2000 Volkswagen Passat complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,456 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,440.

PREMATURE ABS ELECTRONICS FAILURE, DISABLING THE ABS SYSTEM. VEHICLE IS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON. *TR

2000 VW PASSAT WAS DIAGNOSED TO NEED ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT $900 BY VW DEALER. HUNDREDS OF PAGES ON FORUMS ACROSS THE WORLD EXIST ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIRTY-ONE PAGES ALONE CAN BE FOUND AT HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0. HUNDREDS MORE CAN BE FOUND BY SEARCHING "PASSAT" AND "ABS". ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, APPARENTLY, THERE'S A 2005 VW SERVICE BULLETIN #0517 AND NHTSA ITEM 10016037 ACKNOWLEDGING THE LONGEVITY AND FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM. ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT, FLASHING LIGHTS WARN DRIVERS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY AND THE MANUAL SAYS THAT REAR BRAKES MAY LOCK UP AT ANY MOMENT, VW AND NHTSA HAVE NOT TAKEN ACTION TO MAKE THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE THE MANDATORY RECALL AND REPAIR IT WOULD SEEM TO BE. IS THERE SOME REASON WHY THIS HASN'T TAKEN PLACE YET? *TR

MY ABS SENSOR FAILED AT 130K MILES. THIS CAUSES A ANNOYING FLASH ACROSS THE DASH AND SOUNDS THAT BEEP LOUDLY. *TR

DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROLLER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ALARM IN HER VEHICLE WOULD GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE HAD TO UNPLUG THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE ALARM. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOORS OR THE WINDOWS GOING UP AND DOWN. THE ONLY WINDOW SHE COULD CONTROL WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THERE WAS ALSO APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES OF WATER UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS COLLECTIVE RAIN WATER THAT DID NOT DRAIN, BUT RATHER ESCAPED INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $4,000. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM WHY IT WOULD COST SO MUCH FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT'S CASE WAS FILED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SHE ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUES WERE COMMON AMONG VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE.*TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 VW PASSAT WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE. THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE SERIOUS SLUDGING ISSUES. THIS WAS UNKNOWN TO ME. TWO MONTHS AGO MY OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIT UP. I COULD NOT FIND ANY OIL PRESSURE ISSUES SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 45 MILES AWAY. THEY "INSPECTED" THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THE ENGINE WAS SLUDGED UP. APPARENTLY VW HAS A WARRANTY REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT ONLY IF YOU CAN PRODUCE EVERY RECEIPT OF EVERY OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE HAS EVER HAD FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED FROM VW. PROBLEM: I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I CAN NOT PRODUCE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM I PURCHASE MY OIL AND FILTERS BY THE CASE TO LAST ME SEVERAL YEARS. I DO NOT HAVE THOSE RECEIPTS OF THOSE PURCHASES ANYMORE. I CHANGED THE OIL ACCORDING VW SPECIFICATIONS LOCATED IN THE MANUAL. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE VW DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OWNERS MANUAL TO STATE THAT SYNTHETIC OIL MUST BE USED INSTEAD OF REGULAR MOTOR OIL, BUT DID NOT INFORM ME OF THIS. VW WILL/HAS CONTACTED ME AS THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR REGARDING RECALLS BUT WOULD NOT INFORM ME OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE CHANGE THAT COULD DESTROY MY ENGINE. NOW VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER $4,000 TO PUT A NEW "OIL SLUDGING KIT" ON MY CAR TO COMPENSATE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT SIMPLY BECAUSE I CAN NOT PRODUCE RECORDS TO SHOW THAT I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY THREE MONTHS AND THAT I USED SYNTHETIC OILS INSTEAD OF REGULAR OIL AS THE OWNER MANUAL STATES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP PROPERLY UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $1,300 REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 143,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE ABS MODUEL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKES GOING OUT. UPDATED 08/01/08. *JB

HEAT SHIELD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM CARMAX WHO HAD LIED ABOUT THE AUTO FROM THE BROKEN SEATBELTS FORWARD ON THE DAY OF SALE. VW DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AUTO AFTER FIRE BUT ANOTHER MISHAP WITH HEATSHIELD WHEN IT FELL OFF AND UNDER THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE @ 65 MILE PER HR, WHILE DRIVING DOWN TURNPIKE. I WAS NOT INJURED THANKS TO A TRUCK DRIVER WHO ASSISTED MY NAVIGATION TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CUT OFF THE SHIELD SO I COULD RETURN HOME. THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, SINCE THE FIRE THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME AND HAS BEEN A HAZARD, STALLING ON A BELTWAY, ETC... NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS WAS FOUND ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AS IT HAS BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES..IT IS WHEN THE EMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AND A BAD SENSOR NEEDS REPLACED OR SWITCH. BUT NOTHING FIXES THIS CAR FOR LONG. *TR

ABS /BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES. FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE ABS PUMP SEEMS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT KNOWN AS THE EBCM. I REALIZE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, OTHERWISE VW WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESSURED TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STATE OF NJ WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IN REALITY IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING IN THE PRE-ABS DAYS. SO, THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY $1500-$2000 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. OF COURSE VW AND BOSCH, WHO MADE THE FAULTY COMPONENT, GET OFF THE HOOK AND IN FACT PROFIT THIS EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE. WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? PLEASE HELP! *TR

2000 PASSAT -OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND A BIG STOP LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR ANYTHING WRONG. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WAITED ABOUT 1 HOUR THEN DROVE 1 MILE HOME. NEXT DAY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS TOLD BY VW MECHANIC HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL ME BUT MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS YEAR. WANTED $9500 TO REPLACE ENGINE (ONLY 52K MILES) I STILL OWED $7500 ON THE CAR. REPLACED ENGINE AT ANOTHER GARAGE FOR $5400 THEN HAD TO REPLACE TURBO FOR $2000. OIL IS NOW LEAKING AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CALLED VW. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IF I COULD PRODUCE EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT. THE GARAGE WHERE I GOT MY OIL CHANGED ONLY KEEPS RECORDS IN THE COMPUTER FOR 6 MONTHS THEN THEY ARE PUT IN BOXES IN STORAGE. VW BASICALLY SAID "TOO BAD". I HAVE HAD 2 JETTAS AND NOW THIS PASSAT. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTAS. IF THEY HAVE "KNOWN PROBLEMS" WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLS? VW COULD NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION. *TR

A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 4MOTION WAGON. THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON US 80 NEAR AUBURN. MY LIFE WAS SAVED BECAUSE A COUNTY SHERIFF WAS TRAVELING BEHIND ME AND SUMMONED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE AS I HURRIED TO EXIT CA 49 AT AUBURN, CALIFORNIA. FLAMES AND SMOKE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WHICH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FLOODED. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, NOT TO DESTROY THE CAR FOR PARTS IN LIGHT OF THE VW SAFETY RECALL 26E5/RF (1999-2002 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND PASSAT WAGON.) I INCURRED CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE (CAR RENTALS OVER THE SIX MONTHS THAT AAA INSURANCE TOOK TO SETTLE THE CLAIM). I HAVE ALSO HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AT A COST TO ME OF MORE THAT $25,000 OVER THE PAID CLAIM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE MADE WHOLE, FOLLOWING THIS COSTLY AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AAA DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT BEGAN IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MARY COADY *TR

ABS MODULE FAILED AT APPROX 80K MILES. REPAIRED BY DEALER. *TR

2000 PASSAT AUTO TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO CATCH ON FIRE NEAR ENGINE AND WHERE EXHAUST MEET. MY SON AND A FRIEND BOTH 20YRS OLD WERE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I THANK GOD IT DID NOT END TRAGICALLY. *TR

AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP STATING: STOP! BRAKE FAILURE. SEE SERVICE MANUAL. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY HAD MY BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR THE ABS. ACCORDING TO VW IT IS A ABS CENTRAL MODULE FAILURE. REPLACING IT WILL COST OVER $1000. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD CORRECT. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT VW IS ALLOWED TO SCARE ITS CUSTOMERS INTO THINKING THEY ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF BRAKE FAILURE JUST TO GET THEM TO CORRECT AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT. CHECKING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 PASSAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE FRONT END MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF

LIT ABS WARNING LIGHT AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. ON A 2000 GLS PASSAT AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY ABS MODULE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT FELT AS IF THE REAR TIRES WERE LOCKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS COMPUTER CHIP FAILURE WITH THE ABS AND THE ENTIRE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,978.

EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. FIRST THE FUEL TANK DOOR SWITCH BECAME INOPERABLE FORCING ME TO REMOVE THE OPENING MECHANISM WHICH ALLOWED ME TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. TWO DAYS LATER THE ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND ON IT'S OWN, AND DID SO FOR AT LEAST 8 HOURS OR MORE. BY THE END OF THE NIGHT THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND ALL THE FUNCTIONS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AS WELL AS THE ALARM, CEASED TO OPERATE APART FROM THE LOCKS. I HAD TO REMOVE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND CARPET TO ACCESS THE CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE AND SUBSEQUENT WIRING, WHILE UNDERNEATH THE CARPET I TRIED TO SUCTION UP AS MUCH MOISTURE AS I COULD OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR AND OUT OF THE PADDING. AS OF KNOW I AM QUOTED TO PURCHASE A NEW CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION. *TR

ABS /BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT ABOUT 112,000 MILES. FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE ABS PUMP SEEMS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT KNOWN AS THE EBCM. I REALIZE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, OTHERWISE VW WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESSURED TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STATE OF NJ WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IN REALITY IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING IN THE PRE-ABS DAYS. SO, THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY $1500-$2000 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. OF COURSE VW AND BOSCH, WHO MADE THE FAULTY COMPONENT, GET OFF THE HOOK AND IN FACT PROFIT THIS EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE. WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? PLEASE HELP! *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T, A BRAKE FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEIR COMPUTER COULDN'T COMMUNICATE WITH THE CONTROL MODULE AND IT WOULD TAKE HOURS TO TROUBLESHOOT THE REASON. THEY SUGGESTED A BRAKE FLUSH AND I AGREED. I ALMOST ENDED UP IN AN ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY AND MY BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FULLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT DIFFICULTIES HAVING THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. TO MY SURPRISE, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. MORE TO MY SURPRISE IS THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL; I AM DISAPPOINTED IN VW AND AGENCIES PROTECTING OUR SAFETY ON THE ROAD. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. BIG LETTERS SAYING TO STOP! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WORD "STOP" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE ABS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,500.

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAULT LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. *TR

2000 VW PASSAT EBTCM (ABS MODULE) FAILURE @ 80K MILES. *TR

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. MESSAGE SECTION DISPLAYS STOP, BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PRICE QUOTED WAS $1,000. APPARENTLY, A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW AND AUDI CARS. VW OWES US A RECALL. *TR

MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHES AND BEEPS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTICS SHOW ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER QUOTES $1400 FOR REPAIR. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT WAGON AWD V6 WHICH HAS A FAULTY ABS MODULE, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON ALONG WITH A BLINKING AND BEEPING BRAKE LIGHT. I GET A STOP! BRAKE FAULT; SERVICE MANUAL MESSAGE WHICH MANY, MANY OTHERS ARE ALSO GETTING. VW SHOULD ABSOLUTELY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS AS MANY VW DEALERS ARE SEEING THIS EXACT ISSUE (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND DIAGNOSE). *JB

BOUGHT A VW PASSAT USED FROM PRIVATE DEALER~I OWNED THE CAR FOR EXACTLY 1 YEAR, TURBO FAILED ~ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE ISSUES FROM PREVIOUS OWNERS. JUST PAID FOR TURBO AND TWO OIL LINES TO BE REPLACED. VW OF AMERICA STATED THEY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ~ NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, I KEEP CALLING ~ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE DAY ONE ~ NO ONE WANTS TO HELP ME ON THIS QUEST TO SEEK ACTION. I OWE 11,000.00 MORE ON THE VEHICLE CAR WAS SMOKING SEVERELY ~THOUGHT IT WAS AN UNDERCARRIAGE~BUT IT IS NEAR THE TURBO LINE SO IT COULD BE MISTAKEN. *TR

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. A WARNING IS DISPAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT THERE IS A BRAKE FAULT AND THE ABS SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT IS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY BUT WITH GREATER FREQUENCY WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEG F. BELOW 60F THE WARNING ONLY APPEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP. ABOVE 75F THE WARNING DISPLAYS AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED FROM COLD. BETWEEN 60F & 75F THE OCCURRENCE IS MORE RANDOM. THE ABS SYSTEM WORKS BEFORE THE WARNING IS DISPLAYED BUT DOES NOT WORK AFTER THE WARNING IS DISPLAYED. ONCE DISPLAYED THE WARNING REMAINS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE JOURNEY AND UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ESTIMATES TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT ARE APPROX $1500 PLUS FITTING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START HIS VEHICLE ON A COLD MORNING, THE DEFROST FEATURE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE HEATER CORE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CORE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,600.

FAX FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH HER VW PASSAT. *KB IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 8-10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

I OWN A 2000 V6 PASSAT WITH 80500 MILES. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER BANKS 1 AND 2 HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED AS NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH NECESSITATING A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. VW USA REFUSED TO OFFER ME ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER, POINTING OUT THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ITEM EXPIRED 500 MILES AGO. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND HOPE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT ALLOW THIS CAR MANUFACTURER TO SHIRK ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ITS CONSUMERS AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

VW PASSAT V6 WAGON 2000 65K MILES ABS BRAKE FAULT WARNING LIGHTS (ABS, BRAKE AND WARNING ILLUMINATED; STOP MESSAGE) APPEARED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY. INTERMITTENT FOR FIST DAY, REMAINED ILLUMINATED DAY 2 -3. DEALER SERVICE INDICATED THE ABS COMMUNICATION MODULE FAILED; WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON ABS WILL NOT ACTIVATE. ABS MODULE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1189. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY 2000 VW PASSAT FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT! I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS SINCE A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, TEST DROVE THE CAR, HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC, AND I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST BEFORE MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL THINKING I MADE A WONDERFUL CHOICE, AND I HAD TO REPLACE A NEW RIGHT SIDE BOOT JUST AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ABS/AIRBAG KEPT COMING ON AND BEEPING AT ME, AND I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW BRAIN TO THE CAR OVER $1500. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT WAY BEFORE THE MILE WARRANTY, OIL LEAKS WHICH RUINED SOME WIRES, NEW SHOCKS/SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOW THE WINDOW WILL GO PART WAY DOWN, BUT WILL NO LONGER GO UP... AND MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED UP WHICH I HAVE NOTICED ON ALL OTHER 2000 PASSATS...! MANY THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I AM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE CAR. I DO NOT RECOMMEND A VW TO ANYONE! I AM GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AND HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY SAVINGS ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK. I THINK AFTER FIXING A PART OF THE CAR THAT IT SHOULD RUN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. SINCE I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS CAR I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET A RELIABLE CAR. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH VW AND THE RECALLS! AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!! *TR

I JUST BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A NEW "USED" VEHICLE. BECAUSE IT IS OVER 5 YEARS OLD, THE VEHICLE IS SOLD "AS IS" - NO WARRANTY. SINCE GETTING THE CAR HOME, IN THE FIRST 120 MILES I DROVE, NOT 1, BUT 2 WINDOW REGULATORS BROKE CREATING A LOAD CRASHING NOISE AND A SAFETY CONCERN. THE NOISE CAUSED ME TO BRAKE SUDDENLY SINCE I DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE NOISE CAME FROM. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLES BEHIND WERE ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CRASHING, BUT IT WAS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. THE CAR IS IN THE REPAIR SHOP RIGHT NOW AND THE ESTIMATED REPAIR IS COST $501.75. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS AND IN MY LIFETIME, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE HAVE 2 WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURES WITHIN A ONE HOUR TIME SPAN, ALSO WITHIN A 20 MILE DRIVING SPAN. IT SEEM TO ME THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGON. ALL THIS AFTER I JUST SPENT $7000.00 FOR THIS VEHICLE. IN DOING RESEARCH, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VOLKSWAGON. *JB

BOUGHT USED 2000 PASSAT. ABS BRAKE FAULT LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAS TRIED REPLACING ABS SENSOR, ABS CONTROL MODULE AND HYDRAULIC BOOSTER, CHANGED WIRE HARNESS, AND INSTALLED INSTRUMENT PANEL TWICE. LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MECHANIC ASSURES ME BRAKES ARE WORKING AND ABS IS WORKING. HOPE I DON'T PROVE HIM WRONG. VERY FRUSTRATED. HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM VW SERVICE. THEY SEEM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO ALSO. RECALL THIS VEHICLE PLEASE!! *JB

2000 VW PASSAT. ABS MODULE WENT OUT CAUSING LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM AND REDUCED SAFETY OF CAR. REPLACEMENT WILL BE $1200-$1500. MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THIS WA SCOMMON TO VOLKSWAGEN CARS BETWEEN 50-100K MILES.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT READ THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT IS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A FUEL SENDER MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFERENCED RECALL # 01V157000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THEY STATED THAT ONCE A RECALL REPAIR IS PERFORMED, THEY DO NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 40,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 01-14-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AGAIN. UPDATED 12/12/07. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (NHTSA ACTION # PE07024). THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

CAR IS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN W PASSAT,V6 ALL WHEEL DRIVE WITH 68000 MILES ON IT. ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILED. REPAIR COST WAS $1000. WEB AND FORUM SEARCHING SHOWED THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI. SEE TP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA? *THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0 FOR NUMERIOUS EXAMPLES. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASING OF CAR ~ ELECTRA AUTO SALES WAS AWARE OF THIS AND NOTED THIS WAS THEIR RECORDS THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY ENGINE SYSTEM. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO ALMOST BEING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING AND ROUGH IDLIING ~ PAUL VARGAS OWNER OF ELECTRA AUTO SALES HAS NOT RETURNED ANY CALLED BACK . AK

TL*CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IT WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON, AND WHEN SHE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE AIR PUMP AND FUSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE RISK INVOLVED SINCE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,971 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75200. *AK

I OWN A 2000 PASSAT V6 GLX WAGON. IT HAS 94,000 MILES. THERE ARE DEFECTS IN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO CERTIFIED IMPORT MECHANICS, WHO STATED THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR BRAKE FUNCTIONS. I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HOW ARE WE AS CONSUMERS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHEN TO TAKE THE WARNING LIGHT SERIOUSLY? IN MY ONLINE INVESTIGATION I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY VOLKSWAGEN. THEY WERE CHARGED THOUSAND OF DOLLARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND VOLKSWAGEN NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL POPPED UP RANDOMLY. CONSUMERS PAY FOR A FEATURE SUCH AS ABS BRAKES FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR OWN SAFETY, BUT THIS VOLKSWAGEN SITUATION WAS DISCONCERTING. *AK

PURCHASED MY 2000 PASSAT IN 2003, HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING ON THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS, O2 SENSORS, TWICE, BELTS, STEREO DIDN'T TURN ON, ALL NEW HOSES RIGHT AWAY, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, AND NOW TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE ABS LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. MY HUSBAND HAS A 2000 AUDI A4, VIRTUALLY THE SAME CAR, AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SAME THINGS. THE ABS SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1800 TO FIX IT. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER, (BOSCH OR VOLKSWAGEN, SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE AUGUST 2006 BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT! I AM COLLEGE STUDENT. HELP!

1) RAIN WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE , 2000 PASSAT, 6CYLINDER, AUTO MATIC TRANSMISSION AND POOLED APPROXIMATELY 2-3 INCHES) IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SOURCE OF LEAK WAS UNKNOWN. ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS WERE CLOSED. *AK 2) THIS LED TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, WHICH IS HOUSED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE, TO BECOME WET AND MALFUNCTION. THE TRANSMISSION THEN BEGAN SHIFTING UP, AND DOWN ERRATICALLY, WHILE DRIVING. 3) THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1351 DOLLARS FOR THE PART AND $250 FOR LABOR. RESEARCH ON THE WEB INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S AND IS LIKELY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WHICH CAUSES WATER TO DRAIN INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN CERTAIN DRAIN HOLES BECOME CLOGGED.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ABS, ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER MODULE STARTED WITH THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ON OR FLASHING FROM TIME TO TIME, THEN, ALL THE TIME, AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, WARNING - STOP SIGN CAME ON, AND THE TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO. NEVER HAPPENED ALL THE TIME, BUT IT DID GET MUCH MORE FREQUENT , PROBABLY ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME THESE THINGS WERE HAPPENING. *AK

MY 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT HAS STARTED REPORTING ERRORS, INCLUDING BRAKE FAULTS, ABS ERRORS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THEY SIMPLY RESET THE CODES AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. A FEW HOURS OF DRIVING AND THE ERRORS COME BACK. ALL THE ERRORS ARE INTERMITENT. IT'S INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND VW ONLY SAYS THAT OUR MODEL YEAR DOES NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO WARRANT A RECALL. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS WITH THESE SYMPTOMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. PLEASE HELP.