2003 Volkswagen Passat complaints

VW PASSAT MAINLY 2003 EXPERIENCE FUEL PUMP FAILURE WITHOUT ANY WARNING . THE CAR BECOMES UNMANAGEABLE, SHUTS DOWN AND STOPS. THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGHER DENSITY TRAFFIC RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGES AND INJURIES.

1) MOTORISTS ALERT THAT REAR BRAKLE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IF THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THHIS CAN CAUSE FATAL ACCIDENTS. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VW PASSAT DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN DALLAS MORNING RUSH HOUR. I TURNED MY HEATED SEAT ON AND I WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY AN EXTREME HEAT ON MY BACKSIDE/LEG. I DID NOT KNOW IF THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE OR WHAT. THE SEAT HAD MELTED LEATHER AND LEFT A SUPERFICIAL BURN ON MY REAR END. THE SEAT WILL SPARK AND SMOKE IF THE HEATER IS TURNED ON. I WANT OUT OF THIS LEASE!!! THE CAR IS NOT SAFE AND UPON RESEARCH THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT.

PASSAT STATION WAGON ENGINE STOPPED AND FAILED TO RESTART.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. *JB *SC

CONCERNS REGARDING ENGINE FAILURE ON THE PASSAT STATION WAGON.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND DID NOT RESTART. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE INFORMED OF THE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. *SC *JB

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGON PASSOT 1.8 TURBO AND I HAVE HAD IT AT THE VOLKSWAGON DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS AND IT IS STILL THERE.THE LIGHT IN THE CAR SAYING STOP OIL PRESSURE LOW KEPT COMING ON SO WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME.AND THEY WERE THE LAST ONES TO CHANGE THE OIL. THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAY I NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF OIL SLUDGE ON THE ENGINE.I HAVE PROVIDED THEM WITH ALL THE RECIEPTS STATING THE CAR WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. AND THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO OTHER RECOURSE. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PUT OUT THE EXPENSE FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. PLEASE HELP.

1. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, EMISSIONS LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH, THEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 2. FAILURE OF IGNITION COILS (3) 3. 3 COILS BEING REPLACED AT VW DEALERSHIP

WHILE CRUISING ON A CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST DIED; NO LIGHTS COME ON, NO DRIVAILITY PROBLEM OR NOISE BEFORE THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE FUEL TANK WAS ABOUT HALF-FULL. THE DEALER WORK ORDER INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED.*AK

I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATER ONE MORNING, I SMELLED SMOKE AND THE LEATHER SEAT WAS SMOKING. THE SEAT HEATER MALFUNTIONED AND ALMOST BURNT ME AS WELL. I PULLED OVER AND IT BURNT A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH MY LEATHER SEAT!!!

NOTICED RUST COMING THROUGH THE UPPER AND LOWER MOLDINGS SURROUNDING FRONT DOOR WINDOWS...UNIT STILL UNDER WARRANTY, LESS THAN 2 YRS OFF LOT, BOUGHT BRAND NEW...A 2003 VW PASSAT

AT 35005 MILES I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT I NEEDED REAR BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS SO I HAD THEM INSTALLED AT 35005 MILES. LAST WEEK WITH THE CAR AT 52275 MILE I WAS AGAIN TOLD BY VW THAT MY REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FIND THAT 17270 MILES IS VERY QUICK WEAR FOR BRAKES. VW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY 18,000 MILES AND IF THEY DUE THEN THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM.

SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING SEAT COVER AND DRIVER'S LEG.*AK

ON APRIL 14, 2005 I WAS GOING TO WORK WHEN A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID STOP. I CALLED COMMONWEALTH MOTORS AND WAS TOLD BY LARRY RIGGINS TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL TO SEE IF NEEDED TO ADD OIL, SO I DID. THAT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. I CALLED BACK THE DEALER, WHO GAVE ME THE TOW NUMBER FOR VOLKSWAGEN, AND SAID THAT HE WOULD SET UP AN APPOINTMENT THAT DAY. AFTER WAITING FOR TWO HOURS WE WERE TOWED IN ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT CAR TILL NEXT DAY. NEXT DAY, LARRY CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO PULL ENGINE AND LOOK AT OIL PAN WHICH COULD ADD UP TO A LOT OF MONEY. WHEN QUESTIONED DUE TO THE CAR'S WARRANTY, LARRY INFORMED ME THAT ONLY IF I HAD ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT HONOR THE 5 YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, UNDER 50,000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3 DAYS WITH NO RESOLUTION. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND A SITE CALLED VWLEMON.COM AND DISCOVERED THAT KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN ,BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH 1.8 TURBO ENGINE HAD A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSED ENGINE TO BECOME CLOGGED WITH SLUDGE WHICH COULD COMPLETELY SEIZE THE ENGINE. I WAS FORTUNATELY NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED SO THAT I COULD SAFELY PULL OVER. CERTAINLY IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURED DESIGN FLAW THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT PAY FOR. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK IT KEPT MOVING FORWARD. I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AND WAS GOING VERY SLOW. AGAIN, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR NOT TOO LONG AFTER. MY CAR DISPLAY READ STOP ENGINE, AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER PROBLEM INVOLVED THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON, DRAINING THE BATTERY, TWICE HAD TO HAVE A VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. YESTERDAY, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DISPLAY AGAIN READ STOP ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT UNLESS I HAVE A COMPLETE RECORD OF MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I HAVE READ LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS GOING ON!!! I AM FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATION TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM! HELP!!!*AK

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED $11,000.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR OIL SLUDGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VW HAS CLEARLY ADMITTED TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. ARTICLE ATTACH FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO WORK WITH DEALERS TO IMPROVE GUIDELINES FOR SLUDGE REPAIRS. *BF *NM

DESIGN DEFECT IN BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER THIGH AND BURNED HER FINGER WHEN SHE REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE PULLED OVER AND FOUND A 2CM HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HERB EASLEY MOTORS (OUR LOCAL VW DEALER), THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED THAT THE BURN WAS FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE (NO ONE IN OUR FAMILY SMOKES...). HE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM (VEHICLE HAS 22,000 MILES AND IS UNDER FULL WARRANT)Y, AND HE CLAIMED HIS VW REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE HAD TOLD HIM THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED VW CONSUMER CARE, THEY ARRANGED FOR ME TO WORK WITH CABLE VOLKSWAGEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY. CABLE TOLD ME THEY HAVE FIXED "DOZENS" OF THESE SEATS, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS WITHOUT MY TELLING THEM (THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN THE PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO WHAT OTHERS HERE ARE SAYING...). I HAD TO DRIVE 150 MILES FOR CABLE VW TO INSPECT AND ORDER PARTS, AND WE ARE NOW AWAITING BACKORDERED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR (THEY'VE WARNED ME IT COULD TAKE MONTHS FOR THE PARTS BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF REPAIRS BEING MADE). VW INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR HAVING TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR THE TWO MONTHS OF INFURIATING RUNAROUND FROM HERB EASLEY, THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE LOCATION.*AK

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING DEVISE MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEATER BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, AND THROUGH MY SHIRT. AFTER 8 WEEKS, THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AND A "FIX" WAS DONE TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT. THE NEW SEAT DOES NOT HEAT WELL.*AK

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. BOTH THE ROTORS AND THE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME AT 9,000 MILES, AND NOW AT 17,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND MAKE A ROARING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THE PROBLEM MAY RECUR AGAIN.*AK

WINDSHIELD CRAKED REPEATEDLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE LOWER LEFT NEXT TO PASSENGER SIDE PILLAR, NEXT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALMOST IDENTICALLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY STONE, ETC.*AK

2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON HAS FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE CAR AND WARRANTY COVERAGE IS DENIED TO THE TUNE OF $10,217.00. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, AND FEEL THAT THE DEFECT IS WITH THE ENGINE, NOT WITH MY TREATMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO NOISE WHEN THE "OIL PRESSURE! STOP!" LIGHT CAME ON, AND RAN FINE WHEN I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY NOW THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE IS 'LOCKED UP' AND WIL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE OIL PUMP, THE TURBO UNIT, ETC ETC. SINCE THE CAR WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE LIGHT POPPED ON, AND PRESUMABLY COULD HAVE 'LOCKED UP' AT 70 MPH, THIS IS, INDEED, A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

A HOLE WAS BURT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY WIFE AND I HAD MADE 2 SHORT DRIVES WITHIN THE SPAN OF ABOUT 1/2 HOUR WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER SET AT VARIOUS INTERVALS FROM 5 (HIGH) TO 3 (MEDIUM) AND THEN WE STOPPED TO EAT (~45 MINUTES). ON THE TRIP HOME, WITHIN 2 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATER SET TO 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER LEG AND WE SMELLED SOME KIND OF ODD ODOR. SHE SHUT THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND MOVED OFF THE HOT SPOT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CLOTH SEAT HAD BEEN BURNED THROUGH. MY WIFE ALSO HAD A BURN ON HER LEG. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT VW HAS CHANGED MANUFACTURERS AND WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT AS THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RECALL, THEY CANNOT REPLACE IT. I'M SURE A DRIVER'S SEAT GOING AMOK COULD CAUSE A CRASH. CONSEQUENTLY, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS AN EXTRA CHARGE ITEM ON THE CAR, WE'LL BE AFRAID TO USE THE SEAT WARMER FOR FEAR IT TOO WILL OVERHEAT AND BURN US. NOTE: NOT SURE IF "WAS THERE A FIRE" SHOULD BE YES. THERE WAS NO FLAME BUT THERE SURE WAS A BURN.*AK

DRIVING MY 2003 VW PASSAT I HAD THE SEAT WARMER ON. I SIMULTANEOUSLY SMELLED BURNING AND FELT BURNING IN MY BUTT. I TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER IMMEDIATELY. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY WIFE AND 7 YEAR OLD SON. WE WERE NEAR AN EXIT AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE EXIT RAMP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. THE HOLE WAS A BIT SMALLER THAN A DIME. THE SMELL WAS PUNGENT BUT CLEARED OUT WHEN WE OPENED THE WINDOW.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMERS WOOL COAT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *JB SEAT COVER AND ELEMENT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT SW. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED WHEN IT STARTED TO GET COLD IN THE WINTER THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE NOISES AS IF SOMETHING WAS GRINDING OR BROKE IN THE SUSPENSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO VICTORY VW IN HARRISBURG, PA IN THE LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER OF 03'. THEY ENDED UP CHANGING THE CONTROL ARMS THAT TIME I BELIEVE. WELL, THIS YEAR WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD THE NOISES CAME BACK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THE AIR TEMP HAS BEEN TOO WARM FOR THE NOISES TO BE REPRODUCED. I'VE LOOKED AROUND THE INTERNET ON VARIOUS VW BLOGS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION AS I AM. I ALSO FOUND THAT SOME ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION IN GENERAL. MY DILEMMA IS THAT THIS CAR IS GETTING READY TO GO OUT OF WARRANTY IN ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES AND I DON'T FEEL IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT HAS BEEN FIXED BY VW IN THE PAST AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE FIXED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS ISSUE IS APPRECIATED.

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER TURNED ON, NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT, AND IT STARTING FEELING LIKE IT WAS BURNING MY LEGS. SMELLED SMOKE, AND REALIZED THE SEAT WAS BURNING; THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE FABRIC OF THE SEAT UNDER MY LEGS AND WAS FILLING THE CAR WITH SMOKE. I MANAGED TO TURN THE SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH STOPPED THE SEAT FROM FURTHER BURNING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SEAT REPLACED.

1. COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP MORE THAN ONCE THAT VEHICLE STALLED, RAN ROUGH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, UNRESOLVED. 2. ENGINE STOPPED, DIED, QUIT RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. THE ONLY REASON I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I DISENGAGED THE DRIVETRAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. 3. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DETERMINED FUEL PUMP FAILED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, DO NOT HAVE OLD PART. *JB

THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED REPEATEDLY, AND WAS REPLACED. BUT, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND CONSUMER'S PANTS. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A STINGING SENSATION IN THE REAR OF MY LEFT THIGH. I TOUCHED THE SEAT AND FOUND IT HAD BECOME VERY HOT C IN ONE SPOT AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER WHICH HAD BEEN SET ON "5". UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND THE HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER SAID NEW SEAT COVER AND PADDING WILL BE ORDERED FOR REPLACEMENT. *JB

DRIVER SEAT FIRE. REMEMBER FIRESTONE, LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR AND KILL SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY AS THE ELECTRIC SHOCK FROM THE SEAT WAS UNBEARABLE - LET ALONE MY LEFT PANT LEG BURN THROUGH TO MY SKIN. IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT VW HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES WITH SAME HEATING ELEMENTS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR TO AN ELDERLY PERSON THINGS MAY NOT TURN OUT SO SUCCESSFULLY. PLEASE PUBLISH IMMEDIATELY! THANK YOU. DAVID M. GILBLAIR SR. *JB

SEAT HEATER IN 2003 VW PASSAT WAS TURNED ON. APPROX. 3 MINUTES LATER THE HEATER BURNED MY JEANS, AND MY SKIN. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY SEAT. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOLDERING SEAT. WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART B/C THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE IN THE US RIGHT NOW. *JB

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME MOVED AND WAS ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH OUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS STARTLED AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL AND ONLY THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED MY CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FOOT TO MAKE SURE I HAD HIT THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. NORMALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE HIT HARD THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DIPS AND THE SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE CAR JERKS THE DRIVER FORWARD. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED UNTIL MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB

SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN I LEFT TO GO TO AN ATM AND SHE SWATTED OUT THE FLAME COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON POSITION 3 OF 5 FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO 30000 MILES, "OIL PRESSURE" INDICATOR LIGHTED, IMMEDIATELY STOPPED VEHICLE. AFTER TOWING TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS "FULL OF SLUDGE" AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER UNLESS I HAD PROOF OF *EVERY SINGLE OILCHANGE* WITH VW SYNTHETIC OIL. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN REGULAR IN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER I LACK PROOF OF EVERY SINGLE ONE. AGAIN, ODOMETER ONLY 30000 MILES. RESEARCH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 1.8L ENGINES BETWEEN 1998 AND 2004.*AK

CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ASKED HER SPOUSE TO CHECK IT OUT. CONSUMER TURNED SEAT HEATER ON AND THE SEAT STARTED TO BURN. THE SEAT SLIGHTLY SCORCHED THE CONSUMER.*AK THE PASSENGERS COAT WAS BURNED BY THE SEAT. *TC

DRIVERS HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2003 PASSAT. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THERE WAS ALSO GRINDING IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT TWICE. *SC *JB

DRIVING WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER ON - SMELL A BURNING - FEEL THE SEAT - QUICK BURN TO MY HAND - SEAT HEATER BURNT HOLE THROUGH LEATHER SEAT - IMMEDIATELY SHUT-DOWN HEATER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WE NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL AFTER A SHORT RIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO CLEAN SNOW OFF OF THE CAR AND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ABOUT 1/2" IN DIAMETER IN THE SEAT. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND BEGAN CLEANING THE SNOW OFF THE CAR AND CALLED MY FIANC TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WITH IN 2 MINUTES THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR, SPARKS AND SMALL FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOLE IN THE SEAT. WHEN TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEATS THE MELTING AND SMOKING SUBSIDED LEAVING A HOLE (ABOUT 1" DIAMETER) THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. (LATER FOUND A HOLE HOLE IN THE CLOTHING THAT WAS WORN THE NIGHT BEFORE) VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES, SO THE MALFUNCTION IS COVERED IN FULL BY THE WARRANTEE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CALLS REGARDING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APROX 1 MONTH BEFORE THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAR. AS A REMEDY THE MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT COVER.*AK

I OWN A 2003 PASSAT GLS WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING THAT I STOP DRIVING THE CAR. AS I WAS JUST PULLING INTO PARKING LOT OF MY WORK, I PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED. THE FIRST THING THE MECHANIC FROM VW TOLD ME WAS MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE HONORED WITHOUT PROOF OF ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS FROM VW. I DO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY BUT NOT ALWAYS AT 4,999 MILES. I HAVE MOVED AND HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT DIFFERENT PLACES AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ALL MY RECORDS. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS IN WHICH I WAS T OLD MULITPLE THINGS ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON, I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT MY ENGINE WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $11,000. I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL OIL CHANGES DONE TO THE CAR IN THE ALMOST TWO YEARS I WONED IT AND VW WOULD NOT HONOR MY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I PAID FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE. THE MECHANIC AT VW SAID IT IS RARE THAT ANYONE CAN PRODUCE ALL RECORDS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF PRECISE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN NEW ENGINE PUT IN THE CAR AS THE CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THE COST OF THE ENGINE. I AM LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF REBULIT ENGINE. *AK

VW PASSAT - BRAKE ROTORS WARP, CAUSING DANGEROUS BRAKING SITUATION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN BY VW, AND COMPLAINED OF BY THOUSANDS OF PASSAT OWNERS (MANY, MANY SITES AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, AND MECHANICS). VW REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB

I AM CURRENTLY HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A 2003 VW PASSAT. AFTER 27,000 MILES, THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLE THE TURBO HAS GONE, AND THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST 9,000 DOLLARS. VOLKS WAGEN HAS HAD AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF PASSATS THAT TYPICALLY RESULTS IN THIS PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE. VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED A NOTICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THEIR DRIVERS CHANGE THE OIL TO A SYNTHETIC OIL. I HAVE BEEN CHANGING MY OIL AT THE RECOMMENDED 5,000 MILE INCREMENTS, ALTHOUGH USING A NON-SYNTHETIC BRAND OF OIL. I AM NOW HAVING A VERY HARD TIME COMING UP WITH MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I CAN PROVE THAT I CHANGED THE OIL 3 TIMES ALTHOUGH I NEED TO PROVE I CHANGED IT 5 TIMES FOR THE WARRANTY TO KICK IN. EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE OIL AT THE REQUIRED INCREMENTS MY ENGINE IS GONE DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT VW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AT THE SERVICE THAT I AM CURRENTLY RECEIVING AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS MATTER ? AS I AM CURRENTLY SITTING WITH A 9,000 BILL FOR A PROBLEM THAT VW HAS ADMITTED TO, ALTHOUGH WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR.*AK

SEAT WARMER ON MY 2003 VW PASSAT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT (DRIVERS SIDE), BURNED THROUGH MY PANTS AND LEFT A MARK ON MY SKIN. *JB

ENGINE SLUDGE IN 2003 VW PASSAT. ENGINE IS SHOT. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOLD ME HE PERSONALLY GETS 3 TO 5 CALLS A DAY ON THIS ISSUE. VW WON'T PAY UNLESS YOU PRODUCE EVERY SERVICE RECEIPT. VW DEALERS VIA VW DIRECTIVE NOW ONLY USE SYNTHETIC OIL FOR OIL CHANGES ON THE 1.8 LITER PASSAT ENGINE. ITS A PASSAT NOT A FERRARI. THIS IS CLEARLY AN INDICATION OF A DESIGN FLAW. *NM

HEATED VELOUR SEATS CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED SMALL HOLE IN SEAT. *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH SEAT CUSHIONING, THROUGH LEATHER COVERING, THROUGH PANTS POCKET, AND THROUGH WALLET CONTAINED IN THE POCKET. HOLE IN THE SEAT 2-3 INCHES DEEP AND 1 1/2 - 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. HOLE IN PANTS WAS 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER, LEAVING BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATING MECHANISM HAD BEEN TURNED ON HIGH. SMOLDERED, BUT NO OPEN FIRE. *JB

THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMER'S PANTS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP POSITION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM *SC *JB

NEW '03 PASSAT PURCHASED IN DEC. '02. FEB. '03 I NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FOUND TO BE LOW AND REFILLED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN MAR '03, THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOV. '04, I AGAIN NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING IN EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT WHEEL POSITIONS. DEC. '04, VW DETERMINES THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK AGAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO LARGER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR LEADING TO REPEATED FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING RACK. LIKEWISE, THEY INSIST THAT THERE IS NO INTRINSIC PROBLEM WITH VW POWER STEERING RACKS. HOWEVER, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT TWO POWER STEERING RACKS FROM VW PLACED IN THE SAME CAR IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD JUST HAPPENED TO BE FAULTY. *JB