2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

DECEMBER 30, 2011, THE ENGINE EMISSIONS LIGHT CAME ON. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO PEP BOYS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ON BRAKES/EMISSION. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. COST $100. FEBRUARY 10, 2012, THE ENGINE EMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND ESPECIALLY IN QUICK RESPONSE SITUATIONS, I.E. TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER/REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS AND CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID. I STILL EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM DURING COLD WEATHER (BELOW 15 DEGREES AND WIND CHILL). VW SUGGESTED BRINGING THE CAR IN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS THE SAME AS THE TEMPERATURE THAT I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS MARCH AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER COLD DAYS. I BEGAN TO THINK THE CAR WAS A WARM WEATHER VEHICLE. COST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER BEGAN TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE UPWARD AND DOWNWARD OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE MALFUNCTION PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

THE VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CANNOT SEE WHEN I PUT THE HEATER ON. THE WINDSHIELD BECOMES COMPLETELY COVERED WITH STEAM. I HAVE ALMOST CRASHED 5 TIMES ALREADY. HELP! *TR

IGNITION COILS CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC STATES THAT THEY "CATCH FIRE ALL THE TIME". *KB

MY COMPLAINT IS MORE GENERAL IN NATURE. I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN 2001. THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR I PURCHASED BRAND NEW. AS I THINK BACK OVER THE TIME THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE AND READING THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOGGED IN ON THIS SITE, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD OFFER SOME TYPE OF SUBSTANTIAL "HARDSHIP" REIMBURSEMENT BESIDES REPAIRS AND SUCH. IN THE TIME THAT I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE, I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING INCIDENTS OCCUR: 1. HAVE A CONTROL UNIT REPLACED (HORN NOT WORKING, UNABLE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS, ETC..) 2. REPLACE IGNITION COIL (STOP MOTOR STATUS LIGHT COMING ON AS I'M DRIVING IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC) 3. HAD UNDERSHIELD FALL FORWARD AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE STATE HIGHWAY, PRETTY MUCH SCOOPING UP POTENTIAL DEBRIS FROM THE ROADWAY SURFACE. 4. DAMAGE TO ENGINE FROM OIL SLUDGE AND OIL PUMP REPLACEMENT NO LESS...

IN 2002, I BOUGHT MY PASSAT NEW. AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2010, THE STOP OIL LIGHT CAME ON. TWO WEEKS LATER, A RECALL LETTER ARRIVED. I DROVE TO PASADENA AND BACK TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 2011. AFTER A LITTLE MALFUNCTION ON THE FREEWAY IN LIVERMORE, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND THE PASSAT STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL ENGINE. TOWED TO DUBLIN VW. THEY SAY THE ENGINE IS FRIED AND A NEW ONE WOULD COST $6800. ALL THIS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, AND NOTICED SMOKE RELEASING FROM THE VENTS. WITHIN MOMENTS THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE AS 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AFTER DRIVING AN ADDITIONAL TWO MILES, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE ABD WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE AND WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR OF PLASTIC AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS GIVEN A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBLEMS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE "STOP MOTOR OIL PRESSURE". THEIR EXACT WORDS TO ME WERE" THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, BUT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. IT IS A FILTER IN THE ENGINE THAT KEEPS GETTING CLOGGED, AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO." I TOLD THEM THAT I NEEDED MY CAR AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING, THAT CARS ARE CATCHING ON FIRE. THEY SAID THAT I COULD GET AN ENGINE FLUSH EVERY COUPLE MONTHS. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BY ME. THE VOLKSWAGEN CORP. NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY MESSED UP TO BEGIN WITH. THANK YOU *TR

2002 PASSAT ENGINE FIRE. CAR BEGAN TO SHOW CEL WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE. LEFT INTERSTATE AND DROVE TOWARD HOME (APPROX 5 MILES). LIGHT SMOKE SMELL PULLED OVER 1/2 MILE FROM HOME SHUT CAR OFF. SMOKE INCREASED CALLED 911. WITHIN 3 MINUTES FLAMES APPEARED AT DASHBOARD. WITHIN 10 MINUTES CAR WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH A "STOP" MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, THE "OIL PRESSURE" AND "TURN OFF ENGINE" WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE FAILURES WERE CONTRIBUTED TO AN OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP. THE VEHICLE HAD REPAIRS PERFORMED RELATED TO THE IDENTICAL FAILURES TWO YEARS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL-THE DRIVER OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THERE DESTINATION AND THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. THE LOCAL MECHANIC DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE CALALTYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. VWB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE INTERIOR AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND FOUND THERE WAS OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAM SHAFT CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 94,000.

1. OIL WAS LEAKING AND WE REPAIRED IT IN A LOCAL GARAGE. A DAY LATER WE NOTICED THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM - WHICH TOLD US OIL SOMETHING, STOP ENGINE. WE CALLED THE VW DEALER IN HARTFORD, CT, AND THEY SUGGESTED TO BRING THE CAR IN IMMEDIATELY OTHERWISE IT WILL IMPACT THE ENGINE. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK AND DROPED IT AT THE VW DEALER AND THEY CALLED US NEXT DAY TELLING THE OIL IS NOT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. EVERYTHING IS BLOCKED. THEY SUGGESTED TO REPAIR IT OTHERWISE THE ENGINE WILL BE DEAD. WE ASKED THEM TO REPAIR AND PAID CLOSE TO $1800. THEY HAVE REPLACED BUNCH OF PIPES, AND PARTS BUT LABOR COST WAS LOT MORE THAN PARTS. BUT I LEARNED ON THE INTERNET, THAT THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM AND VW IS AWARE OF IT. I READ THRU FEW FORUMS ON THE NET, AND THEY ALL SUGGESTED, IF I DO...

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. STARTED 2002 VW PASSAT 1.8T AND THERE WAS NO HEATER FAN OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONAL. DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK. LET CAR IDLE TO WARM UP AND ENGINE STOPPED. SMELLED BURNING AND PUT OUT SMALL FIRE. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. *TR

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN A YEAR AND A HALF DUE TO THE OIL SLUDGE AND MISFIRING PROBLEMS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AND THE SPARK PLUGS AND COIL PACKS WERE CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED. *JB

I HAVE TALKED TO, BLOGGED WITH, AND COMMUNICATED WITH VARIOUS VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OWNERS AND PREVIOUS OWNERS ONE COMPLAINT THAT HAS JUST BECOME MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT OCCURS AND EFFECTS THE OIL PRESSURE CENSOR IN THESE VEHICLES I OWN A 2002 PASSAT WAGON AND HAD A TERRIBLE OIL LEAK MONTHS AFTER I GOT IT COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW MONTHS AFTER, I START BLOGGING AND INVESTIGATING ON MY OWN THE COST TO REPAIR THIS SO CALLED OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WHICH IS SO BAD IN THESE VEHICLES I AM TOLD THIS WILL COST $500-$2000 TO FIX! WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT COVERED OR HONORED BY VOLKSWAGEN OR EXTENDED WARRANTY BEEN RECALLED???? THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND THE FACT THAT I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLE SOUND BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN IT GOES IN THE SHOP FOR SUCH A COMMON...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS A LEMON WHEN SHE PURCHASED IT IN 2002. WATER ENTERS THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUN ROOF WHENEVER IT RAINS. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN FIFTEEN TIMES, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 MILES. UPDATED 8/24/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE WATER LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE AFTER MARKET SPEAKER. THE HEADLIGHT TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE COOLANT BOTTLE HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK. THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE HAD A BLOCKAGE. THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A LARGE EVAP LEAK AT THE PURGE VALVE...

MY CAR HAD BEEN HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE SO I TOOK IT TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED, BEING PAID FOR BY THE PERSON INSURANCE CO THAT HIT ME. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER I DRIVE 2 BLOCKS AND THEN LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING (WARNING OIL PRESSURE) STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY. I CALLED THE AUTO BODY SHOP SO I COULD TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THEM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT WORKING ORDER WHEN I TOOK IT THERE NO LIGHTS WERE ON OR FLASHING ONLY THE DOOR WAS DAMAGED. FEW DAYS LATER THE AUTO BODY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER WYNN BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THE LIGHTS ARE ON. WYNN DEALER GAVE DIAGNOSES OF OIL SLUDGE FOR THE LIGHTS FLASHING AND THE AUTO BODY HAD REPLACED THE DOOR WITH THE WRONG DOOR. I WAS...

OIL PUMP SLUDGE ON MY VOLKSWAGEN 2002 1.8T PASSAT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE QUITE WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT ONLY HAD 54,818 MILES. I HAD TO PAY 10,000 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2002 CAUGHT ON FIRE. I KNOW YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS SO I WANTED TO INFORM YOU. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 79000 MILES, IN MAY OF 2008 WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS AWAY AT SCHOOL THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SHE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND I SPENT OVER $300 IN DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES I WAS ADVISED OF VW'S TSB 10 07 13, 2013233, PUBLISHED AUG 17, 2007WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE AND THE "MAGIC FLUSH". HAD THE CAR TOWED AT MY EXPENSE FROM MD TO NJ. VW AGREED WITH THE DIAGNOSTICS AND PERFORMED THE FLUSH. SINCE THAT TIME (<8 MONTHS) THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ADDITIONAL RELATED OIL ISSUES. THE LATEST >6K DUE TO THE TURBO FILLING UP WITH OIL, CAN AND CRANK SEALS LEAKING, VALVE COVERS LEAKING, PREMATURE CRACKING CAUSED BY THE OIL IN THE TIMING BELT, ETC. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AS WELL AS THE DEALERS MECHANICS AGREE THAT THIS CAN BE A RESIDUAL EFFECT...

NEED TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE BANK OF CAM ADJUSTER. SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH PART. COST TO REPLACE @$6,000. NO HELP FROM VW. *TR

CAR DRIVEN TO AIRPORT PARKING ON 9/26 RUNNING FINE. CAR PICKED UP AT AIRPORT PARKING ON 10/4. ENGINE RUNNING A BIT ROUGH. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. WITHIN FIVE MILES, THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE BEHIND ENGINE BY FIREWALL LOW. BEFORE EMERGENCY/FIRE PERSONNEL COULD ARRIVE, CAR FULLY ENGULFED AND TOTALLY DESTROYED. CAR REGULARLY MAINTAINED. NO OIL/FLUID LEAKAGE. RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO EIGHT DAY IDLE IN PARKING GARAGE. *TR

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH FUEL ODOR. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FILLING HER GARAGE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONSUMER HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK ON SOMETHING. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED, THE TIMING BELT FAILED. *JB

WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING. THEN I SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE HOOD. PULLED THE CAR OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES. GRABBED MY KID OUT OF THE CAR AND WATCHED THE CAR BECOME ENGULFED IN FIRE. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH ALL MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE THEN SKIDDED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST STRUCK A CHILD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL HOUSING BURNED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE OR ALLOW HIM TO PAY $785 WITH A CREDIT CARD TO REPAIR THE IGNITION COIL. THE TURBO COIL ALSO FAILED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DOES NOT AGREE WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED ELECTRICAL WIRING BURNING. HE STATED THAT OIL BREAKS DOWN PREMATURELY, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED IN WRITING THAT THEY SEE NO REASON WHY THEY SHOULD OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE, AND THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS...

ENGINE FAILS DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. *TR

I PAY $1500 FOR USED 2002 PASSAT VW TWO YEARS AGO NOW DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $ 6700 FOR NEW ENGINE. OLD ENGINE WAS DAMAGE DUE TO ENGINE SLUDGE. I SUBMITTED REGULAR OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND WAS DENIED WARRANTY. MY PASSAT HAS 84,000 MILE AND ONLY TWO YEARS OF RIDING ENJOYMENT. MY CAR SITTING AT DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. PLEASE HELP CAR NEEDED FOR WORK. *TR

I'M RELIGIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE OIL IN THE CAR, ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF IT. I LOVE MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I HAD THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ONCE OR TWICE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT ALWAYS TOOK IT INTO A SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE LIGHT ALWAYS WENT OFF AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE, DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS. SO MUCH SO THAT THE OIL PUMP WAS BLOCKED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AS A RESULT. I HAD THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING COME ON THE DAY MY CAR DIED. IT WAS A FEW MILES AFTER IT WENT ON IT STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PUSH MY CAR INTO IT'S PARKING SPOT AT HOME. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS @ THE BURNSVILLE LOCATION TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD STARTED WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE PASSATS, BUT THAT IT HAD...

OWNER'S WIFE DROVE VOLKSWAGEN HOME, PARKED IT IN THE LEFT BAY OF A TWO-CAR GARAGE. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER, OWNER WAS ALERTED BY A SMOKE ALARM/SMELL OF SMOKE. OWNER WENT OUT TO GARAGE AND OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VOLKSWAGEN. RAN BACK INTO HOUSE AND TOLD WIFE TO CALL 911. RETURNED TO GARAGE AND OBSERVED VOLKSWAGEN ALMOST COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DESTROYED VEHICLE AND HOUSE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *NM

ON AUGUST 24, 2006 MY 2002 VW PASSAT WITH 64777 MILES WAS TAKEN IN TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS. NO PROBLEM SO FAR, I PICKED UP THE CAR A GOT AS FAR AS TWO BLOCKS WHEN THE TEMP GAUGE PEGGED OUT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED FOR LEAKAGE, NO LEAKAGE WAS NOTICEABLE I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP FAILED. I HAD FORK OUT NEARLY $1000 DOLLARS TO GET THE CAR BACK ON THE ROAD. THE SERVICE MANAGER SHOWED MY THE FAILED PUMP AND WAS ASTONISHED THAT THE IMPELLER WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. TO ADD INSULT WHEN I CONTACTED VW AND REQUEST SOME TYPE OF RELIEF FOR THE EXPENSE. I REQUESTED A WRITTEN RESPONSE WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED ONLY A TERSE PHONE CALL. VW'S RESPONSE WAS SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. *NM

I WOULD LIKE TO LODGE A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE EXCESSIVE FAILURE OF VACUUM HOSES CAUSING THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON REPEATEDLY ON THE 2002 VW PASSAT WAGON. ON AUGUST 2, 2006, THE VACUUM HOSE FAILED (REPLACED WITH P/N 06B-133-783 BC). THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $271.63. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2006, THE VACUUM HOSE WAS REPLACED AS PER VEHICLE RECALL (REPLACED WITH P/N 06B-103-221P). AND ON OCTOBER 18, 2006, THE VACUUM HOSE FAILED (REPLACED WITH P/N 1N-020-353-5). THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $137.93. ALSO TO BE CONSIDERED IS THE INCONVENIENCE OF TAKING THE CAR TO A REPAIR FACILITY TIME AFTER TIME. *NM

BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH DEFECTIVE TIRES, DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS CAUSING TWO MAJOR BREAKDOWNS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE LAST TWO IGNITION COILS WERE RECALLED. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN IF IT IS WET FROM HEAVY RAIN AND HAS TO BE COMPLETELY DRIED BEFORE THE BREAKS WORK PROPERLY. OIL PUMP WAS REPLACED 14 MONTHS AGO, ANOTHER MAJOR BREAKDOWN ON HIGHWAY WITH CHILDREN. IT HAS BROKEN DOWN YET AGAIN...THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT NEEDS ANOTHER OIL PUMP BECAUSE OF SLUDGE, ABOUT $2000, NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS PAST THE 12 MONTH, 12,000MILE MARK. TWO OTHER PRIVATE MECHANICS TOLD ME, REPLACING THE OIL PUMP WOULD ONLY DISGUISE, TEMPORARILY THE REAL ISSUE....THE ENGINE IS JUNK. IT NOW SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I AM MISSING SOME OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. ALSO THE BLINKERS DON'T WORK, THE REAR DOOR WON'T...

LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED CAR OFF AND PULLED OVER. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. BEFORE IT WAS EVEN LOOKED AT THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME $2600 AND THAT I AM LUCKY. HE SAID THE LAST PERSON THAT CAME IN WITH THIS PROBLEM HAD TO GET A NEW ENGINE, BUT THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT MY CAR IS THAT BAD. DON'T KNOW HOW HE COULD SAY THAT WITHOUT LOOKING IN THE ENGINE OR TURNING THE ENGINE ON. IT SOUNDS LIKE A MONEY MAKING SCAM FOR THE DEALER. THEY KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T KEEP ALL THEIR RECEIPTS SO THEY CAN DENY THE WARRANTY CLAIM AND THE DEALER CHARGES PEOPLE $2600 FOR THIS VERY KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY VW'S. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A BUNCH OF HOSES THAT WILL NEED REPLACED. I DON'T SEE HOW OR WHY THIS WOULD COST $2600....

ON SEPT 1,2005 ON MY WAY TO THE E.R. AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME TO STOP ENGINE/CHECK OIL PRESSURE. I TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND CHECKED OIL LEVEL, ALL OK. TRIED TO START ENGINE TO GET OFF OF NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY, ENGINE MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE, TURNED OFF HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD BY DEALER IT WOULD BE AT LEAST $400.00 TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND DIAGNOSE IT. AFTER ONE WEEK DEALER CALLED AND SAID IT WOULD COST $9000.00 TO REPLACE ENTIRE MOTOR, ON SEPT. 2 2005 CALLED V.W. OF AMERICA THEY STATED TO ME AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8 TURBO BUILDING UP OIL SLUDGE IN THE MOTOR, AND THAT THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE ENGINE. THEY SAID THAT THEY NEEDED MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO PROVE MY CASE, THEY GAVE ME A FAX...

I HAVE A 2002 VOLSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 39000 MILES, ON 1/13/2005 THE OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH, AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND RUNNING ROUGH. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THAT DAY. THE DEALER AND VW SAID THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT UNTIL I PROVIDED A SERVICE RECORD. I MADE THEM A COPY OF MY LOG WHICH HAD THE EXACT DATE AND MILEAGE, BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. THEY WANTED COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS WHICH I WENT OUT AND GOT, BUT I LEARNED TODAY THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH. THEY WANTED NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE MECH. WHICH I PROVIDED, BUT VW SAYS I DON'T HAVE PROPER DOCUMT. BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A SPECIFIC RECEIPT FOR THE OIL FILTER EVEN THOUGH THE PART # FOR THE FILTER IS ON THE RECEIPT. IT TOOK OVER 3 WEEKS AND DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS TO BOTH...

I AM LEASING A 2002 V.W. PASSAT. THE VEHICLE HAS APROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES AND IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY THE WORD STOP ON THE DASHBOARD. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST V.W. DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM AND ADVISED ME IT WOULD COST $900 TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS I COULD SHOW PROOF OF OIL CHANGES THROUGH RECEIPTS. I SUPPLIED THE DEALER WITH 6 OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM A SMALL GARAGE NEAR MY HOUSE WHERE I GET THE OIL CHANGED. I CALLED THE DEALER BACK A FEW DAYS LATER AND ASKED THE STATUS OF MY CAR. THE G.M. OF THE SHOP ACCUSED ME OF FORGERY DUE TO THE FACT THE RECEIPTS DID NOT HAVE TAX OR METHOD OF...

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FOUR IGNITION COILS DEFECTIVE - REPLACED DEFECTIVE IGNITION - KEY STUCK IN CAR FOR OVER NINE DAYS DEFECTIVE STEREO - REPLACED TWICE TO DATE DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL - WINDOWS AND LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING, GAS CAP POPS OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY COMPUTER PROBLEM - COMPUTER BLACKS OUT AT TIMES DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING - REPLACED AT 17,952 MILES DEFECTIVE MOTOR BLOWER - REPLACED DEFECTIVE REAR WHEEL LINING - REPLACED

VEHICLE'S IGNITION COIL PACK HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

THE VEHICLE ENGINE COIL IS FAILING, MAKING THE SPEED VERY SLOW. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

VEHICLE'S IGNITION COIL HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES AND CONSUMER STILL HAS A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL HEAVILY JERK AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED ON. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HEAVY VIBRATIONS FORCED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE COIL PACK. DEALER CHANGED TWO OF THE FAULTY COIL PACK AND REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OTHER TWO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE THEN LOSE POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS