2003 Volkswagen Passat complaints

FAILURE TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT COILS AFTER MANUFACTURER' S RECALL

ENGINE STARTS TO STALL AND MISFIRES IN TRAFFIC. DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE RECALLED COILS ON 8-15-03 . CONTACTED VW HELP LINE AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEIR RECORDS SHOW THAT DEALER REPLACED THE RECALLED COILS EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T. IT APPEARS THE DEALER FILED A FALSE WARRANTY SERVICE CLAIM WITH VW ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION THEY RECEIVED. DEALER STILL REFUSED TO CHANGE COILS ON 9-25-03.

VERY EXPESIVE UNRELIABLE CAR WITH NOTHING BUT EXCUSES FROM THE DEALER-MANUFACTURER FILLED WITH LIES, CONSTANT TROUBLE WITH CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT FIX PROPERLY PLUS REFUSES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CAR TWICE OVER! THEY TOLD ME WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR THAT ALL THE 2003 HAD FIXED COIL PROBLEMS. THEY FAILED AROUND 7000 MILES. ALSO HAVE REPLACE THE DASH, REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER,RUINED A PILLAR UPHOLSTERY,PUT IN WRONG OIL, REPLACE D A SPRK PLUG THINKING THAT WOULD FIX THE MISSFIRE, STILL RUNS BAD. EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER ITS A 260 MILE ROUND TRIP! I GOT OUT OF A 99 PASSAT THAT THEYSOLD ME (UNKOWINGLY)WRECKED AND THEN COLDNT FIX SO I TRADED UP TO THIS 2003 WITH LOTS OF TROUBLE. NIGHTMARE VW FOR SURE.*AK

MY VOLKSWAGON PASSAT HAS MANY TIMES LUNGED FORWARD WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE FORTUNATELY NOT BEEN CLOSE TO ANOTHER CAR WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A REAR-END CRASH. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITION COIL IS NOT WORKING.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT-END COLLISION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS, TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THA TTRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

THIS IS PORTIONS OF A LETTER SENT TO THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SECTION OF THE WWW.VW.COM WEBSITE ON JUNE 22, 2003. I AM WRITING TO REPORT A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS IN THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX ON A RAINY AFTERNOON, MY SIX YEAR OLD SON AND I GOT INTO THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. I PUT HIM INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND HE SECURED HIMSELF WITH THE SEAT BELT. I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND ENTERED, PUTTING THE UMBRELLA INTO THE FOOT WELL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WITH THE HANDLE RESTING ON THE FRONT SEAT EDGE. AS I STARTED THE CAR, WITHOUT MY NOTICING, THE UMBRELLA HANDLE FELL BETWEEN THE SEAT AND INSIDE DOOR, ACTIVATING THE LEVER TO RECLINE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK. MY SON YELLED SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEAT AND I TURNED TO SEE THE SEAT BACK LOWERING TOWARD HIS LEGS. HE COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY FIND A WAY TO STOP THE SEAT FROM RECLINING FURTHER. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND PULLED THE KEY OUT, BUT THE SEAT CONTINUED DOWNWARD ONTO HIS LEGS. AT THE LAST SECOND I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND PULLED THE UMBRELLA HANDLE OFF THE SEAT LEVER AS THE SEAT BACK LOWERED ONTO MY SONS KNEES, PINNING HIM INTO THE REAR SEAT. AFTER I RAISED THE SEAT, MY SON COMPLAINED OF PAIN IN BOTH OF HIS KNEES. IN CHECKING OUT THE SEAT LATER, I FOUND THAT THE FRONT SEAT BACK HAS NO STOP, RATCHET OR RELEASE TO PREVENT IT FROM LOWERING FORCIB

MY 2003 PASSAT, WITH 10K MILES, HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 22 DAYS NOW AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS THE FOURTH TRIP IN FOR THE SAME THING. THE BATTERY GOES DEAD EVERY NIGHT. ACCORDING TO UTAH LEMON LAW I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO ARBITRATE, BUT VW WILL NOT DISCUSS THIS OPTION. *NLM

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEAD AIRBAG (AIR CURTAIN) OF A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8 SEDAN DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR...A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY...I SUFFERED A PERMANENT WRIST INJURY AND AM SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME...THE INCIDENT, WHICH HAPPENED DURING A TEST DRIVE, WAS REPORTED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR WHICH I WAS WORKING AND TO VW OF AMERICA BY THE MANAGEMENT...I SENT A DETAILED INCIDENT REPORT TO BOTH VW OF AMERICA AND VW AG (GERMANY) CEOS... A VW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMONISHED ME TO NOT MAKE A FUSS ABOUT THE INCIDENT, SAYING IT WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OCCURRENCE UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND ADVISED ME THAT MY LETTER TO THE VWOA CEO HAD BEEN RECEIVED BUT THAT HE HAD NOT READ IT... THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME IN A SPECIAL MEETING THAT HE HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY A VWOA MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS UNHAPPY WITH THE COMPLAINTS I HAD MADE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW-UP BY VW AND THE MEANS OF ALERTING VW OWNERS ABOUT THE INCIDENT I WAS CONSIDERING... I LEFT THE MEETING BELIEVING MY JOB AND FUTURE IN THE CAR BUSINESS, AT LEAST SELLING VW PRODUCTS, WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF I TOOK ANY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUCH AS FILING THIS COMPLAINT. A PROMISE THAT I WOULD BE INFORMED BY VWOA OF THE REASON FOR THE SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT HAS NOT BEEN FULFILLED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANY VW REPRESENTATIVE I

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND REVERSING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE EGINE RPM'S REACHED 18000. 40000 MILES SERVICE WAS DONE 6 MTHS PRIOR. DEALER CLAIMS IT RESULTED FROM OIL OVERFILL. NOT THE CASE, OIL OVERFILL RESULTED AFTER THE FACT. VW AMERICA WILL NOT HONOR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, SAYING MAINTENANCE RECORDS INCOMPLETE. *NLM

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT RECALL FAULTY COIL PACKS IN 2001/2002/2003 PASSAT 1.8TS, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE INSTALLED PART IS DEFECTIVE. MY FIRST COIL PACK FAILED, AND WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT VW WILL NOT REPLACE ALL COIL PACKS, AS THEY SHOULD. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, AS COIL PACK FAILURE WHILE ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *JB

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AT 4200 MILES. SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BUCKLE. *JB

LOSS OF POWER TO CLIMATE CONTROL, CRUISE CONTROL, HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM), SOME INTERIOR LIGHTS, RADIO DISPLAY, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, HOME LINK TRANSMITTER. APPARENT SHORT IN DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. VISOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. *JB

WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS FOR THE PASSING GEAR, THE GAS PEDAL REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT DAYS. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP WAS TO PUT THE CAR IN NATURAL,AND TURN OFF THE KEY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ICE STUCK TO THE GAS PEDAL CABLE?????????? I ALMOST GOT KILLED WITH THE CAR GOING 100 MPH BEFORE I COULD GET IT UNDER CONTROL. *NLM

2003 PASSAT V6 ENGINES UPPER END OF THE ENGINE DRAINS OF OIL ALLOWING KNOCKING FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE THE OIL CIRCULATES. (METAL ON METAL NOISE). *NLM

ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 25TH, AS I WAS LEAVING HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO BUCKLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT ON A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS. THE LATCH DID NOT HOLD THE METAL BELT TONGUE. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND LEFT IT FOR REPAIRS. WHEN ARRIVING TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS ADVISED THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED DUE TO THE NEED TO ORDER A PART, WHICH WAS TO ARRIVE IN 4-7 DAYS. WHEN ASKING FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, THE RESPONSE WAS NEGATIVE AND THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED WITH THE FACT A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE WAS NOT OPERABLE. MY HOME STATE, TENNESSEE, HAS A LAW CLEARLY REQUIRING SEATBELT USE, AND I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE ABILITY OF A SEATBELT TO REDUCE THE PORTENTIAL OF A CRITICAL INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY YOUR AGENCY AND BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL PROVIDED BY VOLKSWAGEN. AT THIS POINT, I AM USING THE BUCKLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH CAUSED THE BELT TO RIDE JUST BELOW MY NECK AND OBSTRUCTS MY ARM WHEN SHIFTS THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*JB IT APPEARS THE SEATBELT LATCH SERIOUSLY LACKS QUALITY AND IS POORLY CONSTRUCTED. CONSIDERING THE LATCH HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND THERE IS NO VISIBLE SIGN OF EXTERNAL DAMAGE, IT COULD EASILY BE CONCLUDED TO EITHER POOR WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIALS. IN ADDITION, CONSIDERING THIS FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL USE AND WITH LIMITED MILES (8,899) ON THE VEHICLE, IT IS ALARMING TO CONSIDER WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULTS IF THE FAILURE BECAME

THE IGNITION COILS ON MY 2002 VW PASSAT 1.8T AR ABOUT TO FAIL FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN MAY OF 2002. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED IN DECEMBER, THE SECOND IN JANUARY, AND NOW IT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN NOW IN FEBRUARY. EACH INCIDENT IS PRELUDED BY A SLIGHT JOLT IN THE CAR UPON START UP FOLLOWED BU ROUGH IDLEING. EVERY TIME WE TAKE IT AND AND ARE TOLD IT IS FIXED AND THEN SURE ENOUGH A MONTH LATER I AM BACK THERE AGAIN. I DO NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM GETTING ANY BETTER. IN ADDITION THE MACH RSTEREO SYSTEM HAS BEEN FIXED, THEN REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT UNIT'S QULAITY IS POOR IN COMPARISON TO THE ORIGINAL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.

HEATER STOPPED WORKING-HEATER CORE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE OKAY. THERMASTAT REPLACED. WATER PUMP FOUND TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL AND REPLACED. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED. HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AND FOUND CRACKED HEAD. HEAD REPLACED -S STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE HEAT PROBLEM. HEATER CORE REPLACED-STILL DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RADIATOR REPLACED - PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SOLVED, HOWEVER CAR RUNS WORSE THAN IT DID BEFORE SPENDING $3,500-. TOTALL FRUSTRATED AND NO HELP FROM AUDI AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS. CAR WARRANTY RAN OUT IN DECEMBER-PROBLEM OCCURED IN JANUARY.

2003 PASSAT GLX WITH 2,500 MILES HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR NO REASON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT. TOOK TO DEALER ONCE, NO ERROR CODE, TOOK CAR HOME AND HAD PROBLEM HAPPENA AGAIN. DEALER KEEPT CAR FOR ONE WEEK, PUT 200 MILES ON IT TO FIND BAD RELAY. DEALER SAID RELAY WAS THEN REPLACED FROM ONE OFF A NEW CAR.

THE IGNITION PACKS ARE DEFECTIVE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO START THE VEHICLE. PH

FAULTY INGINTION COILS, TWO OUT OF FOUR HAVE BEEN REPLACE ON 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8L T THE REAMINING TWO ARE BOUND TO FAIL, BUT VW WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THEM. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT IN DEC 2002 AND ONLY HAS 2000 MILES, AND WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS THE CAR LOSES POWER AND MUST BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. NOTE LOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COLDEST WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND IS NOT A PLEASENT THOUGHT!!

WHILD DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. TS

ON JANUARY 17 I HAD WORK PERFORMED FOR RECALL 01V157000 , WHICH INVOLVED REPLACING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHEN THE FUEL GUAGE INDICATED A FULL TANK. ON JANUARY 20, I EXPERIENCED THE VERY PROBLEM THAT THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT. I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY EXPERINECED THIS PROBLEM. I RAN OUT OF GAS, ALTHOUGH THE FUEL GUAGE SHOWED MORE THAN 1/4 TANK REMAINING.

FAILURE OF IGNITION COILS ON 2003 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT RESULTING IN SUDDEN TOTAL INABILITY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. ESTIMATED REPAIR TIME DUE TO PARTS SHORTAGE - 2 WEEKS. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM WITH 1.8T PASSATS AND EXPECTS A GOVERMENT MANDATED RECALL SOON.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 VW PASSAT. PROBLEMS BEGAN AT 16000 MILES AND HAVE CONTINUED UP TO THE CURRENT DATE AND MILEAGE OF 33000 MILES. CAR HAS BEEN SEEN IN VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT 11 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER 2001. LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST VW AMERICA.

POSSIBLE FAILURE OF H TYPE COIL PACKS ON 1.8 T VW ENGINES

THIS VEHICLE CONTAINS 4 IGNITION COILS, ONE OF WHICH FAILED. THIS PART WHICH IS INSTALLED ON MANY 2002 AND 2003 VW'S IS PRONE TO SUDDEN FAILURE AND VW OWNERS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE AND COMMON FAILURES OF THEIR IGNITION COILS. VW HAS REDESIGNED THE PART BUT IS ONLY REPLACING FAILED PARTS AT THIS TIME. WHEN THIS PART FAILS IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL OR MISFIRE BADLY AND MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON A HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL, OR STRANDING A MOTORIST IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION. I BELIEVE THAT VW SHOULD REPLACE ALL THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS WITH THE REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT PART. THANKS. SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770857****

STARTER COIL FAILURE - FOR OVER A MONTH THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE THE MUFFLER FELL OFF, BUT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPLAINABLE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.

CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS ARE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE ACCELERATOR WAS ALSO BEING APPLIED.*JB

DEFECTIVE COILS ON EACH CYLINDER

FAILED COIL PACK ON VEHICLE AFTER ONLY 16000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN ALL 2001 THRU 2003 VW PASSATS WITH 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINES. SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT VW IS HAVING SO MANY FAILURES ON THIS PRODUCT THAT THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED THROUGH VIN DIRECT FROM GERMANY. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE ALL FOUR COILS, ONLY THE FAILED ITEMS. VEHICLE FAILED ON HIGHWAY AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS UNTIL I COULD NEGOTIATE TO SAFE AREA TO INVESTIGATE FAILURE. TS

I RECENTLY LEASED A VW PASSATT STATION WAGON AND THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH IT EVEN BEFORE THE CAR HAD 300 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS SPENT SOME 10 DAYS AT THE REPAIR SHOP. DEFECTS HAVE INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD DISENGAGE, HEATED SEATS THAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, A/C AND SIDE MIRRORS THAT WOULD NOT WORK, A MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE CAR HAD TO BE ALIGNED, THE FRONT SPOILER FELL OFF, A SPEAKER HAD TO BE REPLACED, PART OF THE TRIM ON THE BACK WAS FALLING OFF, THE MEMORY SETTINGS ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE NOT WORKING, AND THE SUN ROOF WAS RATTLING. THE SALES DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONDED TO ALL MY CALLS BY SAYING THAT I NEED TO TALK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OR TO VW CORPORATE DIRECTLY. I HAVE DONE BOTH, WHEN I CALLED VW CORPORATE THEY RESPONDED THAT AS LONG AS THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE THEY WOULD COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CAR. THEY OFFERED ME A LUBE JOB AS A SETTLEMENT!

DEALER SAY VW IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NOT PROACTIVELY REPLACING ALL 4 COIL PACKS. A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM! I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE FAILURES. SOME RESULTING IN ENGINE STALLS AT VERY DANGEROUS MOMENTS. DT