2000 Volkswagen Passat complaints

TURBO STARTED SUCKING UP OIL, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS INCIDENT. THE HEATER CORE BROKE ON MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING A FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED A FOG ON THE WINDOWS REDUCING MY VISIBILITY SEVERELY CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PULL OVER QUICKLY. THE SMOKE HAS AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE AND IN FACT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED THE ANTIFREEZE AND IT HAD DROPPED TO HALF OF WHAT IT WAS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AT VOLKSWAGEN WHOSE ONLY RECOURSE IS THAT I SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE WORST PART ABOUT THIS ENTIRE EXPERIENCE IS THAT AFTER NEARLY CRASHING MY CAR I HAVE TO PAY $1200.00 TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT. *NM

ABS MODULE FAILURE: THIS PROBLEM INITIALLY AROUSED IN 2004 WHICH WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE CODE WHICH MADE THE BEEPING STOP AND MADE THE LIGHT DISAPPEAR TEMPORARILY. WHEN IT CAME BACK ON AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER, I CONTACTED THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED ME THAT SINCE "IT'S NOT A SAFETY CONCERN, I DIDN'T NEED TO GET THAT PROBLEM FIXED RIGHT AWAY." IN THE BEGINNING, THE ABS LIGHT WAS TEMPERAMENTAL. IT WOULD COME ON AND OFF BUT IT HAS BEEN ON CONSISTENTLY SINCE APRIL/MAY 2005. I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT FIXED A FEW TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME NEARLY $2000 OUT OF POCKET. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I BECAME AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BUT VW OF NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND CONSUMERS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, WHICH IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, I FILED AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS (BAR) WHO ATTEMPTED TO ADVOCATE ON MY BEHALF BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS WELL. I WAS TOLD BY THE BAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AGAINST THE VW OF NORTH AMERICA YET. VW OF NORTH AMERICA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACT RESPONSIBLY TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE TRAGEDY HITS. IF GOVT ENTITIES SUCH AS NHTSA AND OTHER ORGANIZATION CANNOT FORCE VW TO ACT THEN THE VW OWNERS NEED TO CONSIDER FILING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT, THERE WAS A 1 TO 2 SECOND DELAY IN BRAKING POWER. THE ROADS WERE WET AND THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WET DUE TO LACK OF SHIELDS TO PREVENT WATER FROM MAKING THE BRAKE ROTORS WET. THE 1-2 SECOND DELAY (FROM THE TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKE) CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO NOT STOP IN THE TYPICAL STOPPING DISTANCE AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO IMPACT ANOTHER VEHICLE. VW PASSATS FROM 2003-NEWER SEEM TO ALL HAVE THESE BRAKE ROTOR SHIELDS "SPLASH SHIELDS", BUT NOT THE OLDER 1998-2002 PASSATS. A CALL TO THE VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE HOTLINE (800-822-7661) DID NOT ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT TO MY SATISFACTION. THE AGENT KEPT SAYING "THERE'S NO CURRENT OPEN CAMPAIGN FOR YOUR VEHICLE". I KNOW OF NUMEROUS VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SERIOUS ISSUE. *NM

OWNER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A SMELL, THEN HE SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH VENTS. HE THEN SAW FIRE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOTWELL AREA. THE FIRE WAS FIRST OBSERVED ON THE FLOOR WHERE IT SLOPED UPWARD, WHERE THE PASSENGER WOULD PLACE THEIR FEET. HE PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND THREW SOME SNOW ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE FLOOR AREA. HE OPENED A REAR DOOR AND TOOK SOME PERSONAL BELONGINGS OUT AND THEN OBSERVED THE DASH BREAK OUT INTO FLAMES. *NM

OWNER HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN STOPPED AND WAS SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY USING HER CELL PHONE WHEN SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAW FIRE. EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD OVERHEATED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD AND MATERIALS ON THE FLOOR PAN JUST ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME OUT, AND OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. HEAT SHIELD ABOVE RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MELTED AND SOME WIRING IN THE DASH WAS BURNED.

OWNER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. SHORTLY AFTER HE WENT INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSED SEVERE SCORCHING TO THE FRONT OF THE FLOOR PAN. EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD MELTED. *NM

OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, PARKED IT, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE A RESTAURANT TO PICK UP A PIZZA. WHILE OWNER WAS INSIDE, THE VOLKSWAGEN CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE BURNED CARPET IN FRONT CENTER OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, PLASTICS IN FRONT CENTER OF DASH. ALL DAMAGE ABOVE LOCATION OF EXHAUST AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR.

AM I FILING THIS REPORT IN THE CORRECT PLACE? I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT. THREE OF THE 4 WINDOWS HAVE DROPPED INTO THE DOOR. OPTIONS: COSTS $350 EACH TO FIX OR $60 TO HAVE MECHANIC FREEZE WINDOW IN PLACE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. MANY MAY GO THIS ROUTE AS THEIR ONLY OPTION. CONSIDERING IT MYSELF. THE REGULATOR IS THE SAME ONE USED IN THE VW JETTA AND THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE PASSAT NEED TO BE RECALLED ALSO. CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY TEENAGE DRIVERS WHO MAY NEED TO LOWER THE WINDOW (FRONT PASSENGER) IN TIMES OF POOR VISIBILITY. *JB

2000 VW PASSAT WITH ~72000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED. VW SAYS IT WILL COSTS ~$1400 TO REPAIR. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MANY VW OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. LONG PAST TIME TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER A RECALL IS WARRANTED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ABS MODULE.

I'VE HAD MY 2000 PASSAT NOW FOR 3 YEARS, MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF SEE TO IT THAT OUR CARS HAVE ANNUAL TUNE-UPS AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES. FOR THE PAST MONTH THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING NON-STOP. DURING MY MOST RECENT TUNE UP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC WAS CONVINCED THAT A RECALL HAD TO BE IN PLACE BECAUSE HE WAS SEEING THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. I CALLED THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED THAT $100 WAS NEEDED TO EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. ALL OF THIS HAS ME FURIOUS. A RECALL IS NEEDED--RIGHT A WAY!!!!! *JB

ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT. IT GIVES WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES THAT IT'S NOT WORKING. *JB

2000 PASSAT OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP CAUSED ENGINE TO FAIL. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW, BUT CLOSE TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. THE OIL PUMP, PVC SYSTEM, AND TURBO TUBES WERE REPLACED. LESS THAN THREE MONTHS LATER THE CONSUME STARTED HEARING A RUMBLING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE ID WAS DETERMINED THAT HE NOISE WAS PROBABLY ROD KNOCK AND THE REMEDY WAS TO REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLY FRO REPLACING THE ENGINE BECAUSE THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE OIL FILTER WAS TOO SMALL. *NM

(1) NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES (2) ABS MODULE FAILURE, NO ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY (3) REPLACED ABS MODULE, PROBLEM FIXED. *NM

2000 VW PASSAT STATIONWAGON V6; 82,000 MILES- LAST WEEK, THE ASR, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE MULTI-FUNCTION INDICATOR DISPLAYED THE "STOP", "BRAKE" AND "SERVICE MANUAL" LIGHTS, ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD BEEPS. ALL OF THE WARNINGS ARE INCONSISTENT-AS ANOTHER PERSON SAID, "[THE LIGHTS] WILL COME ON AFTER DRIVING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, OR WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL, OR WILL STAY ON ALL THE TIME" (THE LIGHTS AREN'T NECESSARILY ON AT THE SAME TIME EITHER). I READ THE MANUAL AND PROMPTLY MADE AN APPT. W/DEALERSHIP, COULDN'T KEEP THE DATE AND HAVE SINCE RECEIVED ONLINE NOTIFICATION THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I DO NOT HAVE A GRAND BURNING A HOLE IN MY POCKET SO, DESPITE THE MANUAL'S DIRE WARNINGS, I CANNOT FIX MY CAR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR! UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL VERY SOON, I'LL BE BUYING A NEW CAR THAT I CAN FEEL SAFE ABOUT DRIVING (I HAVE CHILDREN).

I OWN A PASSAT 2000 V6. AT 82,000 MILES MY ABS MODULE HAS FAILED. MY CAR HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE I CAN NOT AFFORD THE RIDICULOUS AMOUNT THAT I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL SHOP. $3,000 TO FIX THIS? I DON'T THINK SO! THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, OF VEHICLES MADE BY VOLKSWAGON BETWEEN 1998-2001 WITH FAILING ABS UNITS. I DEMAND A RECALL! HOW DARE THEY CHARGE US SO MUCH FOR OUR CARS, WHEN THEY CAN NOT GUARENTEE THAT THEY WILL EVEN LAST?! *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A STREET, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

WITHOUT PRIOR ISSUES, THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE TRIP COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STOP", "BRAKE FAILURE" AND "SERVICE MANUAL" LIGHTS, AND THERE WERE A SEQUENCE OF LOUD BEEPS. AFTER TALKING TO THE VW MECHANIC, WHO READ AND LOOKED UP THE DTCS, HE DISCOVERED IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THERE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR JUST THE CONTROL MODULE AND NOT THE ENTIRE ABS UNIT. THE VW DEALER CHARGES $716 FOR REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLATION, AND WILL TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK FOR THE PART TO BE ORDERED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT! IT IS A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *NM

HELLO I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T WITH 36000 MILES. AFTER I DROVE IT HOME, TWO DAYS LATER MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI CARS, BUT MY DEALER WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD HE WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1500 FOR THE PART AND 2.5 HOURS OF LABOR + TX =$2000 OUT OF MY POCKET. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY ISN'T VW DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW AND GOVERNMENT FORM DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? HOW MANY DEATHS OR PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL IT TAKE? PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY INDICATED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVERS MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. *NM

MY VW 2000 V6 PASSAT HAS THE ABS LIGHT ON AND BLINKING BRAKE LIGHT. PER VW DEALER SCAN SERVICE, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED TO FUNCTION. MY CAR IS ONLY 58,000 MILES. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 PASSAT GLS. IT'S ABS LIGHT IS ON NOW WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING AND THE MESSAGE STOP SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE DRIVEWAY WAS NOTICED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL LINES, CLAMPS AND SEAL WERE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM.

A 2000 PASSAT STATION WAGON HAD WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOT WELL TWICE AFTER HEAVY RAINS. ONCE THE LEAK WAS MORE THAN AN INCH. ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SECURELY CLOSED PRIOR TO THE RAINS. A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASHBOARD RESULTED ON THE TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LEADING TO APPROXIMATELY $3,500 IN REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS WERE TO THE ENGINE TIMING SYSTEM AND TO A MOTOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. *JB

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. *JB

DUE TO THE CLOUDINESS OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS I ALMOST RAN OVER TWO JOGGERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AND I HAD JUST REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS, YET, BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT OF MY HEADLIGHTS WHICH I ESTIMATE TO BE AT LEAST A 40% REDUCTION, I SIMPLY COULDN'T SEE THE JOGGERS UNTIL I WAS ALMOST ON TOP OF THEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE/REPAIR NON-CONSUMABLE SAFETY ITEMS SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLIES. *JB

THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HAVING OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. IT CAN BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN LURCHING, WHICH HAS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED, WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (60-70 MPH), AND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES. WHILE STOPPED, IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, AND THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD; EXTRA BRAKE PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED DURING THESE OCCURRENCES, WHICH LAST LESS THAN A SECOND OR TWO, BUT WHICH OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF AS A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOUS DECREASE IN SPEED OF BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN MILES PER HOUR; THIS DECREASE IN SPEED OCCURS IN LESS THAN A SECOND. ONE GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING IS THAT IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS HIT SOMETHING. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION, BECAUSE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHILE ON A CURVE IN THE RAIN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE LOST. I HAVE INFORMED MY LOCAL DEALER OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES (DUE TO ITS INTERMITTENT NATURE), THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. *NM

ABS FAILURE WARNING APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY BOOSTED. ALSO MAY HAVE SPILT W/W FLUID ONTO ABS UNIT WHEN FILLING W/W CONTAINER. DEALER WANTS AT LEAST $700 TO REPLACE CONTROL MODULE. BRAKES ARE OTHERWISE OK. DEALER SAID HE WOULDN'T DRIVE WITHOUT ABS AS WAS TOO DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY 1ST CAR WITH ABS AND I AM NOT CONVINCED IT IS WORTH FIXING AT LEAST AT THAT COST. SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST VW & BOSCH TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE UNITS. A FEW SITES PROMISE TO REBUILD ECM FOR $250. NOT SURE IF THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER SCAM. *JB

THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. I HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED LAST YEAR IN 08/05 WHEN IT INITIALLY OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM WENT OFF. IT CAME BACK ON JUST YESTERDAY 07/11/2006. THE MESSAGE SAYS IT IS EMISSION WORKSHOP. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A VW DEALER, HOWEVER, I SUSPECT IT IS THE SAME CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE HAD IS THE STOP - BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE. THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WHILE THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO CHECK ON THE ISSUES. THEY MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE ALL FINE. AND SO WAS THE FLUID BRAKE RESERVOIR LEVEL. THEY WERE GUESSING IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR ABS SENSOR PROBLEM. *JB

ABS COMPUTER FAILURE. NO EVENTS LEADING TO ITS FAILURE IT JUST SHUT DOWN ONE DAY AND THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. FAILURE = NO ABS, DEALER WANTS OVER $1000 TO REPLACE ENTIRE SETUP HOWEVER THE PUMP IS OK THE COMPUTER IS GONE. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A CHEAPER FIX OR POSSIBLE RECALL. *NM

PREMATURE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE. I HAVE RECEIVED AN AIR BAG FAULT' WARNING CODE. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS HAVE INDICATED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS NECESSARY. THIS ON A 6-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE VEHICLES 3 TIMES AS OLD THAT ARE STILL ON THEIR ORIGINAL AIR BAGS, I WOULD CONSIDER THIS FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE. *NM

STEERING TIE RODS AND FRONT SUSPENSION ARE WORN OUT ON VW PASSAT MAKING STEERING VERY INACCURATE AND IN A STATE OF CONSTANT STEERING INPUT TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT DIRECTION OF VEHICLE. AFRAID THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. CAR HAS ONLY 82,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF SUCH COMPLETE IMPENDING FAILURE OF A FRONT SUSPENSION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS COMMON IN PASSATS. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *JB

2000 PASSAT GLS 4-MOTION V6 HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. AT APPX 65000 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR OVERHEATED WHILE IDLING (IT HAD BEEN IDLING FOR LESS THAN 8 MINUTES, IT WAS ONLY 50 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THE COOLANT HAD BEEN CHECKED A FEW WEEKS PREVIOUS AT THE CAR'S LAST OIL CHANGE). THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE DASH MAXED OUT AND STEAM AND SMOKE STARTED ISSUING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED THE CAR OFF & LET IT COOL FOR APPX 20 MINUTES BEFORE OPENING HOOD. CHECKED COOLANT, IT HAD COMPLETELY BOILED AWAY. REPLACED COOLANT, LET CAR CONTINUE TO COOL FOR APPX ANOTHER 1.5 HRS. STARTED CAR AND DROVE IT (SLOWLY) TO A GARAGE SPECIALIZING IN EUROPEAN CARS. (MY REGULAR MECHANIC.) REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, BOTH OF WHICH HAD STOPPED WORKING. VW RECOMMENDS THAT THE TIMING BELT BE REPLACED AT 80000 MILES. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING BELT LOOKED SIGNIFICANTLY WORN AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW FOR FEAR IT MIGHT BREAK BEFORE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT. REPLACED TIMING BELT. TOTAL COST OF REPLACING WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT: $725. DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE TEMPERATURE FROM THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILURE, PISTONS AND VALVES IN ENGINE NOW KNOCK AND ENGINE IS NOISY, PARTICULARLY WHEN FIRST STARTED. ENGINE NO LONGER SEEMS TO BE AS RESPONSIVE, POWER WISE, AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY. 65000 MILES SEEMS A BIT YOUNG TO BE EXPERIENCING A WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SO QUICKLY AND WITH NO PRIOR INDICATIO

9/2003: HEADLIGHTS AIMED INCORRECTLY; ROAD WASN'T ILLUMINATED. WITHIN 2 WKS, 1 OF THE BULBS BURNED OUT. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE 1ST, THE 2ND BULB BURNED OUT. COST TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS REPOSITIONED & BULBS REPLACED: $267. 9/2003: REAR TAIL LIGHT OUT. COST TO HAVE BULB REPLACED BY MECHANIC: $32.50. 11/2003: BOTH REAR WINDOWS OFF TRACK. COST TO TEAR DOORS APART & FIX: $159.75. 12/2003: ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH FRONT POWER WINDOWS. NEVER KNOW IF WINDOW WILL GO UP OR DOWN. 2004: HAD CAR IN FOR (AT LEAST) 3 DIFFERENT DASHBOARD WARNING CODES. ONE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL, OR THE FUEL TANK OR SOMETHING. AFTER SOME TRIAL AND ERROR ON MY MECHANIC'S PART, DISCOVERED THAT UNSCREWING AND TIGHTLY RESCREWING GAS CAP FIXED THE PROBLEM. COST TO DIAGNOSE AND "FIX": $165. HAD (AT LEAST) TWO OTHER WARNING CODES IN 2004 THAT REQUIRED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN. 6/24/2005: HAD BEEN HEARING CRUNCHING SOUND FROM FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF CAR THAT WAS PARTICULARLY APPARENT WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE, A DIP IN THE ROAD OR ATTEMPTING A TIGHT 360 TURN. MECHANIC (SPECIALIZING IN EUROPEAN CARS) IDENTIFIED A BAD CONTROL ARM. COST OF REPAIR & ALIGNMENT: $713.70. COST OF RENTAL CAR: $100.88. TOTAL: $814.58. NOTE: THE LEFT SIDE HAS BEEN MAKING THE SAME SOUND SINCE 12/2005. HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED IT. 10/24/05: CAR STARTED GOING DEAD INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 60000 MILES ON IT. REPLACED BATTERY FOR $106.50. 1/2006: TEMP GAUGE MAXED OUT, COOLANT BOILED OVER, SMOKE & STEAM ISSUED FROM HOOD IN LESS THAN 8 MINUTES A

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON 2000 VW PASSAT. *JB

WITH 47,000 MILES ON MY VW PASSAT, THE ABS MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING. FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL (WHICH STATE THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT OPERATIONAL ABS) I HAD THE MODULE REPLACED AT AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $750. $500 OF THIS COST WAS THE "NEW AND IMPROVED" MODULE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF PASSAT, AND PASSING THIS COST ONTO THE CONSUMER IS UNACCEPTABLE. I'VE READ MANY POSTS ONLINE FROM OWNERS THAT AREN'T REPAIRING THIS ISSUE DUE TO COST, WHICH AS VW STATES, ISN'T SAFE. VW SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THESE REPAIRS. *JB

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO ECU DEFECT OR FAILURE. *JB

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 VW PASSAT, 4 CYL. ON 3/24/06, THE DEFROST NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE. PINKISH-ORANGE COOLANT STARTED SPRAYING OUT ON MY FEET WHILE DRIVING, WHITE SMOKE CAME SPILLING OUT OF THE VENTS & THE COOLANT SPREAD ITSELF THICK ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD & WINDOWS. THIS LEFT IT CLOUDY & I HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND WIPE THE WINDOWS WITH CLEANER AND PAPER TOWELS. WITH IT BECOMING IMMEDIATELY CLOUDY, I LOST VISIBILITY OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. COOLANT ALSO LEAKED ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD/MAT. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED ONLINE FOR FEEDBACK AND FOUND IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A CRACKED HEATER CORE (WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY). I TOOK IT BY A VW DEALER FOR A DRIVE BY DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS CONFIRMED IT WAS THE HEATER CORE. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA IMMEDIATELY TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THEY COULD ASSIST WITH 50%-100% OF THE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS A REPORTED PROBLEM EVERYWHERE. VW CUSTOMER CARE SAID I NEEDED TO SET UP A DIAGNOSIS APPT WITH THE VW DEALER, WHICH WAS ON 4/24/06. 10 MINUTES AFTER I DROPPED MY CAR OFF, MY SERVICE CONSULTANT RUSSELL DILLEY W/MIRAMAR VW IN SAN DIEGO, CA CALLED MY CELL PHONE AND SAID "YES IT IS THE HEATER CORE". PRIOR TO LEAVING MY CAR WITH HIM, HE BELIEVED IT TO BE A CRACKED HEATER CORE, JUST WITH MY FEW SYMPTOMS EXPLAINED AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE AND HE CONFIRMED VW OF AMERICA HAD COVERED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. I NOTIFIED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOME

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT WAGON. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A RECALL. *JB

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER. *NM

THE 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE OWNER/OPERATOR CANNOT CHANGE THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS. IT MUST BE TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. TO QUOTE FROM THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL: IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE VEHICLE LIGHT BULBS SINCE IN MANY CASES, OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR MUST FIRST BE REMOVED BEFORE YOU ARE ABLE TO GET TO THE BULB......FOR YOUR SAFETY, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE YOUR AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER REPLACE ANY BULBS SINCE YOUR DEALER HAS NECESSARY TOOLS, THE CORRECT BULBS, AND THE EXPERTISE. SUPPOSE I AM ON A LONG DRIVE OVER THE WEEKEND, MILES FROM HOME, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS BURN OUT. I CANNOT REPLACE THEM, EVEN IF I HAVE THE CORRECT BULBS, CONSEQUENTLY I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT TAIL LIGHTS OR BRAKE LIGHTS. THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 PASSAT, THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO NOTIFY ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OIL PRESSURE. THERE WAS NOTHING PRIOR TO THIS WARNING THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NO ODD NOISES IN THE CAR AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS TOTALED AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $7,000. I DID FIND OUT THAT IN AUGUST OF 2004, VW OF AMERICA ISSUES A SERVICE NOTICE TO ALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP, OIL SLUDGE MAY BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. THIS WAS NOT SENT TO ANY OF THE VEHICLE OWNERS. IN THE NOTICE, VWOA SAID THAT THEY WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF THE CAR AND REPLACE THE MOTOR, ONLY IF THERE WAS PROOF THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES. BECAUSE I HAVE GAPS IN MY OIL CHANGES WITH THE DEALER, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE NEW MOTOR. I'VE HAD THE CARE IN A NUMBER OF TIMES BETWEEN AUGUST OF 2004 AND FEBRUARY 19, 2006 WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND HE SAID THAT VWOA ISSUES A NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMOS AND WAS HE TO TELL ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS EVERYTIME ONE WAS ISSUED. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE END RESULT OF THE OIL PUMP NOT BEING REPLACED IN 2004, I WOULDN'T BE IN MY CURRENT SITUATION. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF WEB POSTS

OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE. 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8 TURBO 4 CYLINDER 49000. *JB

THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT ONLY ABOUT 61,000 MILES. I HAVE CHECKED VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT ABS FAILURES ON VOLKSWAGENS FROM THIS ERA ARE EXTREMELY COMMON--SO COMMON IN FACT THAT AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS SPRUNG UP TO REBUILD THE DEFECTIVE BOSCH ABS SYSTEMS IN VW'S AND AUDIS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE I STILL RECEIVED AN ALARMING MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD TO STOP WHILE IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR A FAILURE LIKE THIS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE TO BE SO COMMON. *NM

MY 2000 VW PASSAT WITH 60,000 MILES HAS 2 SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS FIRST ONE WAS WHEN I NOTICED A LOUD POPPING NOISE ON BUMPS AND STEERING WAS VERY UNSTABLE ON BUMPS. TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS AND THAT BOTH WERE DEALER ITEMS. SO UPON GOING TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED $90 DOLLARS BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN LOOK @ IT. SO I SAID NO BUT HOW MUCH ARE THE PARTS AND TURNS OUT THERE MORE THAN $500 DOLLARS. THREE WEEKS LATER MY ABS LIGHT AND ASR LIGHT COMES ON AND IT READS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH TO STOP! BRAKE FAULT SO READING THIS WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR I IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER FIND OUT WHERE THE NEAREST VW DEALER IS AND ASK THEM TO INSPECT THE PROBLEM. WELL THAT WAS EASIER SAID THAN DONE FIRST THEY WANTED THE $90 DOLLARS AGAIN BEFORE THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT AND SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO! NOTHING THEY CAN DO!! THAT'S CRAZY!! AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM ON WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT IT BUT IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THEY SAID THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE PROBLEM ITS OK TO DRIVE BUT IT COULD BE THE ABS MODULE OR THE DASH CLUSTER ITS SELF. SO I ASKED THE PRICE ABS $1200 DOLLARS NEW DASH OVER $700 AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING LABOR.. SO SORRY TO SAY BUT VW LOST A CUSTOMER WITH ME AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE CAR IS JUST TO NEW FOR THIS TYPE OF STUFF TO HAPPEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE I KNOW IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. AND JUST TO ADD, MY OLD CAR WHICH I HAVE TO DRIVE NOW SINCE I DO

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR, WHEN THE HEAT SHIELD ON THE TOP OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BEGAN TO SMOLDER. NO INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND CAME, ALTHOUGH NO FLAMES ERUPTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE WAS THE HEAT SHIELD.

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE FOR 2000 1.8T PASSAT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED.*AK

PURCHASED A USED CAR FROM DAN PERKINS CHEVROLET, IN MILFORD, CT ON MARCH, 18, 2004.I WAS ADVISED BY THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA, THAT THE CAR CAME IN AS A TRADE FROM A GIRL WHO BOUGHT CARS FROM HIM ALL THE TIME AT DAN PERKINS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A COUPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THAT DAN PERKINS PURCHASED IT AT AN AUCTION. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON/THE LIGHTER DID NOT WORK/THE TIRES WERE BALD, AND THE 6 DISC CD CHANGER WAS NOT IN THE CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE SALESPERSON, JOHN ALMEIDA, AND THE USED CAR MANAGER, THEY STATED THEY FIXED EVERYTHING, BUT THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CD CHANGER, I WROTE A LETTER TO DAN PERKINS HIMSELF, AND HE GAVE ME A NEW ONE BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED WITH THE CD CHANGER. WHEN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON I BROUGHT IT TO CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN IN STRATFORD, CT. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A COPY OF MY CONTRACT FROM DAN PERKINS AND ANY OTHER PAPERWORK FROM DAN PERKINS. I CONTACTED THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA AND HIS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING A COPY OF ANYTHING. THEY DO NOT KEEP COPIES OF CONTRACTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. HE ALSO YELLED IN THE BACKGROUND THAT CURRAN VW WAS TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK AND THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK!!!THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO ENGINE!I AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT DOES NOT WORK, ON A CAR THAT I HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS!I CONTACTED CURRAN VW BECAUSE VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE ENGINE TO 8 Y