2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

POSSIBLE CAM TENSIONER THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO MAKE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS A RESULT. TOOK IT TO 3 MECHANICS AND DID A DIAGNOSTIC BUT COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HELP ME PLEASE! *TR

I BEGAN NOTICING A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING THROUGH THE VENT WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGID FUEL LINE HAD CRACKED WHERE IT PASSED THROUGH A MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE UPPER REAR OF THE ENGINE BAY. THE CRACK WAS EMITTING A STEADY FLOW OF FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER AND HAD THE LINE REPAIRED WITH A PATCH OF FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE MATERIAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE TIMING BELT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

I WAS DRIVING INSIDE TOWN APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH AND WAS STOPPING IN THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. AFTER THE STOP LIGHT TURNED GREEN I RELEASED BRAKE AND THE SHAKE WAS NOT THERE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS GONE. I WENT FEW MILES TO PICK MY DAUGHTER AND AFTER PICKING MY DAUGHTER AND LESS THAN A MILE ON ROAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THERE IS A SLIGHT VIBRATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED ON. I'M YET TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANY FACTORY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE AND UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST 8,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. SHE DISCOVERED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR WAGONS FOR ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE DEALER THEN STATED, THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $4,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MILEAGE WAS WELL WITHIN RANGE, FOR THE ENGINE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE 65,000 MILE WARRANTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SMOKE AND FLAMES BEGAN TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED WITHIN THE ENGINE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED AS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 05/11/12*LJ UPDATED 06/01/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT OIL SLUDGE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE OIL TANK FRACTURED, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE ERRONEOUSLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE COIL MISFIRED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,068.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN, STATING A SERIES OF ISSUES SUCH AS OIL SLUDGE, ENGINE MALFUNCTION ISSUES, ANTI-FREEZE AND COOLANT ISSUES AND IGNITION COIL ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGENS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE LEARNED THERE WAS A SPECIFIC TYPE OF COOLANT THAT ONLY BE USED FOR HER MODEL VEHICLE. SHE STATED EACH SUMMER SHE DROVE AROUND WITH 2 CONTAINERS OF ANTI-FREEZE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME SO MUCH ANTI-FREEZE. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED. *JB

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT PIECES OF THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE FRACTURING INTO THE OIL PAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO. OIL SLUDGE CLASS ACTION. MY CAR HAD THE STOP ENGINE WARNING COME ON THE OTHER DAY AFTER THE REQUIRED OIL CHANGE. SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR I CAN NOT PROVE THE OIL CHANGES WHERE DONE AS VW RECOMMENDS. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR A FEW MONTHS. SADLY I AM LOOKING AT A TOTAL ENGINE CHANGE WITH NO HELP FROM THE CLASS ACTION SUIT OR VW. I HAVE OWNED A VW ON AND OFF FOR 15 YEARS. THIS WILL BE MY LAST IF THEY DON'T MAKE GOOD ON THE RECALL. *LN

"OIL SLUDGE" RELATED REPAIRS ON '98-04 MODEL YEAR VW PASSAT EQUIPPED WITH 1.8L TURBO ENGINES. WAS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MARCH 2010. LETTER FROM VW OF AMERICA DID NOT PRESCRIBE 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE, BUT WHEN CONTACTED, SAID IN ORDER FOR "EXTENDED WARRANTY TO BE ENFORCED" VEHICLE MUST HAVE 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE. LETTER FROM VW SUBSEQUENTLY FAXED OVER ON 3/22/10 DOES NOT STATE RULES REGULATING OIL CHANGE OR SUBSEQUENT LIMITATIONS ON "EXTENDED WARRANTY". MY 04 VW PASSAT WITH 35K MILES HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE, AND HAD I SEEN THE AUGUST '04 LETTER PRIOR TO 03/10 WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF CAR AS SOON AS I READ LETTER. THE ENGINE IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE, AND VW HAS AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM ALL VW OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO INFORM THEM OF THIS DEFORMITY. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2004 AND NEVER SAW A COPY OF...

OIL SLUDGE IS CLOGGING OIL PICK UP AND STOP/OIL LIGHT IS GOING ON. STARVING ENGINE OF OIL. FULL SYNTHETIC OIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT WITH 35000 MILES. THE CAR IS LIKE NEW, EXCEPT THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO GUNTHER VW IN COCONUT CREEK FLORIDA, FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS TOLD TO GO HOME AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WITH THE RESULTS. THEY LEFT A MESSAGE THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, AND TO COME AND GET MY CAR. I CALLED AND ASKED WHAT WERE MY OPTIONS AND THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR $8600. I CALLED VW CORPORATE, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT IN 2004 TO THE OWNERS OF CARS WITH THE 1.8 TURBO, I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS LETTER. IT WAS FAXED TO ME, I WAS STUNNED AT THE TONE OF THE LETTER, IF I HAD SEEN THIS LETTER I IMMEDIATELY WOULD HAVE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ON OCTOBER 24, 2009 SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL PAN AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $500. ON JANUARY 12, 2010, THE OIL FAILURE RECURRED; HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL TANK FOR $500. SHE STATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN SHE DROVE OVER A SPEED BUMP AND A ROCK WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE OIL PAN; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000. *CN UPDATED 02/17/20

2004 VW PASSAT 1.8T. UPON STARTING CAR, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER, AUTOBARN OF EVANSTON (IL) WHO REPLACED THERMAL SENSOR FOR $500. LESS THAN 2 MILES AFTER LEAVING DEALER, CAR RAN HOT AND A/C WENT OUT, HAD TO PULL OVER TO COOL. THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE PRIOR TO VISITING THE DEALER. RETURNED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED "THERMAL SWITCH" FOR $300. CAR STILL RAN HOT. DEALER NOW SAYS RADIATOR IS CLOGGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($700+). CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY PER VW, RADIATOR WAS FLUSHED 4,000 MILES AGO. CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. EITHER CAR IS DEFECTIVE OR DEALER IS RIPPING ME OFF. *TR

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE...EVERYTIME I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED BUT IT SEEMS TO BE LOSING A LITTLE BIT OF OIL. I NEED TO ADD OIL EVERY 200 TO 300 MILES TO THE ENGINE....I'VE CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS..CANT FIND ANY...PLEASE ADVISE...REAR SEALS? MAYBE *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL) WITH 64, 500 MILES ON IT. I DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE BUT I WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT IT, THAT I HAD IT PRE- FIXED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BALANCE SHAFTS IN THIS ENGINE ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN OFF THE MOTOR WHICH ALSO DRIVES THE OLL PUMP. THIS UNFORTUNATE DESIGN SUBJECTS THE CHAIN TO STRESSES IT CAN'T WITHSTAND. ON VARIOUS TDI FORUMS, ESPECIALLY TDICLUB.COM, THERE HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHAIN FAILURES REPORTED. WHEN THE CHAIN DRIVING THE OIL PUMP FAILS,THE ENGINE IS STARVED OF ESSENTIAL LUBRICATION AND IF IT FAILS IT CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AND THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE UP WHICH WOULD BE LIFE-THREATENING. RECENTLY, VW IN EUROPE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND DESIGNED A REPAIR, WHICH CHANGES THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP TO A GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PERMANENT FIX TO...

A POTENTIAL ISSUE HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME ENGINE PARTS RELATED TO THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN FAIL AS EARLY AS 45,000 MILES. AND IF THE FAILURE OF SAID COMPONENTS DO FAIL, SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE CAN EASILY OCCUR FORCING THE DRIVER, AT MINIMUM, TO PAY AN UNREASONABLE AND VERY COSTLY SERVICE BILL. IF A DRIVER EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE DURING A TYPICAL HIGHWAY PASS OR MERGING ON A ROADWAY, THE COST WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE PERTAINING TO THE LOSS OF LIFE, FAR SURPASSING THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE ENGINE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS COME UP WITH A FIX BY CHANGING THE CHAIN TO A GEAR. THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AS YET, EVEN WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING FAILED. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF THIS WILL...

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY COMPLAINED TO DEALER OF NOISE FROM ENGINE AREA. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE NOISE WAS COMING FROM BUT SAID NOT TO WORRY PROBLEM WAS NOTED AND WOULD BE COVERED IF/WHEN SOMETHING FAILED. OUT OF WARRANTY NOW, DEALER STATES POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS REPLACING, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED, NOT BY DEALER BUT SEVERE WINE REMAINS. WAS TOLD IT IS PROBABLY AC PUMP. HAD BELT TENSIONER REPLACED ALSO WITH NO RESOLVE. NOISE IS A LOUD WINE, CONSTANT VARIES SLIGHTLY WHEN AC IS ON. HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PASSATS WITH SAME NOISE. NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED AS OF YET. *TR

THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE WILL FAIL. FAILURE OF BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, BROKEN OIL PAN, BROKEN FRONT ENGINE SEAL FLANGE, AND DAMAGED CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN TRAFFIC, IT CAN LEAD TO A COLLISION WITH INJURIES OR DEATHS. *TR

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH THE B5 FORUMS AT WWW.TDICLUB.COM THAT ALL 2004-2005 VW PASSAT TDI ENGINES HAVE BEEN OUTFITTED WITH A FAULTY CHAIN DRIVEN OIL-PUMP (AKA BALANCE SHAFT) ASSEMBLY THAT HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE OIL-PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS PROVEN TO CAUSE MULTI-THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR BILLS FOR OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. A BULK OF THE FAILURES HAVE BEEN OCCURRING ON 04-05 PASSAT TDI'S WELL BEFORE THE CARS REACH 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS TO OIL PUMP FAILURE OTHER THAN LOUDER THAN NORMAL ENGINE NOISES. VW HAS SINCE REDESIGNED THE OIL-PUMP ASSEMBLY TO INCORPORATE A GEAR-DRIVEN MECHANISM THAT ISN'T PRONE TO FAILURE. UNFORTUNATELY VW HAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THE THOUSANDS OF PASSAT TDI OWNERS THAT ARE BEING FORCED TO UPGRADE THEIR CARS ON THEIR OWN DIME. THE UPGRADE COSTS ~$2,500 (PARTS & LABOR). IT IS OF MY OPINION...

SLUDGE BUILDUP CAUSE BY VW DESIGN FLAW LED TO ENGINE LOCKING ... VW REFUSING TO COVER ENGINE REPLACEMENT EVEN THOUGH COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. *TR

IN THE 2004 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL ENGINE) THE BALANCE SHAFT & OIL PUMP ARE DRIVEN BY A CHAIN. THE CHAIN FAILED AT 101,000 MILES AND STOPPED ENGINE LUBRICATION INSTANTLY. REQUIRED UNSAFE MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC TO GET OFF ROAD TO A SAFE STOPPING SPOT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STOP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WITHIN SECONDS, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A MASSIVE OIL DEPOSIT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM MY HOUSE CAR INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL PRESSURE ISSUE AND DISPLAYED "STOP ENGINE". PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND LET THE CAR COOL OFF AND CHECKED OIL LEVEL. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE, BASED ON THE DIP STICK. STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE CAR WAS VERY LOUD AND EXHIBITED A ROUGH AND IRREGULAR IDLE. "STOP ENGINE" INDICATOR CAME ON AGAIN. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. ISSUE APPARENTLY SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT REPAIR SHOP AND I HAVE NO FAITH THAT THIS WILL BE RESOLVED IN A POSITIVE WAY (IE NOT COSTING ME AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY) AS APPARENTLY THERE IS A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE AND MANUFACTURER, REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE OIL FILTER AND OIL, YET THE MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE...

ON 12/28/2007 THE OIL COOLER ON MY 2004 PASSAT FAILED AND ALLOWED LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL TO LEAK INTO THE COOLANT. THE OIL COOLER REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER VW'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. PER THE PASSAT OWNER'S MANUAL AND PER VERBAL CONFIRMATION FROM VW, WHEN A PART COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FAILS AND CAUSES DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS, THOSE OTHER PARTS ARE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. IN THIS CASE THE DEALER, FLOW VOLKSWAGEN OF GREENSBORO, NC, REPLACED NOT ONLY THE OIL COOLER BUT ALSO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR, AND FLUSHED THE COOLING SYSTEM 3 TIMES. DURING THE SERVICE THEY TELEPHONED ME AT WORK AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF NEARLY $300 TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT BECAUSE THEY FELT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE FOULED COOLANT. AT THAT TIME I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, NOR DID I KNOW THAT THE DEALER ALREADY HAD THE THERMOSTAT COMPLETELY...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TURBO BOOSTER BECAME VERY HOT AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED A CERTAIN PART OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH TEMPORARILY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, THE TURBO BOOSTER BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ON. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MECHANIC REFUSES TO SEE WHY HER VEHICLE IS ACTING UP. SHE WAS TOLD TO PRODUCE RECEIPTS SAYING THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED SHE DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE PRODUCED SLUDGE NO MATTER HOW OFTEN THE OIL WAS CHANGED. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP IMMEDIATELY. *JB

1. NEW 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, V6 SEDAN. RETURNED CAR SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY FOR MANY TYPES OF REPAIRS. VOLKSWAGEN UNABLE TO REPAIR CAR. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WERE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. 2. SEVERAL FAILURES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, FAILURE TO START, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CONSTANTLY ON, BRAKING PROBLEMS, CLIMATE CONTROL PROBLEMS, AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING FAILED BRAKE LIGHTS. 3. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY VOLKSWAGEN HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS ADEQUATELY. *TR

OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 VW PASSAT 1.8L TURBO HAS CAUSED IRREVERSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR

THE SLUDGE PROBLEM THAT IS COMMON IN VOLKSWAGEN 1.8 4 CYLINDER ENGINES HAS HAPPENED TO OUR CAR. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BUT VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE JUMPED THROUGH EVERY HOOP THEY CAN THINK OF. THE LAST ONE IS THAT THEY WANTED THE VIN NUMBER PRINTED OUT ON EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, WHICH I LEASE FROM VW. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT NO MORE THAN THREE MILES PER HOUR INTO THE STREET. AS I CUT THE WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON MY SIDE OF THE TRAFFIC LANES, I RAN ASKEW OF THE DRIVEWAY AND OVER THE RISING EDGE WHERE THE DRIVEWAY RISES TO MEET THE CURB - A MERE 6". I HAVE PICTURES. I HEARD A FAINT SCRAPING NOISE AND LAMENTED THE FACT I SCRAPED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, BUT GIVEN THE MINISCULE HEIGHT OF THE DROP FROM MID-CURB EDGE TO THE STREET, I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION AND THEN BACK HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT TIME I USED MY CAR I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THE OIL PAN, WHICH WAS STRATEGICALLY ENGINEERED TO RESIDE AT THE...