2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

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,...

ENGINE FAILURE. *TT

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON IN 2006. IT WORKED PERFECTLY UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 75,000 MILES AND A NUMBER OF ISSUES OCCURRED THAT I FOUND OUT ARE KNOW ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ISSUE. FIRST THE ENGINE COILS STARTED FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ENDED UP REPLACING FOUR OF THEM AND THEN VW ISSUED A RECALL BUT ONLY COVERED A FRACTION OF WHAT IT COST TO REPLACE. THEN THE STOP TURN ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE 1.8T ENGINE HAS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THAT LEAVES THIS ENGINE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CREATING OIL SLUDGE EVEN WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. VW ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS ENGINE AND ISSUE BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BUT WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNLESS YOU SHOW THEM A COMPLETE RECORD OF ALL OIL CHANGES. I MAINTAINED THIS...

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY VW PASSAT 2003 WITH ONLY 60 K MILES CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND AS A RESULT OF THAT THE THERMOSTAT AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR MECHANIC WAS IS AN INDEPENDENT VW MECHANIC AND HE WAS OF THE OPINION THAT AT SUCH MILEAGE SUCH MALFUNCTIONS SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN THIS CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM FLOW MOTORS OF GREENSBORO, NC. THE VEHICLE WAS CERTIFIED BY VOLKSWAGEN WITH A TWO YEAR 24,000 WARRANT. THE ENGINE BLEW WHEN IS WAS 260 MILES OVER OR OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE BLOWING WAS DUE TO OIL PRESSURE AND THE LACK OF OIL PRESSURE IN THE ENGINE. MY WIFE AND THREE YEAR OLD WERE DRIVING BACK FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. TO GREENSBORO AND BROKE DOWN IN LYNCHBURG, V.A. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT TERRY'S VOLKSWAGEN IN LYNCHBURG TOWED THE VEHICLE IN TO THEIR SHOP AND LOOKED AT THE ENGINE. THEY REPORTED THAT A CAM BOLT SNAPPED IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE OIL PRESSURE TO CEASE AND IN RETURN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THEY TOLD ME THAT A CAM BOLT SHOULD NEVER SNAP AND THIS WAS A PRODUCT FAILURE. FLOW MOTORS RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCT...

MY 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T HAS THE WELL DOCUMENTED SLUDGE ISSUE THAT THOUSANDS OF VW/AUDI OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING. INITIALLY I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED B/C A GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUGS, AND MY ENGINE COIL PACK WAS BAD. I PAID $700 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE PARTS. 80 MILES AFTER LEAVING THE MECHANIC SHOP, THE OIL LIGHT AND STOP ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOWED THE CAR AGAIN; NO OIL PRESSURE. COLLECTED ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND TOOK THEM TO VW TO GET APPROVAL OF THE WARRANTY ISSUE BEFORE LETTING THEM "CONFIRM" ENGINE SLUDGE ($500 DIAGNOSIS FEE FOR DROPPING THE OIL PAN). IF THE ISSUE IS ENGINE SLUDGE, THE ENGINE IS A LOST CAUSE BECAUSE THE LOW OIL PRESSURE STARVED THE ENGINE HEAD FOR OIL. THE VW DEALERSHIP IS WAITING FOR MY MONEY BEFORE THEY'LL DIAGNOSE THE ENGINE SLUDGE- WHICH YOU CAN SEE IN THE...

OUR 2003 PASSAT WAGON (4 CYL 1.8 ENGINE) HAD A FIRE IN THE ENGINE LAST WEEK. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND PARKING, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEN SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. HE WAS IN A PARKING SPACE AND DROVE IT A BLOCK TO A SERVICE STATION, WHERE THE MECHANIC PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH WATER. THE FIRE HAD STARTED IN THE IGNITION COILS (WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 4/2003, BEFORE THE RECALL) AND WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT/REBUILDING OF THE ENGINE HARNESS. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

APPARENT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH A WARNING TO STOP THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AWAITING EVALUATION OF THE EXTENT DAMAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED AND HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS MAINTENANCE. I MAINTAIN MY OWN VEHICLE THEREFORE DO NOT HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE EACH OIL CHANGE ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE. VW RECOMMENDS CHANGES EVERY 5,000 MILES; I CHANGED IT EVERY 3,000. *TR

MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN, AND THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, SO I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT OFF ONTO A SHOULDER. I HAVE ALSO BEEN BURNED MY THE HEATED SEAT WHEN THE WIRING OVERHEATS, AND IT HAS BOTH SHOCKED AND BURNED MY SKIN. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 PASSAT AND HAVE BEEN IN FOR TWO COILS, ENGINE LIGHT, BACK HATCH LOCK BROKEN, FUEL PUMP BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE THUS FAR WAS WHEN I TOLD THEM MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON TWO DAYS PRIOR AND THEY TOLD ME IT WILL COST 4000.00 TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS FULL OF SLUDGE. I WOULD PRODUCE RECEIPTS FOR SERVICES THAT I ACTUALLY DO REGULARLY EVERY 3-4 THOS. MILES OR THREE MONTHS. HOWEVER THEY INFORMED ME FROM VW OF AMERICA THAT 99% OF THE PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THEIR RECEIPTS DON'T MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF THE MILEAGE OF THE SERVICES. THEY STATE THAT IT MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO 5 THOS. MILES BUT THE BOOK STATES EVERY 7 THOS. MILES FOR SERVICES TO BE DONE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THAT I SHOULD USE THE EXPENSIVE FILTERS/AND SYNTHETIC...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE VENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO SMOKE PRESENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISE AND THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WAS DRIVABLE. APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE COULD BE A FAULTY ENGINE SENSOR. THE NEXT DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ON AND THE ENGINE EVENTUALLY FAILED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

I OWN A 2003 VW PASSAT V6 AWD THAT CURRENTLY HAS ~37000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS CAR USES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2003. THE LAST ESTIMATE OF OIL CONSUMPTION (JULY 25, 2007), WAS ~0.75 QUART PER 600 MILES, WHICH IS WHAT THE DEALER AND VW HAVE SAID IS WITHIN THE FACTORY SPECIFICATION OF 1 QUART PER 1000 MILES. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR VW WILL PROVIDE ME WITH WRITTEN EVIDENCE OR BULLETINS DESCRIBING THESE SPECIFICATIONS. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, WHICH REFLECTS AN UNDERLYING DEFECT IN THE DESIGN/FUNCTION OF VW ENGINES. APPARENTLY, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS COMPLAINT AS SEVERAL OF THE BULLETIN BOARDS AND INTERNET DISCUSSION GROUPS HAVE SIMILAR POSTINGS. THIS OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM MAY ALSO BE RELATED TO THE ACCUMULATION OF "ENGINE SLUDGE," WHICH APPARENTLY LED VW TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON CERTAIN...

WHILE PULLING THE DIPSTICK OUT OF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO CHECK THE OIL, THE PULL RING/HANDLE BROKE OFF. I CONTACTED MY DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT AS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE I PULLED THE DIPSTICK OUT OF THE ENGINE RATHER THAN A DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THE WARRANT IS NOT APPLICABLE. IN EFFECT, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY MUST DO ALL OF THE OIL LEVEL CHECKS, OTHERWISE I DO NOT HAVE A WARRANTY ON THE COMPONENTS AFFECTED. I APPEALED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY CONFIRMED THE DEALER'S DECISION. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE IS THAT THE OIL LEVEL, NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE OPERATION OF THE CAR, CAN NOT BE CHECKED.

A PROBLEM WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THE COILS ON THE 03 ENGINES OF VW GL TURBO. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE, MAKING ACCELERATIONS DIFFICULT AND CONTINUATION OF THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND THEN WAS CHARGED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE COILS, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN PREVALENT IN THESE ENGINES. *NM

AT 40K MILES THE LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, AT DEALERSHIP THE TECHNICIAN "COULD NOT DUPLICATE CONCERN." AT 42K MILES THE CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE TECH TRIED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, IN THE INVOICE WAS NOTED THAT HE REMOVED THE OIL CAP AND NOTED "A LOT OF BURNED OIL ON UNDER-SIDE OF CAP AND ON OIL DEFLECTOR TRAY." YET, THAT WAS NOT PURSUED AS THE TECHNICIAN NOTES ON THE FOLLOWING LINE THAT "CHECKED FURTHER AND FOUND NO FUEL DELIVERY." OIL CHANGE WAS ALSO DONE ON THE CAR W/ A NEW OIL FILTER AND CAR WAS RETURNED. AT 50K MILES LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. STATED IN INVOICE THAT "DID NOT PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC." TECHNICIAN NOTES IN INVOICE, BASED ON A VISUAL INSPECTION THROUGH OIL CAP YET, THERE APPEARS TO BE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. NO DIAGNOSTICS...

MY 2003 VW PASSAT 4-DOOR SEDAN HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY AND I NOTICED THIS TIME THAT THE EMERGENCY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING EARLIER IN THE DAY - THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT ALSO COMES ON/OFF FOR NO REASON. I'VE REPORTED THE WARNING LIGHT A COUPLE OF TIMES AS WELL TO THE VW SERVICE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENS EITHER. THE WARNING LIGHT WILL AT LEAST SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, UNLIKE MY BRAKE LIGHTS. SINCE TODAY IS SATURDAY, LEAVING MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON UNTIL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REOPENS ON A MONDAY IS PROBABLY GOING TO RUN MY BATTERY DEAD. WITH THAT CONCERN IN MIND, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HOTLINE, 800-822-8987, TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY REPAIR...

2003 VW PASSAT W8 OVERHEATED AFTER BEING SERVICED FOR TEMP SENSOR. ENGINE SEEMED TO BLOW HEAD GASKET. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. VEHICLE STILL THERE AND DAMAGE MAYBE WORSE. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MONTESI VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT. THEY CHARGED ME $85 TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AND THEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, BUT THE SOFTWARE WHICH CONTROLS THIS LIGHT MUST BE UPDATED AND THAT COSTS ABOUT $235. I TOLD THEM THAT IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT THE EXISTING SOFTWARE ON THE CAR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, AND YOU MUST INSTALL THE SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. BUT THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT IT. I THINK THIS NOT RIGHT, AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE IF THE ORIGINAL SOFTWARE THAT THEY INSTALLED IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE OIL PUMP. THE OIL PUMP, PIPES, RESONATOR, OIL AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM SMITH VOLKSWAGEN OF WILMINGTON, DE. FROM THE BEGINNING THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCE TOTAL ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT MID-RPM WHILE UNDER FULL ACCELERATION. THIS MADE ANY KIND OF MERGING INTO TRAFFIC MANEUVER A HAZARDOUS UNDERTAKING. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. THIS CAUSED US FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE OWNED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY MODIFY THE WAY WE DROVE - NEVER KNOWING WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD DIE OUT. NOW AFTER STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR 3 YEARS I RECEIVE RECALL NOTICE "SAFETY RECALL M7", ONE MONTH AFTER WE TRADED IN THE VOLKSWAGEN ON ANOTHER CAR. THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES OUR PROBLEM BUT UNDERPLAYS THE HAVOC THE PROBLEM CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE WHEN IT OCCURS TO YOUR CAR. THESE VEHICLES ARE A DANGER TO THEIR DRIVERS AND TO ALL THE CARS AROUND THEM ON THE ROAD. THEY SHOULD...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. TWO MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BROKEN DOWN TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE FAILED IN AUGUST 2005 WITH ONE YEAR/12000 MILE WARRANTY. A MONTH AFTER REPLACEMENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED IN MARCH 2006. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE BROKEN DOWN IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND SINCE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE CONTACT CONTACT THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THE SAME THING AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS TOSSED BACK AND FORTH WITH NO ONE...

PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 8/4/03 8/8/05 - ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE DIAGNOSED W/ "ENGINE OIL SLUDGE" BY DEALERSHIP, WARRANTY ITEM. 8/11/05- SPOKE W/ DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM SLUDGE ISSUE AND PRESENTED OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS,(VEHICLE PURCHASED W/ 19637 MILES) , DEALER DECLINED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND RECOMMENDED A ENGINE FLUSH & OIL CHANGE 8/12/05 - RETRIEVED VEHICLE AND HAD ENGINE FLUSHED & OIL CHANGED 8/13/05 - VEHICLE CUT OFF & REMAINS INOPERABLE 8/21/05 - VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RECEIVE DIAGNOSES 8/26/05 - VEHICLE DIAGNOSED W/ NO OIL PRESSURE OR COMPRESSION. CAUSE - (BAD OIL PUMP) TIMING BELT JUMPED R&R VALVE COVER AND LOCKED UP CAM #1 CYLINDER. NO SLUDGE WAS FOUND IN ENGINE, VALVE COVER, OIL PAN OR ENGINE BLOCK. ENGINE WAS FREE OF SLUDGE AND WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL (DOCUMENTED BY AUTO REPAIRMAN) 8/26/05 - TOWED VEHICLE TO ANOTHER (ENGINE REPAIR SPECIALIST) REPAIR SHOP. 9/22/05...

2003 VW PASSAT SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING ENGINE NOISE AND OIL PRESSURE WARNING CAME ON. VW DETERMINED PROBLEM WAS SLUDGE, AND THEY CLEANED THE ENGINE LEAVING A BILL OF $1900 PLUS THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER WITH MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY UNLESS I CAN PRODUCE OIL CHG RECEIPTS. I HAVE DONE 2 OF THEM MYSELF AND ONLY HAVE BANK STATEMENTS WITH CREDIT CARD CHARGES. THE OTHERS, I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR. THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO COVER. THIS IS A MAJOR WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE FROM REGULAR OIL TO SYNTHETIC OIL CAME IN 2004, A YEAR AFTER I WAS FOLLOWING THEIR PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS, ETC. FOR A KNOWN ISSUE, THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD CONSUMERS HOSTAGE ON A SITUATION LIKE THIS. I DO MY OWN OIL CHGS TO SAVE MONEY. MY 10K OIL CHG AT VW WAS $110. I CAN DO IT FOR LESS THEN HALF OF THAT AMOUNT....

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STOP ENGINE NOW- LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD FOR INSPECTION. SHE CHECKED THE DIP STICK FOR AN OIL READING. THE READING INDICATED THE VEHICLE CONTAINED NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. SHE ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NO HOWEVER, REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE . *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER WANTED THE RECEIPTS FROM THE OIL CHANGES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS THE CONSUMERS PROBLEM, AND IT WAS THE CONSUMER THAT COULD NOT PRODUCE THE RECEIPTS, THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR IT. THE OWNER DID NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD BE VOID IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THE RECEIPTS SHOWING THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES. *AK *NM

ON APRIL 14, 2005 I WAS GOING TO WORK WHEN A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID STOP. I CALLED COMMONWEALTH MOTORS AND WAS TOLD BY LARRY RIGGINS TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL TO SEE IF NEEDED TO ADD OIL, SO I DID. THAT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. I CALLED BACK THE DEALER, WHO GAVE ME THE TOW NUMBER FOR VOLKSWAGEN, AND SAID THAT HE WOULD SET UP AN APPOINTMENT THAT DAY. AFTER WAITING FOR TWO HOURS WE WERE TOWED IN ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT CAR TILL NEXT DAY. NEXT DAY, LARRY CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO PULL ENGINE AND LOOK AT OIL PAN WHICH COULD ADD UP TO A LOT OF MONEY. WHEN QUESTIONED DUE TO THE CAR'S WARRANTY, LARRY INFORMED ME THAT ONLY IF I HAD ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES, VOLKSWAGEN WOULD NOT HONOR THE 5...

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IN THE TWO YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 5-6 TIMES DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK IT KEPT MOVING FORWARD. I HAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, AND WAS GOING VERY SLOW. AGAIN, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR NOT TOO LONG AFTER. MY CAR DISPLAY READ STOP ENGINE, AND THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ANOTHER PROBLEM INVOLVED THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON, DRAINING THE BATTERY, TWICE HAD TO HAVE A VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. YESTERDAY, OIL LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DISPLAY AGAIN READ STOP ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT UNLESS I HAVE A COMPLETE RECORD OF MY OIL...

2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON HAS FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THE CAR AND WARRANTY COVERAGE IS DENIED TO THE TUNE OF $10,217.00. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, AND FEEL THAT THE DEFECT IS WITH THE ENGINE, NOT WITH MY TREATMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE WITH NO NOISE WHEN THE "OIL PRESSURE! STOP!" LIGHT CAME ON, AND RAN FINE WHEN I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY NOW THEY TELL ME THE ENGINE IS 'LOCKED UP' AND WIL HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE OIL PUMP, THE TURBO UNIT, ETC ETC. SINCE THE CAR WAS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE LIGHT POPPED ON, AND PRESUMABLY COULD HAVE 'LOCKED UP' AT 70 MPH, THIS IS, INDEED, A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED $11,000.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR OIL SLUDGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VW HAS CLEARLY ADMITTED TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. ARTICLE ATTACH FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO WORK WITH DEALERS TO IMPROVE GUIDELINES FOR SLUDGE REPAIRS. *BF *NM

I OWN A 2003 PASSAT GLS WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING THAT I STOP DRIVING THE CAR. AS I WAS JUST PULLING INTO PARKING LOT OF MY WORK, I PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED. THE FIRST THING THE MECHANIC FROM VW TOLD ME WAS MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE HONORED WITHOUT PROOF OF ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS FROM VW. I DO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY BUT NOT ALWAYS AT 4,999 MILES. I HAVE MOVED AND HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT DIFFERENT PLACES AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ALL MY RECORDS. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS IN WHICH I WAS T OLD MULITPLE THINGS ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON, I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT MY ENGINE WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $11,000. I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL...

I AM CURRENTLY HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A 2003 VW PASSAT. AFTER 27,000 MILES, THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLE THE TURBO HAS GONE, AND THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST 9,000 DOLLARS. VOLKS WAGEN HAS HAD AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF PASSATS THAT TYPICALLY RESULTS IN THIS PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE. VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED A NOTICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THEIR DRIVERS CHANGE THE OIL TO A SYNTHETIC OIL. I HAVE BEEN CHANGING MY OIL AT THE RECOMMENDED 5,000 MILE INCREMENTS, ALTHOUGH USING A NON-SYNTHETIC BRAND OF OIL. I AM NOW HAVING A VERY HARD TIME COMING UP WITH MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I CAN PROVE THAT I CHANGED THE OIL 3 TIMES ALTHOUGH I NEED TO PROVE I CHANGED IT 5 TIMES FOR THE WARRANTY TO KICK IN. EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE OIL AT...

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD A SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BLAMED CONSUMER FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK

IN FOLLOW UP TO READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS IN VW'S. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED ON A 2003 VW 1.8 LITER TURBOCHARGED PASSAT. THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ONLY 300+ MILES. *AK

ENGINE CONTINUES TO MISFIRE, LOSES POWER AND STARTS TO STALL WHILE DRIVING . FOUR ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM HAVE FAILED. PROBLEM PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *LA

2003 PASSAT V6 ENGINES UPPER END OF THE ENGINE DRAINS OF OIL ALLOWING KNOCKING FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE THE OIL CIRCULATES. (METAL ON METAL NOISE). *NLM