2004 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CLUTCH FAILED. VEHICLE LOST POWER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE SENT INFORMATION REGARDING TO NHTSA ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO REGARDING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND ENGINE SEIZURE WHICH OCCURRED SEPTEMBER 25, 2004 ON A MAJOR BRIDGE IN NEWPORT NEWS VA. MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS AWARE THAT THEY HAVE ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS (2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T ENGINES. HOWEVER, THERE POSITION IS THAT I NEGLECTED THE CAR. I HAVE HAD FOUR -FIVE OIL CHANGES. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO JOE PECHELES, GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, AUGUST 25 DUE TO THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR BACK AUGUST 26, 2004. I DID SO. I WAS GIVEN MY CAR BACK AND TOLD THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED. THEREFORE, I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. I HAVE TALKED TO THE AREA SERVICE REPRESEENTATIVES AND I WAS TOLD VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. I WILL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD YOU CORRESPONDENCES. HOWEVER, I HAVE SENT YOU INFORMATION AS STATED.*AK

WHILE TEST DRIVING A VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX SEDAN, TOUCHING THE WINDOW CONTROL CAUSED THE ABS BRAKING MECHANISM TO ENGAGE. THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE QUICKLY APPLIED AND ABS FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS AND TONES WENT OFF IN THE CAR. THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FLICKERED AS WELL. THE WARNINGS SHUT OFF IN A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS IN THE SPAN OF 10 MINUTES BOTH TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON A LEVEL ROAD AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME. THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED BRAKING AND THE STARTLING EFFECT OF THE WARNINGS OCCURING SIMULTANIOUSLY. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LURCHED ON DOWN SHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED MOMENTARY HESITATION PARTICULARLY IN AN INTERSECTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED ON SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB DEALERSHIP CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE AND CONSUMER WISHED TO RESCIND REPORT FROM COMPLAINT DATABASE. *MJJ

REPORTED WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO 5-10MPH CARE HESITATED AND THEN JERKED AS IF SOMEONE HIT FROM BEHIND, ALSO WHEN BRAKING TO STOP,CAR LURCHES FORWARD. VW DEALERSHIP REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS AND DID SOFTWARE UPDATE AFTER 3 TIMES IN SHOP. NOW CAR HESITATES WHEN EITHER SLOWING DOWN OR FROM STOP THEN KICKS IN ALL OF A SUDDEN,WILL BE CALLING REGIONAL TECHNICIAN TO REPORT, STILL FEEL SLIGHT JERK AT SLOW SPEEDS. ALL HAPPENS WHEN ENGINE HOT OR COLD.*AK

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT WAGON V-6 AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR BUCKS/JUMPS WHEN DECELERATING INTO LOWER OR ACCELERATING INTO HIGHER GEAR. IT CAUSES JERKING OF THE VEHICLE AT TIMES. DEALER CHECKED THE CAR ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT CLAIMED THAT IT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WHEN A SYSTEMS CHECKED WAS RUN. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON A TEST RIDE. CONTACTED VW TO NO AVAIL. *LA

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KEEPS FAILING. IT CAUSES THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TO BE DISABLED AND KEEPS THE STOP LIGHTS ON, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. I'VE HAD THE BRAKE LIKE SWITCH REPLACED 6 TIMES NOW OVER THE PAST 2.5 YEARS. *NM

CLUTCH FAILED THREE TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. CONSUMER FIRST HAD IT REPLACED AT 3000 MILES. THE SECOND TIME AT 30,000 MILES, AND THEN AT 40,000 MILES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 60-70 MPH VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT. WHEN SITTING IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK WHEN DRIVING 65 THE VEHICLE WILL UPSHIFT OR DOWNSHIFT ON ITS OWN. *TC

WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP TRANSMISSION/DRIVE TRAIN OCCASIONALLY WILL DEMONSTRATE A JARRING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS "CLUNK" AS IF THE TRANDMISSION IS DROPPING OUT OF THE CAR. THE CAR ALSO LURCHES FORWARD SLIGHTLY. WE HAVE READ THAT SOME DEALERS TELL THEIR CUSTOMERS THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. OUR DEALER, RUSSEL VW IN CATONSVILLE MD SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING, DENYING EVER HEARING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WE CONTACTED VW-USA AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY UNTRUE!!! THERE ARE COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER THE INTERNET. VW IS SETTING ITSELF UP FOR TREMENDOUS LIABILITY ISSUES SHOULD INJURIES OCCUR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

AN INCIDENT OCCURED TODAY, MARCH 24TH, 2004 WHERE THE SEAT HEATER IN MY 2004 VW PASSAT BURNED THROUGH MY SEAT. I NOTICED IT WAS HOT AND TURNED IT OFF, AND THEN SMELT A BURING SMELL. WHEN I GOT TO WORK I SAW THE SMALL BURN HOLE IN MY SEAT, WHICH LOOKED LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT IF IT HAPPENS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THAT I WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT SEAT. WHILE MY CLOTHES WERE NOT BURNED, MY SKIN DID HAVE A SUNBURN LIKE BURN IN THAT AREA.

AM RADIO RECEPTION IS VERY POOR (STATIC) WITH THE ON STAR FEATURE.DEALER REPLACED THE RADIO TWISE & ANTENNA SYSTEM.... STILLS FAILS. *AK

2004 PASSAT WITH 4WD, CAR JUMPS FORWARD WHEN COMING TO A HALT, CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD BUT NHTSA SEEMS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE COMPLAINT. I HAVE ENTERED IT THREE TIMES WITHOUT IT SHOWING UP ON THE LIST. I GUESS CAMPAIGN MONEY TALKS LOUDER THAN CONSUMERS.*AK

REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES HAVE A SPECIALIZED ATTACHMENT AND ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH VOLKSWAGEN NEW CAR DEALERS. THE BLADES ARE ALSO EASILY BENT BY SNOW BRUSHES, SCRAPERS AND THE LIKE. THE DIFFICULTY AND INCONVENIENCE OF OBTAINING REPLACEMENTS OF THIS CRITICAL SAFETY PART CAUSES VISIBILITY PROBLEMS AND AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF WRECKS. THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT IS THE APPROXIMATE DATE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT WITH A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I ACCELERATE AT SLOW SPEEDS IT HESITATES BEFORE TAKING OFF AND THEN BAM, IT'S LIKE SOME ONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THE CAR JUMPS IN GEAR. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. BUT THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS REAL SLOW GOING INTO FIRST GEAR AND IT DOES WITH A CLUNK.*AK

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR SHIFTS SHARPLY IN LOWER GEARS CAUSING SEVERE JERKING OF THE VEHICLE AT TIMES. DEALER "REBOOTED" THE CONTROL MODULE BUT NO CHANGE. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP LET IT SLIP THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY SOLD THE CAR KNOWING OF THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS OFFERED 2 MONTHS OF FREE LOAN PAYMENTS BY VW. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THAT THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. I AM TAKING CAR IN THIS WEEK.*AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SLOWED DOWN THE GEARS WOULD SLAM INTO PLACE. ALSO WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE DIDNT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST THIRTY TIMES SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE IN MARCH. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND VW AMERICA IS WORKING ON A SOLUTION. *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION, THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS AND THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD, THIS HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. NOT VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR A CAR THAT COST OVER $30,000.

I HAVE A 2004 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION STATION WAGON WITH 2000 MILES ON IT. LIKE OTHER OWNERS I FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE A "CLUNK" FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND THEN ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. IT OCCASIONALLY LURCHES FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOT VERY SATISFACTORY FOR A CAR THAT COSTS OVER $30,000

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FORWARD WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. VEHICLE PURCHASED ON 12/9/03. PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 3/3/04.DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED ON 5/20/04. DEALER STATES THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE AWAITING "SOFTWARE UPDATE" FROM VOLKSWAGEN. THEY HAVE NO ANTICIPATED DATE FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THE CORRECTION.*MR

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN OCTOBER 2003, I NOTICED INTERMITTENT JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSSION ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING, ACCELERATING SLIGHTLY AND THEN COMING TO A STOP. THE JERKING IS SURPRISING AND UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR 9 DAYS IN MARCH. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM ,BUT HAD NO WAY TO FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THAT A FIX WOULD BE AVAILABLE: FIRST IN MAY, THEN IN JUNE, AND NOW STILL NO FIX. *AK

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH THE B5 FORUMS AT WWW.TDICLUB.COM THAT ALL 2004-2005 VW PASSAT TDI ENGINES HAVE BEEN OUTFITTED WITH A FAULTY CHAIN DRIVEN OIL-PUMP (AKA BALANCE SHAFT) ASSEMBLY THAT HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE OIL-PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS PROVEN TO CAUSE MULTI-THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR BILLS FOR OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. A BULK OF THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ON 04-05 PASSAT TDI'S WELL BEFORE THE CARS REACH 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS TO OIL PUMP FAILURE OTHER THAN LOUDER THAN NORMAL ENGINE NOISES. VW HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE OIL-PUMP ASSEMBLY TO INCORPORATE A GEAR-DRIVEN MECHANISM THAT ISN'T PRONE TO FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY VW HAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE THOUSANDS OF PASSAT TDI OWNERS THAT ARE BEING FORCED TO UPGRADE THEIR CARS ON THEIR OWN DIME. THE UPGRADE COSTS ~$2,500 (PARTS & LABOR). IT IS OF MY OPINION (AND THE THOUSANDS OF FELLOW PASSAT TDI OWNERS) THAT THIS FAULTY DESIGN SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY AS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN OIL-PUMP FAILURE CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR DEATH IS EMINENT. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION ON A 2004 PASSAT WAGON ALL WHEEL DRIVE (V6) ENGINE SLIPS AND STARTLES ME VERY FREQUENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWED DOWN IT BUCKS VIOLENTLY AS IF I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. SO FAR, VOLKSWAGON GAVE ME A REPLACEMENT CAR (SINCE IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR). HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT CAR IS DOING THE VERY SAME THING. THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT FEELS AS IF YOU'RE BEING REAR ENDED. ALSO, IT CREATES A POTENTIAL DANGER ON THE ROADS. VOLKSWAGON ORIGINALLY SAID IT WAS THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (BUT THIS IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE). NOW, THEY'RE SAYING THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE "FLASHED"? I WILL BE FILING A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AGAINST THE COMPANY. I FEAR THAT MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY'RE BEING IGNORED OR SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET. I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT AND WILL BRING THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF VOLKSWAGON. AT AT MINIMUM PERHAPS, THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND SEND OUT A NOTICE TO OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. PLEASE PLEAD MY CAUSE WITH VIGOR AND DETERMINATION. SINCERELY, DAVID DEBOSKEY *LA

I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT WITH A SAFETY ISSUE IN TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEED THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS. THE PROBLEM IS MOST SEVERE IN REVERSE GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO RESOLUTION. AFTER CHANGING MULTIPLE PARTS THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER 2004 PASSAT AND TOUAREG OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT, SO IT APPEARS TO BE AFFECTING MORE THAN A SINGLE VEHICLE. CAN THE NHTSA DO SOMTHING TO HELP VW OWNERS BY FORCING VW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE AND FIND A RESOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. RIGHT NOW THEIR DEALERS AND ENGINEERS DO NOT HAVE A FIX!*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LURCHED ON DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE...PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN DUPLICATED AGAIN, BUT IT HAS ONLY BEEN A DAY. *AK

WHEN BRAKING AFTER DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS INTO THE CITY VEHICLE BUCKED FORWARD. DEALER STATED THE PROCEDURE WAS WHAT THEY CALLED A HARD DRIVE. ALSO IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

VOLKSWAGEN PASSATT 2004. VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DESIGNED WITH A GROOVE IN THE RUBBER THAT HOLDS SNOW AND ICE AND CAUSES ICE BUILDUP ON THE WIPER. IN SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN THE WIPER SURFACE CANNOT CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN AN OBSTRUCTED WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY. VOLKSWAGEN WAS CONTACTED AND DENIES THIS DESIGN FLAW EXISTS. *LA

PURCHASED 12/03. WITHIN 2 WEEKS BEGAN TO SHIFT ABNORMALLY SLAMMING IN/OUT OF 1-2ND GEARS. DROVE TECHNICIANS 3 TIMES BEFORE THEY WOULD ADMIT SOMETHING WRONG. UNPLUGGED TRANSMISSION MODULE - NO FIX, REPLACED MODULE - NO FIX, THEN ADMITTED THEY HAVE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING PROBLEM AND ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON IT - NO FIX RIGHT NOW. HAS BEEN 6 MOS OF POOR SHIFTING, NOW LIKELY TRANSMISSION DAMAGED, STILL NO FIX AVAILABLE. *LA

TURNED ON SEAT HEATER TO 1 WHILE WAITING FOR CAR TO WARM UP. NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A HOT BURNING SENSATION ON MY BUTTOCKS. TURNED OFF SEAT HEATER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A 5/8' HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT WITH SOME SMOKE STILL COMING OUT OF IT. THE SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN ON LESS THAN 1 MINUTE. WILL CONTACT DEALER LATER TODAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. CW. *NM

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH RECALL FOR FUEL TANK INSPECTION. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE HAD GOTTEN THE COMPONENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE BEFORE THE RECALL. HE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT. *KB VOLKSWAGEN STATED THE REPAIR INVOICE THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED DID NOT CONTAIN THE PARTS THAT MATCHED THE PARTS IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL. *JB

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT WITH VW REGARDING DEFECTIVE ENGINES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ENGINE'S WERE DEFECTIVE. *JB

WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP OR WHILE CRUISING, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. THE DEALER RECALIBRATED THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ALSO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *PH THE TRANSMISSION MADE A CLUNK NOISE, MALFUNCTIONED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC/HIGHWAY, AND A HARD SHIFT WAS PRESENT AT TIMES. *SC

WHEN KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION HORN DOES NOT BLOW. CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT IN AN EMERGENCY SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS. *AK *MR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND. FOLLOWING THAT STEERING FAILED. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE ON MAY 12, 2004, AND NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING WAS REPAIRED THE FOLLOWING DAY ,AND WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP MAY 14, 2004. *AK