2001 Volkswagen Passat complaints

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD.*AK

I LEASED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T IN FEB. 2001, WHICH I AM CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH. THE VEHICLE JUMPS WHEN DRIVING AND/OR WHEN STOPPED. IT ALSO JUMPS FORWARD WHEN STOPPED. THIS IS A ACCIDENT HAZARD SINCE I HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHEN STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT/STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE JUMPS FORWARD THEREBY CAUSING IT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AFTER THE STOP SIGN AND/OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT AT MY EXPENSE. UNFORUNATELY, MY CAR'S WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT MY CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES. I LATER FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ONLY ON THE 2002 PASSAT 1.8T, SINCE THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY VEHICLE. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT HOW COME THE 2001 AND 2002 PASSAT 1.8T VEHICLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR, BUT ONLY THE 2002 PASSAT HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. I FIND THIS VERY UPSETTING, SINCE I NOW HAVE TO PERSONALLY PAY FOR THE SERVICE, BUT YET OWNERS OF THE 2002 PASSATS DO NOT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME LEASING A VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLE, AND IT WILL BE MY LAST. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES FOR DIFFERENT REPAIRS AND ALSO HAD 3 RECALLS. I WILL BE TURNING IN MY VEHICLE IN 5 MONTHS AND AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, SINCE I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE NOR VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE. *AK

THE GAS GAUGE IS FLUCTUATING THE READING. USUALLY IT STATES THERE IS MORE GAS IN THE TANK THEN THERE REALLY IS. I HAVE READ THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE VW RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO AM NOT IN THE RECALL BECAUSE I HAVE THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL. I THINK VW NEEDS TO KNOW THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING IN MORE VEHICLES THEN JUST THE 4 MOTION MODEL. *LA

VEHICLE WAS PURCHUSED IN JULY 2001. SINCE THEN, A HEADLIGHT HAS BURNED OUT 4 TIMES ON THE VEHICLE, WITH THE LAST HEADLIGHT GOING DEC 2003, FOR AN AVERAGE HEADLIGHT LIFETIME OF 15 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT ON ONE SIDE; THE HEADLIGHT ON EACH SIDE HAS BEEN LOST AT LEAST ONCE. THE PREVIOUS HEADLIGHT LOSS (THE 3RD), I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT THE DEALER (CASEY VW, IN NEWPORT NEWS, VA) THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO FIX IT. THE ARGUMENT (WHICH I DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND CANNOT REPLICATE HERE) WAS SOMETHING LIKE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRENTY, THEY COULDN'T USE THEIR NON-STANDARD FIX. I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR THE FIRST THREE HEADLIGHT REPLACEMENTS, WHICH GOES AT LEAST PART OF THE WAY TO MAKING UP FOR THE FACT THAT NONE WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR. ON MY MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE DEALER TO HAVE MY HEADLIGHT REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE RATE OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE WAS "NORMAL". THERE WAS NO OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. THE CAR IS NOW OFF THE COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD WARRENTY, BUT COVERED THROUGH THE VW OPTIONAL EXTENDED WARRENTY PROGRAM. THIS WARRENTY DOESN'T DO A LOT OF GOOD IF VW CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR THEM TO FIX (BEYOND A BURNED-OUT BULB).*AK

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 PASSAT WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED MOVING AND MOVED TO THE BACKMOST POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE SEAT IN THAT POSITION. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT READJUST THE SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE SEAT MOVE, BUT DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED AS THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT MOVING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *LA

VEHICLE'S DRAINAGE HOLE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING A BLOCKAGE. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED AND LEAKED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER HAD INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW IT'S OUT WARRANTY AND THEY HAVE A KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *PH

REAR LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY GO OUT, THEY INCLUDE TAIL/BRAKE/ REVERSE, AND STOP LIGHTS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

HEATER CORE FAILED 2.5 YEARS OLD. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH THE STOP ENGINE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, TECHNICIAN INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED. DEALER INDICATED ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACE AT 25,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 50,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT BRAKE PADS (ESPECIALLY ROTORS) SHOULD LAST MORE THAN EVERY 25,000 MILES. I'M APPROACHING 75,000 MILES AND AM ANTICIPATING WHETHER OR NOT I WILL BE REPLACING PADS AND ROTORS ONCE AGAIN!*AK

THE SULFUR IN THE FUEL INTERACTS WITH CERTAIN ADDITIVES FOUND WIDELY. SULPHER BECOMES DEPOSITED ON CONTACT POINTS OF THREE FUEL SENDING UNITS MOUNTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS RESULTS IN THE FUEL GAUGE'S ABILITY TO READ FULL WHILE THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. *AK

THE RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY HAS DEFECTIVE WIRING ACCORDING TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THE SAME HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED UN JULY 2001. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THE LAST TIME IT WENT OUT IN JUNE 2003 THEY REPAIRED SOME EXPOSED WIRING IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. NOW THE WIRING CANNOT BE REPAIRED ANY FURTHER. IT WILL COST OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TWICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN A HEADLAMP GOES OUT YOU LOOSE THE ILLUMINATION ON THE ROADWAY THAT IT SERVES. NOT HAVING THE PROPER ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO IT HELPS MOTORISTS COMING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION SEE YOUR CAR. THE OTHER OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THE FIRE THAT BE CAUSED BY EXPOSED WIRING (SEE ODI ID # 10016924). *PH *CB

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT USER COMMUNITY AS FREQUENTLY OCCURRING AND CONFIRMED BY VW SERVICE TECHNICIANS AS A PROBLEM SEEN OFTEN. MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED SEEING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 4 TIMES A MONTH. THE CAR CONTAINS A POLLEN FILTER. THE SEAL AROUND THE POLLEN FILTER FAILED. WHEN THE SEAL FAILS, WATER COMES INTO THE CAR AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL, FLOODING BOTH THE FROM AND REAR OF THE CAR, AND, IN OUR CASE REQUIRING ABOUT $600 WORTH OF REPAIR. REPORTED CONSEQUENCES OF WATER COMING INTO THE CAR, INCLUDE (1) SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTING N THE CENTER CONSOLE, MAKING THE AUDIO, VENTILATION, ANTI-SLIP OVERRIDE AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AT NIGHT; (2) FAILURE OF EITHER THE AIRBAG TRIGGERING MECHANISM OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, OWNER CANNOT DISTINGUISH; (3) AND FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM (DOORS AND TRUNK -- LOCKED DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE.) THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR GETS WET -- FOR EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN -- AND RESULTS IN FAILURE OF SYSTEMS RELATED TO INTERIOR LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AIRBAGS, AND LOCKS -- ALL CRITICAL FOR SAFETY IN EITHER NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF FROM THE REPAIR COSTS I INCURRED FIXING THE FAILURE OF THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IN MY 2001 PASSAT. *LA

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR AND THROTTLE STUCK. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO RELEASE THE THROTTLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

REAR LEFT DOOR HAS A QUARTER OF AN INCH GAP BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE DOOR. THIS ALLOWS AIR AND SOMETIMES WATER TO ENTER INTO COMPARTMENT. *AK

TRUNK DOES NOT LATCH "BOOTLID OPEN." MESSAGE ON DASH AND WARNING BEEP AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN ROAD. *LA

FUEL GAUGE WAS INDICATING INCORRECT AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS INDICATED A FULL TANK OF GAS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A RECALL (01V157000) WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLES EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED MOST OF THE COST. *AK *NLM

HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *PH *JB

2/18/03 - REPORTED AIR BAG LIGHT ON TO DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND RESET LIGHT. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN IN MAY '03. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 6/28/03 FOR SERVICE. TOLD THAT AIRBAG SPIRAL SPRING AND HARNESS BE REPLACED. COULD NOT CHANGE ON THAT DAY (SATURDAY) DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 8/26/03 TO REPLACE SPIRAL SPRING AND HARNESS.*AK

THE RIGHT REAR DOOR HAS BECOME MISALIGNED. IT DOES NOT SHUT SOLID AND IT STICKS OUT ABOUT AN 1/8 OF AN INCH WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. *NLM

AT ABOUT 61000 MILES MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DISPLAYED A "CHECK ENGINE" SYMBOL AND A DASHBOARD MESSAGE INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT AND MESSAGE WERE RELATED TO A SERVICE CAMPAIGN RELATING TO A VACUUM LINE AND THAT THE ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED. AT ABOUT 74K MILES, THE SAME LIGHT AND EMISSIONS CONTROL MESSAGE REAPPEARED. I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, THAT IT WAS TESTED AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. THE CODES WERE RESET AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS CONTROL MESSAGE REAPPEARED. THIS TIME, THE SHOP FOREMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT I ARRANGE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR EXTENDED TESTING. I AGREED TO DO SO. AFTER A DAY OR TWO OF TESTS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ON THE VEHICLE WERE MALFUNCTIONING. I WAS TOLD, HOWEVER, THAT DESPITE THE 7 YEAR/70,000 MILE FEDERALLY MANDATED EMISSIONS SYSTEM WARRANTY, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE NOW HAD ABOUT 79K MILES ON IT. FROM SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL SOURCES, INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP'S FOREMAN AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF VOLKSWAGEN, I LEARNED THAT THE VACUUM LINE REPAIR PERFORMED AT 61K MILES WAS NOT RELATED TO THE EMISSIONS MESSAGE THAT FIRST APPEARED AT THAT TIME. IT APPEARS THAT, ALTHOUGH THE VECHILE HAS CLEARLY INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM SINCE THE INCIDENT AT 61K MILES

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ONE NIGHT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM BOTH OF THE HEAD LIGHT WIRING HARNESS' FAILED AND CAUSED MULTIPLE HEAD LIGHT FAILURES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR 3 OF THE 4 FAILURES OUT OF POCKET. *SCC *NLM

LTR RE HIS DISSATISFACTION WITH THE WAY NHTSA HANDLED SITUATION RE OPENING AN INVESTIGATION ON DEFECTIVE IGNITION,...*MR FAILURE OF THE IGNITION COILS IN CERTAIN 2001, 2002, AND EARLY 2003 AUDI AND VW OF AMERICA VEHICLES. REFER TO 10011100 AND 10022428. *SCC ALL OF THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED PRIOR. *PH *JB

TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 3000 MILES. CAR WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. NOW THERE IS AN EXTREME TURBO LAG HESITATION ON ACCELERATION. THERE IS A GOOD 1-2 SECOND HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. *NLM

OWNER OF A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND PARKING CAR WILL NOT RESTART. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES; REPLACED ELECTRICAL RELAY AND PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES.*AK

THE DOOR LOCK IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OPENS UP WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. ALSO IT POPS UP WHEN YOU SHUT THE CAR AND TRY TO LOCK THE DOORS USING YOUR REMOTE KEY OR WITH THE BUTTONS INSIDE THE CAR. SO POTENTIALLY ANYONE CAN OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. TO AVOID THIS, YOU HAVE TO PRESS IT DOWN MANUALLY BEFORE LEAVING THE CAR.*AK

FAILURE OF THE FUEL GAS SENDER RESULTED IN A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN THERE WAS REMAINING GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK. AUTOMOBILE WAS ASENDING A STEEP GRADE ON US 580 WEST BOUND TOWARD LIVERMORE CA, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 106 DEGREES F, FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED 1/8 TO 1/4 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY THE DEALER TECHNICIAN ON LEVEL GROUND. THE 1 3B0-919-673-S SENDER WAS REPLACED. DUBLIN VW REPAIR IVOICE NUMBER 268745. DEALER REPORTED TWO OTHER CARS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM DURING THE PRIOR WEEK.*AK

AIG IS ATTEMPTED TO COLLECT ON A POLICY I DISPUTE, NOT A CLAIM DISPUTE AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT FOR ASSISTANCE AND MEDIATION. BASICALLY, I FEEL THEY CHANGED MY POLICY AND RATE WITHOUT GIVING ME A QUOTATION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU THE ENTIRE HISTORY AND LETTER I HAVE DRAFTED FOR THE COLLECTION AGENCY. I HAVE CONTACTED AIG AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK WITH ME. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR GLASS EXPLODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF GLASS PIECES. THE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. MUCH OF THE GLASS FELL IN, CAUSING MINOR CUTS TO THE PASSENGER. SOME OF THE GLASS FELL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE DEFECTS IN THE WINDOW (CRACKS, STARS, ETC.) AND NOTHING IMPACTED THE WINDOW TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK.*AK

HEADLIGHT BUILD CONNECTOR SHORTED AGAINST ADJACENT METAL DUE TO EXPOSED WIRE. CHARRING AND MELTED HARNESS CONNECTOR RESULTED. POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THIS TO CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE WITH POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. HEADLIGHT IS INOPERABLE UNTIL WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN BE REPLACED. *TT

CONSUMER WAS DISSATISFIED WITH NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO SENATOR LARRY CRAIG IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS IN THIS VEHICLE, AND QUESTIONED WHY THE DEFECT WAS NOT A MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE, ES03-001397/S/BRENNER. MR SCC *JB....*AK

SEVERAL TIMES NOW, I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT V6 GLX. THE LAST TIME IT WAS ABSOLUTELY IRRITATING BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE STILL SHOWED A QUARTER TANK AVAILABLE AND DID NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION OR WARNING OF LOW FUEL. WORSE, THE CAR STOPPED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. WORST, WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER, THEY OFFERED TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE GAS TANK, BUT THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME AT THAT TIME, THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT EVEN CONTACT ME AND INFORM ME THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM AND A RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE!!! PLEASE CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT OWNERS GET INFORMED OF THE SAFETY RELATED RECALL!!!! IF I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND YOUR WEBSITE PER PURE INCIDENT, I WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN OF THIS ACTUAL PROBLEM KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN. *NLM

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE IGNITION COILS REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. *PH *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ON RAINY DAYS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. A LADY HIT MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSING THAT SIDE ALONG THE DOORS AND SOME OF THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUT MY FEET ON ACCELERATOR FOR SPEED AND THE CAR REFUSES TO RESPOND. THE MORE I ACCELERATE THE SLOWER THE CAR GOES. *NLM

CAR WENT INTO PASSING GEAR WHILE PASSING SLOW VEHICLE ON TWO-LANE ROAD. WHEN PASS WAS COMPLETED AND FOOT WAS LIFTED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DANGEROUSLY EVEN THOUGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION. ONLY BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, BRAKING WITH BOTH FOOT AND HAND BRAKE AND SWITCHING IGNITION OFF WAS DRIVER ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AVOIDING COLLISION WITH OTHER CAR AHEAD IN SAME LANE. AFTER A MINUTE, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESUME JOURNEY AND RESTARTED ENGINE IN PARK. ENGINE RACED TO FULL RPM. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) AND AIRBAG WARNING LAMPS WERE LIT AT THIS TIME. DRIVER SWITCHED OFF IGNITION, DEEMED VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND CALLED FOR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO SEND TOW TRUCK. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK ABOUT 30 MINUTES, DRIVER RESTARTED ENGINE NORMALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWING EXCEPT THE AIR BAG LIGHT, BUT DRIVER ELECTED TO WAIT FOR VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEAVY VIBRATION, WHICH WAS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES.*JB

I HAVE A 2001.5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY (AROUND 15,000 MILES), THE SEATBELT MECHANISM WAS RETRACTING VERY SLOWLY SO I TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED, WHICH THEY DID DO AT NO CHARGE. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I'M AGAIN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT COULD BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. IS THIS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD THEY REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE?

THE VEHICLE STALLED.*JB

2001.5 PASSAT GLS 1.8T THE COIL PACK FOULED AND CAUGHT THE COIL ON FIRE. HAD I NOT OPENED IT UP AND REMOVED THE VALVE COVER ALONG WITH THE COIL PACK ITSELF, THE CAR WOULD HAVE WENT UP IN FLAMES. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH VW COIL PACKS. VW CLAIMS THAT IF THEY GO BAD YOU CAN STILL DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DONT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFE IDEA.

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COIL SPRING PACKS. THE MANUFACTURE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE THAT GOES BAD. PH

VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL CAUSING FUMES TO ESCAPE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

CONCERNED WITH DEFECTS ON IGNITION COIL. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THERE WAS A HEAVY VIBRATION THAT FORCED VEHICLE OUT OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE COIL PACK WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY. THE DEALER CHANGED THE COIL PACK BUT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN IN WHICH THE DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE. TS VW ADMITTED THAT THE COIL PACK(S) WERE DEFECTIVE, BUT STATED THAT THE COULD NOT REPAIR DUE TO THE LACK OF PARTS. SCC

SAFETY: OPERATION OF THE "DRIVE BY WIRE THROTTLE" ON MY V6/TIPTRONIC 2001.5 VW PASSAT. THE THROTTLE DOES NOT OPERATE IN A "LINEAR MANNER". IT MAY STRUGGLE TO MOVE OUT FROM A STOP (SOUNDS AS IF THE ENGINE IS WORKING VERY HARD TO MOVE THE CAR) ONE MOMENT AND THEN IT MAY "LEAP" AHEAD UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE APPLICATION FROM THE NEXT STOP. (THIS CAN LEAVE YOU STRUGGLING TO CROSS A BUSY INTERESCTION) THE DEALER SAYS VW SAYS THIS IS "NORMAL OPERATION".

FAILING COIL PACK IN 2001.5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

FAILED IGNITION COIL ON 2001 VW PASSAT... THIS PART AND CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!!! THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE IN ALL 2001 AND 2002 VOLKSWAGENS AND AUDIS WITH 1.8-LITER, 4-CYLINDER, TURBOCHARGED ENGINES. THOSE ENGINES ARE FOUND IN AUDI A4S AND TTS AND IN VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS, PASSATS, NEW BEETLES, AND GOLF GTIS. WE HAVE HAD 2 COILS FAIL IN 2 SEPERATE INSTANCES, IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. IN ADDITION TO BEING AN INCONVENIENCE, BOTH INSTANCES WERE DANGEROUS AS THE CAR EITHER LOST POWER OR SHUT DOWN WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. VW DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COIL UNTIL IT ACTUALLY FAILS (WHICH IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME). THEY SAY UNTIL THE PRODUCT IS OFFICIALLY RECALLED, THEY CAN AND WILL DO NOTHING BUT THE BARE MINIMUM.

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN WHAT I NOW KNOW AS ONE OF MY IGNITION COILS FAILED. THE CAR INITIALLY LOST SIGNIFICANT POWER AND THEN FROM THERE CONTINUALLY DROVE AS THOUGH IT WAS MISFIRING. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR I WAS TURNING IN FRONT OF HAD TIME TO SLOW DOWN. I NOW WONDER IF VW IS JUST WAITING AROUND UNTIL SOMEONE ACTUALLY GETS HURT FROM SOMETHING THEY CALL "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE." THEY PROBABLY HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE THIS HAPPENS TO DON'T COMPLAIN AT ALL AND THAT THIS WILL DIE DOWN UNNOTICED AS TO NOT HURT THEIR PRECIOUS REPUTATION. I DROVE IT SLOWLY TO THE VW DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THEY ONLY REPLACED ONE OF THE COILS. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS LONG BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY AS A RESULT OF MILES, VW PAID FOR THE PART AND THE LABOR. IF THAT ISN'T A SIGN THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE 3 MORE TIMES THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN. I WOULD LIKE IMMEDIATE RESULTS IN HAVING THE OTHER 3 REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN. WHAT COMPANY ADMITS THEY KNOWINGLY HAVE PARTS THAT ARE EXPIRING EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD (IN MOST CASES AFFECTING 1/2 POWER LOSS IN A CAR) AND THEN ONLY REPLACES THE ONES THAT GOES BAD?????

VW PASSAT 2001 1.8T IGNITION COIL FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED, AND COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE BEEN A SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE CAR LOST POWER SUDDENLY.