2001 Volkswagen Passat complaints

THE FUEL SENSOR FAILS AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR OF USE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILURE MODE IS THAT IT ALWAYS REPORTS TWICE THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE. *TR

ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, RESULTING IN WARNING BEEPS AND FLASHING LIGHTS. BRAKES WILL OPERATE (?) HOWEVER ABS IS NOW DISABLED RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM IS ABSOLUTELY VERY COMMON ACROSS ALL YEARS PASSATS AND IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. VW DOES NOTHING AND MAKES MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR

MY 2001.5 PASSAT HAS FLOODED THREE TIMES, TWICE THROUGH THE POLLEN FILTER AND ONCE THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID $6000 FOR THE LAST REPAIR. THE ELECTRICAL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS DESTROYED TWICE. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THE SUN ROOF OPENS ON ITS OWN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, ENGINE OFF. RAIN WOULD AGAIN DESTROY THE ELECTRICAL WERE THIS TO HAPPEN DURING A STORM. I CHECK ON THE CAR EVERY NIGHT TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE ROOF IS CLOSED. VW WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THE VERY WORST HAPPENING WAS WHEN I HAD HAD THE CAR FOR ONE WEEK AND ATTENDED A VERY TRAGIC FUNERAL. THE HORN STARTED BEEPING AS IF AT A WEDDING. I DROVE OUT OF THE PROCESSION AND TO A SAFE PLACE WHERE I CALLED FOR TOWING. THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND I WANT VW TO HONOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THEIR CONSUMERS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH COULD COST $1000, AND THEY WOULD THEN DECIDE WHAT TO DO. I HAD VW PICK UP THE CAR AND FIX THE SIDE AIR BAG STRIP THAT HAD FALLEN AND HUNG OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE'S WINDOW. THEY CLAIM THEY NEVER SERVICED THIS. THEY ARE NOT TRUTHFUL IN THEIR SERVICE TO ME. HOW FOOLISH IT WOULD BE TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO FIX ...LIKE GIVING A THIEF KEYS TO THE HOUSE. *TR

THE HARD LINE MOUNTED ON THE FIRE WALL THAT GUIDES THE THREE FUEL LINES BROKE OR FAILED. PLASTIC FUEL LINE WHICH CRACKS OR IS DEFECTIVE LOCATED AT THE SITE WHERE THE LINES ARE CLAMPED BY A PLASTIC HOUSING. GASOLINE SPRAYS ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK.

OWNER DRIVING THE CAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN APPEARING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DENSITY INCREASED RAPIDLY AND OWNER DROVE INTO A SAFEWAY PARKING LOT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IMMEDIATELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED AND BROKE ALL WINDOWS CAUSING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO BE RELEASED. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE AND BLACK. *TR

1. FRONT AND REAR BRAKES INADEQUATE FOR VEHICLE--HAD TO HAVE BRAKE WORK AT ~20,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT JUST UNDER 42,000 MILES (THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR). BRAKES REPAIRED/PARTS REPLACED TWICE. CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED BY MANUFACTURER FOR BRAKES 2. SUNROOF +/- WINDSHIELD DRAIN(S) BECAME BLOCKED AND LEAKED AND FLOODED PASSENGER FOOTWELLS, WITH RISK OF DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON THE WEB. VW NEEDS TO RECALL CARS FOR THE PROBLEM WITH BLOCKED DRAINS/LEAKAGE AND DAMAGE TO VEHICLES. COST TO VACUUM WATER OUT OF FOOTWELLS BELOW THE CARPET > $600 WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT PROBLEM WILL NOT RECUR 3. VW PASSAT HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE AND CONSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE--I HAVE NOT (?YET) HAD THE PROBLEM BUT FEEL THAT VW GUARANTEE TO REPAIR PROBLEM ONLY IF OWNER CAN PROVE OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES IN AN UNREASONABLE ABNEGATION OF DUTY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL ALL CARS WITH THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR AT NO CHARGE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT BLAME TO CONSUMER. NOW HAVING TO USE EXPENSIVE SYNTHETIC OIL FOR OIL CHANGES ON A VERY FREQUENT BASIS. *TR

I OWN A 2001 VW PASSAT AND I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN TEMPERATURES OF 17 DEGREES. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE ALEXANDRIA VW DEALERSHIP (ALEXANDRIA, VA) TWICE AND THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT FOUND NOTHING. AFTER READING THROUGH THE OTHER REPORTS ONLINE, I FEEL THAT VW CORPORATION OF AMERICA SHOULD REPLACE ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS AND AVOID POTENTIAL VEHICLE EXPLOSIONS AND LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2001 VW PASSAT FOR 7 YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE ISSUES INCLUDING WARPED ROTORS (FRONT AND BACK), CRACKED CHASSE, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS. BEFORE HAVING THIS CAR, I HAD A TOYOTA FOR 8 YEARS AND IN THE 8 YEARS I HAD THE TOYOTA, I ONLY HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS CAR IS DISAPPOINTING AND EVERYONE I TALK TO WHO HAS A SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR SAYS THE SAME THING. I THINK THE 2001 VW PASSAT IS A LEMON. *TR

I HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHERS CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHTS FOR MY 2001.5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS. I HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT ON 3 OCCASIONS. I HAVE REPLACED IT MYSELF ON ALL OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE BULB IS REPLACED, IT USUALLY LASTS A WEEK BEFORE GOING OUT AGAIN. MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT LAST NIGHT. WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE THE BULB, I AGAIN FOUND A MELTED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS ONE IS NOT AS SEVERE AS THE DRIVER SIDE BUT ALSO POSES A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS WILL RESULT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $1,000 IN REPAIRS. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

FAILURE OF MULTIPLE FRONT CONTROL ARMS IN 2001 VW PASSAT. WAS GIVEN QUOTE OF NEARLY $2100 TO REPAIR CONTROL ARMS. WAS TOLD THIS IS A "WIDE SPREAD" PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN RECALLED AS OF YET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD LIABILITY COVERAGE; THEREFORE, THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WILL GIVE THE MANUFACTURER A REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 87,000.

MY CAR JUST STOPPED. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT HAD I NOT GOTTEN OFF THE ROAD IN TIME. I WAS ON ROUTE 68, A 4 LINE HIGHWAY. COME TO FIND OUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TIMING TENSIONER BROKE, WHICH THE MANUFACTURE KNEW WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE ALL THE REPAIR BOOKS SAY TO HAVE IT CHANGED AT ABOUT 65,000 TO 75,000 MILES. NOBODY TOLD ME THAT. IF MY CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AT THE TIME NEEDLESS TO SAY IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING INSTEAD OF ME WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT IS COSTING ME OVER $2,300.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. NEEDLESS TO SAY HAD I BEEN WARNED I WOULD HAVE HAD IT REPLACED. *TR

TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS WORKED PERIODICALLY. NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. WENT TO VW BUT WAS TOLD THAT NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 DOESN'T COVER MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME FOR SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH OUT MY PAYING THE 150.00 DIAGNOSIS FEE FIRST, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 100.00 AN HOUR FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR

ABS MODULE ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT FAILED. THIS WAS A $1000 REPAIR. I T FAILED AT ABOUT 81,000 MILES. *TR

ABS MODULE ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT FAILED. THIS WAS A $1000 REPAIR AND AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF THREADS ABOUT OTHER PASSAT ABS MODULES FAILING, SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND VW SHOULD RECALL THIS PART AND GIVE PEOPLE THEIR MONEY BACK WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE REPAIR! *TR

MY CAR IS A 2001 V6, WE HAD HEAVY RAIN DURING THE PAST WEEK AND ONE MORNING MY CAR HAD A PUDDLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FAILED TO START OR EVEN PUT IN GEAR THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS FLOODED AND IT TOOK 4 DAYS FOR THEM TO TAKE ALL WATER OUT OF THE CAR AND TEST ALL SENSORS . *TR

I HAVE A 2001 VW PASSAT, IN THE PAST MONTH, MY ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND E-BRAKE LIGHT, HAVE BEEN COMING ON RANDOMLY. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES AND BEEPS/RINGS FOR A FEW SECONDS. HALF OF THE TIME THE LIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A FEW SECONDS, SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY THEY GO OUT IS TO STOP, TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THIS DOESN'T WORK EITHER. THERE HAVE BEEN SUGGESTIONS BY VW DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS APPROX, $1350-1400. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT THOUSANDS OF VW OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THE REPLACEMENT OF CONTROL MODULE HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM, NEITHER HAS REPLACING IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

I OWN A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH A 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE AND 85,000 MILES. MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER RIGHT AWAY. THE DEALER CLAIMS MY MOTOR IS "SLUDGED". EVEN THOUGH VW HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 8 YEARS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM IT WILL NOT COVER MY VEHICLE REPAIRS OF OVER $2,000 AND GROWING. I HAVE KEPT EXCELLENT TRACK OF OIL CHANGES IN MY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE BOOK AND EVEN CHANGED EVERY 3,000 WHEN THE SERVICE CALLS FOR ONLY 5,000. I HAVE USE A GOOD QUALITY SAE VALVOLINE 5W-30 MOTOR OIL WHICH MY OWNERS MANUAL SAYS IS FINE. VW WILL NOT COVER MY REPAIRS SIMPLY BECAUSE I DID NOT KEEP EVERY SINGLE PURCHASE RECEIPT FOR MY OIL CHANGES. THEY CLAIM, WITHOUT RECEIPTS THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT I PUT IN APPROPRIATE OIL. MY RESPONSE IS, YOU SPEND $30,000 FOR A VEHICLE, I HAVE PROVEN I CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I PUT IN AN OIL THAT DID NOT CONFORM TO MY OWNERS MANUAL. THIS IS THE LAST VW MY FAMILY WILL PURCHASE. *TR

HEATER CORE FAILED. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED REGULAR ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECS. THE COST IS $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. IT FAILED ON A VERY COLD NIGHT TRAVELING THROUGH A WINTER STORM. TRY DRIVING A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. WRECKED DUE TO THE INABILITY TO SEE. *TR

FLASHER SWITCH IS FAILING. TURN SIGNALS BLINK ONCE OR TWICE AND THEN STOP. SAME WITH HAZARD LIGHTS. *TR

ALL 4 UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT 62,500 MILES. OEM CONTROL ARMS ARE UNFIT FOR PURPOSE AS DESIGNED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY VWOA. *TR

I AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS WISH FOR VW OF NORTH AMERICA TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE TIE RODS, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, ETC. (THE WHOLE FRONT SUSPENSION OF PASSATS) DUE TO THE OBVIOUS FAILURE OF THESE SYSTEMS. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF A MECHANIC IN STOUGHTON, WI WHO HAS REPLACED THIS SYSTEM ON 3 PASSATS THIS MONTH ALONE AND MY CAR IS NEXT. WE'RE TALKING TO THE TUNE OF $1800.00-$2000.00 FOR PARTS ALONE. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND ONE IS COMPLETELY HANDCUFFED BECAUSE ONE'S CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IF THIS ISSUE IS NEGLECTED. FURTHER, WHEN ONE CONTACTS A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (ZIMBRICK VW OF MADISON, WI) AND INQUIRES ABOUT THIS KIT TO REBUILD THE FRONT END, THE PARTS MANAGER ADMITS THAT THEY KEEP MANY OF THESE KITS IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. SO, WHY IS VW OF NORTH AMERICAN IGNORING THE OBVIOUS? COULD IT BE THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT A HANDSOME AMOUNT OF MONEY? BETTER TO LET THE CONSUMER TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS ISSUE AND HOPE IT EVENTUALLY GOES AWAY? PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

2001 PASSAT 1.8L TURBO. CAR'S ENGINE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DWIGHT HARRISON VOLKSWAGEN. THEY CHECKED THE OIL PRESSURE AND SAID IT WAS FINE. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND SAID THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY NOT USING A VW OIL FILTER. NOT ONE MENTION OF THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PREVALENT WITH THIS ENGINE. DROVE THE CAR FOR AROUND 5000 MILES WITHOUT ANY MORE PROBLEMS. THEN THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. I TOWED THE CAR INTO HERITAGE VW WHO SAID IT COULD BE AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM BUT THAT I'LL HAVE TO AUTHORIZE 5 HOURS OF LABOR TO TELL FOR SURE (ABOUT $500). I CANNOT FIND ALL OF MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND VW WON'T ADVISE IF THEY WILL COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR UNTIL I SPEND THE $500. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO AFTER THEY'VE TAKEN MY CAR APART AND I'LL ALREADY SPENT $500 GETTING A DIAGNOSIS? I NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER VW SAID THEY SENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2004. I'VE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT VW DEALERSHIPS AFTER THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM IN 2004 YET THE DEALERSHIP NEVER ONCE ASKED IF I'D LIKE TO PUT IN SYNTHETIC OIL. DON'T THEY HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE TURBO ENGINE? DON'T THE DEALERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEM WHEN YOU ARE GETTING THE OIL CHANGED? THIS IS TYPICAL OF VW DEALERSHIPS - THEY WANT YOU TO SPEND MONEY WHILE THEY HAVE A GUESSING GAME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY DID THIS WITH A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I HAD, THE COOLING SYSTEM AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT CHECK ENGINE AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE MADE A WHINING NOISE. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRASTICALLY DECELERATE AND THEN COASTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRESENT. TEN SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

DASHBOARD LIGHTS - FLICKER - TURN OFF AND TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 2 MPH, SCALDING HOT RADIATOR FLUID SUDDENLY SPEWED FROM THE VENTS AND ONTO THE CONTACT'S FEET. SHE IS PREGNANT AND STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN TO A DOCTOR TO CHECK IF THE RADIATOR FUMES HARMED THE UNBORN CHILD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPLETELY FAILED AS WELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VIN AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

2001 VW PASSAT WITH MANY PROBLEMS**CC THE CONSUMER STATE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING HER VEHICLE SHE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER SHOULD SUPPLY RENTAL CARS WHILE REPAIRS ARE BEING DONE. *TR

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ON AUGUST 4, 2007, AT VW DEALERSHIP FAIRFAX IMPORTS, IN FAIRFAX, VA. AT THIS TIME I INFORMED MR. DAVID DELOATCHE, SERVICE ADVISOR, THAT MY COOLANT LIGHT (STOP RED LIGHT FLASHING) HAD COME ON AND THERE SEEMED TO BE A LEAK AS THE FLUID WAS NOT SUSTAINING AND RATHER SPILLING OUT. ON AUGUST 4, 2007, I WAS CHARGED $776.99 FOR MANIFOLD OF SERVICES INCLUDING AN INJECTOR FLUSH, POWER STEERING FLUSH, BRAKE FLUID FLUSH, AND COOLANT FLUSH. THE COOLANT BOTTLE WAS REPLACED AND I WAS ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NO ENGINE FLUSH NEEDED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME TO FIX THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND THE CAR WAS SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE. AS I LEFT THE PARKING LOT ON AUGUST 4, 2007, AFTER MY SERVICE AT FAIRFAX IMPORTS, THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR ROSE TO 260 DEGREES. I CALLED DAVID DELOATCHE IMMEDIATELY TO INQUIRE ON THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. I WAS ASSURED ONCE AGAIN TO IGNORE THE COOLANT LIGHT AND THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND THAT IT IS SAFE FOR ME TO TURN ON AND USE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THAT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE. MY EMPLOYER, IBM SENT ME FOR TRAINING TO PALISADES, NY FROM AUGUST 5 TO 12, 2007. ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2007, I WAS ENROUTE TO IBM OFFICE IN BETHESDA, MD FROM FAIRFAX, VA. MY ENGINE BLEW OUT ON HIGHWAY 270 AND I WAS PLACED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY SAFETY WAS DISREGARDED AS MY VEHICLE WASN'T PROPERLY FIXED, AND I WAS ABANDONED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE UNIT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND DEALER INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 148,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SHE STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. HE STATED THAT THE MAIN FUEL LINE RUPTURED, WHICH CAUSED GAS TO COVER THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE RUPTURED AND THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I OWN A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGEN AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE SLUDGE AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE I WAS MISSING ONE OIL CHANGE RECEIPT THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON IN THE CAR TELLING ME I HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS ONCE AGAIN, AND I BRING IT IN FOR REGULAR REPAIRS AND CHECK UPS. CURRENTLY THE SUSPENSION PART OF THE CAR HAS GONE AND THAT WILL COST ANOTHER $2000 ON TOP OF THE $7000 I ALREADY PUT INTO IT. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE NEW TIRES AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS IDIOT CAR. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT STAND BY ITS CUSTOMERS AT ALL AND I WILL NEVER EVER BUY FROM THEM AGAIN AND WILL TELL PEOPLE I KNOW THE CAR IS A PIECE OF CRAP. THE PLACE I BRING IN MY CAR TO FOR REPAIR ALREADY KNOWS THAT. DO NOT BRING IT INTO A VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR PLACE TO HAVE IT FIXED> THEY ARE THE BIGGEST RIPP OFFS AND SO TOTALLY DISHONEST!!!! I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM JACK DANIELS IN FAIRLAWN, NJ AND HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED AT TREND MOTORS, IN DENVILLE, NJ *JB

THE SQUEAKING AND CREAKING OF THE FRONT END OF MY VW PASSAT 2001 IS HORRENDOUS. MY LOCAL VW AND THE VW OF A HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND, REGARDLESS OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INCREASING PROBLEMS IN CONTROLLING THE CAR, ARE ASKING FOR APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. *TR

HEATER CORE FAILED, CAUSING SUDDEN AND SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF VISIBILITY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. INTERIORS OF ALL WINDOWS WERE SEVERELY FOGGED WITH COOLANT MIST. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AWARE THAT VW HAS FREQUENTLY REPLACED THIS KNOWN DEFICIENT COMPONENT OUT OF WARRANTY, I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA THREE TIMES. I WAS CONSISTENTLY TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE NO HELP. COST OF HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT AT DEALERSHIP WAS $1600. *TR

FUEL LINE ON FIREWALL CRACKED AND SPRAYING FUEL OVER ENGINE

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CONNECTOR AND WIRING HARNESS PROVIDING POWER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS MELTED AND THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. IF I DID NOT TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION THE ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THESE CONNECTORS MAY HAVE TRIGGERED A FIRE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SOCKET/WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SOCKET/WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2007. WHILE AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED I OBSERVED ANOTHER PASSAT OWNER COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THE INTERNET RESULTED IN FINDING MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS WELL. *AK

TIRES EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL SEPARATION AFTER LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD THIS SEPARATION. *AK

AIR CONDITIONING ISSUE: IN THE SUMMER OF 2006 MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS GOING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FAN AND IT APPEARED TO ALL WORK. THE SUMMER OF 2007, (NOW) MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN WITH AC PROBLEMS THAT CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND AN ERROR CODE. WHEN THE AIR WENT OUT, THE LCD READINGS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM LOOKED LIKE SCRAMBLED DIGITS. DOESN'T WORK, AND THE SHOP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

1) WYNCOTE, PA, APRIL 16, 2007, HEAVY RAIN 2) WATER ENTERS THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR FLOOR BOARD. ELECTRONIC MODULES LOCATED ON THE FLOOR AND WIRING HARNESS DAMAGED. VW DEALER CLAIMS TO NOT KNOW HOW WATER ENTERED MY VECHICLE. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PROBLEM. VW CORPORATE SUGGESTS THAT IF I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR OIL CHANGES THE DEALER WOULD HAVE CLEARED DEBRIS FROM DRAIN HOLES AS PART OF REGULAR SERVICE. WITHOUT REVEALING MY CONVERSATION WITH CORPORATE I ASK THE DEALER IF THEY DO ANY CLEANING OF DEBRIS AT ANY POINT ON THE CAR DURING AN OIL CHANGE SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T. RESEARCH ONLINE REVEALS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TELLING MY STORY. I HAVE ALSO FOUND INFO ON A CLASS ACTION SUIT BEING FORMED FOR THOSE WHO AGAIN TELL MY EXACT STORY. 3) VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANY PART OF MY DAMAGES. I HAVE RECIEVED NO REASON FROM THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND ASSUME THAT I AM IN FOR THE SAME DURING THE NEXT HEAVY RAIN. *JB

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, MY INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTING FLASHING THE "ABS" LIGHT AND BEEPING LOUDLY, THE INFORMATION PANEL DISPLAYED "BRAKE FAULT", THEN "STOP" IN LARGE LETTERS. I CHECKED MY BRAKES AND THEY STILL WORKED. THEN THE BEEPING AND DISPLAY MESSAGES STOPPED, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT IN 98-01 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES STILL WORK, BUT THE ABS MAY FAIL TO ACTIVATE IN A PANIC STOP. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONICS IS $876, AND THE NEW UNIT IS NOT AS PRONE TO FAILURE AS THE ORIGINAL. *TR

MY 2001 PASSAT IS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINK AND THERE ARE 3 BEEPS. THE SCREEN ON THE DASH SAYS BRAKE FAILURE AND SERVICE MANUAL. NOW RIGHT NOW IF SOMETHING WHERE TO HAPPEN TO MY ACTUAL BRAKES I WOULD NOT KNOW AND I BELIEVE THAT COULD BE SERIOUS. I HAVE READ MANY SITES AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ABS MODULE. VW HAS SAID THAT IT WILL COST AROUND $1500. I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE $1500 TO JUST GO OUT AND SPEND NOR DO I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DUE TO THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON THIS PROBLEM. HERE IS A FORUM WEBSITE THAT I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF MY INFORMATION FROM HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=127734. ALSO, YOU CAN CHECK AROUND THAT WEBSITE AND FIND MORE. *JB

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR, THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS BLINK. THERE IS ABOUT 3 BEEPS AND THE SCREEN ON DASH SAYS BRAKE FAILURE SEE SERVICE MANUAL. HAVE TAKEN IT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE OR PUMP IS BAD. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE INTERNET FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A NATION WIDE PROBLEM AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. VW DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT IT WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM 1500 TO 200 DOLLARS. NOW MY CAR IS HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALL OUT OF WACK. I HAVE CONNECTED IT TO THE INFAMOUS VAG-COM AND THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT COMES UP IS THE ABS NOT COMMUNICATING OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT. I DON'T HAVE 2000 DOLLARS TO SHELL OUT AND DON'T FEEL AS IF I HAVE TO IF THIS IS AS BIG AS A PROBLEM AS I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE. HERE IS A LINK TO JUST ONE OF THE SITE THAT HAS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS TO BE TRUE HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=127734. YOU CAN ALSO JUST DO A SEARCH ON THE FORUM SITE TO FIND MORE PROBLEMS. *JB

TOOK CAR FOR STATE INSPECTION. MECHANIC FOUND BOTH LEFT AN RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINTS AND BOTH TIE RODS DEFECTIVE AT 53,000 MILES. *AK

ENGINE SLUDGE IN ENGINE LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP AND THE TURBO. IN ADDITION, ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ,AND TIE-RODS REPLACED , AND EVEN NOW THERE WERE STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THESE WERE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH MANY PASSAT OWNERS. I STILL RECALL THE MAJOR ISSUE / RECALL OVER THE IGNITION COIL FAILURES AND HOW VW OF AMERICA DENIED THERE EVER WAS A PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE CAR SHOULD BE DECLARED A LEMON !!!! THE OIL PUMP FAILURE LEADING TO FAILURES OF THE TURBO, AND SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE SHOULD BE PROOF ENOUGH THAT THIS CAR HAS TOO MANY MAJOR PROBLEMS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED . *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT DURING A CRASH. WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ON A COLD DRY DAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND SHE HIT ANOTHER HEAD ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD POLICE AND INSURANCE REPORTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 85,580 . *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT TOOK THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TO A DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ALL 8 TIE RODS AND THE ONE LINK ARM WERE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 79200.*AK THE RIGHT OUTER CV BOOT WAS TORN AND THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END WAS WORN. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND THE CHECK OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY. THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE. WE HAD AN OIL CHANGE THE DAY BEFORE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THIS COMES THREE MONTHS AFTER WE HAD TO SEND IT TO VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE A COOLING PROBLEM WORKED ON WHICH COST OVER 3,000. THEY WERE TOLD TO FIX ANYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *NM

I HAVE A 2001 VW PASSAT THAT I PURCHASED A 18 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR WAS A CERTIFIED VW AND HAD A WARRANTY EXTENDED TILL 74,000 MILES. AT 70,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING I HAD THE STOP LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COME ON- IT WAS TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE SO I TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND FOR THE DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM. NO ISSUE WAS FOUND. NOW AT 75,500 MILES THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN- THIS TIME MORE ISSUES. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO FIND THAT ALL MY OIL WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE CAR. TOWED VEHICLE TO CLOSEST VW DEALER AS I WAS 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. DEALER INFORMS ME THAT THE CAMSHAFT ADJUSTERS WERE LEAKING OIL BADLY AND THE COST TO FIX IS $2,600. - CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND HOPEFULLY NO MORE PROBLEMS WILL BE FOUND. 1,500 MI OUTSIDE WARRANTY AND VW CAN DO NOTHING TO HELP LOWER THE EXPENSE- EVEN THOUGH I HAD A ISSUE W/ LOW OIL WHILE WITHIN MY WARRANTY PERIOD. *JB