2000 Volkswagen Passat complaints

2000 VW PASSAT WAGON. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (70 MPH) WHEN HER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT, BUMP OR INCIDENT WHICH SHOULD HAVE CAUSED DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED ABOUT 1 MINUTE LATER WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN MOTION. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION SHOWED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/MELTDOWN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WIRING. FUTHER INVESTIAGTION IMPENDING. THANKFULLY THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT THAT RATE OF SPEED AND A FULL FLEDGED FIRE DID NOT DEVELOP.*AK

I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT GLS SEDAN (AUTOMATIC) 1.8T ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVICE EVERY 5K MILES TO VW AND THEN TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC (HAVE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS). IT IS CURRENTLY AT 82,000 MILES. 2 MONTHS AGO THE CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD. THE OIL CHECK LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR AWHILE. I HAD CALLED VW REGARDING THE SENSOR LIGHT AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS ONLY A SENSOR PROBLEM, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THE CAR IS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. CAM SHAFTS 3 AND 4 WERE DRY AND NOT RECEIVING OIL. I SUBMITTED THE CAR TO VW TO CLAIM UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF INVESTIGATIONS, VW USA HAS DENIED MY CLAIM AND STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO IS VERY REPUTABLE. MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO GO TO THIS SHOP AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. I AM IN THE STAGES OF LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VW USA.*AK

HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS ON MY 2000 PASSAT GLX 4-MOTION WAGON. FIVE OUT OF 8 CONTROL ARMS WERE IN VERY POOR CONDITIONS WITH TORN BOOTS OVER THE BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS IN THE CONTROLL ARMS WERE TORN AND BALL JOINS WERE DRY AND NOISY. THE TIE ROD BALL JOINS WERE WORN OUT AND MAKING NOISES. THE CAR HAS NOT BE WRECKED OR DAMAGED OTHER WISE.*AK

ABS CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED,- SUSPECTED THE PART WAS FAULTY BECAUSE OF MANY OTHER INSTANCES DOCUMENTED W/VARIOUS AGENCIES. AFTER FULLY ENGAGING ABS - TWO DAYS LATER, STOP BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS COMING ON AND DEALER DIAGNOSED AS ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. *AK

ABS MODULE FAILURE ON A 2000 PASSAT WITH 55,230 MILES. *AK

I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT EMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 V6 VW PASSAT SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE MAF/OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW I HAVE AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AGAIN (NOW OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY) THAT TRACES BACK TO SOMETHING IN MY SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM (ERROR CODES 1411, 1423). THESE EMISSION PROBLEMS ARE REGULAR AND PERSISTENT AND VW SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEM WITHOUT ME SPENDING HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN! *NM

I HAVE A VW PASSAT 4-MOTION WAGON TIPTRONIC THAT EXHIBITS THE PROBLEM OF REFUSING THE DOWNSHIFT FROM SECOND INTO FIRST AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED FIRMLY. THEN, THE ENGINE RACES WILDLY FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN "BANGS" INTO GEAR. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM, BUT THUS FAR THERE'S NO FIX FOR IT. ENGINE: 2.8 V6 YEAR: 2000 GEAR: MOVING FROM 2ND INTO 1ST ERRATIC AND SEEMS SOMEWHAT HEAT-RELATED--WORST IN HOT WEATHER FIRST NOTICED: ABOUT 49,000 MILES CAR CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS IF PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE MERGING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY. REFER TO AUDIWORLD WEB PAGE FOR SIMILAR OWNER AUDI QUATTRO PROBLEMS WITH 2.7L V6 AND TIPTRONIC. *AK

I OWN A 2000 VW PASSAT. MY ABS LIGHT AND BREAK LIGHT ARE GOING ON INTERMITTANTLY. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO REPAIR WILL BE APPROX. $1200 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH THE COST BECAUSE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND I HAVE 50K ON THE ODOMETER. I FEEL THAT THE ABS IS A SAFETY FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE AND VW SHOULD BE WILLING TO COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE COST. I HAVE HAD NO SUCH LUCK THUS FAR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM IN VW FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE SAME STORY $1100 - $1500 FOR REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. IT SEEMS A BIT ODD THAT A PART THAT HAS LITTLE USE WOULD GO BAD SO FREQUENTLY ON THIS VEHICLE. GANTED I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FREQUENCY RATE IS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ANOTHER VOICE FILING A COMPLAINT. MY MANUAL STATES THAT I SHOULD AVOID SUDDEN STOPS BACUASE THIS COULD CAUSE MY BACK BREAKS TO LOCK AND CAUSE ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. YET THEIR IS NOTHING THE DEALER COULD DO TO HELP! WELL MAYBE YOU CAN!!

THE CV BOOT COVER HAS FAILED ON BOTH CV JOINTS. THIS ALLOWED GREASE FROM THE CV JOINTS TO SLING ONTO THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO OPERATE WITH MUCH LESS STOPPING POWER. THE CV JOINTS ARE NOW DAMAGED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

MOLDING ON THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE!!! THE DEALER NOR THE WARRANTY WANTS TO HELP ME OUT. I WILL NOT PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE OF THE MOLDING AND I WAS HOPING THAT THERE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME!!!! AM I NOW NOT SUPPOSE TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR TO PREVENT THE MOLDING BEING RIPPED OFF AS THE DOOR OPENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? *AK

BOSCH ABS CONTROL MODULE FAULT CAUSES ABS, BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON DESPITE THERE BEING NO ACTUAL ABS FAULT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED FRONT END WOBBLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE VEHICLES BRAKE LOCKED UP. THE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ON FOUR OCCASIONS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE CHECK OIL PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARED AT 38000 MILES; BROUGHT TO VW DEALER - TOLD THAT THE SENSOR LIGHT WAS STUCK ON CAR IS TAKEN TO VW DEALER AT 40444 FOR 40000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK OIL PRESSURE LIGHT APPEARS AT 44578 MILES; CAR TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND DEALER CLAIMS ENGINE IS TOTAL LOSS.

DEALER INFORMED OF A $2,200 CLUTCH REPAIR AT 32K MILES WHICH SEEMS VERY EARLY. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDES NO ASSISTANCE.

AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. CIRCLE VOLKWAGEN DEALER QUOTED ME $900 TO FIX FOUR SENSORS. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGON U.S. AND THEY SAID VW WOULD PAY ALL COSTS TO FIX THE AIR BAGS SENSORS. *AK

WINDOWS FOGGED UP DUE TO A FAULTY HEATER CORE. THIS WAS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. *AK *SC *JB

WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT STALLED. *AK THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR VALVE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A ROUGH IDLE. THE VALVE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL IDLED ROUGH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT PRIOR TO REPAIR. *SC *JB

I HAVE A '00 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED ADEQUATELY SINCE SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE "NEW" IN JULY/AUGUST '00. DURING THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE TWICE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. IT WAS TEMPORARILY REPLACED AND SOON AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I HAVE NOT HAD A WORKABLE FUEL GAUGE ON THIS VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE VW '00 4 MOTION MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I URGE A RECALL TO BE MADE FOR ALL '00 PASSATS. *AK

WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD A FULL STOP ACTIVATING ABS. TWO DAYS LATER THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING - TOOK TO DEALER WHO INFORMED THAT ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACING FOR $1300.

THE VEHICLE'S ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *MR

4TH WINTER IN A ROW SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IT HAS EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM STARTING. EACH YEAR THE "DIAGNOSIS" HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT...BUT MAINLY A "PROBLEM WITH CARBONIZATION BUILDUP". 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS, RESULTING IN NEW PLUGS, OIL CHANGE, THIS YEAR A NEW BATTERY, "DECARBONIZATION PROCEDURE"....HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. HAVE USED ONLY THE FINEST FUEL (VW CLAIMED THIS WAS THE ROOT PROBLEM, POOR QUALITY FUEL) SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN 2000. PROBLEM PERSISTS.

TIE ROD ENDS FAILED ON 2000 PASSAT EFFECTING THE STEERING CONTROL. PRIOR TO 44000. DEALER STATED THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL FOR PASSAT . TIE ROD ENDS WERE RETURNED TO ME AND THE SEALS WERE NOT PROTECTING THE SWIVEL BEARING. *AK INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS RECALL IN 99 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THIS CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. WE BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN MAY HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE WITH TIE ROD ENDS ON ADDITIONAL AUTOS.*AK

ISSUES MAY ALL BE RELATED, COULD BE VACUUM PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSTANT, OCCURRING EVERY DAY REGARDLESS OF WEATHER. 1. ENGINE REVS IN NEUTRAL, WHILE CREEPING AT LOWEST RPMS AND WHILE STOPPED IN DRIVE. RPMS FLUCTUATE EVERY SPLIT SECOND, 750-900 RPMS. WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE, THE REVVING OFTEN CAUSES COLLISION WITH OBJECTS IN GARAGE. 2. ALSO, ENGINE ALMOST STALLS ON TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START OR HOT RESTART. 3. POWER-ASSIST BRAKES FAIL IN REVERSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START AND BACKING OUT OF PARKING SLOT. DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. DEALER HAS CHECKED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, REPLACED PARTS, MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER REPAIRS, ALL PROBLEMS BEGIN OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK

MALFUNCTION IN ABS MODULE ABS BRAKE LIGHTS ON ALSO TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. *LA

FAULTY ABS SPEED SENSOR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5 TO 10 MPH AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER CV-JOINT BROKE. AS A RESULT THE FRONT SUSPENSION FELL OFF. MANUFACTURER STATED SO WHAT THERE IS NO BIG DEAL. DEALER REPLACED BOTH CV-JOINT. *NLM *MR

HEATER CORE DEFECT - THIS CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES AND NOW NEEDS A NEW HEATER CORE - A $1500 REPAIR! WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON, AN ANTI-FREEZE MIST (NOT TOO HEALTHY FOR THE DRIVER!) COMES OUT OF THE VENTS AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS FOG UP. THE ONLY WAY TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS IS TO TURN THE HEAT OFF AND SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T EVEN WORK AND WE HAVE TO TURN THE A/C ON TO GET THE WINDOWS DE-FOGGED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT VOLKSWAGENS (VW) HAVE HAD HEATER CORE PROBLEMS FOR 10+ YEARS, AND SOME OF THE OLDER VW'S WERE IN FACT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. VW HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE HEATER CORES BEING PUT INTO NEWER CARS. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THE SPRING AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE UNTIL IT STARTED TO GET COLD OUTSIDE. NOW I'M STUCK TRYING TO GET VW TO OFFSET THE COST. *LA

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2000 PASSAT WITH 927 MILES ON THE ODOMETER ON JULY 21, 2000 (ANCIRA, SAN ANTONIO, TX). THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER THREE FOR A FLUID LEAK (3/29/01, 2/13/02, 1/17/03). EACH TIME, WE WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. FOUR MONTHS AGO- "EMISSION CONTROL," "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO THE FOLLOWING QUIT WORKING: POWER MIRRORS, THE TRAVEL COMPUTER, TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS ERRATIC, FUEL DOOR QUIT AND THE FUEL MILEAGE GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED. MOST RECENTLY, THE CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND A CLEAR, VISCOUS FLUID APPEARED ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAR HAS 25,000 MILES. WE CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY. IT HAD A 15,000-MILE CHECK-UP. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC (MANDER AUTOMOTIVE IN HELOTES, TEXAS). THE OWNER OF MANDER (BOB MANDER) WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR HAD SO MANY ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER PROBLEMS. ANCIRA INFORMED (MANDER) THAT THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY 900 MILES (24,990) THAT VISIT (11/6/03). COMPUTER SCAN AND ANALYSIS SHOWED SEVERAL CODES RELATED TO MISFIRES AND RUNNING LEAN. ALSO: TRANSAXLE SEAL LEAK AND BATTERY FAILED THE LOAD TEST-WOULD NOT HOLD ACHARGE. MANDER FIXED: SEAL LEAK, REPLACED THE BATTERY, CHANGED THE OIL, REPLACED THE ACTUATOR (FUEL DOOR), REPAIRED VACUUM LEAKS, RESET THE T.E.H. COMPUTER AND CORRECTED THE FAULTY WIRING TO THE MIRRORS. WE SPENT $649. 24 HOURS LATER-"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT RE-APPEARED. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE HARD. WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MR. MANDER (11/14/03). HE FOUND A DEFECTIVE OXYGEN SENSOR AND PRO

MY CLUTCH FAILED AT ONLY 21,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CLUTCH FAILING IN A VW THAT EARLY. VW DID COVER PARTS, BUT I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY $600.00 IN LABOR. *LA

THE FLOOR WELL OF MY VW PASSAT BECOMES WET EVERY TIME IT RAINS. ACCORDINGLY TO THE VW DEALER THERE IS A CRACK IN THE POLLEN FILTER HOUSING WHICH RESULTS IN THE LEAK. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURING IN OTHER PASSATS, ALONG WITH ELECTRICAL FAILURES. BESIDES BEING INCONVENIENCED, MY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND/OR OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES WHICH COULD RESULT IN HARM TO DRIVER, PASSANGER(S) OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS. I WOULD LIKE VOLKSWAGEN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DESIGN FAULT AND RESPOND ACCORDINGLY BY RECTIFYING THE ISSUE.*AK

2000 VW PASSAT WAGON- LESS THAN 50 THOUSAND MILES- MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE SHOT. CONTACTED VW WITH A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE RATE OF FAILURES OF MANY PARTS OF THIS CAR. THESE FAILURES ARE WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED PREMATURE. VW ASKED ME TO BRING IN VEHICLE FOR A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND CONFIRMED TIE ROD FAILURE- REPLACEMENT TO BE AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

IT WAS DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER LINKS ON MY 2000 PASSAT HAD FAILED WITH 48,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *LA

3 EMISSIONS SYSTEM FAILURES IN ONE YEAR. SECONDARY AIR PUMP REPLACED TWICE AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED ONCE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 24000 MILES. *LA

AT 62K MILES 3 CONTROL ARMS/BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD END HAVE FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AUTHORIZED DEALER'S MECHANIC SEEMED SURPRISED THAT THIS PART FAILED SO EARLY. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2000 PASSATS (AND AUDIS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO USE SAME PARTS), AND THE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN SUPPOSEDLY ISSUED FOR IN GERMANY. WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN ADDRESSED HERE IN THE U.S. IF IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM AND SAFETY RISK? *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS OF ABOUT 35 TO 45 MPH, CAR ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND ALL ACCESSORIES (LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC.) WERE ON, BUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL LEAD TO NO MOVEMENT BY THE CAR. EPC WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AT THE TIME OF POWER LOSS AS DID THE ASR WARNING LIGHT. STOPPING THE CAR AND TURNING IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON REMEDIED SITUATION, BUT IT RECURRED ON 9/2/2003 UNDER SAME CONDITIONS. DEALER ANALYSIS SHOWED A STICKING TURBO BOOSTER VALVE AND A BAD OXYGEN SENSOR (THIS IS THE 2ND O2 SENSOR TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR). DEALER HAD TO ORDER PARTS AND THEY WILL NOT BE IN UNTIL AT LEAST 9/9/2003. MEANWHILE, I HAVE TO DRIVE A 79 MILE ROUND TRIP COMMUTE DAILY IN TRAFFIC, AND FEAR THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN I AM AT 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITH POSSIBLE FATALITIES IF IT OCCURRED.*AK

THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 5/24/2003, AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. SIX DAYS LATER LIGHT THE ILLUMINATED AGAIN.*AK THE VOLKSWAGEN HEADQUARTERS DID PAY FOR THE HOSE WHEN THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROX. 24,000 MILES. *PH *JB

MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 MONTHS AFTER HAVING THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND ACTUATOR VALVE ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD REPLACED.*AK

MALFUNCTION OF ROBERT BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE. *AK

I WAS DIRIVNG THE CAR WHEN SMOKE STARTED ENTERING THE CABIN AREA. PULLED OVER, AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGLUFED IN SMOKE. HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO FLAMES, BUT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO USE A HOSE TO KILL THE SMOKE. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN TALLAHASSEE INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR "MALFUNCTIONED". I'D LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW A MALFUCNTION INT HE ALTERNATOR COULD CAUSE A NEAR FIRE HAZARD, AND IF IT WAS A MALFUCNTION -- WHAT CAUSED IT, AND A BULLETIN POSTED AS TO HOW TO AVOID IT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AS THE CAR WAS PARACTICALLY IN FLAMES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING WARNING BELL TO SOUND, WHICH INDICATED FOR THE DRIVER TO STOP. DEALER STATESD PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

SUNROOF MAKING LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN IN OPERATION SINCE PURCHASE BACK FOR REPAIR ONE MONTH LATER NOW INFOMED BY DEALER NEEDS NEW SUNROOF FRAME AT A COST OF $850 TO ME. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING FUEL TANK BURST. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

OWNER OF A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND PARKING CAR, IT WILLNOT RESTART. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 OR 4 TIMESAND HE REPLACED MOBILIZER CONTACT RELAY AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON MONDAY 8/4 AND THE DEALER HAS HAD THE CAR SINCE

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN BUT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 60000 MILES ON IT. THE CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL (99V24800) ON THE INTERNET WHICH DESCRIBED THE SYMPTOMS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED WITH THE TIE RODS. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *PH *NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS TIE RODS AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 414 000. BUT, IT'S MODEL/ YEAR, AND VIN NUMBER NOT INCLUDED.*AK

FIRE: 2000 VW PASSAT GL - SEDAN/V6. SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 HOURS. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON RIGHT SIDE AND DESTROYED MAJOR COMPONENTS. FIRE WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL FUEL LINE BREACHED AT WHICH TIME FIRE CONSUMED VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY INSURANCE COMPANY INDICATED FAILURE OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, HOWEVER EXACT CAUSE REMAINS UNDETERMINED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCED A SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE LATERAL AIR BAG IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT. WITH DEPLOYMENT, ALL ELECTICAL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE, LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OF THE AUTO. THERE HAD BEEN NO COLLISION OR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG JUST WENT OFF BY ITSELF. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO PASSENGERS FROM THE AIRBAG, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED DURING THE ENTIRE TIME THE ENGINE WAS ON. IT SEEMED TO START AT EVERY IGNITION ACTIVATION, THE PROBLEMS DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR IDLE. IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME I AM READY TO GO TO WORK!! I TOOK THE CAR THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD - THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN ALL THREE TIMES. THE MAIN INDICATOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "ENGINE SYMBOL W/THE VOLT" SYMBOL THAT GOES ON IN THE DASHBOARD. THE FOURTH TIME IT HAPPENED (PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD, NOW), IT WENT AWAY WHILE THE DEALER WAS CHECKING IT OUT. AGAIN THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DETECT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ON JULY 11, AS I WAS COMING HOME THE PROBLEM AGAIN SHOWED UP. THIS TIME THE DEALER CHANGED AN ENGINE PART "COIL" AND SAID THAT THE COIL WAS THE PROBLEM AND THESE PASSAT CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. I AM REALLY MAD BECAUSE I DID NOT EXPECT THE ADDED EXPENSE $620 TOTAL, THE TIME LOST, THE INCONVENIENCE, AND THE LACK OF RESPECT BY THE DEALERS (THESE GUYS BEHAVE AS IF THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR, I AM PAYING DEARLY BY CHOOSING WV BRAND). *JB