2006 Volkswagen Passat complaints

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2006 VW PASSAT, WHO HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LATEST BEING OF MOST CONCERN. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, IT WILL EITHER NOT TURN OVER AT ALL, OR THE ENGINE TURN OVER, THEN DIE. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERYTIME I AM IN THE CAR. MY VEHICLE IS 4,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, SO NEITHERVOLKSWAGON, NOR MY LOCAL VW DEALER WILL ASSIST ME WITH THE COST (BEING AN '!@#$% AMOUNT OF $1643.00 OUT OF POCKET), NOR HAS A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AT VW CORPORATE LEVEL, WITH NO RESULTS. IN DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS, WITH MULTIPLE POSTS OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, SPECIFICALLY THE 2006 MODEL. I HAVE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO ATTEMPT TO GET ANSWERS ON WHY VW IS NOT DOING MORE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. BELOW IS THE REPLY EMAIL I GOT FROM THEM, INSTRUCTING ME TO CONTACT YOUR COMPANY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME ON THIS MATTER. COPY OF EMAIL FROM BBB-- {I AM IN RECEIPT OF YOUR EMAIL SENT TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, INC. UPON REVIEW OF YOUR EMAIL, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THOUGH YOU HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I SUGGEST YOU BEGIN THERE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) IS AN OFFICE WITHIN THE NHTSA. ODI CONDUCTS DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS AND ADMINISTERS SAFETY RECALLS TO SUPPORT THE NHTSA'S MISSION TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS. NHTSA IS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE IGNITION AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK UP. THERE WERE TWO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MESSAGES DISPLAYED WERE "EMBOLIZATER ACTIVATED MOVE STEERING WHEEL" AND "STEERING LOCK DEFECTIVE". IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY WAS STUCK AND FAILED TO RELEASE. THE FAILURES OCCURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED BETWEEN SIX TO TEN TIMES WHILE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM HER RESIDENCE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.

I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN 2.0T & ON THE 18TH OF APRIL AS I CROSSED OVER A RAILROAD TRACK THE CAR EXHAUST GOT VERY LOUD. I HAD TO PULL OVER & SHUT CAR OFF. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY LATE AFTERNOON SO I HAD MY MECHANIC (NOT VOLKSWAGEN DEALER) LOOKED & FOUND THE FLANGE THAT BOLTS THE WHOLE EXHAUST TO THE MANIFOLD HAD BROKE (CLEAN BREAK ALL THE WAY AROUND ) @ THE FACTORY WELD, ALMOST LIKE IT HAD NEVER BEEN "TIG" WELDED COMPLETELY @ THE FACTORY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM INDICATED BY WARNING MESSAGE IN DASHBOARD. WE'VE SEEN THIS MESSAGE ON AND OFF OVER SEVERAL DAYS. ACCORDING TO SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE VW DEALER THE STEERING COLUMN WILL LOCK. THEREFORE, IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE IS 1,500.00 DLLS. I DID A WEB SEARCH TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS AMAZED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AND SO FAR THERE IS NO RECALL FROM VW FOR WHAT IS APPEARS A DESIGN ERROR. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT 3.6 L IN SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS NOW WITH SEIZED MOTOR AT JUST OVER 64K MILES - OIL LIGHT ALARM CAME ON SUDDENLY AT 70MPH ....IMMEDIATELY STOPPED VEHICLE AND HAD ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOW TO VW DEALER...BEEN THERE EVER SINCE...STILL WAITING FOR VW TO DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR ME... *TR

CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AND DISPLAY READS "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE". HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES. DEALER DENIES ANYTHING WRONG WITH CAR AFTER INSPECTION. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT STEERING LOCK FAILURE..WILL COST ME 1500 TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE COUNTLESS PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS BIG ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. *TR

I HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK OF MY 2006 PASSAT. FINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT PIECES OF THE PLASTIC COATING OF THE LATCH MECHANISM WERE CHIPPING OFF AND FOULING THE LATCH. THE LATCH WAS REPLACED WITH A BARE METAL PIECE AND THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS WAS NOT RESOLVED, HOWEVER, UNTIL AFTER SOME ANONYMOUS DO-GOODER DENTED MY TRUNK TRYING TO SHUT IT. *TR

POWER BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (WI WINTERS). OCCURS WHENEVER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 30'S OR LOWER. VACUUM HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. APPARENTLY CONDENSATION IS BUILDING INSIDE THE HOSE (REPORTED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.) *TR

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR: 1. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE & PERIODICALLY WILL NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. 2. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING BRAKING MY CAR IS SLIPPING AND TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY A RECALL ON OTHER VW PASSATS BUT NOT ON MY MODEL PASSAT BUT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MY MODEL AS WELL. BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTED TO GET THIS LOOKED AT WITH DEALER BUT WANTED YOU TO HAVE A RECORD OF THIS AND INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES. *TR

EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TIMES DOES NOT DISENGAGE OR ENGAGE. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WAIT A WHILE AND SOMETIMES IT DOES AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT ENGAGE/RENGAGE. GIVES ME A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE. *TR

HEADLIGHT SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY FAILS. HAS BEEN REPAIRED OVER FIVE TIMES. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT "STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE". CAR WILL NOT START CONSISTENCY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL MODEL OR FUEL PUMP FAILED AT LEAST THREE TIMES ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED HER TO STOP BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

THE GAS TANK OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OF 380 NEAR THE SCRANTON, PA. AT THE BEGINNING I DID NOTICE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I PARKED MY CAR IN THE CITY MALL NEARBY THE HIGHWAY. THE GAS LEAK WAS SIGNIFICANT. 10 GALLONS OF GAS WAS LEAKED OUT IN LESS THAN 15 MIN. THE FIRE-FIGHTER HELPED ME CLEAN THE PARKING AREA AND AVOID A POTENTIAL FIRE. BASED ON AN INSURANCE DAMAGE ADJUSTER'S INVESTIGATION, THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT FROM AN IMPACT OF A HARD OBJECT SUCH AS ICE OR A SMALL ROCK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GAS TANK IS GOING TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1400. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THAT GERMAN ENGINEERS HAVE NOT THOUGHT SUCH AN ACCIDENT DURING THE WINTER. OBVIOUSLY THE CHEAP MATERIAL OF THE GAS TANK AND LACK OF PROPER TANK SHIELD COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THIS DAMAGE. *TR

GOSH WHERE DO I START VW PASSAT 51000 MILES ALOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG.. CAR STARTER VOLKS CAME OUT CAUSING THE STARTER TO BREAK MY TRUNK DOESN'T CLOSE POPS OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD/FREEWAY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE THING FROM MY TRUNK EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE FREEWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS DEFECTED DOES NOT LOCK I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS OF VW DEALER SHIPS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME CAUSE ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND FOR STEERING LOCK I WENT BEFORE WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 90 DOLLARS I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LYING AROUND I HAVE CAR PAYMENT. INS ECT... IM SCARED IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPENED WHILE ME DRIVING WITH MY KIDS. *TR

THE VEHICLE I HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH IS A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L 55,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE. ON DEC 27 2008, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APROX 60MPH AND THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SPIN 180 AND I GOT HIT BY AN SUV DRIVING BEHIND ME ON THE SAME DIRECTIONAL LANE. AFTER THE INCIDENT I TRY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRAVEL LANE BUT THE WHEELS WERE STILL LOCKED. AFTER TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES I DRAGGED THE VEHICLE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING I WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND LEAVE THE SCENE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL I EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME LEFT AND BECAUSE I HAD MINOR DAMAGES AND I DECIDE NOT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE AUTHORITIES. IMMEDIATELY I CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND OPEN UP A CASE #80411298. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN NAPERVILLE IL AND AFTER 7 DAYS THE TECHNICIAN SAID: WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DOING A RESEARCH ON VW FORUM CALLED VW VORTEX, WWW.VWVORTEX.COM, I FOUND OUT THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS. THE REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND I SHOULD SAY I WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE I DID NOT GET HIT BY A HEAVY TRUCK, I DID

FAILURE OF CAR TO REMAIN RUNNING WHEN STARTING; HAS HAPPENED FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW NOW. TWICE IN ONE DAY. START CAR AND THEN IT STALLS RIGHT AWAY. ALSO RECEIVE STEERING COLUMN ERROR SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE. HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED FIRST TIME. THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED AGAIN AND THE BRAKE DID RELEASE. HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BRAKE REPLACED. ALSO, PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED BY ITSELF ONCE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING THE CAR OFF AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2008, I WAS HAVING MINIMAL ISSUES WITH HAVING THE KEY STICK INTO THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE EASILY PUSH THE KEY IN AND TAKE IT BACK OUT WITHOUT A PROBLEM. AROUND DECEMBER 2008 I HAD A "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD AND MY CAR SHUT OFF. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE EVERY 10 TIMES I TURN THE CAR ON. I TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMFORT SYSTEM MODULE. TOTAL COST: $1,500. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT WITH STEERING ISSUE. MESSAGE IN DASH INDICATES "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE." LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SAYS ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH 69,000 MILES. COST OF REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $2,000. THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING DAILY BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. AFTER SEARCHING VARIOUS INTERNET SITES IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER 2006 PASSAT OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, TRYING TO HAVE THEM COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE/DEFECT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON TREND FOR THE 2006 MODEL AND SHOULD POSSIBLY BE A RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VW PASSAT 2006 2.0T TODAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE STOPPED FOR A SHORT BREAK. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I GOT THE "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" MESSAGE ON THE CAR COMPUTER. AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE. WHEN I CHECKED THE PASSAT OWNERS FORUM, I REALIZED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I DECIDED TO INFORM NHTSA ABOUT IT. I WILL SEE THE DEALER TOMORROW TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF VERY OFTEN. VW DEALER REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

THE TRUNK ON MY 06 PASSAT WON'T ALWAYS STAY CLOSED. NOTHING IN PARTICULAR PRECIPITATED THE FIRST EVENT. I HAVE TO SLAM IT SHUT EVERY TIME AND IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO CLOSE. I WAS REAR-ENDED IN MARCH 2008 AND THE TRUNK WAS REPLACED. THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK. THE ORIGINAL TRUNK WAS NOT WANTING TO LATCH PROPERLY AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK DOES THE EXACT SAME THING. IT MUST BE SOMETHING ABOUT 06 PASSAT TRUNKS. I DID NOTICE THAT BEFORE THE TRUNK HAD ISSUES CLOSING, IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN I PRESSED THE TRUNK BUTTON ON THE KEY. ONCE AGAIN, EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WITH BOTH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK. *TR

FAILURE OF BOLT FOR OIL PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. CAR CURRENTLY AT DEALER AWAITING PARTS INCLUDING NEW REINFORCED BOLT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE AND HAS LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. ACCORDING TO DEALER PARTS ARE RESTRICTED DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVING DOWN SNOW AND ICE COVERED MOUNTAIN PASS IN COLORADO WHEN I SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED HEAVY RESISTANCE OF BRAKE PEDAL AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. FORTUNATELY, I MADE IT HOME SAFELY. SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VACUUM LINE FOR THE BRAKE HAD CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE AND DECREASED BRAKING. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH WHEN IT'S COLD. BROUGHT IT TO VW DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND THEY'VE REPLACED SEVERAL LOCKS AND THEY COULD REPLACE THE LOCK FOR $305. THEY LUBRICATED THE LOCK IN THE HOPES THAT IT MAY RESOLVE THE LATCH ISSUE. IF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH OTHER PASSATS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. - I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE HAD THE CAM SHAFT REPLACED, CAM SEAL LEAK REPAIRED 4 TIMES, CD PLAYER REPLACED, HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR REPLACED TWICE AND BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED ONCE. ALL WAS UNDER WARRANTY EXCEPT THE CAM SEAL LEAK AND THE TRUNK THAT WON'T CATCH AND CLOSE. A FORMAL COMPLAINED WAS LODGED WITH VW OF AMERICA GIVEN ALL OF THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE NEEDED; VW OFFERED ME $750 TOWARDS A NEW VW! NO OFFER TO PAY FOR A TRUNK THAT WON'T LATCH. RESEARCH ON LINE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS OF TRUNKS NOT LATCHING AND SOME OPENING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. VW REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LOCK . I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T MAKE RECALL DECISIONS BASED ON LINE COMPLAINTS. I TRAVEL ALONE FOR BUSINESS AND DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY SUITCASE, LAPTOP, ETC VISIBLE IN THE CAR BUT CAN'T USE THE TRUNK BECAUSE I COULD BE STUCK WITH A TRUNK THAT WON'T LATCH. THIS HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY AND I WAS STUCK IN FREEZING RAIN WITH A TRUNK FULL OF HOLIDAY GIFTS AND NO WAY OF CLOSING MY TRUNK. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF TRYING TO GET THE TRUNK TO LATCH IN THE FREEZING RAIN A GENTLEMAN WHO OWNS AN AUTO SHOP STOPPED AND TRIED WORKING ON THE LOCK ; COULD

ME AND MY WIFE WERE TRAVELING RT. 80 WEST BOUND TO EXIT 61 ELMWOOD PARK AT ABOUT 12:45 AM, WEATHER CONDITION WAS WET WITH RAIN AND ROADS WERE SLICK. AS MY WIFE(DRIVER) MERGED TOWARDS THE EXIT THE JEEP IN FRONT OF US DEAD STOPPED BECAUSE AS WE LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CAR BEFORE IT THAT SPUN OUT EARLIER. OUR CAR COLLIDED WITH THE STOPPED VEHICLE HITTING IT ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE AND OURS WAS THE LEFT SIDE FRONT . MY WIFE HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HIT MY KNEES IN THE DASHBOARD NEEDLESS TO SAY THE AIRBAGS ON OUR VEHICLE DIDN'T DEPLOY. IT WAS A 2006 VW PASSAT. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND ACCORDING TO THEM THE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES DID WORK AND THAT AIR BAGS WERE THE LAST RESORT TO SAVE LIVES. THIS COLLISION AND IMPACT WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED US IF WE DIDN'T WEAR OUR SEATBELTS. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE PRODUCT LIABILITY OF VW OF AMERICA WITH THIS, THEIR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *TR

DEFECTED AIRBAG. MY LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON MY 06 VW PASSAT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES (LIKE ONCE A MONTH) TO HAVE THEM REPLACE SENSORS. THE PROBLEM KEEPS RE-OCCURRING AND IS GETTING EXPENSIVE. THE DEALERSHIPS SOLUTION IS OBVIOUSLY TEMPORARY AND CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY TRUNK LATCH ON MY 2006 VW PASSAT WILL NOT LATCH. THIS CAUSES THE TRUNK TO OPEN UNLESS I HAVE IT DUCK TAPED DOWN. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I OPENED IT TO GET SOMETHING OUT AND IT WOULD NOT SHUT. I TAPED IT DOWN AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS CLOSED PROPERLY. AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND PUT THE STUFF IN IT, BUT IT WOULD NOT CLOSE AGAIN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE SINCE. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME I WAS THE 5TH OR 6TH PERSON THAT DAY WITH THE PROBLEM. I CALLED VW AMERICA WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE TAPE CAN FAIL AND THE TRUNK WILL SPRING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: NONE - SUDDEN FAILURE. WAS ON INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. POWER SUDDENLY DROPPED AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP. SPEED DROPPED VERY QUICKLY BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID INCIDENT AND GO THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAILURE: OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR BOLT BROKEN. CAR WAS AT DEALER FOR 15 DAYS TO REPLACE OIL PUMP, TIMING CHAIN, SPROCKETS, ADJUSTER TENSIONERS. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CAR WAS AT SECOND DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL 19 DAYS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS CREATED BY FIRST DEALER WHILE FIXING THE ENGINE. (RECEIVED APOLOGY BY PHONE FROM SERVICE MANAGER OF FIRST DEALER.) ISSUES: 1.SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. 2.FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS IN MANUAL, I DROVE CAR TO NEAREST DEALER ? A DISTANCE OF 10 MILES ? WITH REDUCED OR ZERO OIL CIRCULATION. LONGEVITY OF THE ENGINE MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED. 3.VW OF AMERICA DECLINED TO INSPECT THE ENGINE IN MORE DETAIL OR TO REPLACE ENGINE. 4.THIS IS A MODERATELY COMMON FAILURE OF THIS ENGINE. I FOUND 38 ALMOST IDENTICAL FAILURES AT: A.HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3462993 B.HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3193697 SUMMARY & REQUESTED ACTIONS: 1.RECALL ISSUED FOR AFFECTED ENGINES. 2.MY ENGINE REPLACED / VEHICLE REPLACED. *TR

THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED. IT APPEARS TO BE CLOSED AND THEN THE TRUNK OPENS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY THREE YEARS OLD AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

I HAD A 2006 PASSAT THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN NOV. 2006. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AFTER I PARKED IT AT WORK. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IT AND I MAINTAINED MY CAR. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE "IMPORTANT STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WITHOUT MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,700.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS HAD HIS AIR BAGS REPAIRED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES WITHIN TWO YEARS. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER. THE CONTACT HAS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER EVERY TIME THE ILLUMINATION OCCURS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

MY VEHICLE HAD 19K ON IT AND FROM A COLD START SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DAY OF THAT APPOINTMENT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOW HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS AND HAVE STILL NOT DIAGNOSED IT. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH CERTAIN YEAR PASSAT ENGINES. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE OIL PUMP IN PLACE BACKS OUT AND SHEARS OFF, THUS REQUIRING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH VW SERVICE AND UNHAPPY THAT MY VEHICLE HAD SUCH A FATAL PROBLEM SO EARLY. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR BEGAN HESITATING AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. UPON PULLING OVER AND OPENING THE HOOD, THE TOP-REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS GLOWING RED AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS OR SO BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY AN OFF-DUTY VOLUNTEER FIREMAN WHO ARRIVED PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SUBSEQUENT REVIEW BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOUND THE IGNITION COIL WAS THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE FIRE. PERHAPS THIS IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA07014, HOWEVER THAT ACTION ONLY COVERED 1999-2005 PASSATS; THIS IS A 2006 PASSAT. *TR

STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE, 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T AT 61,000 MILES, VEHICLE STARTED SHUTTING ITSELF OFF ONE SECOND AFTER STARTING WITH NO MESSAGE. WITHIN 500 MILES, DIAGNOSTIC MESSAGE REPORTED STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. VEHICLE IS 2,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY (LESS THEN 1 YEAR OLD), DEALER INSIST ON REPLACING STEERING COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN LOCK, STEERING COLUMN LOCK CONTROL MODULE AND THE CONVENIENCE CONTROL MODULE FOR A TOTAL OF $2400. I HAVE FOUND ON VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS MULTIPLE IDENTICAL INCIDENTS. THIS STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS AND WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE START AND VW HAS AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE IT RIGHT. *TR

WHEN TRYING TO START OUR 2006 PASSAT THE INFO PANEL SHOWS "STEERING WHEEL DEFECTIVE". A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH CAME UP WITH 4 OF THE SAME SITUATIONS IN 2006 PASSATS ON ONE SITE. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT $1700. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. IT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. VW TOLD THE DEALER THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE PART ONLY FOR "GOOD FAITH". NO, IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT FROM THE START WHICH IS ALSO A HUGE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPLETE COST IN ADDITION TO A RECALL. *TR

I LEASED A NEW VW PASSAT IN 2006. THE TIRES WORE OUT IN 21,000 EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND BASICALLY DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TIRES THAT LASTED LESS THAN 35K. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN IDLING ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE LUNGES BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS IS TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO OFFSET THE STEADY DECLINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE DUE TO A POTENTIAL DESIGN FLAW WITH THE COMBINATION MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. A PERMANENT REMEDY HAS NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE. BASICALLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUSTED AT A FLANGE SEAM WHERE IT BOLTS TO THE MOTOR. THIS FURTHER CAUSED MY BRAKES TO FAIL AFTER HOT EXHAUST BLEW ON THE BRAKE VACUUM TUBE FOR THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER VOLKSWAGEN OR THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ARE WILLING TO BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE, SINCE IT IS 8,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. SUPPOSEDLY THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE PART 10 DAYS AGO, AND IT STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED. THE IRONY OF THIS IS THAT WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THEY WOULD RETURN THE DEFECTIVE PART TO ME, THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO RETURN IT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR A WARRANTY EXCHANGE! *TR

AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS COME ON. FIRST CAME ON 10/2006 DEALER REPLACED MALFUNCTIONING R/FRONT SIDE AIRBAG, CONNECTERS TO HARNESS WERE FAULTY AS WELL. 1/2008 CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER REPAIRED FAULTY WIRING FOR PASSENGER SIDE. 5/2008 CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER DIO FOUND UPPER LIMIT EXCEEDED DRIVERS SIDE UNIT, FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING AGAIN. 6/2008 AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN, DEALER INSPECTION FOUND WIRES FOR DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR FAULTY/POOR CONTACT. 6/2008 TO PRESENT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN, HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN YET CAUSE I'M QUITE ANNOYED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND I PRAY TO GOD THAT IF I DO HAVE AN ACCIDENT ALL OF MY AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY BUT WITH ALL THE REPAIRS DONE I DON'T THINK THEY WILL. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP *TR

ON A WARM DAY WITH THE A/C RUNNING, MY 2006 PASSAT 3.6L WILL HAVE AN ENGINE SURGE INCREASING RPM TO 1,000 WHILE STOPPED. THIS HAS ALMOST AMOUNTED IN A CRASH ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS IT MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO KEEP STOPPED AND CAUSES IT TO LUNGE FORWARD. IT ALSO RESULTS IN LOW FUEL ECONOMY AS THE CAR IDOLS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL 600RPM. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS OR DURING HOT DAYS I TURN ON MY A/C TO HIGH. WHEN I DO THIS OCCASIONALLY, MY CARS ENGINE WILL RACE AND THE RPM'S WILL SHOOT UP FROM ABOUT 600 TO AROUND 900-1000. THIS IDLE RAISE CAUSES THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD THUS MAKING ME THE DRIVER HAVE TO REALLY PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS WHAT BRAKES ARE FOR, BUT I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 3 OR 4 MINOR FENDER BENDERS BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM CONSCIOUS OF THIS ON A DAILY BASIS IN PHOENIX. I KNOW OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR SOME OF THE NEWER PASSAT VEHICLES, BUT NONE FOR MY 2006. I MUST STRESS THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON HIGH AND DURING THE HOTTER TIMES OF THE YEAR. *TR

SHEARED OIL PUMP BOLT AT 16,000 MILES. ENIGNE LOST ALL POWER. DEALER REPLACED OIL PUMP, TIMING CHAIN AND ALL RELATED HARDWARE. ASKED MANUFACTURER (VOLKSWAGEN) AND DEALERSHIP FOR NEW ENGINE DUE TO LIKLEY OIL STARVATION AFTER OIL PUMP WAS INOPERATIVE. REQUEST DENIED. VERY UNHAPPY AS THIS VERY LOW MILEAGE CAR MAY HAVE A SEVERLY DAMAGED ENGINE THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL LIGHT ACTIVATED DUE TO TO THE RESULT OF A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ACTIVATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE IS A DEFECT WITH AN OIL PUMP BOLT THAT THROWS THE CAMSHAFT OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF POWER AND CANNOT ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED. THE RPM'S INCREASE UP TO 4K BUT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOESN'T INCREASE. INSTEAD THE RPM'S DECREASE WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. PER THE MANUFACTURER, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN 2006-2007 B6 3.6 LITER PASSAT. THE 2.0 LITER PASSAT IS NOT AFFECTED. VW IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE APPLICABLE PARTS UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY SINCE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50K MILES. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OWNERS AFFECTED CAN BE LISTED AT HTTP://FORUMS.MOTIVEMAG.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3462993

ENGINE RPM INCREASES WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING CAUSING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BRAKES TO PREVENT CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD

I OWN A 2006 VW PASSAT, AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE PARKING LOT, AT 5 MILES/HOUR. MY PASSAT WOULD NOT STOP IN THE PARKING SPOT, IT WENT SLOWLY FORWARD, HIT THE LIGHT POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE, THEN IT WENT HEAD ON TO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF THE SPOT I CHOSE TO PARK. IT HIT THIS CAR AND IT PUSHED THE CAR FOR 8 FEET BEFORE MY PASSAT STOPPED. IT ALL HAPPENED AT VERY LOW SPEED SO I COULD HAVE THE TIME TO SEE MY FOOT BEING ON THE RIGHT PEDAL, ON THE BRAKE, AND I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. AND ALL THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED FUEL PUMP. SO IT SEEMS THAT VW DID NOT FIX IT'S OLDER PROBLEM, THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2003 PASSAT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS IN THE NEWER MODELS, TOO. *TR

HIGH IDLE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. IDLE IS RAISED TO 1000-1050RPMS DURING TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90F. THIS CAUSES LOADING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CAR AT A STOP. THIS CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY PRESENTING A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST RAN INTO SEVERAL CARS AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES DURING THE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR