2004 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT OIL SLUDGE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE OIL TANK FRACTURED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE ERRONEOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COIL MISFIRED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,068.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HARD DOWNSHIFTS FROM 5TH TO 4TH. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE. THEY CLAIMED TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. CALLED MANUFACTURER TO REQUEST THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF ISSUE. THEY DECLINED ANY RESPONSIBILITY BUT DID NOT DENY ISSUE. TRANSMISSIONS IN MODERN CARS RARELY BREAK POINTING TOWARDS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW. SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD BREAK, LOCK UP OR SEIZE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

PASSAT 2004 ID [XXX] WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH - THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIMILAR TO A POSSIBLE FLAT TIRE. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND CHECKED EACH TIRE WITH A FLASHLIGHT ' THEY WERE FINE. I RETURNED TO THE ROAD AND CONTINUED. THE STEERING QUICKLY BECAME STIFF, LESS RESPONSIVE, WITH A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I DECREASED MY SPEED, PUT ON FLASHERS, AND VERY SLOWLY CONTINUED THE LAST MILE TO MY HOME WHEN A LOUD METAL-ON-METAL SCRAPING SOUND STARTED. THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS UNRESPONSIVE. HAD MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM. THIS IS INCONCEIVABLE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TO BE EVALUATED AND WERE TOLD ' BOTH AXLES NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL THE STEERING PUMP. THIS IS NOT 'NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR'. THIS VEHICLE HAS 96,000 MILES, HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT, IS DRIVEN ONLY ON PAVED ROADS, AND IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE. MY SERVICEMAN REPORTED HE'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. PLEASE CHECK TO DETERMINE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

RE: ODI 10288798 2004 PASSAT TDI WHILE MODERATELY ACCELERATING BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH YOU EXPERIENCE A BUMP TYPE OF ACTION, LIKE BEING BUMPED SLIGHTLY FROM THE REAR. I DO NOT GET THE SENSATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS HESITATING OR LURCHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS INDICATED A BAD MASS FLOW INDICATOR (MFI), SEE ODI 10288798. I STATED THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE PROBLEM 6 MONTHS AGO WITH A PREVIOUS ISSUE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MFI AND STATED THE TEST DROVE THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER AS I ACCELERATED ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE PROBLEM DID RECUR. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY MUST HAVE TEST DROVE ANOTHER CAR. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER BEFORE I WAS 10 MILES AWAY THAT I WOULD BRING THE CAR BACK. BEFORE LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE SUPPOSED REPAIR I WENT OVER THE LIST OF VW PASSAT TDI COMPLAINTS. HE ASSURED ME I DO NOT HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND THIS REPAIR WORK SO FAR, I AM NOT SURE THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS LET ALONE TELL ME I HAVE NO CONCERN. THE MFI JUST CAN NOT BE THE DIAGNOSIS CURE ALL MY PROBLEMS AND EVIDENTLY IT HASN'T BEEN EITHER. *TR

TRANSMISSION ON 2004 VW PASSAT HARD DOWNSHIFTS FROM 5TH TO 4TH AT 30 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION IS WARM. FIRST OCCURRED AT 90K MILES. TOOK TO TWO VW DEALERSHIPS BOTH INDICATED CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO REPAIR FOR $4000. DIDN'T FIX, RESEARCHED WEB AND FOUND THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW TRANSMISSIONS. CALLED VW, THEY KNEW ABOUT IT BUT DIDN'T CARE SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

OIL SLUDGE IS CLOGGING OIL PICK UP AND STOP/OIL LIGHT IS GOING ON. STARVING ENGINE OF OIL. FULL SYNTHETIC OIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT WITH 35000 MILES. THE CAR IS LIKE NEW, EXCEPT THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO GUNTHER VW IN COCONUT CREEK FLORIDA, FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS TOLD TO GO HOME AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WITH THE RESULTS. THEY LEFT A MESSAGE THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, AND TO COME AND GET MY CAR. I CALLED AND ASKED WHAT WERE MY OPTIONS AND THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR $8600. I CALLED VW CORPORATE, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT IN 2004 TO THE OWNERS OF CARS WITH THE 1.8 TURBO, I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS LETTER. IT WAS FAXED TO ME, I WAS STUNNED AT THE TONE OF THE LETTER, IF I HAD SEEN THIS LETTER I IMMEDIATELY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THIS CAR. THERE ARE 197000 WEBSITES CONCERNING THIS ENGINE, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING THESE CARS WITHOUT BEING TOLD THEY ARE BUYING A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. VW NOW STATES THAT THIS ENGINE NEEDS AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000MILES, AND IF YOU GO PAST THE 3000 MILE MARK, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINES PERFORMANCE. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED WHEN THEIR ENGINE STOPS IN TRAFFIC. *TR

"OIL SLUDGE" RELATED REPAIRS ON '98-04 MODEL YEAR VW PASSAT EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO ENGINES. WAS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MARCH 2010. LETTER FROM VW OF AMERICA DID NOT PRESCRIBE 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE, BUT WHEN CONTACTED, SAID IN ORDER FOR "EXTENDED WARRANTY TO BE ENFORCED" VEHICLE MUST HAVE 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. LETTER FROM VW SUBSEQUENTLY FAXED OVER ON 3/22/10 DOES NOT STATE RULES REGULATING OIL CHANGE OR SUBSEQUENT LIMITATIONS ON "EXTENDED WARRANTY". MY 04 VW PASSAT WITH 35K MILES HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE, AND HAD I SEEN THE AUGUST '04 LETTER PRIOR TO 03/10 WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF CAR AS SOON AS I READ LETTER. THE ENGINE IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AND VW HAS AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM ALL VW OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO INFORM THEM OF THIS DEFORMITY. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2004 AND NEVER SAW A COPY OF THIS LETTER UNTIL MY ENGINE FAILED. THE LETTER STATES 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE INTERVALS, BUT WHEN I PRESENTED PROOF TO GUNTHER VW OF COCONUT CREEK FLORIDA, THAT MY CAR WAS IN COMPLIANCE, THEY STATED THAT IT HAD TO BE 3000 MILE INTERVALS. THERE ARE OVER 197000 WEBSITES, AND BLOGS DEALING WITH THE VW 1.8 TURBO, BUT NO ONE HAS ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM, AND PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BUY THESE CARS OFF USED CAR LOTS, UNAWARE THAT THEY ARE BUYING A CAR WITH LIMITED EXPECTATIONS, AND POSSIBLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE BEFORE THIS CAR'S ENGINE FAILURE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE DANGERS OF THIS ENGINE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2004 VW PASSAT GL 1.8T WITH 94,000 MILES. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER HAS BURNED THROUGH SEAT AND INTO MY LEG WHILE DRIVING WITH SEAT HEAT IN USE ON SETTING #3. THERE IS NOW A HOLE IN DRIVERS SEAT WHERE BURN OCCURRED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, A 2004 VW PASSAT GLS, TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER ON. ABOUT 2 MILES INTO MY DRIVE I COULD SMELL THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING BURNING OUTSIDE, SO I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN TO SEE IF THE OUTSIDE AIR SMELLED OF SMOKE. THE OUTSIDE AIR DID NOT SMELL OF SMOKE, SO I QUICKLY STARTED THINKING OF WHAT ELSE COULD BE BURNING. I ALSO HAD THE CABIN AIR HEAT ON, SO I DECIDED TO TURN THAT OFF AND ALSO TURNED MY SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH IS WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION AS THE LEFT PART OF THE SEAT BOTTOM AND SAW THE BURNING AREA, WHICH WAS CLEARLY BEING CAUSE BY A HEATING COMPONENT OF THE SEAT HEATER. I WAS TRYING TO PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING AND SMOKE WITH MY HANDS. I COULD TELL THAT MY LEATHER SEATS WERE STILL SMOLDERING/BURNING SO I PUT WATER ON MY HANDS FROM A WATER BOTTLE THAT I HAD NEARBY TO COOL THE LEATHER AND PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD OF THE SMOLDERING. NOTE THAT THIS WAS ALL WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, AND I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD FOR WHICH VW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT. THE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE WINDOW DOES NOT GO DOWN WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2002 PASSAT AND HER PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATORS KEEP BREAKING ALSO. SHE HAS HAD THEM FIXED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HAVE NOT YET FIXED MINE. *TR

1)MY HEATED SEATS GOT SO HOT THEY BURNED A HOLE IN MY SEAT AND BURNED MY LEG. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED WITHOUT ME NOTICING, BUT IT DID. THE BURN WAS NOT SEVERE BUT IT DID HURT FOR A DAY OR TWO. 2. THE SEATS CONTINUE TO GET THAT HOT WHEN TURNED ON.... I NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET, I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW SEAT CUSHION, NEW CLOTH FOR THE SEAT AND HAVE SOMEONE FIX THE HEATED SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DISCOVERED WATER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE SUNROOF WAS DISENGAGED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL CAMPAIGN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL JERKING SENSATION WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOILED CARPETING AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION MODULE, WHICH WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE JERKING PERSISTED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN UPDATED 01/27/11

PURCHASED A USED 2004 VW PASSAT IN APRIL 09. DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, SUCH WOULD NOT HAVE COVERED THIS ISSUE REGARDLESS. THE PASSAT HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS A CLIMATRONIC. THE VENTS AND AIRCONDITIONING OPERATED AS THEY SHOULD. AFTER PURCHASE, NOTICED ON COOL MORNINGS THAT VEHICLES HEAT WS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY NECESSARY FOR DEFROSTING/DEFOGGING WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND REQUESTED DIAGNOSTIC. DIAGNOSTIC WAS NO FLOW THROUGH HEATER CORE AND RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACEMENT OF HEATER CORE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE HEAT. NO INDICATION OF ANY POSED DANGER OR THREAT WAS INDICATED BY DEALERSHIP AS TO THIS ISSUE. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS, HAVING OPERATED THE VEHICLE WITH NO HEAT FOR 6 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE HAS NOW BEGUN TO LEAK MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT, HOWEVER, THE COOLANT IS NOT LEAKING OUT OF THE CAR, I CANNOT SEE ANY COOLANT OR VERY LITTLE COOLANT ANYWHERE UNDERNEATH, THEREFORE I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY POSING A FIRE HAZARD AND RISK OF BEING BURNED SHOULD THE PRESSURE OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM BECOME TO GREAT AND THE VOLUME OF ANTIFREEZE IN MY VEHICLE IS UNKNOWN. I AM NOT OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND INFORMED THEM OF THIS PROBLEM, THE INDICATED MY VEHICLE IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES ON IT FOR ANY GOODWILL REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A RECALL ON VW JETTAS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE HEATER CORE. *TR

THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE IN DECEMBER 2009. AFTER LIFTING MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING TO VERY HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING WHEN I PUT MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND LIFTED UP. TO STOP, I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND BRAKE. DEALER SAID IT WAS A STUCK FLOOR MAT AND REMOVED THE MAT FROM THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL DEFECT. *TW

2005 PASSAT WAGON - 38000 MILES BLOCKED DRAINS AROUND THE SUNROOF CAUSED RAIN WATER TO LEAK INTO THE FLOOR BOARDS OF THE CAR. THE BUILD-UP OF WATER CAUSED THE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) TO MALFUNCTION. THE (AUTOMATIC) CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ONLY WITH HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS AND NOW WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. (UNDRIVABLE). REPLACEMENT OF THE TCM WILL COST $3210. THE CAR WAS A GARAGED CAR UP UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE DRAIN TUBES CAN GET CLOGGED WITH "ONE LEAF" AND THE NEXT RAIN CAN CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ADVISED TO PARK IN A COVERED AREA AND NEVER DRIVE IN THE RAIN. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW THAT ONE LEAF FOLLOWED BY ANY RAIN CAN CAUSE THE TCM TO FAIL AND NEED REPLACING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLATCHED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DOOR FAILED TO SECURE IN A CLOSED POSITION. WHENEVER THE POWER LOCK WAS ENGAGED THE DOOR OPENED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE UPDATED UPON RECEIPT OF THE SAFETY COMPLAINT FILING.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ON OCTOBER 24, 2009 SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL PAN AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $500. ON JANUARY 12, 2010, THE OIL FAILURE RECURRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL TANK FOR $500. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP AND A ROCK WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE OIL PAN; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000. *CN UPDATED 02/17/20

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LAMP CAME ON AND THE TEST MESSAGE INDICATED "EMISSION WORKSHOP". THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE MASS AIR FLOW METER (P0101) TO BE FAULTY. IT WAS REPLACE BUT THE PROBLEM AND CODE RECURRED WITHIN 6 MILES. NEXT THE DEALERSHIP FOUND A CRACK IN THE TURBO AIR COOLER, IT WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM AND CODE RECURRED WITHIN MILES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR FOR NEARLY 2 WEEKS WHEN THEY FOUND A SLIGHT AIR LEAK IN A TURBO HOSE. THE "O" RINGS WERE REPLACED AND IT MAY HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BUT I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR SINCE THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE ENGINE SURGE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE HAS SPECTOR Z100 TIRES, TIRE SIZE P225/40/18(NA). THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT AND EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE CRACKING. THE TIRE WAS CHANGED AND REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE OTHER THREE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED SEVERE CRACKS. THE FOUR DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAS PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THERE WERE CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

SPORADICALLY THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE WINDOW UP/DOWN SWITCH, THEN LATER WITHOUT TOUCHING THE SWITCH THE WINDOWS WOULD OPEN OR CLOSE. THE DEALER FOUND A CHEAP PLASTIC COTTER PIN TYPE INSTRUMENT CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO CHECK OUT THE REPAIR SINCE THE DEALER HAS MY CAR GOING ON 3 WEEKS FOR TWO OTHER ISSUES (TRANSMISSION SURGE AND ENGINE LIGHT/P0101) FOR WHICH THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON AUGUST 22 ABOUT 2:45 I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO WORK ABOUT3-MILES AWAY AND I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY CAR I GET OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND I NOTICE FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT END UNDER THE HOOD. I PANICKED GRABBED MY BELONGINGS AND CALLED 911 THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT: FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SEAT IN FLOOR BOARD DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT. CAUSED BY WATER INTO VEHICLE AFTER HEAVY RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2000 AND HAS FAILED TO MAKE CHANGES. FAILURE OF THE CONTROL UNIT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT SHOULD THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEARS DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING OR A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR

EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM ENGINE - CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS NOISE HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND WILL LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. OIL WILL CEASE BEING FED TO THE ENGINE AND SEIZURE WILL OCCUR. AT 70 MPH THIS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO DEATH OF OCCUPANTS AND POSSIBLY OTHERS IN VEHICLES BEHIND MINE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER AS WELL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 101 IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WHEN MY CALL STALLED IN THE FAST LANE. MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT. THE 2003 PASSAT'S FUEL PUMPS WERE RECALLED JAN 2006 AND AUGUST 2007. AFTER MY CAR WAS MADE WHICH MAKES ME WONDER WHY MY CARS FUEL PUMP WASN'T RECALLED SINCE IT WAS MADE AFTER RECALL DATE. *TR

2004 VW PASSAT 1.8T. UPON STARTING CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AUTOBARN OF EVANSTON (IL) WHO REPLACED THERMAL SENSOR FOR $500. LESS THAN 2 MILES AFTER LEAVING DEALER, CAR RAN HOT AND A/C WENT OUT, HAD TO PULL OVER TO COOL. THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE PRIOR TO VISITING THE DEALER. RETURNED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED "THERMAL SWITCH" FOR $300. CAR STILL RAN HOT. DEALER NOW SAYS RADIATOR IS CLOGGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($700+). CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY PER VW, RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED 4,000 MILES AGO. CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. EITHER CAR IS DEFECTIVE OR DEALER IS RIPPING ME OFF. *TR

VEHICLE: 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS SEDAN WITH 2.0 TDI MOTOR PROBLEM: CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP HAS SERIOUS VIBRATION. IT IS NOT ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE LIST OR THINGS TO CHECK DURING PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE. THE CAST METAL CHAIN TENSIONER CRACKS AND FAILS, CAUSING LOSS OF TENSION ON THE OIL PUMP DRIVE SPROCKETS WHICH LEADS TO : 1. WEAR ON DRIVE SPROCKETS. 2. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP. 3. COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED IN ANY TRAFFIC CONDITION. I DO NOT KNOW THE COMPLETE FAILURE RATE FOR THIS EQUIPMENT, BUT I DO KNOW THIS SETUP WAS SOLD ON APPROXIMATELY 20,000 2.0L TURBO DIESEL MOTORS, STAMPED BHW. THIS SETUP WAS ONLY SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER SIMILAR MOTORS IN EUROPEAN MARKETS HAVE A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP THAT DO NOT SHOW THE FAILURE RATE BEING SEEN IN THE N.A. MARKET. VOLKSWAGEN IN NORTH AMERICA HAS DISCONTINUED MAKING THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP, REPLACING IT WITH THE GEAR DRIVEN PUMP ORIGINALLY AVAILABLE ONLY IN FOREIGN MARKETS. VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES TO STAND BY THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH CHAIN DRIVEN PUMP, YET THERE A NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF FAILING TENSIONERS, CHAINS, SPROCKETS AND BALANCE SHAFTS (HEX SHAFT HOLDING THE DRIVEN SPROCKETS) DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION AND POOR DESIGN. EVERY CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP ON THE BHW MOTOR WILL FAIL. MILEAGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A DETERMINATION ON WHEN THIS WILL FAIL AS REPORTS OF WEAR AND FAILURE FROM 45,000 TO 180,000 MILES ARE BEING REPORTED ON INTERNET VOLKSWAGEN DIESEL FORUMS. FOR PHOTOS OF FAILED PARTS, SEE: SEE POST #743: HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=233651&PAGE=50 NOTE: THIS COMPLAINT DOES NOT REFER TO THE TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY OR TIMING BELT. IT REFERS SOLELY TO THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP AND BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY ON THE BHW TYPE TURBO DIESEL MOTOR. *TR

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE...EVERYTIME I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED BUT IT SEEMS TO BE LOSING A LITTLE BIT OF OIL. I NEED TO ADD OIL EVERY 200 TO 300 MILES TO THE ENGINE....I'VE CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS..CANT FIND ANY...PLEASE ADVISE...REAR SEALS? MAYBE *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING FOR TWO MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER ACTIVATED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE SEATS: HEATING SYSTEM. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 5/26/09 *CN UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

2004 VW PASSAT TDI. VW HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE SWITCH CONTINUES TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE CIRCUIT AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR MODELS( JETTA, PASSAT BOTH GAS AND DIESEL). THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH ONLY IF YOUR HAVE ALL YOUR MAINTENANCE DONE AT A AUTHORIZED VW DEALER. SO IF YOU DON"T HAVE ALL YOUR OIL CHANGES AND REPAIRS DONE BY A AUTHORIZED V W DEALER THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THIS IS A COST OF $300.00 TO THE CONSUMER. THIS SURE IS SAFETY RELATED AND NEED TO BE RECALLED ASAP. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED FIRES UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 VW PASSAT WITH 34K MILES IN SEPTEMBER 2007. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FILE AND HAS BEEN KEPT CURRENT WITH OIL CHANGES. ON APRIL 3, 2009, MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING US HOME FROM WORK AND A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE STARTED AND A MESSAGE DISPLAYED SAYING STOP! OIL PRESSURE LOW. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. WE WERE STILL FAR FROM HOME SO WE PULLED OVER AND TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD. THE OIL WAS LOW FOR SOME REASON, ALTHOUGH IT WAS RECENTLY CHANGED, SO WE PURCHASED A QUART TO GET US HOME. WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME AND STARTING LOSING POWER AS THIS KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUED. WE DID MAKE IT HOME. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM OUR HOME TO A VW DEALER THE NEXT DAY. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CRANK SHAFT WAS DAMAGED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD-UP IN THE ENGINE. BASICALLY, THE ENGINE WAS SHOT AND I NEEDED A NEW ONE, WHICH WOULD COST ABOUT $4K WITH ABOUT $2K IN LABOR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 55K MILES ON IT - HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? WE THEN WENT ONLINE AND CONDUCTED A SEARCH. WE FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 1.8 T ENGINES BETWEEN 2003-2005. I WAS MORTIFIED. I WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY INFORMATION FROM VW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT VW EXTENDED THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY FOR TO 8 YRS DUE TO THIS ISSUE BUT WE MUST PROVIDE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. WE HAD NONE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID WE NOT HAVE ONES FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT MY FIANCE CHANGES MY OIL AND ALTHOUGH HE USED THE REQUIRED SYNTHETIC OIL, THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THERE ARE "APPROVED BRANDS" THAT MUST BE USED. WE WERE NEVER GIVEN THIS INFO BECAUSE THE OWNER MANUAL ONLY SAYS USE 5W40 OR IF NOT AVAILABLE, USE 5W30 OIL. SO, WE ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING. IT CAN COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $4-8K TO FIX. THE COST TO GET A NEW OR USED ENGINE PLUS LABOR IS RIDICULOUS. I'M DRIVING MY OLD HONDA THAT HAS 231K MILES WHILE MY VW SITS AT THE SHOP WAITING TO BE FIXED. I FEAR THE BILL. I PLANNED TO PURCHASE A NEW VW IN A COUPLE YEARS, BUT NOW I WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN AND WILL MAKE SURE MY STORY IS HEARD!! *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL) WITH 64, 500 MILES ON IT. I DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE BUT I WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT IT, THAT I HAD IT PRE- FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BALANCE SHAFTS IN THIS ENGINE ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN OFF THE MOTOR WHICH ALSO DRIVES THE OLL PUMP. THIS UNFORTUNATE DESIGN SUBJECTS THE CHAIN TO STRESSES IT CAN'T WITHSTAND. ON VARIOUS TDI FORUMS, ESPECIALLY TDICLUB.COM, THERE HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHAIN FAILURES REPORTED. WHEN THE CHAIN DRIVING THE OIL PUMP FAILS,THE ENGINE IS STARVED OF ESSENTIAL LUBRICATION AND IF IT FAILS IT CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP WHICH WOULD BE LIFE-THREATENING. RECENTLY, VW IN EUROPE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND DESIGNED A REPAIR, WHICH CHANGES THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP TO A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PERMANENT FIX TO THE ORIGINAL DESIGN DEFECT. SINCE, UNLIKE VW OF AMERICA, I AM UNWILLING TO PUT MY AND MY CHILD'S LIFE AT RISK, I RECENTLY PAID ALMOST $3000 TO HAVE THE BALANCE SHAFT MODULE REPLACED WITH THE GEAR DRIVEN ONE. MOST OF THE PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ARE EXPERIENCING IT AFTER THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND VW DONE NOTHING TO NOTIFY THE NEARLY 12, 000 OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. MOST OF THE PEOPLE DRIVING THESE VEHICLES HAVE NO IDEA THAT THEIR CAR IS A POTENTIAL TIME BOMB. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF, BUT WHEN, BECAUSE OF THE POOR DESIGN, THEY ALL WILL FAIL. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE; THERE HAS BEEN A SHORTAGE AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL WEEKS JUST FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. IF THE PART FAILS AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE, THE COST FOR THAT REPAIR IS $8-10,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY VW OF AMERICA AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE MODULE AND CHAIN DRIVE HAD NOT FAILED, BUT THEY WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE. UPDATED 04/15/09. *JB

A POTENTIAL ISSUE HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME ENGINE PARTS RELATED TO THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN FAIL AS EARLY AS 45,000 MILES. AND IF THE FAILURE OF SAID COMPONENTS DO FAIL, SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE CAN EASILY OCCUR FORCING THE DRIVER, AT MINIMUM, TO PAY AN UNREASONABLE AND VERY COSTLY SERVICE BILL. IF A DRIVER EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE DURING A TYPICAL HIGHWAY PASS OR MERGING ON A ROADWAY, THE COST WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE PERTAINING TO THE LOSS OF LIFE, FAR SURPASSING THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE ENGINE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS COME UP WITH A FIX BY CHANGING THE CHAIN TO A GEAR. THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AS YET, EVEN WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING FAILED. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TO EVERY 2004 PASSAT WITH THE BHW ENGINES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT STEPS VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS TAKING TO INFORM 2004 AND 2005 PASSAT TDI OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP WOULD DICTATE A PROBLEM OF THIS SEVERITY SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE OWNERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE ENGINE FAILURES COULD LEAVE MOTORISTS STRANDED UNDER DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

THE BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN DRIVE IN THE BOTTOM END OF OUR 2004 PASSAT TDI HAS STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. THEY WILL ALL FAIL. I AM A CAR ENTHUSIAST AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THROUGH THE PAINS OF MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THEIR FAILED OR FAILING CHAIN DRIVEN BALANCE ASSEMBLY, MANY BREAK APART COMPLETELY, AND CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO QUIT TURNING AND THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP SUDDENLY. VW HAS COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS, TO RETROFIT A GEAR DRIVEN UNIT, BUT AS OF YET HAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MORE TIMES THAN NOT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE 60 TO 80K MILE RANGE. THE COST TO REPAIR PROACTIVE IS ABOUT $2500, BUT IF THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED, THE COST IS ABOUT $9000. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY SEIZE WHILE UNDERWAY! CURRENTLY THERE IS NOT EVEN A WARNING OF ANY KIND FROM VW TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. IF NOT FOR AN INTERNET FORUM, FRED'S TDI CLUB.COM, I LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO STILL ARE, WOULD BE COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THIS SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST 8,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. SHE DISCOVERED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR WAGONS FOR ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE DEALER THEN STATED, THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MILEAGE WAS WELL WITHIN RANGE, FOR THE ENGINE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE 65,000 MILE WARRANTY.

THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE WILL FAIL. FAILURE OF BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, BROKEN OIL PAN, BROKEN FRONT ENGINE SEAL FLANGE, AND DAMAGED CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN TRAFFIC, IT CAN LEAD TO A COLLISION WITH INJURIES OR DEATHS. *TR

THE BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN DRIVE IN THE BOTTOM END OF OUR 2004 PASSAT STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. THEY WILL ALL FAIL. I AM A MECHANIC SPECIALIZING IN THESE CARS, AND HAVE CURRENTLY HAD TO REPAIR 27 OF THESE, INCLUDING MY OWN. MANY BREAK APART COMPLETELY, AND CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO QUIT TURNING AND THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP SUDDENLY. I HAVE ONE SUCH CAR HERE RIGHT NOW. VW HAS COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS, TO RETROFIT A GEAR DRIVEN UNIT, BUT AS OF YET HAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MORE TIMES THAN NOT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE 60 TO 80K MILE RANGE. THE COST TO REPAIR PROACTIVELY IS ABOUT $2500, BUT OF THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED, THE COST IS ABOUT $9000. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY SEIZE WHILE UNDERWAY! *TR

SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSE BY VW DESIGN FLAW LED TO ENGINE LOCKING ... VW REFUSING TO COVER ENGINE REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

OUR 2004 PASSAT'S BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT RECENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR OTHER PROCESS THAT TOLD US THE LIGHTS WERE OUT. WE WERE ALMOST IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND US DIDN'T SEE OUR BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT VW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IN 2007...BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED SUCH NOTICE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

VEHICLE PASSAT 2004. 1.8 WAGON. WITH 62000 MILES ON IT, PROBLEM AS FOLLOW , STEAM CAME OFF VENTILATIONS WHEN HEATERS IS ACTIVATED,FOGGING WINDSHIELD AND WINDOWS, THE SMELL IS SO STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE FILLING THE WHOLE CABIN AND CAUSING NAUSEA AND HEADACHES TO WHOEVER IS IN THE CAR WHEN CAR IS BEEN DRIVING, ACCORDING TO THE DEALERS REPAIR PERSON THE HEATER CORE IS LEAKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE DEALER ONLY AT COST OF $1600.00 THEE PART IS NOT A MOVING PART THAT IS EASY ACCESSIBLE AND THAT NEEDS REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THIS IS A PART THAT CAME DEFECTIVE FROM FACTORY AND VW DOES NOT WANT TO REPAIR NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PART CAME DEFECTIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THEM ,THAT IS A PROBLEM THAT IS A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, AND PASSENGER HEALTH DUE TO THE TOXIC FUMES THAT EMANATED THROUGHOUT THE VENTS FROM THE HEATER CORE LEAKAGE AND ENTERING THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED TO FIX THIS VERY PROBLEM THAT MAY CAUSE PEOPLE DEVELOP ANY TYPE OF LUNG CANCER INHALING THIS FUMES. ON TOP OF THE DESCRIBED PROBLEM THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN REPAIR FOR BAD WATER PUMP,BAD HEATING SENSOR,BAD THERMOSTAT,BROKEN CV BOOTS AT 50200 MILES,BAD BATTERY, WARNING SENSOR LIGHTS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. *TR

IN THE 2004 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL ENGINE) THE BALANCE SHAFT & OIL PUMP ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN. THE CHAIN FAILED AT 101,000 MILES AND STOPPED ENGINE LUBRICATION INSTANTLY. REQUIRED UNSAFE MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC TO GET OFF ROAD TO A SAFE STOPPING SPOT. *TR

MY LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT LIGHT KEPT CHIMING IN MY CAR EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR WAS SHUT. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VW PASSAT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A $400 COST. THE WIPER MOTOR THAT BROKE, WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE LOCK, WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I NOTICED RECALLS FOR THE SAME PART IN NEWER MODELS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM MY HOUSE CAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL PRESSURE ISSUE AND DISPLAYED "STOP ENGINE". PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND LET THE CAR COOL OFF AND CHECKED OIL LEVEL. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, BASED ON THE DIP STICK. STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE CAR WAS VERY LOUD AND EXHIBITED A ROUGH AND IRREGULAR IDLE. "STOP ENGINE" INDICATOR CAME ON AGAIN. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. ISSUE APPARENTLY SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT REPAIR SHOP AND I HAVE NO FAITH THAT THIS WILL BE RESOLVED IN A POSITIVE WAY (IE NOT COSTING ME AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY) AS APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE AND MANUFACTURER, REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE OIL FILTER AND OIL, YET THE MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED JUST ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. NEXT THEY ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THEY TAKE THE OIL PAN OUT AND LOOK FOR "REPAIRABLE CULPRITS", WHICH I BELIEVE IS JUST NONSENSE AS I'M SURE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE DEALT WITH THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. THIS IS A CASH COW FOR THE REPAIR SHOPS/DEALERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IF ANY RECOURSE I HAVE. I'VE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AS WELL, HAS VOLKSWAGEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE? I'VE STUCK WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVAL AND PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS, SO I AM AT A LOSS IF THIS IS NOT BEING INVESTIGATED AS SOME FORM OF NEGLIGENCE ON VW'S PART. *TR

I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2004 MODEL. ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH 2008 AFTER WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT AT MBUSI IN VANCE, ALABAMA, I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME. I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT JUST AS I HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS ONLY THIS TIME I GOT MORE HEAT THAN I WANTED. MY HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED MY LEG. IN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, I WRENCHED MY BACK BY STOMPING OUT THE FIRE WITH MY FOOT. I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING CLOSE TO ME TO USE WITH MY HANDS SO THEY WOULD NOT GET BURNED. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW FAST MY CAR FILLED WITH WORST SMELLING SMOKE I HAVE EVER SMELT. THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE PARKING LOT. IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED TWO MINUTES TO TURN ON MY SEAT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON INTERSTATE 20/59 DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COVER ON THE CAR, REPLACE MY PANTS AND PAY MY MEDICAL BILLS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SEAT I WILL CONTINUE TO SIT ON, AND MY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM HORRIFIED TO THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR RECURRENCE AND I CANNOT OVERCOME MY ORDEAL I AM DEVASTATED AND HAVE LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESSES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. *TR

WE RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER FROM VW JUNE 2008, A WEEK AFTER WE SHIPPED OUR VW PASSAT TO GREECE FOR US TO USE WHILE WE ARE IN GREECE. WHEN I CAME HOME I OPEN MY MAIL AND FOUND THE RECALL LETTER. I IMMEDIATELY FAX IT TO GREECE FOR MY HUSBAND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CORRECTED THE PROBLEM I RECEIVED AN INVOICE FROM THEM WITH AN ITEMIZED DESCRIPTION. ( I KNOW A FEW OF THE CORRECTED ITEM ARE NOT IN THE RECALL LETTER WHICH I DO NOT EXPECT THEM TO PAY). THEY CALL ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE 4 TO 6 WEEKS FOR THEM TO PROCESS THE INVOICE BECAUSE THEY HAD TO SEND IT FOR TRANSLATION. SEVERAL WEEKS GO BY AND THEY CALL ME AND SAID THAT SOME OF THE ITEMS IN THE INVOICE WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY ME WHICH I AGREE, BUT THE REST IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT ANOTHER 3 WEEKS. NOW IT IS 3 MONTHS AND I CALLED THEM, THEY SAID NON OF THE THINGS I HAD CORRECTED WERE IN THE RECALL LETTER ACCORDING TO THE TRANSLATOR. I TRIED TO TELL YES IT IS AND I ASK THEM TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT, BUT THEY REFUSE AND THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE WORK. I FEEL THAT THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. I WOULD SOMETHING TO BE DONE. THANK YOU *TR

10-30-08(40,350 MILES) MY MECHANIC REPLACES #1 COIL DUE TO COMPUTER CODE ALERT 11-25-08(40,420 MILES) REPLACED #3 IGNITION COIL & TEMP SENSOR BY VW DEALER DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT ON. 3-12-09(44,965) REPLACE #4 IGNITION COIL AS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, CAR CHUGGED/HESITATED. COMPLAINED TO VW CORPORATE, WAS REIMBURSED. 3-16-09(45,100 MILES) REPLACE # 2 COIL BY MY MECHANIC AT MY REQUEST AS GIVEN THE HISTORY I FEARED IT WOULD MALFUNCTION 11-28-09(53,631 MILES)ALL 4 COILS REPLACED BY VW WITH DIFFERENT MODEL COIL DUE TO RECALL 11-24-10(65,794) REPLACE ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND #1 & #2 COILS BY VW DUE TO EPC LIGHT COMING ON. FAULT IN COMPUTER STATED # 1 & # 2 COILS MISFIRING. VW PAID FOR COIL REPLACEMENT. *LN

WE HAVE A 2002 AND A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEDAN AND WAGON. BOTH HAVE SUFFERED MOTOR MOUNT LEAKAGE AND BOTH HAVE BROKEN WATER PUMP DISPELLERS. WE HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP PARTS AND ARE SAVING UP TO REPLACE MOUNTS ON BOTH VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WEAK PART FOR VOLKSWAGEN. WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING TO GET SOMETHING FIXED WHICH IS NOT A TYPICAL REPAIR FOR AUTOMOBILES FROM OTHER COMPANIES. *TR

1. ON THE EVENING OF FRIDAY OCTOBER 24, 2008 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. 2. ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2008 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO SOUTHPOINT VOLKSWAGEN IN BATON ROUGE, LA. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY #4 ENGINE COIL. THEY REPLACED THE COIL, TESTED THE CAR AND RETURNED IT TO ME. THE CAR SEEMED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED OFF. 3. THE NEXT DAY, SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2008, AFTER DRIVING ONLY 28 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A GAS STATION. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND A FIRE NEAR THE LOWER PART ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO SOUTHPOINT VOLKSWAGEN. 4. SOUTHPOINT REPLACED THE OTHER 3 COILS AND OTHER PARTS THAT WERE DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. 5. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2008 SOUTHPOINT VW MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO MEET IN ORANGE, TX, TO RETURN MY PASSAT AND PICK UP THE RENTAL CAR. AFTER THIS EXCHANGE, AND APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS STEADY. 6. I THEN LEARNED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CAUSED BY AN ISSUE WITH THE EMISSION SYSTEM. THE COIL FAILURE ALLOWED UNBURNED GAS TO GO INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM DAMAGING THE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO MY EMISSION SYSTEM. DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT THE TIME OF THE COIL REPLACEMENT SHOW THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE FIRE.

WEBBING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY THROUGH ADJUSTOR ON LATCH ON BOTH SIDES, WEBBING INSTALLED TWISTED MAKING ADJUSTMENT OF LATCH DIFFICULT (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2004, MAKE=VOLKSWAGEN, MODEL=PASSAT). *TR

REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DROPPED INTO DOOR PANEL WITHOUT WARNING APPROX 11/2 YEARS AGO - WINDOW REGULATOR BROKEN. NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO DOOR OR WINDOW SUGGESTING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. SIX MONTHS AGO CAR WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WAS NOT OPENING OR CLOSING COMPLETELY. PRIOR TO CHECKING TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED WINDOW REGULATOR WAS GOING BAD BUT CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH WINDOW UPON INSPECTION. OCT 17, 2008 SAME FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DROPPED INTO DOOR PANEL. WINDOW REGULATOR BROKEN JUST LIKE OTHER. $450 MIN SERVICE. VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS ITS BAD LUCK NOT A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR