELF WITH THE SEAT BELT. I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND ENTERED, PUTTING THE UMBRELLA INTO THE FOOT WELL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WITH THE HANDLE RESTING ON THE FRONT SEAT EDGE. AS I STARTED THE CAR, WITHOUT MY NOTICING, THE UMBRELLA HANDLE FELL BETWEEN THE SEAT AND INSIDE DOOR, ACTIVATING THE LEVER TO RECLINE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK. MY SON YELLED SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEAT AND I TURNED TO SEE THE SEAT BACK LOWERING TOWARD HIS LEGS. HE COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY FIND A WAY TO STOP THE SEAT FROM RECLINING FURTHER. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND PULLED THE KEY OUT, BUT THE SEAT CONTINUED DOWNWARD ONTO HIS LEGS. AT THE LAST SECOND I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND PULLED THE UMBRELLA HANDLE OFF THE SEAT LEVER AS THE SEAT BACK LOWERED ONTO MY SONS KNEES, PINNING HIM INTO THE REAR SEAT. AFTER I RAISED THE SEAT, MY SON COMPLAINED OF PAIN IN BOTH OF HIS KNEES. IN CHECKING OUT THE SEAT LATER, I FOUND THAT THE FRONT SEAT BACK HAS NO STOP, RATCHET OR RELEASE TO PREVENT IT FROM LOWERING FORCIBLY INTO THE REAR SEAT CUSHION. THE SEAT CONTINUES DOWNWARD INTO THE CUSHION UNTIL THE MOTOR STRAINS TO A STOP. * NLM

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITION COIL IS NOT WORKING.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

IN FOLLOW UP TO READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS IN VW'S. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED ON A 2003 VW 1.8 LITER TURBOCHARGED PASSAT. THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 56,000.

OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VOLKSWAGEN AND SMELLED A WEIRD ODOR, SO HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND LOOKED TOWARD THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND OBSERVED SMOKE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. HE STATED HE OBSERVED FIRE FROM THE BOTTOM PART OF A WIRE HARNESS. A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS SHOWED A SLIGHTLY RICH FUEL/AIR MIXTURE IN THE CYLINDERS, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE OVERHEATED EXHAUST COMPONENTS. CAUSE OF FIRE UNDETERMINED. *NM