2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Engine Problems
13 NHTSA complaints on file
Engine Issues in the 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
13 engine complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Engine Complaints
WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR GETS FLOODED CAUSING THE WHOLE WIRING SYSTEM THROUGH THE CAR TO GET DAMAGE. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND DIE AS YOUR DRIVING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN. WHEN ON HIGHWAY MOST. THE CAR WILL NOT START OR CRANK. I'VE HAD TO VACUUM THE FLOOR BOARDS AND TRUNK, SEARCH FOR DAMAGED WIRES, CHANGE RELAYS AS WELL AS CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AND FUEL PUMP.AS WELL AS SENSORS. TRYING TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION JERKS VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO GO INTO REVERSE AND MOST OF THE TIME IN SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WITHIN1OR 2 SECONDS.
LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOW ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T GET FIXED. FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAD A LAW SUIT.
I STARTED MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE DOWN AROUND CITY STREETS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I WAS GOING SPEED LIMIT(25-30 MPH) DURING A COOL NIGHT(60*F). I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED(CAR WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURE PRIOR(190*F; ACCORDING TO GAUGE); THIS GAUGE SPIKE WAS FOLLOWED BY A BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY CUT OFF MY ENGINE. MY CAR BECAME IMMOBILE AND I LOST BRAKE AND STEERING FUNCTION. HOWEVER, MY RADIO AND CAR LIGHTS STILL WORKED! LUCKILY THERE WAS NO SURROUNDING CARS AND MY PARKING BRAKE WAS FUNCTIONAL. I THEN TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OVER THE ENGINE ONCE MORE. IT DID START HOWEVER I AM WORRIED THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER LESS FORGIVING CIRCUMSTANCES.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, DRIVING UPHILL. NEEDLE ON THERMOSTAT GAUGE SUDDENLY PERKED REALLY FAST TOWARDS HOT. ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO SIDE OF ROAD AND ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF FRONT OF ENGINE. DRIVER STEPPED OUT OF CAR. WHILE INSPECTING THE FRONT OF THE CAR, THE DRIVER SAW FLICKERING FLAMES UNDER RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE (AS SEEN FROM INSIDE). DRIVER TOOK SLEEPING CHILD OUT OF CAR SEAT AND STEPPED AWAY FROM CAR. CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE WITHIN MINUTES AND COMPLETELY BURNT UP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LARGE FLAMES IGNITED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,808.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD AN ISSUE ACCELERATING AFTER SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PICK UP SPEED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,611.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO INCIDENT TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED . I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY . I DROVE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT . I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM NO ENGINE CODES WHERE PRESENT . I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND THIS SAME SCENARIO PLAYED OUT AGAIN I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR ANY FURTHER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE AGAIN I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND AGAIN ALSO GOT REAR ENDED . HAD IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND THEY TO WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ENGINE CODES OR PROBLEMS...
WHILE DRIVING HOME ON A SNOWY DAY WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE SIDE TO SIDE HAD TO TRY AND EASE UP THE HILL, WHICH INTERN RAISED HE RPM UP AND THE "STOP OIL PRESSURE LIGHT &TURN OFF ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AFTER RESEARCHING IT SEEMS TO BE A SLUDGE ISSUE AND IS GOING TO BE COSTLY REPAIR AND WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ON THIS ISSUE THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED USING SYNTHETIC OIL ON ALL OIL CHANGES SINCE PURCHASED DID PURCHASE USED BUT ACCORDING TO THE CAR FAX AND AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERS THAT SERVICE THE VEHICLE IT HAS ALWAYS HAD SYNTHETIC. *TR
MY CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED WHEN I ENTERED A CONVENIENCE STORE. NO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OR ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE WHEN I ENTERED THE STORE. I EXITED THE STORE APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER ENTERING, AND THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE BELLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY GREW LARGE ENOUGH WHERE A STANDARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER COULD NOT PUT OUT THE FLAME AND A FIREFIGHTERS WERE REQUIRED. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE SCENE AND A MECHANIC AFTERWARDS COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, BUT BELIEVED THAT IT WAS LIKELY MECHANICAL OF SOME SORT. *TR
IN AUGUST OF 2013, WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. AFTER EXAMINING THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLENUM THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY AND BRAKE BOOSTER WAS NEARLY FILLED WITH RAIN WATER. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO REMOVE ONE OF THE DUCK-BILLED DRAIN PLUGS IN THE PLENUM AS ALL WERE CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS, PREVENTING WATER FROM DRAINING OUT. THE FLOODED PLENUM APPEARS TO HAVE RESULTED IN WATER BEING DRAWN THROUGH THE VACUUM LINES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WATER TO BE DRAWN INTO THE CRANKCASE. WATER WAS ALSO DRAWN INTO THE CYLINDERS RESULTING IN MISFIRING. AFTER REMOVING AT LEAST ONE DRAIN PLUG IN THE PLENUM FOR PROPER DRAINAGE, AND DOUBLE FLUSHING THE CONTAMINATED OIL IN THE CRANKCASE, I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER BRAKING PROBLEMS UNTIL FREEZING WEATHER IN NOVEMBER 2013. IN NOVEMBER, WHILE BRAKING NEAR THE...
MY DAUGHTER PULLED INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOTICED A FAINT ODOR OF SMOKE. SHE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. SHE WENT TO GET THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND UPON HER RETURN THE FLAME WAS OUT AND THE SMOKE SUBSIDED. I HAVE INSPECTED THE AREA AND I CAN'T IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE. I JUST LEARNED OF A RECENT INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA INTO MY2002 VW PASSAT FOR ENGINE FIRES CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11002 - REPORTED INITIAL AS PE10-027). *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER 45 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTOR BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Other 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Problem Areas
Electrical Systemignition
134 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
56 complaints
Electrical System
52 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
45 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
28 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
24 complaints
Unknown Or Other
18 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlights
17 complaints
Structure
17 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionmodule
15 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
15 complaints
Service Brakes
15 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
12 complaints
Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler
11 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly
10 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
9 complaints
Air Bags
8 complaints
Exterior Lighting
8 complaints
Service Brakes Electric
8 complaints
Tires
8 complaints
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
8 complaints
Electrical Systemwiring
7 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood
7 complaints
Structurebody
7 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolineturbosupercharger
6 complaints
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
6 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinedelivery
6 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
6 complaints
Suspensionfrontspringscoil Springs
6 complaints
Equipment
5 complaints
Power Train
5 complaints
Power Traindrivelineconstant Velocity Joint
5 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
5 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
5 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control
4 complaints
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
4 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
4 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings
4 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System
4 complaints
Seat Belts
4 complaints
Seats
4 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicpower Assistvacuum
4 complaints
Visibility
4 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemheater Core
4 complaints
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasher
4 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan
3 complaints
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
3 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipcontrol Unitmodule
3 complaints
Structureframe And Members
3 complaints
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
3 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Suspensionfront
3 complaints
Tirestreadbelt
3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
3 complaints
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
3 complaints
Visibilitywindshield
3 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
2 complaints
Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator
2 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
2 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash
2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control Esc
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengineother Fuel Typesturbosupercharger
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingheadlightsconcealment Devices
2 complaints
Exterior Lightingturn Signalflasher Unit
2 complaints
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblyfiller Pipe And Cap
2 complaints
Fuel System Other
2 complaints
Interior Lighting
2 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
2 complaints
Power Trainaxle Assembly
2 complaints
Power Trainaxle Assemblyaxle Shaftseal
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscpads
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicpower Assist
2 complaints
Tiressidewall
2 complaints
Air Bagssidewindow
1 complaint
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
1 complaint
Electrical Systemhorn
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcrankcase Pcv
1 complaint
Equipmentelectrical
1 complaint
Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift
1 complaint
Equipmentrecreational Vehicletrailer
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingfog Lights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightinghazard Flashing Warning Lightsswitch
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingturn Signal
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestorageauxillary Tank
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherfuel Injection System
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherstoragetank Assemblypressure Relief Devices
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkageshoodlatch
1 complaint
Parking Brake
1 complaint
Power Trainclutch Assembly
1 complaint
Power Traindrivelinedifferential Unit
1 complaint
Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft
1 complaint
Power Traindrivelineuniversal Joint
1 complaint
Power Trainmanual Transmission
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly
1 complaint
Seatsfront Assemblypower Adjust
1 complaint
Service Brakes Airdisccaliper
1 complaint
Service Brakes Airdiscpads
1 complaint
Service Brakes Airdiscrotor
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipabs Warning Light
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdrum
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentshoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsmaster Cylinder
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicpower Assisthydraulic
1 complaint
Steering
1 complaint
Structurebodyroof And Pillars
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontcontrol Arm
1 complaint
Suspensionmultiple Axle
1 complaint
Suspensionrearaxlespindle
1 complaint
Suspensionrearspringscoil Springs
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
1 complaint
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac System
1 complaint
Visibilityglass Siderear
1 complaint
Wheels
1 complaint
Wheelsrim
1 complaint