2003 Volkswagen Passat complaints

AFTER A COUPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE TURNS OVER AND RUNS FOR 2-3 SECONDS THEN DIES. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE FULLY STARTING UP AND IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. WHILE OUT OF GEAR AND CAR IS RUNNING, PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATION DOES NOTHING. CAR IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN SHORT DISTANCES BUT STALLED AT ONE POINT GOING APPROX. 5 MPH. I WAS TOLD MY SPECIFIC VIN # IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR FUEL PUMP/SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. IF THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE OF 2003 PASSAT'S ALREADY WHY WOULD SOME NOT BE COVERED? *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V156000 "FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE." NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE08008 THE CAR IS OOZING GASOLINE FROM TOP LEFT (DRIVER'S) SIDE OF GAS TANK. THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE (OUTSIDE DUE TO A GAS PUDDLE). VW DEALER (VW DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES) REFUSES TO GRANT THE REPAIR, ASKING FOR $140 INSPECTION FEE. VWOA REPRESENTATIVE SITES THE RECALL PERFORMED IN 2009. THE RECALL ( PE08008 ) ISSUED HAS 2 PARTS: 1) UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD INSTALLATION. 2) "DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT AND ADJUST THE FUEL LINE ROUTING ON 1.8T VEHICLES AND THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE." I SUSPECT THE SECOND PART WAS NOT FULFILLED, GIVEN THE EXACT NATURE OF MECHANIC FAILURE DESCRIBED. *TR

THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS SO I WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO PURCHASE GAS TO PUT INTO THE CAR. I PUT THE GAS INTO THE CAR. TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT WOULD NOT START. I LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. THIS TIME THE CAR STARTED BUT I HEARD A LOUD BANG. FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF THE HOOD. BEFORE I KNEW IT THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE CAR. *TR

VEHICLE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ALERTED DRIVER OF LOW OIL PRESSURE. DRIVER BROUGHT VEHICLE TO R&J AUTO ON 1309-1365 BARNUM AVENUE IN BRIDGEPORT, CT; DRIVER PURCHASED CAR FROM THIS BUSINESS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO; DRIVER WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. A WEEK LATER THE SAME ISSUE AROSE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. DRIVER WAS NOT SPEEDING DUE TO GETTING OFF OF THE RAMP. CAR BEGAN MAKING A TICKING NOISE. DRIVER BROUGHT CAR BACK TO R&J A WEEK LATER THE CAR WAS DEEMED UNFIT TO DRIVE DUE TO SLUDGE, THE OIL PUMP BEING DAMAGED AND THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONING. DEALER/MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND WOULD NOT BE WORTH FIXING. I WAS FORCED TO JUNK THE CAR AND LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE BUSINESS. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL RESELL THE CAR WITHOUT COMPLETING THE PROPER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR TO ANOTHER INNOCENT CUSTOMER. THIS CAR IS NOT FIT TO DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND WITHIN TWO MINUTES, THE SEAT WAS UNBEARABLY HOT AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE CONTACT'S PANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TWO IGNITION COILS FAILED WHICH CAUSED LACK OF SPARK TO THE PLUGS IN THE ENGINE. SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND UNBURNED FUEL ENTERED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. A HEAT-RELATED FIRE NEARLY ENSUED. HAD TO REPAIR COILS AND PLUGS. NEARLY CAUSED FAILURE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND OXYGEN SENSORS. *TR

AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE STARTED TO COME THROUGH THE VENTS. I OPEN THE HOOD AN A LINE BEHIND THE ENGINE BAY WAS SQUIRTING OUT GASOLINE DIRECTLY ONTO THE HOT SURFACE OF THE ENGINE. I CHECK ONLINE AND I SEE THAT THERE WAS APREVIOUS RECALL THE R5 RECALL BUT MANY OWNERS WERE BEING TOLD BY VOLKSWAGEN THAT IT'S NO LONGER COVERED OR THAT THERE VIN WASN'T COVERED EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS THE SAME YEAR ON THE RECALL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN ASWELL AND THEY MENTIONED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT NO LONGER ACTIVE OR HAD BEEN SERVICED ALREADY. IT LEAKS WHEN IT'S ON OR NOT. *TR

RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE DONE, BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND FOUND THAT WHEN IT COOLED AND ALL FLUIDS SETTLED OVERNIGHT, THE FUEL PUMP WAS HAVING TROUBLE- RESULTING IN CAR NOT STARTING. AFTER ONE HOUR OF TURNING THE KEY OVER-AND-OVER, THEN GIVING IT GAS, IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. EXCITED, I TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE, IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOR WAY INTERSECTION. THANKFULLY I LIVE IN A VERY SMALL TOWN, IF THAT HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY THERE WOULD BE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. CONSIDERING I BOUGHT THIS CAR A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I DON'T FEEL I'M AT FAULT FOR NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DEALERSHIPS RECALL AND IT'S IN MY BEST INTEREST TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO SEE IF I'M ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE GETTING BACK TO ME VIA E-MAIL OR TEXT MESSAGE(CANNOT MAKE OR RECEIVE PHONE CALLS) TOP LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, VERY MUCH [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR WAS CONSTANTLY GETTING THE PASSENGER SIDE (FRONT AND BACK) FLOODED W WATER DURING A RAIN STORM. HAD TO GET NEW BATTERY CLEANED OUT SUNROOF DRAINAGE. IT DIDN'T MATTER. WHENEVER IT RAINED THE BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD BECAUSE THE CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS THERE IS ALL MESSED UP SENDING MIXED MESSAGES. FINELY JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. NOT WORTH PUTTING MONEY INTO THE CAR. I PURCHASED THIS CAR LESS THEN A YEAR AGO AND HAD THIS PROBLEM AFTER THE FIRST RAIN AND WENT DOWN FROM THEIR. IM SO DISAPPOINTED HOPING BUYING A USED VW I WAS GOING TO BE SATISFIED BUT HAD NOTHING TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD STALL. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V017000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE GASOLINE FUMES EMITTING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR OVER A PERIOD OF ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR REPORTED 1/4 TANK THAN ABRUPTLY SPURTING AND REPORTED AN EMPTY TANK, CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO NO FUEL IN TANK. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. *JS

ON SEPT 20 2013 MY WIFE SHOWED ME A SPRING THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT . IRONICALLY THE NEXT DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT GO OFF . ABOUT A MONTH LATER A 2ND SPRING APPEARED IN THE FLOORBOARD .CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION . VW REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT A FLUID LEAK WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

SINCE AFTER THE DAY ONE OF THE PURCHASE MY CAR STARTED SHAKING, VIBRATING. I HAD TO HAVE COILS REPLACED. THE CAR STARTED RUNNING FOR 2 WEEKS THEN WHEN I WAS IN THE TRAFFIC IT STARTED SHAKING THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN THE PARKING LOT. I HAD WIRING HARNESS AND COILS REPLACED AGAIN THIS TIME. THE CAR HAD STARTUP ISSUES AND THEN MECHANIC REPLACED CAMSHAFT SENSOR. AFTER 3 WEEKS SAME PROBLEM!!!! I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HAD TO BE TOWED. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COILS BUT AFTER 2 MONTHS OH MY GOODNESS SAME PROBLEM NOW THEY THINK ECU IS FRIED COILS ARE BAD MAYBE FUEL PUMP NO ONE IS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT AND I CANT SPEND ANY MORE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A CAR IM STILL FINANCING. VERY DISAPPOINTED! I DON'T FEEL SAFE AT ALL ON THE ROAD AND IM SCARED TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE STALLS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE HELP! FEEL VERY UNSAFE! *TR

HOT STEAM(COOLANT) CAME OUT OF VENTS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY AND MY DAUGHTER ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE STEAM FOGGED THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHY MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON AND WHY MY BRAKES WOULD FLUTTER AT TIMES WHEN USING THEM. I GOT ESTIMATE THAT MY BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS BAD AND THE SENSOR THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY TO DRIVE TILL I GOT FIXED IN A WEEK. I FAXED MY WARRANTY PAPERS TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS COVERED..ON SATURDAY 5 DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS DRIVING 35 MILES AN HOUR TRIED TO STOP AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR HAD NOTHING TO STOP ME BUT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ISSUED A TICKET HAD MY CAR TOWED AND I. AM HAVING HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN WHICH I'M GETTING TREATED..I DON'T FEEL AS IF THAT CAR WAS SAFE TO NE DRIVING.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED OFF ROAD INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT, AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V375000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2014 I WAS ON MY WAY HOME ON BRADDOCK ROAD. IT WAS A RAINY DARK NIGHT AND SO THE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AT LESS THAN THE SPEED LIMIT. AS I CAME ROUND THE BEND JUST PAST T.J. HIGH SCHOOL, I WENT OVER A DEEP POTHOLE THAT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO RATTLE AND SHAKE AND I KNEW MY CAR WAS DAMAGED. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AND MY HUSBAND DECIDED WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED. THE MECHANIC AT VOLKS WERKS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT RIM WAS DAMAGED AND THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. AFTER ALL THE WORKS WAS DONE TO GET MY CAR IN WORKING CONDITION IT COST US $997. THE POTHOLE WAS RECENTLY FILLED BECAUSE IT WAS A ROAD HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW VA DOT CAN HELP US WITH THIS LARGE BILL. I AM WILLING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF REQUESTED. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. ..UPDATED 12-26-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PROPERTY DAMAGED RESULTED, DUE TO THE BRAKE FAILURE. UPDATED 12/30/13

FUEL PUMP FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT WAS HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. I GO TO THE DEALER AND FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS A FUEL PUMP FOR CERTAIN 2003 VW PASSATS BUT MY VIN NUMBER FOR MY CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY FOR THE RECALL AND THEREFORE VW HAD REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR FIXING THE FUEL PUMP. MY DEALER HAD TOLD ME THAT THEIR WERE SIMILAR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS FOR ALL VW 2003 BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RIGHT VIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THE SHUTTERED STOPPED WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT IT STARTED TO SHUTTER AGAIN WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED. THE SHUTTERING SEEMED TO OCCUR BETWEEN THIRD AND FORTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. *TR

ABS MODULE FAILURE, ABS LIGHT ON BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING AND THEN ASR LIGHT ON, HAPPENS RANDOMLY, NO SPECIFIC REASON, DRY WEATHER, HUMID, DAY OR NIGHT. STILL COMES ON RANDOMLY, NO SPEEDING, PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWELVE TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

ON OR ABOUT FEB. 1, 2013, I STARTED MY MANUAL-TRANSMISSION 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS (V6) AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. AS SOON AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LURCHED BACKWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT START AND DID NOT START UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT THE ACCELERATOR COULD HAVE BECOME LODGED UNDER THE FLOORMAT, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE; NOR WAS IT THE CASE IN AT LEAST FOUR OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS. TWO OF THESE INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE AS I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER CARS AROUND ME AND I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE, SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PARK THE CAR. HOWEVER, I FEAR WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THIS INCIDENT RECURRED WHEN I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, RAILROAD CROSSING OR CROSSWALK. DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS, MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE INCIDENT OR IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 47-50 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A STRONG HIT,AS IF SOMEONE HIT ME FROM THE REAR... THEN MY DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING AND ALL THE TRANSMISSION GEARS GOT LOCKED UP, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF, FUNNY THING IS THIS HAPPENS DURING SUMMER ONLY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE OTHERWISE, I DON'T SEE IT... THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS. *TR

WHEN I TURN MY HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE PAST LEVEL 1, THERE IS ONE SPOT ON THE SEAT THAT GETS PAINFULLY HOT. I USUALLY TURN THE HEAT OFF AT THAT POINT. TODAY I WAS SO COLD THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN THE SEAT OFF, SO I PUT MY HAND BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY LEG. WHEN I TOOK MY HAND OUT, IT SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL ON THESE SEATS. I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT MAKE A CONCESSION SINCE IT IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE ON THE CAPITOL BELTWAY (495 INNER LOOP) I STARTED TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL. MOMENTS LATER WITHIN ABOUT 30 SECONDS THE ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY AND EXITED THE CAR. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. I WOULD DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT AS A SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THANK YOU. *TR

THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD CONTINUE TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE EVEN AFTER THE SIGNAL HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND THEN SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL ENTERS THE WHEEL CONSOLE. I BEGAN TO PULL OVER AT THE NEXT SAFE AREA AND BEFORE I COULD I NOTICED SMALL FLAMES COMING FROM THE SAME AREA WHERE THE TURN SIGNAL ENTERS THE WHEEL CONSOLE. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE SMOKE/FIRE SLOWLY SUBSIDED. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE TURN SIGNAL FUSE IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO A REPAIR SHOP. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH NO RECALLS ISSUED YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND POURING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND WATER AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND ONTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OVERHEATING. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER LEGS DUE TO THE HOT LEAKING COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,256.

FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE IS CRACKED AND LEAKING ON 2003 VW PASSAT 4MOTION/AWD (UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 08V156000). CONTACTED MULTIPLE DEALERS AND VW DIRECTLY AND DEALERSHIP/VW WILL NOT REPLACE FUEL TANK UNDER RECALL. BOTH STATED THIS RECALL WAS COMPLETED IN 2009 HOWEVER WORK COMPLETED WAS ONLY ONE PART OF THE RECALL THAT INCLUDED ADDING ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDS. VW CUSTOMER CARE STATED VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. CUSTOMER OBJECTED STATING THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. *TR *JS

ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY 2003 VW PASSAT FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE THAT DISABLES THE ABS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING 45MILES ON THE ROAD WHEN MY 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T STARTED TO SHAKE LIKE CRAZY. THEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING OUT..SMOKE CAME FROM MY HOOD. MY CAR STOPPED AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME SWERVED OUT THE WAY BUT CLIPPED ME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR MY OWN. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT AND SOMETIMES THE ANTI-SKID INDICATOR. THIS IS A COMMON AND EXPENSIVE PROBLEM FOR VOLKSWAGENS FOR MANY YEARS: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=40&TSTART=0 VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 56,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SMELL OF FUEL ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE FUEL LINES AND DID NOT FIND ANY ABRASIONS HOWEVER 20,000 MILES LATER, THE FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

FUEL SUPPLY LINE BEGAN LEAKING AT MOUNTING POINT ON FIREWALL ABOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BREAK/CRACK IN LINE WAS SIGNIFICANT AND POSED A HIGH PROBABILITY OF FIRE, AS ANY FUEL LEAK, BUT SUBSTANTIALLY MORE SO DUE TO THE LOCATION ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN CAR (2003 VW PASSAT 4MOTION) AFTER THE TANK IS FILLED UP. TOOK CAR TO REPAIRMAN WHO DIAGNOSED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. TOOK CAR TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL ON CRACKED FUEL TANKS (NEAR THE VALVES), BUT VW HAS STATED THAT THIS CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL 26E5/R5 CONCERNING UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED DUE TO THE RECALL, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $ 1343.00 TO REPLACE. RECALL # 08V156000 *JB THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN IF THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL, SHE WOULD NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/13/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A NOISE IN WHICH IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS LOW ON FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,008.

FRONT CONTROL ARMS FAILURE. VERY COMMON IN THIS SUSPENSION DESIGN. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUED IN EUROPE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. LIKEWISE, THE AUDI A4 SHARES THE SAME CHASSIS AND SAME FRONT END SUSPENSION. THESE CONTROL ARMS ARE SERIOUSLY UNDER DESIGNED. THIS IS DANGEROUS! HAVING THIS FAIL WHILE DRIVING WILL RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, AND IS BEING OVERLOOKED. THE BUSHINGS ON MY CONTROL ARMS (ALL 4 FOR EACH OF MY FRONT WHEELS, EIGHT IN TOTAL) ARE SERIOUSLY CRACKED AND NEED REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FAILING AT 50K AND 70K MILES. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING FAILED CONTROL ARMS. *TR

COILS FAILING RANDOMLY AND CAUSING THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY. POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO BE CAUSED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THIS. IE OXYGEN SENSOR ETC. *TR

FUEL POURING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE CAR. FIRE COULD HAPPEN. *TR

AT A STOPLIGHT CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER, I MADE IT HOME WITH THE CAR SHAKING THE ENTIRE TIME. HAD TO REPLACE COILS. HAVE BROKEN DOWN TWICE AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED SINCE THEN AND REPLACE COILS. NOT TOO MENTION THE OTHER SEVERAL TIMES COILS WERE REPLACED WITHOUT THE CAR ACTUALLY BREAKING DOWN. DUE TO THE COILS CONSTANTLY GOING BAD CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO GO BAD, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED MAY 2011 ALONG WITH THE COILS AND O2 SENSOR. BUT TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN DUE TO THE COILS. THEY WERE REPLACED, AND ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY ON THE CONVERTER DUE TO THE ISSUE WITH THE COIL PACKS! THE CAR NOW SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING WHEN ONLY DRIVING FOR 20-30 MINS. HAD TO GET A EMISSIONS WAIVER FROM THE DOT FOR 2 YEARS DUE TO THE PROBLEM SINCE IT WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH MORE THAN JUST THE COIL PACKS THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED A DOZEN TIME, YET THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE WHOLE HOUSING UNIT FOR THE COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE WIRES, TOO PREVENT FIRE AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CARS. *TR

HEATER STOPPED WORKING AND BLEW COLD AIR. BROUGHT CAR INTO VW DEALER BE SERVICED. HEATING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED WITH CLEANER. A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER "REPAIR," CAR WAS DRIVEN WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER ON AND A 1 1/4" HOLE BURNT THROUGH SEAT EXPOSING BURNT HEATING ELEMENT AND BURNT FOAM. HEATER STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER ABOVE "REPAIR." RETURNED TO DEALER TO REDO REPAIR AND REQUESTED THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT UPHOLSTERY LEATHER REPLACED. TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST $1000.00 AND THAT IT WOULD BE THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. CLEARLY THE SEAT HEATERS ON THIS CAR MODEL ARE DEFECTIVE GIVEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND PRIOR RECALLS. VW REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WITH A RECALL...WHICH LEADS TO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: "WHY WEREN'T THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT RECALLED AS WELL?" WAS THIS A CALCULATION ON THE PART OF VW CORPORATE....THAT THE COST OF REPLACING THE DRIVER SEATS THROUGH A RECALL WAS LESS THAT THE LIABILITY DUE TO BURNS/ACCIDENTS/LOSS OF LIFE...BUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE PASSENGER SEATS THROUGH A RECALL WAS CALCULATED TO BE MORE THAN THE LIABILITY THERE? THIS DOES NOT SMELL GOOD. CLASS ACTION SUIT SEEMS APPROPRIATE. *KB

OWNER DROVE THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (2.8 V6 ENGINE) HOME AND PARKED IT. HE CAME BACK OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS LATER AND FOUND THE VEHICLE SMOKING. SMALL FIRE AT RIGHT FRONT FLOOR PAN/MINOR MELTING OF DASH PLASTICS CAUSED BY HEAT FROM RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST PIPE/CATALYTIC CONVERTER. HEAT SHIELD MELTED, RUBBER BODY PLUG IGNITED AND CONSUMED, CARPET JUST ABOVE BODY PLUG WAS CHARRED. CAR JUST HAD RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND PIPE REPLACED. *TR

HEATED SEAT COILS OVERHEATED AND BURNT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE. 1 YEAR AFTER RECALL WAS DONE BY [XXX] VW BROCKTON MA, THEY TOLD ME THE HEATERS IN THE SEAT ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO CALL VW USA WITH MY PROBLEM, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 77,650 MILES WITH PROBLEMS WITH THE OILPUMP AND ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT IS UNKNOWN. THE AUTOMOBILE WILL STALL NOT START IT HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 6 MONTHS DUE TO THE RATTLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND I BELIEVE SLUGGED IS BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE BUT SINCE THEN I HAVE REPLACED TWO OILPUMPS IN THE VEHICLE AND THE SENSORS. ENGINE OIL PRESSURE FAILURE AND DEFECTIVE COILS ON EACH CYLINDER. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION COILS OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS (HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO REPLACED AT PERSONAL EXPENSE, AS THEY WERE NOT UNDER RECALL/WARRANTY) MOST RECENT ISSUE WITH SUCH HAS OCCURRED THE PAST TWO WEEKS, BEGINNING WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH PERIODS OF MY VEHICLE RUNNING VERY ROUGH (A "RUMBLING" TYPE SENSATION, PARTICULARLY WHEN IDLING/WHILE STOPPED) THIS SOON ESCALATED INTO A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE OTHER DAY, WHICH NECESSITATED IN ME HAVING TO ABRUPTLY PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER, SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. TOOK MY PASSAT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY, WHERE THEY READ THE ERROR CODE(S) FOR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT---TURNS OUT THERE ARE 10 IN ALL, 1 FOR EACH CYLINDER IN MY ENGINE (I HAVE A V6), 3 FOR EACH IGNITION COIL, AND 1 GENERAL ENGINE CODE. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I HAVE DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE IN A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME. I WILL BE CALLING THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANY RECALL/WARRANTY OUT FOR THIS ISSUE STILL. I AM VERY UPSET AND DISPLEASED WITH VW AND THEIR LACK OF RELIABILITY/CREDIBILITY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT IT IS QUITE WIDESPREAD FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND READ AND I HOPE THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT SOON, I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR THIS AND CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD FOR THE SAFETY HAZARDS OF IT TO GET ANY WORSE, IM AFRAID AN ENGINE FIRE WILL BE NEXT!! *KB

COILS FOR CYLINDERS 2-4 INEXPLICABLY FAILED AS WELL AS THE PLUGS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR MISFIRE CODE. ENGINE PURGE VALVE ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.