Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WITH FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER, HEADLIGHTS, TURNING SIGNALS AND AC/HEAT FAN. ALL EXCEPT FOR THE LETTER I CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. NHTSA POSTED A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL BUT VWOA DO NOT HAVE RECORDS OF SUCH RECALL AND CHARGE FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR OF REPLACEMENT. DT
THE IGNITION SWITCH CUTS OUT INTERMITTENTENTLY. ENGINE STILL RUNS BUT NO LIGHTS, WIPERS, ABS BRAKING, AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES OPERATE. DT
CONSUMER STATES HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. MR
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. MR
CALLED VW - NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V256000 DESCRIBING RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CAR?! RIDICULOUS! I HAD THIS EXACT THING HAPPEN TO ME, IN SNOWY WEATHER. I DROVE 60 MILES WITH MY HAND ON THE KEY SWITCH TWISTING IT SO LIGHTS AND WIPERS WOULD STAY ON! THIS RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED! MR
RE: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V256000 STATES THAT "ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. IF SUCH FAILURES OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE AT NIGHT OR IN A RAINY OR SNOWY WEATHER, A CRASH COULD OCCUR. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOFA AT 1-800-822-8987. WELL, AT THIS WRITING IT IS OCTOBER 14, 2002 I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION. THE PROBLEM STATED ABOVE HAPPENED TO MY CAR. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT MATCH THEIR LIST. DUH, PUT IT ON THE LIST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED. THE MORONIC "CUSTOMER ADVOCATE" AS THEY CALL THEMSELVES KEPT REPEATING THAT THE VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST SO HE CANNOT DO ANYTHING. CAN NHTSA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MR
HEADLIGHT BULB IS YELLOW ON THE OUTSIDE OF LENSE. CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE BECAUSE DOOR WAS BOLTED SHUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND TURNED, THE ENGINE DOES NOT START, WHICH ALSO CAUSED OTHER COMPONETS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, CONSUMER HAD THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, CONSUMER WAS STILL EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES IN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY, ALSO THE BATTERY WAS EPLACED.*JG
WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. MECHANIC AT VOLKSWAGEN SAYS THAT THE ABS PUMPS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1700. SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTEN, I DECIDED NOT TO SPEND THE MONEY FOR REPAIR SINCE I CAN STILL BRAKE THOUGH WITHOUT ABS. BUT I EXPLAINED TO FRONT DESK CUSTOMER SERVICE (AT DAVID MICHAEL VW IN FREEHOLD, NJ) THAT ABS FAILURE IS NOT PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD COVER THE COST, BUT THEY DID NOT ACCEPT THAT ARGUMENT.*AK
THE DAYTIME AND NORMAL HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES I WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. ANOTHER TIME, I JUST TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LET THE CAR SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS. THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON WHEN I START IT. AT OTHER TIMES, IN ADDITION TO THE HEADLIGHT NOT COMING ON, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY PASSAT, WHICH I HAVE FIXED AND REPORTED HERE. NAMELY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED.
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM'S IDLING HIGH WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT, SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF BUT IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AND WAS STILLL IDLING HIGH RESULTING IN THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE. NLM
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH OF THE 1996 AUDI A4. THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE VW PASSAT. WHEN THIS PART FAILS, IT CAUSES THE RUNNING OR HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DEFROSTER, AND HEATER BLOWER TO FAIL. ALL OF THESE ELECTRICAL TOOLS ARE NECESSARY FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN BAD WEATHER. MY DEALER SEEMS TO BE UNAWARE OF THE AUDI RECALL AND ALSO DID NOT SEE WHY I FELT THIS INTERMITENT PROBLEM MADE MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED...ONCE THE SWITCH DID FAIL COMPLETELY AND WAS NO LONGER AN INTERMITENT PROBLEM, THE ELECTRICIAN WAS ABLE TO PIN POINT THE CAUSE. *AK
COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND LIMITED CONTROL OF THE CAR. A SEARCH OF THE WEB INDICATES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURANCE. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NON EXISTENT. AS FOR THE DOOR HANDLE AND WINDOW PROBLEM, AGAIN THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. SO FAR NO ONE HAS LOST THEIR LIFE AT LEAST IN OUR CASE. M. *AK
LOST POWER ASSIST AND HAD TO USE HAND BRAKE TO STOP. VACUUM LINE WAS REPLACED AND FAILED AGAIN AT 79363 MILES.
INTERMITTENT POWER WINDOW FAILURE COULD CAUSE VEHICLE INHABITANTS TO NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK
RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN IN ONE SECTION, CAUSING FREQUENT CREAKING NOISE. VW SERVICE KEEPS TELLING MY AUTO REPAIR GUY THAT THEY ARE ORDERING IT. THEY NOW SAY THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PART; PUT OUT NATIONWIDE SEARCH!I'M WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY.ORIGINAL. *AK
OUR MAIN COMMENT IS THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO OUR DAUGHTER ILLEGALLY. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE MILEAGE INDICATOR HAD BEEN ROLLED BACK. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RUN, ALL THE HARDWARE IS FALLING OFF. AFTER FINALLY IN. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****743725
FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. DOOR OPENS BUT UNABLE TO CLOSE. DOOR MUST BE HELD CLOSED WITH CORD OR HELD CLOSED BY DRIVER, CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.*AK
CAR BEGAN FAILING TO START. BATTERY REPLACED. SYMPTOMS REAPPEARED IN 2 WEEKS. CAR RUNNING ROUGH, DIFFICULT TO START. STALLING DURING HIGHWAY OPERATION. REQUIRED TOW TO DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT COMPUTER MODULE WIRING HARNESS RUSTY AND CORRODED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.*AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
THE DOORS DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. YOU MUST SLAM THEM AT TIMES TO MAKE THEM CLOSE, THEN THEY WILL WORK OK AT OTHER TIMES. THE TRUNK LOCK DOES NOT WORK WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. IT MUST BE OPENED FROM INSIDE WITH THE RELEASE BUTTON. *AK
THE CAR BLOWS SMOKE SO BAD I CANNOT KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN. I HAVE THE DEALER GET THE CAR PAST EMISSIONS BECAUSE IT FAILS EVERY TIME. THIS NOT ONLY EFFECTS MYSELF BUT EVERY PERSON IN THE AREA THAT I HAPPEN TO BE PASSING THROUGH. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR EVEN A DIESEL. THIS IS A HEALTH PROBLEM. A RAW FUEL SMELL IS ALSO PRESENT, THERE ARE NO VISIBLE LEAKS.
WHEN AT FREEZING TEMP, PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH PARTIALLY FROZE OPEN CAUSING DOOR TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER DOOR LATCH FROZE PREVENTING DOOR TO BE CLOSED. *AK
SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES WENT CRAZY. WITH ENGINE OFF SPEEDOMETER READS 80 MPH AND TACHOMETER READS 4000 RPM. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A COLD START-UP AND IS KNOWN TO BE AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. IT APPEARS TO BE SPECIFIC TO 1996 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX MODELS AND IS REPORTED TO BE A $600. OR MORE DEALER REPAIR WITH A NEED TO SPECIAL ORDER THE REPLACEMENT GAUGE/CLUSTER ASSEMBLY FROM GERMANY REQUIRING 4-6 WEEKS FOR PARTS DELIVERY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ! PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE NOT WEAR ITEMS AND SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. I AM NOT ABOUT TO PAY VW $600. OR MORE TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE TO USE THE VIN NUMBERS TO DETERMINE IF THIS DEFECT IS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN PRODUCTION TIME PERIOD. PERHAPS THE VENDOR SUPPLIER TO VW HAD SOME PRODUCTION PROBLEMS THAT WERE DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED. OWNER'S OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT RESULTS FROM NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. *AK
FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEEDLE WILL NOT SET AT ZERO EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. *AK
FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING (DOTAN7JT451179 - BF GOODRICH 185-6514). NLM
I CANNOT GET INTO MY CAR DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE WITHOUT ROLLING ALL MY WINDOWS DOWN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I HAVE REPLACED ALL DOORS ONCE BEFORE AND THEN THE FRONT TWO DOORS BROKE ONCE AGAIN MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN, I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD, IF I WERE TO WRECK AND BECAME UNCONSIOUS IN A BURNING CAR THE PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AFTER CAR LEFT OUT IN COLD. HAD TO GET REPLACEMENT ACCORDING TO DEALER FROM GERMANY. TOOK 4-6 WEEKS TO GET REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY LEFT DRIVERS DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE ONLY WAY INTO THE DOOR WAS EITHER FROM PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR, OR ROLL DOWN THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. IF CAR LEFT OUT IN COLD, WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. LOCK COME UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. DEALER SAID WOULD COST BIG BUCKS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM. I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY SAID NOT COVERED. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES AS WE ARE RAISING MY GRANDCHILD AND SHE RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT WHILE THESE LOCK MECHANISMS FAIL.
DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY OR LOCKS ARE NOT SECURING PROPERTY. DOOR OCCASIONALLY WOULD FLY OPEN. CONSUMER HAS TO USE A BUNGY CORD & SEAT BELT TO KEEP SHUT. MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM. VEHICLE CAN'T BE SECURED TO KEEP OTHERS FROM GETTING IN. CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER. *AK
THE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES AND I REALLY FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM.*AK
NOT ABLE OT OPEN DOOR. HANDLE MECHANISM BROKEN. FIRST HANDLE MECHANISM BROKEN IN DEC 1999. BECAUSE CHILD LOCK WAS ON, MAJOR SERVICE WAS NEED TO GET INTO DOOR. JUNE 2000 THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE MECHISM BROKE, BUT CAN GET INTO THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR . THE LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE APPEARS LOOSE AND READY TO BREAK. *AK
INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE. LIGHT HAS BEEN ON/OFF ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC INDICATOR. TOWED TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL: CLUSTER MODULE HAD A SHORT. *AK
NO SUMMARY
THE INSTRUMENT SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT SET AT 0, AND THE REV COUNTER ALSO WILL NOT SET AT 0. *AK
DESIGN FLAW? ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES HAVE FAILED (CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD) AND CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED WHEN THEY FAIL.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AND ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT ABS BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDED A COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED. *AK
THE INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE HAS FAILED TWICE. BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES HAVE FAILED. REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. PASSENGERS IN THE REAR CAN NOT OPEN THE REAR CAR DOORS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY: DIGITAL DISPLAYS FLASHED ON AND OFF SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GAUGES MOVING CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER-CLOCKWISE OUT OF CONTROL, THIS PATTERN CONTINUED WHEN VEHICLE IGNITION TURNED OFF. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND CURRENT PROBLEM. SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS BATTERY OK, NEEDS NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. JAN.06 VEHICLE FAIL TO START, CHECKED BATTERY, BATTERY BURNED UP,CELLS DRY. REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY, INSIDE OF 2 WEEK PERIOD FAILURE TO START AND NO POWERCONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 6 WEEKS. DEALER INSTALLS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, GO TO PICK UP CAR AND IT FAILS TO START. CAR REMAINS AT DEALERSHIP. *AK
ELECTICAL CLUSTER FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. YH
INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS CONSUMER'S CAR BECAUSE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. *AK
WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. SOME OF THE DASHLIGHTS STAY ON, HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHTS, BLOWER MOTOR, TURNSIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, POWER WINDOWS AND A/C DO NOT WORK. DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE ROUGH ON SPEED SHIFTING. CONSUMER SAID IT FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION KICKED IN. *AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH PREMATURELY MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE DESIGN WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLGHTS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK
DIAGNOSIS NOT COMPREHENSIVE, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, TOO MUCH WAITING TO GET PARTS FROM GERMANY, IRRESPONSIBLE AND INSENSITIVE VW MANAGEMNENT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE DOORS FAIL TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE LOCKS FAIL TO WORK ALSO. THE DOORS WOULD POP OPEN AFTER BEING CLOSED. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC EVERYTHINGS WORKS FINE. WAS INFORMED LUBRICATION WAS PROBLEM FIRST 2 TIMES. THE THIRD TIME TOLD LOCKS WERE THE PROBLEM. HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHENEVER FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDALTRANSMISSION WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. WOULD NEED TO DRIVE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES & ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM SEEMS TO REAPPEAR EACH TIME. *AK
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERINCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DAY RUINNING LIGHT/ HEAD LIGHT, HEATER / COOLING SYSTEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT OR STOP OPERATING. SOMETIMES IF KEY IS JIGGLED IT WOULD CAUSE IT TO COME BACK ON OR OPERATE AGAIN. ASLO, SPEEDOMETER / ODOMETER FAIL EDTO OPERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS SEEN AND GREASED THE DOORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
NONE OF THE DOORS BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME, IN ORDER TO GET INTO MY CAR I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AND OPEN THE DOOR OR DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE, ANYONE COULD JUMP INTO MY CAR FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE AT THIS TIME. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WE WERE QUOTED AN EXTREMELY HIGH AMOUNT BY THE DEALER WHICH I THINK ISNT RIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS FAULTY CRAFTMANSHIP NOT FAULTY OWNERSHIP. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Volkswagen Passat → · Every Passat year → · How the figures are calculated →