2006 Volkswagen Passat complaints

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THAT VW HAS FAILED TO OFFER A RECALL FOR 2006 PASSAT STEERING COLUMN AND COMFORT MODULE MALFUNCTION. THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SAFETY ISSUE IS A POTENTIALLY STRANDED DRIVER. *TR

2.0T FSI ENGINE WITH 44K MILES HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MISFIRES IN CYLINDER #2, UNRESOLVED AFTER 5 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. DEALER HAS FOLLOWED VW CORPORATE TECHLINE INSTRUCTIONS AND REPLACED IGNITION COILS (TWICE), CAMSHAFT, FUEL PUMP, HYDRAULIC LIFTER IN BAD CYLINDER, INTAKE BREATHER HOSE, INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSOR AND OTHER PARTS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. CAR WILL RUN OK WITH NO ERROR CODES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 3 - 5 DAYS AFTER REPAIR BEFORE PROBLEM RECURS, AND CONDITION OF ENGINE CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. DUE TO MISFIRES, UNBURNED FUEL IS NOW REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (DETECTED BY SULFUR SMELL) AND LIKELY DAMAGING THAT COMPONENT AS WELL. ENTIRE ENGINE VIBRATES SEVERELY DUE TO IMPROPER FIRING SEQUENCE AND FEELS AS IF IT WANTS TO JUMP OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR HAS 1 MONTH LEFT ON WARRANTY; WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT "WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FIXED WHILE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS OUT OF POCKET," BUT THEY APPEAR EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FIX THE ROOT CAUSE. DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO PROVIDE RENTAL OR LOANER CAR DURING MULTIPLE REPAIRS, SO I HAVE HAD TO RELY ON A 15-YEAR OLD VEHICLE AS PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION DURING MULTIPLE REPAIRS LASTING 1 TO 5 DAYS. WILL CALL VW CUSTOMER CARE TODAY BUT DO NOT EXPECT SATISFACTION, DESPITE THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY STEERING COLUMN LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON AND OFF. IT STATES STEERING COLUMN DEFECT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER I RESTART MY CAR A FEW TIMES. I FIGURED IT WAS AN ELECTRIC ISSUE. NOW FOR THE PAST WEEK OR SO, MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS TURNING ON AND IT CONTINUES TO STATE STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE. IT TOOK 10 TIMES TO GET MY CAR STARTED TODAY. MY STEERING COLUMN LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE ALL CAME ON EACH TIME I TRIED TO START MY CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BEFORE I FINISHED EXPLAINING MYSELF, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, BUT MY CAR IS CERTIFIED SO IT MAY BE COVERED. THERE ARE OVER 40 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO RECALL WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM! *TR

CAR WILL NOT START, HAVE TO KEEP TRYING OVER AND OVER HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY. AFTER A FEW MINS ANYWHERE FROM 2MIN TILL 15MIN OF RESTARTING IT WILL START. *TR

I AM A PHD COMPUTER SCIENTIST AND MY VW'S COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE SPONTANEOUSLY CHANGED ITS SETTING. A VW DEALER TECHNICIAN DOCUMENTED THE CHANGE, AND RESET THE PARAMETER TO FACTORY SETTINGS. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES ON MY CAR AT COSTCO. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" WARNING LIGHT LIT. I REPORTED THIS TO THE COSTCO EMPLOYEE WHO HAD DONE THE WORK. HE CHECKED THE FACTORY SETTINGS BY THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND MADE SURE ALL TIRES WERE SET TO THAT PRESSURE, 35 LBS. THE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON EVERY TIME I DROVE. I SCHEDULED A REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH A VW DEALER. THE TECHNICAL FOUND THAT THE CONTROL UNIT'S SETTING HAD CHANGED TO 100101 FROM 100100. HE RESET THE PARAMETER, AND THE START-UP WARNING STOPPED. *TR

I ADVISED VOLKSWAGEN THAT I HAD THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIX THE ISSUE FOR ME BUT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT 900 DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2006 PASSAT I OWN. THE REP TOLD ME THAT A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BUILT WRONG. IT IS TO SHORT AND THE TSB THAT IS OUT FOR THIS ISSUE EXPLAINS THAT A WIRING HARNESS WITH LONGER WIRES IS NEEDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THE ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING IT WAS NOT THERE FAULT AND THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR RECALLS I NOTICED THERE IS AN EXACT RECALL FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN CC WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME . *TR

I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T WITH 30,000 MILES. I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST YEAR, KEY WILL NOT COME OUT IN PARK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, CAR CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, BUT WAS BRUSHED OFF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO "DO IT AGAIN." NOW THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT IS ON. VW DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. IF NOT REPLACED, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD FIX ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. *TR

1ST OCCURRENCE, STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING CAME ON UPON IGNITION, IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE CAR. TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER "A" IN OCTOBER OF 2007, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR COMPLAINT, THEY TREATED IT AS AN ISOLATED EVENT. WE CONTINUED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT TO DEALER "A", WITHOUT RESOLUTION. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO DEALER "B", THEY REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. DEALER "B" ALSO STATED THAT THEY SEE 2-3 CARS A WEEK FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1500, DESPITE THAT WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A TEMPORARY METHOD TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE CAR IS STARTED WAS DISCOVERED ON A FORUM FULL OF HUNDREDS OF REPORTS FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3656214&PAGE=1) ADDITIONALLY, VW IRELAND HAS DEVELOPED A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED IN A MAJOR IRISH NATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATION, HOWEVER VW AMERICA DENIES SUCH A FIX EXISTS AND REFUSES TO COOPERATE WITH VW IRELAND OR LOCAL DEALERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS C

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING FROM A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO POWER. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,742. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED AS WELL.

VW 2006 PASSAT 2.0 T STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE SIGNAL AND THE CAR DOESN'T START. AFTER DOING INTERNET SEARCH, IT SEEMS MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH PASSATS AND JETTAS. IT SEEMS THE VW COMPANY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS SEEMS TO BE GENERALIZED. MANY OF US ARE BEING TOLD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT TO HAVE SOLUTION. *TR

FOR 2 TIMES THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAD APPEARED. MAY CAUSE STEERING WELL MALFUNCTION. RISK OF LOSE CONTROL. AFTER RESTART THE ENGINE THE PROBLEM WAS GONE, NO ERRORS ON ECU. *TR

I OWN A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT SERVICED FOR DRIVERS AIRBAG FAULTS FIVE TIMES. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO GUARANTY THAT THE AIRBAG WILL EVER DEPLOY IN CASE OF A CRASH. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

VOLKSWAGEN HAS ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME, BOTH THE DEALER (DEAN TEAM IN KIRKWOOD) AND THEIR CUSTOMER SUPPORT GROUP 800-822-8987) THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS THAT THEIR IS A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG IGNITER SWITCH - THE PROBLEM CONVENIENTLY TENDS TO OCCUR RIGHT AT THE TIME WHEN THE CAR EXCEEDS IT'S 50,000 WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF YET ARE IGNORING IT AND REFUSING TO ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR (UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER THAT HAS OWNED AT LEAST 3 OF THEIR CARS - THEY ACTUALLY TOLD ME THIS!) I'M NOT ONE TO TYPICALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS BUT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF AND SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE AS THEY PREACH HOW 'SAFE' THEIR CARS ARE. *TR

MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN LOCAL ROADS AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER VERY QUICKLY. IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, I COULD SERIOUSLY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT TRUNK LATCH FAILS IN COLD WEATHER. WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND COMES OPEN WHILE DRIVING. IT OCCURS DURING THE ENTIRE COLD WEATHER SEASONS. NUMEROUS INFO ON WEB SEARCH. VW OF AMERICA DENIES PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A SECOND HAND VEHICLE ON 1/11/10 FROM KOEPPEL VOLKSWAGEN INC AND AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY OUR SALES PERSON TELLS US TO BRING IT BACK BECAUSE HAS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED INCLUDING PASSENGER FRONT SEATBELT THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT ON AFTER HE PULLED LAST NIGHT. TODAY I CALLED ASKING THE MANAGER OF THE DEALER HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO SELL A CAR WITH SAFETY DEFECTS AND HE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE AND IF THAT'S THE CASE TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIR . HOW THIS CAR PASSED SAFETY INSPECTION. *TR

MY 2006 PASSAT WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND HE STEERING LOCK LIGHT WILL COME ON PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *TR

'07/19/2006: PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT '04/13/2007: RADIO WILL NOT EJECT CD- THE STEREO SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY RADIO '12/06/2007: CAR WILL NOT START ' CALLED TOW COMPANY, UPON ARRIVAL CHECKED BATTERY AND IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM; TOW COMPANY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START; CAR WAS TOWED TO LASHER VOLKSWAGEN '12/14/2007: CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN, SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE ON 12/06/2007; CALLED THE TOW COMPANY AND HAD IT TOWED TO LASHER DEALERSHIP; AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS BACK AND FORTH, VW DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM NOR HAVE THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE YET '01/12/08: PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM LASHER VW ' SEEMED TO WORK OKAY '01/14/08: WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO UNLOCK AND LOCK BY THEMSELVES AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY; ALSO, SUDDENLY LIGHT INDICATORS (BLINKERS) DID NOT WORK, HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, STEERING WHEEL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON; THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION '01/17/08: WHILE DRIVING TO BERKELEY, ON THE FREEWAY, THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, AND COULD NOT GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK; LOCKS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING; TELEPHONE CALL AGAIN, TO LASHER VW TO EXPRESS GREAT CONCERN AND WORRIED ABOUT BEING STRANDED; WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN ON FRIDAY 01/1/08 AT 7:30 AM; ONCE WE ARRIVED IN BERKELEY, WE PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION ' THE RADIO WAS STILL ON AND THE H

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING ON A BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT HE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH 2006 VW PASSAT WHERE IT WILL START BUT WILL NOT STAY RUNNING. HAVE CHECKED WEBSITE AND DETERMINED THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL OF VW. AM CONCERNED AS THERE IS A MESSAGE THAT DISPLAYS THAT SAYS DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 81K MILES. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE.

FUEL PUMP MODULE BURNED OUT UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING ENGINE TO CEASE OPERATING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY 5 MIN. BEFORE FAILURE. ONCE ENGINE STOPPED,VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER TO SIDE OF ROAD, HAD TO COAST TO SAFE SHOULDER. *TR

2006 PASSAT SEDAN DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN MESSAGE IN DASHBOARD MONITOR. *TR

2006 PASSAT THAT WON'T START AND HAS STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE LIGHT COME ON. TOLD I NEED NEW COLUMN AND COMFORT CONTROL MODULE ALSO FOR $1500.00 THAT I DON'T HAVE. I AM SO SICK OF THIS CAR. LOTS OF BIG PROBLEMS BUT THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY, NOW I AM OUT OF WARRANTY BY 5000 MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH SO MANY CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 65000 MILES ON IT. OWNED IT FOR MONTH AND A HALF, THEN THE PIECE CONNECTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CLAMP AND GASKET BROKE. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED AND THEY REPAIRED THIS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL LAW STATING IT WAS COVERED UP TO 80,000 MILES OR 8 YEARS. WHILE IT WAS AT VW BEING REPAIRED THEY CHECKED FOR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS AND INFORMED ME THAT MY HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP LOBE AND FOLLOWER WERE ALSO IN NEED OF REPAIR SOON. AND BEGAN TELLING ME VW OF AMERICA HAS ADMITTED THAT THE CAMSHAFT LOBE (AND HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP LOBE) WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, BUT THE BULLETIN WAS ONLY ISSUED TO THE DEALERSHIP (NOT THE PUBLIC). THIS ALSO AFFECTS THE EVAP SYSTEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY CAN KNOW OF A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NOT HAVE A RECALL ON A CAR? THE WARRANTY SPECIALIST SUGGESTED THAT I CALL VW CUSTOMER CARE, BUT THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY CONCERN... WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO GET A RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE COIL FOR THE SPARK PLUG MADE A RATTLING NOISE. HE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL ODOR, THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, SMOKE WAS RELEASED FROM THE COIL ITSELF. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM HIM AND GIVE HIM CREDIT TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR PERMISSION FROM THE MANUFACTURE VOLKSWAGEN TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR HIM TO ACCEPT. THE OFFER TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14000.

MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SOMETIMES WILL NOT START-- STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT IS THE ERROR MESSAGE. THIS HAS LEFT MY CAR INOPERABLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS,... EVENTUALLY IT DOES START. I AM PLANNING TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED FOR $1500. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY NOW. *TR

2006 PASSAT SECURITY SYSTEM SENSOR BETWEEN KEY AND COMPUTER IN COLUMN FAILS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE STARTING, BUT NOT YET WHILE DRIVING. MANY POSTS ON HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2006/VOLKSWAGEN/PASSAT REPORT IT HAPPENING WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I OWN A VW PASSAT 2006 AND KEEP GETTING A STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE MESSAGE IN MY HUD. THIS STALLS OUT THE CAR AND TAKES RESTARTS OF IGNITION JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE. I HAVE READ THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND COSTS AROUND1500 DOLLARS TO FIX. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNNECESSARY EXPENSE ON THE CONSUMER END WHEN VW SHOULD REALLY BACK THERE PRODUCT BETTER. *TR

MY DASH KEEPS TELLING ME STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS DEFECTIVE. MY CAR WON'T START HALF THE TIME. I HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR RUNNING IF I PLAN ON GETTING RIGHT BACK IN. *TR

DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN LOCK MESSAGE KEEPS COMING UP ON 2006 VW PASSAT STARTED HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER NOW 1 1/2 MONTHS LATER IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

1) THE CAR HAS 67,000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5,000 MILES AS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER. 2) THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND IT CAME UP WITH A WARNING MESSAGE THAT READ "STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE." IT CAME ONLY ONCE, BUT FAILURE OF THIS STATIONARY PART COULD RESULT IN LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. AS PER THOUSANDS OF BLOG THREADS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS. 3) THE PART HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER (VOLKSWAGEN) NO LONGER USES THE SAME PART. THEY USE A NEW IMPROVED PART THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AT MOST OF THE TIMES IT STARTS AND DIES IMMEDIATELY. *TR

EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS, 'STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE' MESSAGE APPEARS ON 2006 VW PASSAT SCREEN, AND CAR WON'T START. AFTER 5 OR 6 TRIES THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS. I SEE POSTINGS SIMILAR TO THIS IN MANY INTERNET FORUMS REGARDING 2006 PASSAT. *TR

VOLKSWAGEN 2006 2.0T PASSAT HAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I KNOW OF NUMEROUS PASSAT 2006 DRIVERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS UNSAFE AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING WHEN IT OCCURRED. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND I AM JUST OUT OF THE WARRANTY. IT IS UNFAIR AND UNSAFE. IT HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY PASSAT DRIVERS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO TOW BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS LOCKED UP ON THE CAR, COULDN'T PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, ALL WHEELS WERE LOCKED, BRAKES,ETC. THE SERVICE PERSON AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE KEYS ARE NOT BEING READ BY THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $1300. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A VW DEFECT. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT 3.6 4-MOTION. 65K MILES. STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. WHILE ON MY HONEYMOON TRIP WITH MY NEW WIFE TO VANCOUVER B.C. MY CAR FAILED TO START AS USUAL. KEY IS PLACED IN DASH AND PRESSED INTO STARTING POSITION. CAR STARTS AND THEN ABRUPTLY ENGINE STOPS. VERY INTERMITTENT. PROBLEM IS WORRYING BECAUSE IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T. STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS LEADING UP TO 07-30-08, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. VW REPROGRAMMED KEYS BUT REFUSED TO COVER COSTS EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND APRIL 2009, VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS CRANKING AGAIN. VEHICLE WOULD START THEN THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DIE, BUT NOT EVERY TIME. CONDITION GOT WORSE AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT. THEY WERE FINE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE COMPUTER GAVE A "STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE" ERROR. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON 06-16-2009. THIS TIME THEY SAID STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO EARLIER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT DIFFERENT VW DEALER AT OWN COST. I KEPT THE OLD PARTS. *TR

CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN KEY WAS INSERTED. PROBLEM WAS VERY INTERMITTENT AT FIRST AND THEN BECAME MORE AND MORE COMMON. THEN SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START BUT STOP IMMEDIATELY. DEALERS AT FIRST TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BUT NOW STATE THAT THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,200. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH 30% OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,000.

HAVING ISSUES WITH STEERING COLUMN LOCK, CAR NEVER STARTS, TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET IT TO START. SAVING MONEY TO PAY FOR 1500.00 REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON MONDAY JUNE 22 @ 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THIS WAS EXTREMELY SCARY DUE TO BEING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AT SUCH A SPEED. I ALMOST DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND. THE VEHICLE TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS FROM THERE TO START AGAIN. *TR

ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN CONTINUES TO PRODUCE WARNING LIGHTS AFTER BEING SENT IN FOR SERVICE. WARNING MESSAGE THAT ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK IS DEFECTIVE CONTINUES COMING ON. ERROR MESSAGE CAUSES THE CAR TO NOT START, SOMETIMES TAKING 2-10 RESTARTS TO GET THE CAR RUNNING. POWER ASSISTANCE AND ELECTRONIC STEERING CAN FAIL (ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL) IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO SELF AND OTHERS OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF THIS IS NOT FIXED. HAVE RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO HAVE DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRS ARE VERY COSTLY. ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,500-2,600. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE, AND MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IF NOT FIXED. *TR

THE CAR SUDDENLY WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" WARNING APPEARED ON THE IN-DASH CONSOLE. THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I REMOVED THE KEY AND TRIED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND THE CAR STARTED OKAY. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE STRETCH OF ONE WEEK OR SO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

HUMID DAY, BEGAN RAINING. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT FUNCTION IN 2006 VW PASSAT. CAR HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ON THIS ISSUE AND A MOISTURE KIT INSTALLED BY DEALER. NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WILL BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START, DASHBOARD WARNING "STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILURE" I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH B6 PASSAT OWNERS. THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY FAULTY CONTACTS YET THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IS REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND COULD COST UP TO $2000.. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. SHE REMOVED ALL OF THE FUSES, BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATED. SHE FEELS THAT THE FAILURE WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.

I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT, AMONG MANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR, THE MOST RECENT AND MY SERIOUS CONCERN FOR SAFETY IS THE ""STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" THE CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START AT ALL OR WILL START AND IMMEDIATELY DIE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBER OF VW CUSTOMERS THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET! THE COST TO FIX THIS IS IN THE UPWARDS OF $1500. ONE THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND TWO THERE SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN HERE THAT THIS IS A VW DEFECTIVE ISSUE! THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I AM PREGNANT AND CAN'T EVEN GET HOME AFTER DRIVING TO WORK OR THE STORE! I FEEL VW HAS AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS RECURRING PROBLEM! I HOPE YOU CAN PURSUE THIS. *TR

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY A FAULTY BOLT. THE OIL PUMP BOLT FAILS ON 3.6'S AND THE ENGINE SELF-DESTRUCTS DUE TO NO OIL PRESSURE. *TR

WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START MY CAR, IT WILL INITIALLY TURN OVER BUT WILL THEN SHUT DOWN. THE IN DASH COMPUTER STATES A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A MODULE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT THE REPAIR BILL WOULD BE $2000.00. THEY ALSO CONFIRMED THAT ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, EXCEPT THAT THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON THEM WHILE DRIVING. THE GENTLE I SPOKE WITH EXPLAINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP CAN ALSO OCCUR WITH MINE. HE THEN STATED THAT VW AMERICA WAS GOING TO PAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 800.00 OF THE REPAIR BILL AND I WILL HAVE TO COVER THE REST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP ON HER VEHICLE AND PREVENTS IT FROM BEING DRIVEN. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AND AN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED A MODULE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 05/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/08/09 *BF UPDATED 6/16/09 *NJ THE LEFT REAR CALIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL DID NOT WORK, THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE HOOD RELEASE LEVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 06/17/09.*JB

VEHICLE WILL NOT START 70% OF THE TIME. VEHICLE STALLS ONCE STARTED. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. QUOTE WAS PROVIDED TO REPAIR, BUT PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR