How many problems does the 2006 VOLKSWAGEN Passat have?

The 2006 VOLKSWAGEN Passat currently has 576 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2006 VOLKSWAGEN Passat?

The most common problems reported for the 2006 VOLKSWAGEN Passat are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

2006 VOLKSWAGEN Passat Problems

AIR BAGS

128 complaints

The contact owned a 2006 Volkswagen Passat . The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

Oct 09, 2025

recalled airbag

Jul 04, 2025

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was contacted however, the manufacturer was not.

Dec 16, 2024

Stalled out as I started to accelerate from a stop light. It's like not getting and fuel. Possibly some type of issue pertaining to that Then my airbag light keeps flashing. Floor board lights cut on an off for no reason. Electrical equipment Possibly incorrect?

Jul 19, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the passenger’s side frontal air bag failed to function as designed. The passenger’s side frontal air bag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

Sep 29, 2021

+ 123 more complaints for this component

STEERING

71 complaints

MY VW HAS BEEN HARD TO START AND GETTING THE STEERING LOCK FAULT WARNING. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL, BUT I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND DO NOT REMEMBER GETTING THE RECALL NOTICE.

Sep 08, 2019

FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW THE CAR STARTS AND SUDDENLY TURN OFF. I WENT TO START THE CAR ON 09/10/2017 AND A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE MFD: "STEERING COLUMN LOCK" AND THE KEY IS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK ON VARIOUS FORUMS AND FOUND THAT VW ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL WHICH EXPIRED SOMEWHERE AROUND FEBRUARY 28, 2013. SINCE IT WAS VOLUNTARY, AND MANY PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM MYSELF INCLUDED, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL. IT IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN CAN LOCK UP AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND I HAVE READ MANY OF THE NEWER VW MODELS ARE EXPIRIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD MERIT A RECALL.

Sep 12, 2017

CAR IS IMMOBILIZED AT THIS TIME W/ KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEEL APPEARS BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVE WAY, COLD WEATHER, FIRST START. IT'S INTERMEDIATE & HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. STEERING HAS BEEN FIXED A FEW YEARS AGO FOR ISSUES OF THE SAME SORT. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 194,000 ON IT BUT THE ISSUE IS THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, CAM (REPLACED 2 X'S; ONCE UNDER WARRANTY OTHER TIME HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET), TURBO, SENSORS, PVC, STEERING, CONVERTER (OUT OF POCKET), REAR AXLE (OUT OF POCKET), ETC. HAVE ALL DOCUMENTS BUT DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO PROVIDE THEM IN THIS FORUM. PROBLEMS STARTED UNDER CERTIFIED WARRANTY BUT CONTINUED AFTER. BOUGHT CAR W/ APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES ON IT. BEEN NOTHING BUT A BIG HEADACHE. CAR IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT CONTINUES TO HAVE ISSUES.

Dec 24, 2016

WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE FOR THE PAST WEEK WITH OUR CAR NOT CRANKING IN THE AFTERNOON. WE FIGURED IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE. WE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. SO THE CAR DID GREAT FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES, THEN WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING COLUMN LIGHT CAME ON, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. IF WE HAD BEEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD LIKE I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE? THE STEERING COLUMN LIGHT COMES ON GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING LOCKS UP FOR SOMEONE TO DIE. WILL VOLKSWAGEN THEN DECIDE ITS TIME TO RECALL IT? NOW THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND IT WILL NOT CRANK AT ALL.

Jun 30, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V613000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Jun 01, 2016

+ 66 more complaints for this component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

39 complaints

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SEPARATED FROM THE FLANGE CONNECTING IT TO THE TURBOCHARGER. SEEMS COMMON FROM WHAT IS SEE ON THE INTERNET, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE. *TR

Jul 10, 2014

OIL PUMP BOLT BACKED OUT/BROKE CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE. CAR LOSS OIL PRESSURE FORTUNATELY WAS NEAR AN EXIT TO AVOID THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY GETTING INVOLVED IN A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS WRECK. DEALER SAYS IT WILL COST $11,000.00 TO REPLACE ENGINE. VW KNOWS THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING SEEING I AM OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY AND STATED WOULD NOT DO A THING BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND BOUGHT IT AS A PRE-CERTIFIED OWNED USED VEHICLE FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. LINK TO VIEW NUMEROUS ISSUE HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4321376-**OFFICIAL-24V-3.6L-ENGINE-(OIL-PUMP-BOLT)-FAILURE-THREAD**. ALSO ANOTHER LINK: HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/74-VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-B6-DISCUSSION/331097-OIL-PUMP-BOLT-FAILURE-74K-MILES.HTML THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND WE THE CONSUMERS A RE PAYING FOR IT. *JS

Apr 30, 2012

THE OIL PUMP BROKE AND DESTROYED THE MOTOR. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP; THEY TOOK A MONTH TO REPLACE PARTS AND REPAIR THE MOTOR. THERE HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SUCH INCIDENTS; THIS HAS BEEN ADMITTED BY VW TO BE A MANUFACTURER PART FAULT, BUT THEY FAIL TO RECALL '06-'07 PASSATS AND COVER THE COSTS. I JUST SAW THIS SITE OR I WOULD HAVE REPORTED IT SOONER. I DID NOT OTHERWISE FIND ANY OTHER SUPPORT. *TT

Jan 30, 2012

DRIVING IN THE S CITY 45 MILES/P/H GIVING A WAY TO AMBULANCE I ACCELERATE THE CAR PULLING RIGHT LANE, CAR FELL ON HIS FACE NO POWER AMBULANCE ALMOST WAS GOING TO HIT ME SAME TIME EPC LIGHT CAME ON. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS KIND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR

Jan 27, 2012

BOLT FAILURE IN CAM SYSTEM, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE "OIL PUMP BOLT FAILURE". THE "CHECK ENGINE" & "EPC" LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ENGINE WENT INTO IT'S "SAFE" MODE, LIMITING ACCELERATION AND POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY & TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE BOLT FAILURE AND REPAIRS WERE MADE AND COVERED BY WARRANTY. THE REPAIRS TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH TO MAKE. MAJOR COMPONENTS REPLACED WERE AS FOLLOWS: 2 - TIMING CHAINS OIL PUMP GEARS OIL PUMP BOLT TIMING CHAIN COVER TENSIONERS SOFTWARE UPDATE THE REPAIRS REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF SOME MAJOR COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, VALVE COVER, TRANSMISSION AND SIDE COVERS. IN MY CASE, THE TIMING CHAIN COVER PREVENTED THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM FROM COMPLETELY FALLING APART. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE. MY VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AND 2000 MILES INSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IN FACT, MY WARRANTY RAN OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS.

Jan 18, 2012

+ 34 more complaints for this component

ENGINE

36 complaints

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while approaching an off ramp while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where an unknown diagnostic test and repair was completed. Additionally, the dealer fractured an unknown part underneath the hood and water entered the vehicle near the sun visor and there was water accumulating on the rear passenger’s side door location. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

Mar 30, 2023

WE HAVE 2006 3.6L VW PASSAT WITH 55K MILES FOR MY DAUGHTER. JUST RECENTLY THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING UNDER 30 MPH. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING GOOD AND NO OIL WAS LEAKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO AN ISSUE MANY OTHER PASSAT OWNERS EXPERIENCED WHERE THE OIL PUMP BOLT BECOMES LOSE AND CAUSES A FATAL FAILURE.

Dec 14, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE COOLANT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

Feb 22, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

May 14, 2018

IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE 2006 3.6L V6 ENGINES HAVE A TERRIBLE FLAW. THE OIL PUMP BOLT INSTALLED FROM THE VW FACTORY WAS EITHER SPECIFIED INCORRECTLY, INSTALLED WRONG, OR HAS SOME OTHER FATAL DEFECT. MY WIFE DRIVES LESS THAN 10 MILES TO AND FROM WORK EVERYDAY CONSERVATIVELY. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE LOST POWER STARTED SMOKING AND LEAKING OIL ALL OVER THE GROUND. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE GOT MISFIRING CODES SO WE IMMEDIATELY PARKED AND HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL VW DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE LOOSE BOLT & CHAIN RUBBING WAS WHAT CAUSED AN INTERNAL FAILURE SO WE'D NEED A NEW ENGINE @ $4,554.00! THE CAR HAS DRIVEN PERFECTLY AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY BUT SUDDENLY DIED DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY WIFE OR MYSELF. THERE'S A RUNNING LIST OF THE PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO @ HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-B6-DISCUSSION/327507-3-6-OIL-BOLT-FAILURE-REFERENCE-MATERIAL.HTML PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN UP ABOUT THIS AND I'M SURE THERE ARE A MANY OTHER FOLKS THAT NEVER SPOKE OUT. VW IGNORES THE TRUE SCOPE OF THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD RECTIFY THESE FAILURES WITH A LEGITIMATE RECALL. THE REAL ISSUE IS THE BOLT. IT COMES LOOSE OR BRAKES. VW NEEDS TO RECALL THIS SINCE IT IS A MAJOR FACTORY ISSUE. ALTHOUGH COSTLY IT WOULD KEEP LOYAL VW DRIVERS IN VW'S.

May 04, 2018

+ 31 more complaints for this component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

23 complaints

I HAVE A VOS WAGON 2016 AND I HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THEY CHANGED A MODEL THAT GOES BEFORE THE BOMB OF THE GASOLINE. THAT A RECALL THAT OCCURRED IN THE DEALER. I KNOW THE CAR HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE. I CHECKED THE BOMB MANUALLY AND IT WORKS. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ELECTRICITY AND THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS ARE THE LIGHTS AND THE SUNROOF. PARTS OF THE CAR INSIDE DO NOT WORK. WHEN I WAS CHECKING THE VEHICLE, ON THE CARPET IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WAS HUMID. THERE WAS WATER IN REVISING THE CAUSE. I TOOK OUT BUCKETS OF WATER FROM THE CAR, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK WOULD RESULT IN THIS MUCH WATER WOULD BE THROUGH THE SUNROOF. A FRIEND RECOMMENDED ME A PLACE TO CHECK THIS OUT, AND HE SAID HE COULD FIX IT. WITHOUT TELLING THIS GUY ANY BIG DETAILS, HE CONFIRMED MY DOUBTS ABOUT THE CAUSE. HE BELIEVED THAT THE MOST REASONABLE THING THAT OCCURRED WAS THAT THE SUNROOF LEAKED. THE WATER DOESN'T GO OUT, BUT INSTEAD, COME INSIDE AND CAUSE DAMAGES IN THE ELECTRICAL FIELDS OF THE CAR. SO, THIS IS WHY I WAS WONDERING IF THIS COULD BE A RECALL.

Jul 19, 2019

WHEN STOPPING AT AT STOP SIGN AND TRYING TO TAKE OFF THE ENGINE SEEMS TO LOSE POWER AND THEM ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL MAKE A SURGE AND TAKE OFF. WHEN IT FIRST CRANKS UP ITS SLOW AND THEN IT WILL KINDA OF JUMP AND THE IT WILL RUN OK FOR A WHILE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY MECHANIC AND SPENT ALMOST 500 DOLLARS. HE CAN'T SEEMS TO FIND WHATS WRONG IM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. VW SAID IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL REGULATOR AND PROBABLY WOULD BE IN A RECALL BUT HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IN MONTHS

Apr 14, 2018

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE (INSERTING THE FOB), THE CAR WILL START BUT A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF AND DISPLAYS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE." THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR FOR THE DAY AND ALSO WHEN STARTING AFTER BEING RUN. AFTER SEARCHING ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT ONLINE ON NUMEROUS FORUMS RELATING TO THE VOLKSWAGEN, I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS ACROSS DIFFERENT YEARS. THIS PROBLEM HAS EVEN OCCURRED WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AND IT SHUTS OFF THE CAR. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN THINKING THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AFFECTING MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY THREAT IT POSES TO THE DRIVERS. WELL, THEY DID NOT CARE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AND THEY DO NOT THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT. BUT HOW CAN IT NOT BE WHEN IT TURNS THE CAR OFF??

Nov 14, 2017

HEADLIGHT WIRING HAS LOST ALL INSULATION, ALL WIRES ARE NAKED. HIGH FIRE RISK. I NOTICED THIS JUST NOW BUT SEEMS TO BE LIKE THAT FOR YEARS AND OTHER HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB. VW SAYS COMMON ISSUE.

Nov 08, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

May 04, 2016

+ 18 more complaints for this component

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

22 complaints

I HAVE A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. VERY HEAVY FUMES COMING IN THE CAR AND AROUND THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND STATIONARY.

Jul 07, 2020

TAKATA RECALL. THE PAST TWO WEEKS MY VEHICLE HAS NOT STARTED AS IT NORMALLY DOES. IT TAKES TWO OR THREE KEY PUSHES TO GET MY ENGINE TO START UPON STARTING MY CAR, AND THEN IT FIRES UP. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET UP TO AND MAINTAIN SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. IF AND WHEN I AM MAINTAINING SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY ITS COMMON FOR THE ENGINE TO HICCUP AND THEN RETURN BACK TO ITS SPEED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN ACCELERATION. GOING UP HILLS IT LACKS POWER AND IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE CAR WHEN GOING UP A HILL THE CAR WILL MISFIRE. ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS IT IS PRACTICALLY DRINKING GAS LIKE WATER AND I NORMALLY GET GREAT GAS MILEAGE. IT IS STARTING TO GIVE OFF A FUEL SMELL WHILE DRIVING TOO AND MY MECHANIC DOES NOT KNOW WHY.

Jul 07, 2019

I WAS IN MOTION DRIVING ON A STREET AND THEN THE VEHICLE MADE A BUMP NOISE AND BEGAN LOSING POWER. I PULLED OVER AS THE DASHBOARD SAID THE CAR BATTERY IS DEAD. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER ONLY CRANKS. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO PICK ME UP AND MOVE MY CAR. HE TRIED TO JUMP IT BEFORE PARKING THE CAR AND TOLD ME MY BATTERY IS FINE.

Dec 03, 2018

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 10/2017 MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER - ALMOST CRASHED - HAD REPAIR COMPLETED SENT LETTER TO VOLKSWAGEN 12/2017 - NO RESPONSE, ACTION OR REIMBURSEMENT - CALLED VW TODAY - STILL NO RESPONSE,ACTION OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR PART THE KNOW WOULD FAIL. COULD HAVE BEEN A LARGE SAFETY CONCERN - FEEL VW IS SHIRKING RESPONSABILITY - I HAVE COPIES OF ALL MY BILLS AND RECALL NOTICE -NHTSA:17V509

Jun 14, 2018

Crash: 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND THE FUEL PUMP WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

May 17, 2018

+ 17 more complaints for this component

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

21 complaints

TRYING TO START CAR AND WON'T TURN ON WITH KEY ALL MY KEYS DON'T WORK SAYS STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE CAN'T GET MY CAR TO TURN MY RADIO ON I AM PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND CAN'T EVEN TOW IT TO DEALER NOW BECAUSE IT WON'T GO INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

May 10, 2020

MY CAR SUFFERS FROM A "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" ISSUE FOR WHICH VW OF AMERICA HAS ISSUED A RECALL AS IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS YEAR OF THE CAR. FOR SOME REASON MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (BY VIN), AND NOW THAT THE PIECE IS STARTING TO FAIL THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. IT IS A CLEAR DEFECT AND IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED, BUT THEY STILL WANT ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ($800) TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. IF THIS PART FAILS, I WILL BE LEFT STRANDED WITH NO WAY OF TURNING THE CAR ON. A LOT OF MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT FIXING THIS CAR AS THIS WAS A PROBLEMATIC YEAR FOR THIS MODEL. I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY FIXING WHAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND SOMETHING THAT VW HAS RECOGNIZED IS A PROBLEM AND IS FIXING IN OTHER CALLS FROM THE SAME YEAR. THANK YOU.

May 27, 2015

THE PROBLEM STARTED OFF SMALL. MY PASSAT ONE DAY STARTED AND SHUT OFF. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS THE PROBLEM GOT MUCH WORSE. FIRST IT TOOK A COUPLE TRIES TO START AND NOW TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO START. THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT POPS UP AND THE CARS WARNING STATES "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE". TODAY 6/8/14 I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STALLS. LUCKILY WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WITH A CRYING BABY IN THE BACKSEAT, I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO START AFTER 2 HOURS OF TRYING! *TR

Jun 08, 2014

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE STALLING ISSUES I'VE EXPERIENCED ON MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6L MODEL. THE DESCRIPTION BELOW IS A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW IT PROGRESSED TO THE CURRENT STATE. I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE AROUND 8000 MILES OR SO WHERE THE KEY FOB WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. AFTER READING SOME POSTS ON VWFORUM, I WORKED AROUND THE INTERMITTENT ISSUE BY CLICKING THE GEAR SHIFT 3 TIMES TO DISENGAGE THE KEY FOB FROM THE IGNITION. AROUND 24K MILE OR SO, I NOTICED THE STALLING ISSUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CAR WAS STARTED. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AS WELL AND SEEMED TO OCCUR DURING EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS - COLD OR HOT. AT THIS TIME, THE ERROR 'STEERING COLUMN FAILURE' WOULD REGISTER INTERMITTENTLY. AROUND 60K THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED AND THE FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE INCREASED. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. LOOKING BACK AT THE MULTIPLE BLOGS AND FORUMS ON THIS TOPIC, I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THE ISSUE THAT FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM WOULD HAVE BEEN WARRANTED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE WIDESPREAD ISSUE AT THE TIME AND DID NOT INSIST ON HAVING THE DEALER RESEARCH THE ISSUE WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY. THE INSPECTION FEE WAS ENOUGH TO DETER ME FROM PUSHING FURTHER SPECIALLY IF THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. CURRENTLY, AT 88K MILES, THE PROBLEM OF STALLING WHEN STARTING CAN BE REPRODUCED AT WILL. THERE IS A WORKAROUND POSTED ON THE SAME VW FORUMS OF SPECIFIC STEPS TO START THE CAR THAT I'M CURRENTLY USING. OTHERWISE, THE CAR DOES NOT START AND THE ERRORS 'STEERING COLUMN FAILURE 'IMMOBILZER DEFECTIVE' IS DISPLAYED CONSISTENTLY. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED TWO INSTANCES OF THE CAR STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I BELIEVE THIS IS CAUSED BY THE SAME IMMOBILIZER ERROR CAUSED BY THE STEERING COLUMN FAILURE AS THE TWO ERRORS DISPLAYED WHEN TRYING TO RESTART. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. *TR

Dec 14, 2010

THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS THAT WHILE I AM DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT FIVE TIMES THIS YEAR. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN TWO ACCIDENTS AND TO HAVE TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY $1,700 TO REPAIR IT. *TR

Dec 13, 2010

+ 16 more complaints for this component

POWER TRAIN

20 complaints

Transmission clunks into gear and loses traction while shifting.

May 24, 2023

We owned vehicle approx 8yrs and in late 2022 will driving/on highway 55mph or local roads like Broadway 15-20mph the vehicle goes into neutral. VErY dangerous it wil work as it should after a restart

Jan 04, 2023

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS USED IN THE B6 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER VW MODELS ARE NOTORIOUSLY PROBLEMATIC. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT NEEDING A SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH WAS DONE ON MY VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE REAL ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THE WIDESPREAD AND MORE SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS IS THE VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY PART OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING HARD SHIFTS USUALLY BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND OR THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR. THESE HARD SHIFTS CAUSE THE ENTIRE CAR AND IT'S PASSENGERS TO JERK VIOLENTLY DURING UPSHIFTS AND SOMETIMES DOWNSHIFTS BETWEEN THESE GEARS. AT ONLY 91,000 MILES AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR HAS DEVELOPED THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH GEAR MAKING IT FEEL VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSETTLING FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF THE VEHICLE WHEN GETTING UP TO SPEED ESPECIALLY ON ON-RAMPS TO THE HIGHWAY. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS DESTROYED MY MOTOR MOUNTS AS WELL. VW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART OF THE TRANSMISSION SIMILAR TO THE WAY HONDA DID WITH THEIR ODYSSEY, ONLY THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED LIKE WITH THE ODYSSEY. THIS IS AN ENORMOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND ADDRESS BY VOLKSWAGEN, THE LARGEST AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD. *TR

May 27, 2020

Injuries: 1

MISSES SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO SECOND SPEED AND 2ND TO 3RD. ROUGH SHIFTS. DIFFICULTY TO ENGAGE IN THE NEXT SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE PROPULSION. MALFUNCTION OBSERVED WHEN IN MOTION.

Feb 28, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVES INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

Jul 19, 2017

+ 15 more complaints for this component

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

16 complaints

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED AND HIT A STAIRCASE RAIL BEHIND ME. I THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO AVOID REVERSING INTO ANYONE. I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND ONCE AGAIN IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AT FULL SPEED, THIS TIME HITTING A CONCRETE COLUMN WHICH DISABLED THE VEHICLE.

Oct 15, 2018

Crash: 1

ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2017 MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT ON I-75 N. IN MACON, GEORGIA. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2006 VW PASSAT, 3.6 L. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. THE ACCELERATOR QUICKLY, AND WITHOUT NOTICE, ENGAGED BY ITSELF. THIS RESULTED IN HER CRASHING INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE, IN MACON, GA. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND SURVIVED. SHE SUFFERED LACERATIONS, BRUISES, NECK AND ARM INJURY, AND SOME IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS WHEN SHE HIT HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VOLKSWAGEN SAID THEY WOULD COME TO EXAMINE THE ACCELERATOR TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT.

Oct 09, 2017

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED BEING DEPRESSED WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

Dec 04, 2015

MY CAR WAS SIMPLY IDLING IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THE IDLE REV UP AND THE TACHOMETER WENT UP A FEW 100 RPM'S. I THOUGHT, HMM THAT'S STRANGE. THEN IT STARTED AFFECTING THE WAS MY CAR SHIFTS AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP. WHILE AT A STOP IN DRIVE I CAN FEEL THE IDLE IS ROUGH. I REPLACED MY MAF SENSOR, WHICH WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE, HOPING IT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEN WHILE RESEARCHING RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, I CAME ACROSS THIS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I NEVER GOT A NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALL. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANT AND I HAVE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS TIME. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE VERY MUCH, APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Nov 14, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR IDLING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE ABNORMALLY AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

Mar 10, 2011

+ 11 more complaints for this component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

11 complaints

AT THE MORNING OF 3/30/2012 WHILE WAS DRIVING TO WORK BRAKES FEEL FUNNY( SOMETIMES LIKE HARD, SOMETIMES SOFT) STARTED THAT MORNING. WHILE I WAS BARKING MY CAR BRAKES FAILED, HARDLY STOPPED AND CRASHED TO ELECTRIC POL. BROKE FRONT GRILL AND EMBLEM PUT A DENT ON CHROME PIECE ON THE FRONT.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. FOUND BRAKE BOOSTER NEPRENE HOSE HAD MULTIPLE CRACKS.. THAT REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE FREE BUT THEY CHARGE ME SOME$200.00. I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. GOOD THINK DID NOT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY 70 MPH. *TR

Apr 04, 2012

Crash: 1

ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO AUTOMATICALLY COME ON. LED TO RAPID DECELERATION WHILE DRIVING. ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

Nov 09, 2011

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L VR6 MODEL. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN LATE 2010 AT FIRST A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT A SET OF LIGHTS, THE RPM ARE NORMALLY AROUND 650-700 RPM, WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS THE RPM GO TO 1250-1300 WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, THIS MAKES SO THE DRIVER HAS TO APPLY MUCH MORE FOOT STRENGTH TO HOLD THE CAR. RAISING THE RISKS OF A CAR CRASH. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, IF I DRIVE A DAY IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN, THEN I DRIVE THE NEXT DAY AT THE SECOND SET OF LIGHTS IT HAPPENS. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS AT VW IN NH BUT THEY DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND CLAIMED THE CAR "IS NOT REALLY AN AUTOMATIC, BUT A MANUAL" AND CHANGED GEAR BOOT CONNECTORS OR SOME SOMETHING, AND THE SAME WEEK THE PROBLEM RESUMED. I FEEL I CANNOT GO TO VW TO REPAIR THIS AS THIS WILL GIVE ME EXCUSES, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, I FEEL THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. THANK YOU. *TR

Oct 04, 2011

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR: 1. EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE CONTINUES TO GIVE ME PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE & PERIODICALLY WILL NOT ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. 2. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DURING BRAKING MY CAR IS SLIPPING AND TAKES LONGER TO BRAKE. I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS ALREADY A RECALL ON OTHER VW PASSATS BUT NOT ON MY MODEL PASSAT BUT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MY MODEL AS WELL. BRAKE VACUUM PROBLEM. I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTED TO GET THIS LOOKED AT WITH DEALER BUT WANTED YOU TO HAVE A RECORD OF THIS AND INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES. *TR

Mar 10, 2009

DRIVING DOWN SNOW AND ICE COVERED MOUNTAIN PASS IN COLORADO WHEN I SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED HEAVY RESISTANCE OF BRAKE PEDAL AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. FORTUNATELY, I MADE IT HOME SAFELY. SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VACUUM LINE FOR THE BRAKE HAD CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE AND DECREASED BRAKING. *TR

Dec 02, 2008

+ 6 more complaints for this component

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

10 complaints

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE REPAIRS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE DATE THE REPAIR ORDER WAS SUBMITTED. *JS

Dec 10, 2018

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHIPPED TO ANOTHER PORTION OF THE ISLAND, BUT IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE'S TRANSPORTATION. *JS *TR

Dec 07, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DANBURY VOLKSWAGEN OF DANBURY CONNECTICUT WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

Mar 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *TT *TR

Jan 29, 2018

2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T AT LEAST EVERY 6 MONTH, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATE LIGHT ON WITHOUT ANY REASON. WHEN I GO TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY JUST RESET IT. IT BACK TO NORMAL. *TR

Feb 21, 2011

+ 5 more complaints for this component

VISIBILITY

9 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 06V470000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

Aug 13, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,302.

Apr 01, 2014

MY VW 2006 PASSAT SEDAN HAS ALWAYS HAD A WINDSHIELD FOGGING PROBLEM WHEN THE DE-FOGGER IS TURNED ON, THE WINDSHIELD FOGGS UP COMPLETELY, THEN TAKES 30 TO 45 SECONDS TO CLEAR. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SITUATION TO TREND MOTORS OF ROCKAWAY NJ SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL.AND I SHOULD PUT THE AIR CONDITIONER ON AND THAT WILL CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE WINDSHIELD DOES CLEAR BUT, I CANNOT SEE THRU THE WINDSHIELD FOR 30 TO 45 SECONDS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS HAZARD. *TR

Apr 16, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR RECALL 06V470000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER: MOTOR) WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOVED VERY SLOWLY AND MADE THE VEHICLE INCAPABLE OF BEING DRIVEN IN THE RAIN. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT EXPLAIN THE CAUSE FOR FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. UPDATED 01/18/11 *BF THE DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. UPDATED 04/04/11

Nov 22, 2010

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

Jun 17, 2009

+ 4 more complaints for this component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

8 complaints

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THE LIGHTS ARE SO BAD THAT IT IS A DANGER DRIVING AT NIGHT. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE REGULAR LIGHTS WITH LED LIGHTS, SLIGHT BETTER BUT STILL DANGEROUS. AFTER RESEARCHING WE FOUND THAT THIS IS A DEFECT AND THE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS. WE TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND THERE IS NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT BUT REPLACE THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WHICH WOULD BE VERY COSTLY. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVING THIS CAR AT NIGHT.

Mar 18, 2018

LOW BEAMS ON BOTH SIDES CONSTANTLY FAIL. HAVE REPLACED BULBS WITH MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS. FAILURE OCCURS AROUND EVERY 6 MONTHS, GO FIGURE. MECHANIC STATED TO REPLACE HOUSING UNIT WOULD COST BETWEEN $600 TO $800.

Oct 11, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED AND FORCED THE DRIVER TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT CONCEALMENT DEVICE AND THE SWITCHES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,792. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Apr 26, 2016

I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT REPAIRED. BOTH HAD STOPPED WORKING OVER THE WEEKEND DUE TO THE INSULATION BECOMING BRITTLE AND BREAKING OFF OF BOTH WIRES TO THE PLUG THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULB. THE WIRES WERE SHORTING OUT PREVENTING THE HEADLIGHTS FROM WORKING. I MADE A TEMPORARY FIX BY APPLYING ELECTRICAL TAPE TO THE WIRES THAT ALLOWED THE LIGHTS TO WORK. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 120000 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT WEST HOUSTON VW, [XXX], INDICATED THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $ 800. I SEE THIS AS A DEFECT WITH THE WIRES USED FOR THE ASSEMBLY. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 PASSAT HEADLIGHTS FAILING. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THE MILEAGE. THEY ALSO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR SERVICE ALERT ON THE PROBLEM. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE THE STAFF AT WEST HOUSTON VW KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONCE WE DESCRIBED IT TO THEM. IT SEEMED TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FAILING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BOTH FROM THE LACK OF LIGHTS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE WORKED FOR A WIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE INSULATION DOES NOT JUST BECOME BRITTLE AND FALL OFF OF THE WIRE. THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE. VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Feb 10, 2014

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.

Jun 11, 2009

+ 3 more complaints for this component

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

8 complaints

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND CAR WOULD RATTLE LOUDLY. ONE DAY THE CAR JUST STARTS DRIVING SLOW AND SHUTS OFF. I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND AFTER SEVERAL TESTS, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ENGINE COILS AND TURBO CAP WAS BROKEN. HEFTY PRICE TO GET IT FIX. AFTER TWO DAYS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON. I RESEARCH AND TALKED WITH MECHANIC, IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEM WITH VW CARS.

Sep 22, 2016

TURBO CHARGER IS FAULTY. I STILL OWE $12,00 ON THIS CAR. IT IS APPEARING THRU THE FORUMS ONLINE THAT THE DIESEL ENGINE IS NOT THE ONLY ENGINE AFFECTED BY THE RECENT EMMISION FAILURE OF VOLKSWAGON CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL FOR 2006...NOT JUST 2009 THRU 2014 CARS. THIS IS NOT FAIR. CAR IS SMOLING SO BADLY YOU CANT SEE THE CAR BEHIND YOU AND MECHANIC SAID THAT EVEN THO I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES MY TURBO CHARGER IS TOAST.

Oct 13, 2015

STARTED DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AT 55MPH SUDDENLY THE CAR LOST POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER I PULLED OVER, LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATING CAME FROM ENGINE ALSO CRA INDICATED LOW OIL PRESSURE. *TR

May 09, 2014

I WAS GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2006 3.6 PASSAT. THE CAR LOST POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & EPC LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GO OVER 40MPH, SO I EXITED THE HIGHWAY & DROVE CAR TO THE MECHANIC. THEY REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION TO FIND THE ISSUE OF THE BOLT HOLDING THE OIL PUMP WAS PARTIALLY REMOVED. THE CAR DETECTED A TIMING ISSUE & WAS THE REASON THAT IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GO OVER 40 MPH. WHEN THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE BOLT TO REPLACE IT, IT CAME OFF IN TWO PIECES. HE STATED THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT THE APPROPRIATE BOLT & THE NEW GUIDELINES REQUIRED A DIFFERENT BOLT WITH ADDITIONAL TORQUE. THIS WAS AN ENGINEERED MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH VOLKSWAGEN & SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE RECALLED. *TR

May 18, 2013

OIL PUMP BOLT BROKEN AS IN THE OTHER VW PASSATS FROM 2006 & 7 AND REPORTED ON THIS SITE. DAMAGED TIMING CHAIN COVER, TIMING CHAIN AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTS. CAR WAS SERVICED AND INSPECTED 5,000 MILES PREVIOUSLY. ALL SERVICE UP TO THIS POINT COMPLETED PER OWNERS MANUAL AT VW DEALER. THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED EXTENSIVELY AT HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4321376-**OFFICIAL-24V-3.6L-ENGINE-%28OIL-PUMP-BOLT%29-FAILURE-THREAD** AS WELL AS HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/74-VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-B6-DISCUSSION/327507-3-6-OIL-BOLT-FAILURE-REFERENCE-MATERIAL.HTML. NOT ONLY IS THIS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND KNOWN PROBLEM INVOLVING FAILURE OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, BUT EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. I RECEIVED A QUOTE FOR $6300 FOR A CAR WITH 78,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 3.6L V6S THAT IS BEING IGNORED BY VW OF AMERICA WHO REFUSED TO HELP EVEN COVER REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR

Feb 12, 2013

+ 3 more complaints for this component

SERVICE BRAKES

7 complaints

I PURCHASED THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE HAVE THE PARKING BRAKE FAIL AND BREAK THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE PURCHASE AND THE CAR CAME OUT OF GEAR IN MY DRIVEWAY AND BEGAN ROLLING. MY 65 YO MOM HAD TO STOP IT AND PUSH IT UP AS SHE WAS HOME ALONE. IT TURNED ON ANOTHER TIME WHILE I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION AND I WAS ALMOST T-BONED. I HAD IT REPLACED AFTER THIS INCIDENT. IN MAY 2020 THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND I NEEDED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE BRAKE WAS STUCK ON AND THE COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT BROKE. I PAID $2500 TO HAVE THE UNIT REPLACED. IN DEC 2020 (ONLY 7 MONTHS LATER) THE EXACT THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE AND NEEDED TO TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CALIPER AND COMPUTER BROKE AGAIN. THE COST IS SIMILAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU LOOK AT ANY VW FORUMS YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY PEOPLE HAVING THEIR BRAKE STUCK AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE/DISENGAGE THE UNIT. I REACHED OUT TO VW AND HAD NO RESOLUTION. I REQUEST THE PARKING BRAKE BE RECALLED AND EVERYONE WHO HAD WORK DONE ON IT, INCLUDING MYSELF, RECEIVED A FULL REFUND.

Dec 30, 2020

WHEN STOPPED AND START GOING AND GET TO ABOUT 30 MPH AND SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGES AND I CAN BARELY MOVE. I HAVE TO TURN MY VW PASSAT OFF, WAIT A COUPLE MINUTES AND TURN IT BACK ON FORM THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO DISLODGE. EXAMPLE: I'M IN VEGAS AT A STOP LIGHT IT TURNS GREEN SO IM GOING UP A ON RAMP TO GET ON FREEWAY AND AS SOON AS I ACCELERATE AND CAR SHIFTS INTO 3RD GEAR A YELLOW P WITH A CIRCLE AROUND IT COMES ON MY DASH AND WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS ( I HAD MANY CARS BEHIND ME) MY CAR REVVED UP BUT WOULD NOT GO BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE CAME ON. AND IT CONTINUES TO DO IT TO ME. IF I CAN GET PAST THIRD GEAR IT'S FINE AND 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ARE OK. I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR AND CALLED ON RECALLS THERE WEREN'T ANY. THIS ALMOST MADE ME HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON MY WAY HOME THE SAME DAY. BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO OVER A PASS TO GET HOME IT DID IT TO ME 4 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME CP8LD OF KILLED ME. IVE BEEN READING THE PROBLEM OTHERS ARE HAVING WITH VEHICLE AND THEY ARE THE SAME AS MINE. BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE ON 2006 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT. PLEASE HELP US WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. AND I CANT SELL IT BECAUSE I CANT LET SOMONE ELSE GET HURT. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AND I LOVE MY CAR. BUT NOW I'M SCARED TO DRIVE NOW. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT AND CAN'T RISK SELLING IT AND NOW HAVE NOTHING TO GET TO WORK. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU

Jan 11, 2020

MY CAR WAS DRIVING AND BRAKES WERE WORKING FINE. THEN I TRIED TO STOP AS I CAME TO A RED LIGHT N BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. I COULDN'T STOP N WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND I BETWEEN 2 CAR B4 FINALLY COMING TO A STOP A HALF MILE LATER. I DROVE THE CAR ON BACKSTREETS AND THE BRAKES WILL WORK WHEN I START GOING BUT AFTER A FEW STOPS THEY START GETTING SOFT UNTIL THEY JUST TOTALLY FAIL. THEIR IS PLENTY OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM.

Dec 02, 2019

HELLO- PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT DISENGAGE, MAKING CAR UNDRIVEABLE. PARKING BRAKE ALSO TURNS ON ON ITS OWN WHEN THE CAR IS ON (STATIONARY ON MINE, IN MOTION ON OTHERS CARS) AND ALSO WHEN CAR IS OFF. MY CAR WAS ALSO PARKED AND THE BRAKE UNRELEASED AND THE CAR WENT BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. MY 65 MOTHER WAS HOME ALONE AND RAN OUT AND STOPPED AND HELD THE CAR (AND PUSHED IT BACK UP DRIVEWAY) HERSELF. FORUMS HAVE STATED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THE PARKING BRAKE TURNS ON WHEN DRIVING WHICH HAS RESULTED IN CRASHES/ ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES.

Oct 23, 2018

THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE (EBRAKE) SYSTEM. THE PARKING BRAKE IS SET/RELEASED BY PRESSING A BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT HOME, I PRESSED THE EBRAKE AND THE EBRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND I WAS UNABLE TO SET IT. SO I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES WHICH APPARENTLY RESET THE SYSTEM AND IT WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER MY WIFE HAD THE VEHICLE IN TOWN. SHE GOT IN TO LEAVE THE MARKET AND TRIED TO RELEASE THE EBRAKE BUT IT BEGAN TO FLASH AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT. SHE CALLED ME BECAUSE SHE WAS STUCK THERE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I TOLD HER TO TRY AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND THEN RECONNECT IT. SHE WAS NEAR A GAS STATION SO SHE BORROWED A WRENCH AND DID WHAT I TOLD HER TO DO. AGAIN THE VEHICLE RESET ITSELF AND MY WIFE WAS THEN ABLE TO RELEASE THE BRAKE AND COME HOME. NOW I AVOID USING THE EBRAKE FOR FEAR OF THAT HAPPENING AGAIN, BUT NOW I FEEL THAT I'M OUT A PARKING BRAKE AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT WHILE DRIVING IT. I SAW COMPLAINTS ON LINE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR MODEL HAVING THE EBRAKE ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE STEERING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT! PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, WORTHY OF RE-CALL STATUS. *TR

Dec 24, 2014

+ 2 more complaints for this component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

6 complaints

FRONT GRILL OF THE VEHICLE IS DENTED BUT NOT DAMAGED. CAR WORKS PERFECTLY FINE. JUST NEEDS SLIGHT BODY WORK, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, VEHICLE IS OPERATIVE. IT WAS ON HIGHWAY 91 W NEAR IMPERIAL EXIT AND TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO. AS TRAFFIC WAS PICKING BACK UP, VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CONTINUED TO PRESS FORWARD AND BY THE TIME I HIT MY BREAKS, I SLIGHTLY HIT THE BACK OF THEIR BUMPER AND DENTED MY GRILL.

Dec 24, 2018

Crash: 1

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD SO MANY RECALLS THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS. ALSO EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE TRUNK FILLS UP WITH WATER.

Jul 03, 2018

CRV BOOT--I HAD MY LEFT FRONT CRV BOOT REPLACED 12/2010. DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED FRONT RIGHT AND TWO REAR CRV BOOTS REPLACED 10/2011. I DRIVE 14 MILES RT TO WORK-NO ROUGH TERRAIN-WITH ONLY 42000-48000 I NEED ALL REPLACED-DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT AND $200.00 PER BOOT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW. *KB

Oct 12, 2011

2006 VW PASSAT BOUGHT 14 MONTHS AGO IN SHOP 3 TIMES, THERMOSTAT FIXED MY EXPENSE, COILS REPLACED VW EXPENSE, CAR HAS 90000 MILES AND AM BEING TOLD CAMSHAFT NEEDS REPLACING ALONG WITH FUEL PUMP - NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. P2293 CODE ON AND OFF FOR 3 MONTHS VW IS NO HELP EXCEPT FOR PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR

Jul 28, 2010

IMPENDING HEALTH RISK TO USERS OF THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HERE IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I RECENTLY SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN, THEIR (SAD) RESPONSE, AND MY REPLY ================================================= DATE: FRI, 21 OCT 2005 08:39:08 -0700 (PDT) FROM: "CATT" <[email protected]> TO: "VIC WEB RESPONSES" <[email protected]> HOW ABOUT YOU READ MY EMAIL AGAIN? I DID NOT SAY YOUR AD WAS OFFENSIVE--I SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS. ARE YOU ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JACK IN THE BOX DEBACLE? VIC WEB RESPONSES <[email protected]> WROTE: DEAR CATT, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS WITH OUR VOLKSWAGEN WEBSITE. WE HAVE NOTED YOUR CONCERNS AND WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE IF YOU FOUND THE NATURE OF THIS AD OFFENSIVE. WE HERE AT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STRIVE TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR BRAND OF DRIVING EXCITEMENT TO VOLKSWAGEN ENTHUSIAST'S THROUGH CLEVER AND INNOVATIVE SPOTS, CREATED BY A REFRESHING AND ENTERTAINING NATIONAL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGY, ONCE AGAIN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUBMISSION AND INVITE YOU TO VISIT AGAIN SOON! KELLY VOLKTALK -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [email protected] [MAILTO:[email protected]] SENT: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005 3:44 AM TO: [email protected] {ABRIDGED VERSION} EMAIL TO VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY RE: PASSAT TELEVISION ADVERTISING--SPECIFICALLY FOOD POISONING I JUST VIEWED YOUR NEW TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE PASSAT. PLEASE NOTE: YOU MAY WISH TO PULL THE NEW AD SHOWING YOUR GLOVE BOX COOLER IMMEDIATELY, AS THIS COULD BE A PUBLIC RELATIONS NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE AD SHOWS SOME YOUNG MEN OUT STOPPING FOR SOME SUSHI, AND THEN STORING IT IN THE GLOVE BOX. A VERY LARGE NO NO! THEY SHOW THEM DIALING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN TO 60 DEGREES--HARDLY A SAFE TEMPERATURE FOR RAW FISH AND/OR MANY OTHER KINDS OF FOOD THAT REQUIRE REFRIGERATION. (CONT)...AGAIN ANOTHER HEALTH HAZARD IF STORED ABOUT 40 DEGREES). *JB

Oct 22, 2005

+ 1 more complaint for this component

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

6 complaints

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

Jan 13, 2010

I HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE LATCH ON THE TRUNK OF MY 2006 PASSAT. FINALLY, THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT PIECES OF THE PLASTIC COATING OF THE LATCH MECHANISM WERE CHIPPING OFF AND FOULING THE LATCH. THE LATCH WAS REPLACED WITH A BARE METAL PIECE AND THE PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS WAS NOT RESOLVED, HOWEVER, UNTIL AFTER SOME ANONYMOUS DO-GOODER DENTED MY TRUNK TRYING TO SHUT IT. *TR

Mar 22, 2009

THE TRUNK ON MY 06 PASSAT WON'T ALWAYS STAY CLOSED. NOTHING IN PARTICULAR PRECIPITATED THE FIRST EVENT. I HAVE TO SLAM IT SHUT EVERY TIME AND IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO CLOSE. I WAS REAR-ENDED IN MARCH 2008 AND THE TRUNK WAS REPLACED. THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK. THE ORIGINAL TRUNK WAS NOT WANTING TO LATCH PROPERLY AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK DOES THE EXACT SAME THING. IT MUST BE SOMETHING ABOUT 06 PASSAT TRUNKS. I DID NOTICE THAT BEFORE THE TRUNK HAD ISSUES CLOSING, IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN I PRESSED THE TRUNK BUTTON ON THE KEY. ONCE AGAIN, EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WITH BOTH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK. *TR

Dec 16, 2008

2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH WHEN IT'S COLD. BROUGHT IT TO VW DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND THEY'VE REPLACED SEVERAL LOCKS AND THEY COULD REPLACE THE LOCK FOR $305. THEY LUBRICATED THE LOCK IN THE HOPES THAT IT MAY RESOLVE THE LATCH ISSUE. IF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH OTHER PASSATS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. - I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE HAD THE CAM SHAFT REPLACED, CAM SEAL LEAK REPAIRED 4 TIMES, CD PLAYER REPLACED, HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR REPLACED TWICE AND BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED ONCE. ALL WAS UNDER WARRANTY EXCEPT THE CAM SEAL LEAK AND THE TRUNK THAT WON'T CATCH AND CLOSE. A FORMAL COMPLAINED WAS LODGED WITH VW OF AMERICA GIVEN ALL OF THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE NEEDED; VW OFFERED ME $750 TOWARDS A NEW VW! NO OFFER TO PAY FOR A TRUNK THAT WON'T LATCH. RESEARCH ON LINE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS OF TRUNKS NOT LATCHING AND SOME OPENING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. VW REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LOCK . I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T MAKE RECALL DECISIONS BASED ON LINE COMPLAINTS. I TRAVEL ALONE FOR BUSINESS AND DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY SUITCASE, LAPTOP, ETC VISIBLE IN THE CAR BUT CAN'T USE THE TRUNK BECAUSE I COULD BE STUCK WITH A TRUNK THAT WON'T LATCH. THIS HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY AND I WAS STUCK IN FREEZING RAIN WITH A TRUNK FULL OF HOLIDAY GIFTS AND NO WAY OF CLOSING MY TRUNK. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF TRYING TO GET THE TRUNK TO LATCH IN THE FREEZING RAIN A GENTLEMAN WHO OWNS AN AUTO SHOP STOPPED AND TRIED WORKING ON THE LOCK ; COULD NOT GET IT TO LATCH. HE ENDED UP TRYING THE TRUNK DOWN WITH ROPE HE HAD IN HIS TRUCK SO I COULD GET HOME. AFTER 4 HOURS OF WARMING UP IN MY GARAGE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CLOSE THE TRUNK. *TR

Dec 01, 2008

MY TRUNK LATCH ON MY 2006 VW PASSAT WILL NOT LATCH. THIS CAUSES THE TRUNK TO OPEN UNLESS I HAVE IT DUCK TAPED DOWN. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I OPENED IT TO GET SOMETHING OUT AND IT WOULD NOT SHUT. I TAPED IT DOWN AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS CLOSED PROPERLY. AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND PUT THE STUFF IN IT, BUT IT WOULD NOT CLOSE AGAIN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE SINCE. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME I WAS THE 5TH OR 6TH PERSON THAT DAY WITH THE PROBLEM. I CALLED VW AMERICA WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE TAPE CAN FAIL AND THE TRUNK WILL SPRING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Nov 25, 2008

+ 1 more complaint for this component

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 complaints

OUT OF THE BLUE THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SHUT OFF CAR. IMMEDIATLY PULLED OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF. OIL WAS FINE BECAUSE I CHECK IT CONSTANTLY. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS A THIMBLE CALLED THE CAM FOLLOWER. THE CAM FOLLOWER BLEW OFF THROUGH THE TIMING CHAIN AND HOUSING. MY MOTOR IS DONE. IT HAS 109,000 MILES ON IT. VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. I DON'T HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. VW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON MY 2006 PASSAT 2.0T. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE MARCH BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR.

Jun 25, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (MOLLE VOLKSWAGEN, 808 W 103RD ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114, (816) 941-2400), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Jun 21, 2018

"IN RELATION TO FUEL PUMP RECALL"....SINCE THE YEAR STARTED MY CAR HAS BEEN HESITANT TO START AND SOMETIMES NEEDS A SECOND START. ON JANUARY 9TH I STARTED MY CAR UP IN THE MORNING AND ABOUT 3 SYMBOLS POPPED: THE GAS CAP, ENGINE CHECK, AND THE WARNING SYMBOLS. I TURNED IT OFF SECURING MY GAS CAP AND WAITED A FEW MINS AND TURNED IT BACK ON. NOW THE ENGINE CHECK IS GONE SO I CONTINUE MY MORNING COMMUTE. EVENTUALLY THE GAS CAP SYMBOL IS OFF, WARNING IS STILL ON BUT NOW THE ENGINE CHECK IS BACK ON SO I WENT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WITH EMISSION AND LEAKAGE CODES IDENTIFIED. SO THEN I BRING IT TO A LOCAL SHOP WHO SPECIALIZES IN VW AND THEY TELL ME I HAVE FUEL, OIL, AND COOLANT LEAKAGE. THEY CANT FIX THE FUEL LEAK BUT THE OTHER TWO IS FIXABLE WHICH ONLY BRINGS TO ME CONCERN ABOUT THIS RECENT RECALL. I HAVE READ OTHER DRIVERS OF MY VEHICLE (2006 PASSAT) GETTING INVOLVED IN FENDER BENDERS, CAR STALLS, ENGINE PROBLEMS ETC. THIS WILL BE A HUGE INCONVENIENCE IF THE CAR GIVES OUT ON ME AND I NEED A QUICK RESOLUTION TO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE A CHILD WHO JUST TURNED 4 MONTHS AND CANT RISK GETTING INTO A CAR WRECK WITH HER IN THE CAR. VW AT LEAST GIVE US A TIME FRAME ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISKS

Jan 10, 2018

MY CAR SEEMS LIKE ITS LOOSES POWER OR DON'T WANT TO GO AT ANY SPEED WHEN I NEED TO SPEEDUP AND WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK POSITION THE RPM NEEDLE KEEPS GOING UP OR DOWN I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC HE CHECK FOR ANY CODES AND CAME OUT THAT COIL #1 AND #3 WERE BAD. *TR

Jun 25, 2013

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

4 complaints

I NOTICED THAT I WAS RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS TO CHANGE THE OIL MORE OFTEN PRIOR TO 3000 MILES. WHEN I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE WHY I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT REQUIRE AN OIL CHANGE USUALLY UNTIL 6000 MILES. I WAS TOTALLY BAFFLED BECAUSE I AM BARELY MAKING THE 3K MARK. SO, AFTER ANOTHER OIL CHANGE SHORTLY 3000 MILES...I GOT THE NOTIFICATION TO SHUT OFF ENGINE, OIL LEVEL TOO LOW. I PANICKED AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS ALRIGHT AND SOME CAR ASORB MORE THAN OTHERS. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE CAM SHAFT. THIS WAS REPLACED IN FEB 2011. CONTINOUSLY I EXPERIENCED THE LOW OIL LEVEL AND HAVE HAD IT MONITORED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE NEXT DAY AFTER IT WAS MONITORED. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY I AM EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I WENT TO A LOCAL AUTO STORE WHO STATED IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT. AT HALLS VOLKWAGEN, A VOLSKWAGEN SPECIALIST WAS THERE AT THE TIME AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY CLEAN MY ENGINE COMPLETELY. THIS WAS ONE WEEK AGO AND GUESS WHAT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK. I WENT BACK TO ANOTHER AUTO STORE WHO CONFIRMED AGAIN IT WAS THE CAM SHAFT. YES, THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAM SHAFT. THIS IS TWICE IN A YEAR IT WILL REQUIRE REPLACING? MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO END. IM NOT COMING OUT OF POCKET TO GET A CAM SHAFT EVERY YEAR. SOMETHING ELSE HAS TO BE WRONG. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE IT NOTED THAT I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT CAR MAX. THE CAR FAX STATED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND HAS THE STICKER INFORMATION FROM WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. I THINK THAT I WAS MISLEAD ABOUT THE STATE OF THIS VEHICLE. TOTAL CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS SINCE PURCHASE - 9 TOTAL NOTIFICATIONS TO SHUT OFF ENGINE DUE TO LOW OIL LEVEL 9. *TR

Nov 27, 2011

BEWARE OF THE 2006 VW PASSAT. I HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. MAJOR ISSUE: STALLING OUT WITHOUT WARNING. MY CAR WAS WORKED ON 6 MONTHS AGO APPROX DATE OF 1/11 FOR STALLING. CAR RAN GREAT, JULY 7TH,11 TRAVELING HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON INTERSTATE, CAR STALLS, ALMOST GOT HIT! TAKEN TO (2) TWO DIFF DEALERSHIPS AND (2) DIFF OPINIONS. DROPPED OFF AT DEALERSHIP ON JULY 14TH,11 PART NEEDED IS ON BACK ORDER UNTIL JULY 25,11) THEY SAY THE STALLING IS CAUSED FROM CAM SHAFT HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP! AND APPARENTLY THEY (VW) HAS DECIDED TO COVER THIS UNDER AND EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY UP TO 120,000 MILES! NO RECALL. HMMMM WONDER WHY? THEY WOULD BE OUT ALOT OF MONEY! THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR. THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED IS A JOKE! SIX MONTHS AGO MY FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND NOW ANOTHER PROBLEM EXISTS. MY POINT IS THIS: MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT ON THE INTERSTATE AND VARIOUS OTHER PLACES. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE! THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO VW AND THEY BASICALLY STATED IT WAS MY PROBLEM! I HAVE HAD MY CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE 2 TIMES AND ALL HAVE COME BACK WITH DIFF ISSUES! WHEN SPEAKING TO THE REP FROM VW, I ADVISED THEY ALL GAVE ME DIFF OPINIONS DUE TO DIAGNOSTIC READINGS AND SHE STATED "MAYBE YOUR CAR HAS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS" MAYBE? SO I PAY FOR ALL OF THESE "MAYBE'S" TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND "MAYBE" IT WILL RUN THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO, OR "MAYBE" IT WONT! I'M NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, IT STILL EXISTS FOR MANY OTHERS. *KB

Jul 21, 2011

STARTED VEHICLE IN NORMAL FASHION, NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF VIBRATION FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. UPON ACCELERATION, VEHICLE HESITATES DRASTICALLY. TOOK TO VW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS. 3 FAULT CODES - PO300 MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE DETECTED, PO304 CYLINDER 4 MISFIRE DETECTED, P3073 THROTTLE TRANSFER PUMP ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN CIRCUIT. VW SERVICE CENTER SWAPPED IGNITION COILS AND PLUGS - DUPLICATED FAULTS. THEY WANTED TO PUT IN NEW INJECTORS, EXHAUST LIFTERS, EXHAUST ROCKERS AND FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE FOR $1800.00 - AND SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY IN THERE, THEY WANTED TO REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, AND WATER PUMP FOR ANOTHER $340.00 I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DON'T MIND THE BAD PERFORMANCE/HESITATION THEN IT WON'T HURT THE ENGINE ANY MORE THEN IT ALREADY IS. THIS IS A 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T LUX WITH 80,000 MILES. CRAZY THAT ALL THESE PROBLEM OCCUR JUST AFTER THE 75,000 WARRANTY WAS UP. *TR

Feb 02, 2011

MY VEHICLE WENT INTO THE SHOP (STAR MOTOR) APRIL 1, 2008 FOR AN ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP AND CAM SHAFT WERE BAD. THEY WERE REPLACED AND I GOT MY CAR BACK ON APRIL 16, 2008. ON MAY 17, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE COILS (NOT SURE WHAT THESE ARE). ON MAY 18, 2008, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE COMPRESSION WAS NOT GOOD IN CYLINDER #'S 1 AND 3. THEY DECIDED TO FLUSH THE TURBO/INJECTOR SYSTEM AND TIME THE VEHICLE. I GOT THE CAR BACK (NOT SURE OF THE DATE). ON MAY 5, 2008, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN. WHEN PUT ON THE COMPUTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT INDICATED AND READ A CAM SHAFT/MISFIRE 3. MONTHS EARLIER, WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON, WE CALLED IN TO STAR MOTOR AND MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT "AS LONG AS THE LIGHT WASN'T FLASHING, IT WAS OKAY." I TOLD THIS TO STAR MOTOR ON MAY 18, 2008, AND GAIL TOLD ME THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD AT THE HOME OFFICE. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. AS SOON AS THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, WE CALLED AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE FLASHING WAS VERY INTERMITTENT (FLASHED MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY). MY CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED AND STAR MOTOR DOES NOT APPEAR TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUE PROBLEM IS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VOLKSWAGEN HOME OFFICE DISCUSSED MY CAR IN A CLASSROOM SETTING AND THEY ARE MERELY ABLE TO GUESS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS A HIGH END CAR; 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, AND THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING; FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT (TWICE), ETC. STAR IS TRYING TO WORK WITH US. THEY HAVE EVEN GIVEN US LOANERS TO DRIVE, BUT VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT WILLING TO HELP AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS ARE FAR REACHING AND NOT SIMPLY OURS. *TR

May 13, 2008

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

4 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEAT SHIELDS ON THE TURBO FAILED, CAUSING THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE CONTACT'S FACTORY WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 47,000.

Aug 16, 2010

HIGH IDLE DURING HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. IDLE IS RAISED TO 1000-1050RPMS DURING TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90F. THIS CAUSES LOADING OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CAR AT A STOP. THIS CAN OCCUR SUDDENLY AND RANDOMLY PRESENTING A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST RAN INTO SEVERAL CARS AT VARIOUS TIMES WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES DURING THE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. *TR

Jun 17, 2008

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VW PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON JANUARY 25, 2007 RE: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM. THE DEALER HONORED THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FIVE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE A FAMILY MEMBER WAS DRIVING 10 MPH. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T ENGAGE. THE BRAKES REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO TERMINATE THE LEASE AND ACCEPT A DIFFERENT VEHICLE OR AN ALLOWANCE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT'S RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 200 MILES AND HE FELT THE VEHICLE WAS A LEMON. *AK

Feb 05, 2007

I PURCHASED MY VW 3.6 4MOTION PASSAT WITH 71 MILES. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 200 TO 250 MILES, THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING WHEN GENTLY APPLYING BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS. I ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS WHEN THE GEAR IS IN DRIVE AND THEIR IS NO GAS BEING APPLIED. I HAVE SERVICED THE VEHICLE WITH VOLKSWAGEN TWICE AND THEY STATE THAT THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS THROUGH A INTERNET FORUM AND DISCOVERED THAT NOT ALL OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS SYMPTOM. THE SHAKING TOPIC CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING URL. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=2619540. *NM

Jul 23, 2006

EQUIPMENT

4 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE COMPRESSOR CREATED METAL PARTICLES THAT TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAUSING THE AIR CONDITIONER TO FAIL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE COMPRESSOR DEFECT THE REPAIR REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

Jul 21, 2010

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL LIGHT ACTIVATED DUE TO TO THE RESULT OF A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ACTIVATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE IS A DEFECT WITH AN OIL PUMP BOLT THAT THROWS THE CAMSHAFT OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF POWER AND CANNOT ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED. THE RPM'S INCREASE UP TO 4K BUT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOESN'T INCREASE. INSTEAD THE RPM'S DECREASE WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. PER THE MANUFACTURER, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN 2006-2007 B6 3.6 LITER PASSAT. THE 2.0 LITER PASSAT IS NOT AFFECTED. VW IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE APPLICABLE PARTS UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY SINCE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50K MILES. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OWNERS AFFECTED CAN BE LISTED AT HTTP://FORUMS.MOTIVEMAG.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3462993

Jun 27, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES, INJURIES, OR A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE THE CRASH. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE REPAIRS WERE SPECIFICALLY. SHE HAS THE REPAIR ORDERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

Oct 02, 2007

Crash: 1

MY 2006 PASSAT 3.6 HAS RADIO ISSUES.. WHEN TURNING VOLUME UP PAST THE HALF WAY POINT IT SEEMS TO GET LOWER IN VOLUME.. IT SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH AMP OR HEAD UNIT.. THE RADIO IS LOUDER WHEN 1/4 WAY UP THEN WHEN ALL THE WAY UP. *JB *JB

Sep 26, 2007

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

ON HOT DAY (90 DEGREE +/-) THE 3.6 ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY BEGIN TO IDLE AT 1000 RPM AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. IN MY LATEST EPISODE, I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO CITY TRAFFIC FOR 30-45 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RACE. THE FIRST NOTICE IS WHEN YOU ARE STOPPING OR STOPPED. WHEN STOPPED IT TAKES EXTRA BRAKE. PRESSURE AND CONCENTRATION TO KEEP THE CAR BRAKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT, I ONLY RECENTLY LINKED THE CAR'S BEHAVIOR WITH THE HIGH AIR TEMPS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DID NOT DETECT ANY ERROR CODES WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. *TR

Jun 27, 2010

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6L FWD AUTOMATIC. HESITATION FROM A SLOW ROLL. WHEN SLOWING BUT NOT STOPPING THE CAR COMPLETELY THE CAR HESITATED WHEN THE THROTTLEWAS APPLIED. WHEN THROTTLE INPUTWAS REALIZED THE CAR LURCH ED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS APPEARED TO BE A COMBINATION OF ENGINE / TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT MAY BE MORE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE CORRECT GEAR. VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED A PROGRAMMING UPDATE FOR THE ECU IN OCT 2006, WHICH REDUCED, BUT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT DATE REALLY DID NOT APPLY AS THIS WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM.*AK

May 16, 2007

VEHICLES THROTTLE- BY- WIRE SYSTEM CREATES UNSAFE DELAY IN ACCELERATION AND AN EXAGGERATED LUNGING EFFECT WHEN UNEXPECTED. UNSAFE IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER, MERGING, PASSING AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. *JB

Jul 29, 2006

THERE IS AN UNSAFE PROLONGED HESITATION WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6 LITER 4 MOTION. WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU'VE DEPRESSED THE PEDAL APPROX. 3/4 TO AN INCH OF PEDAL TRAVEL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHES AND ACCELERATES AT WHAT FEELS LIKE HALF TO FULL THROTTLE. IT IS A RANDOM HESITATION, YET OCCURS AT PROBABLY 30% OF THE TIME. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, YET WILL HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, IF ACCELERATING TO PASS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION. IF THIS ABRUPT ACCELERATION OCCURS IN SNOWY OR ICY CONDITIONS, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES, WHEN I EXPECTED MY CAR TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, ONLY TO HAVE IT HESITATE AND NEARLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR HAS A DRIVE BY WIRE ACCELERATOR, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A FAIRLY RECENT DESIGN CHANGE. WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR WITH THE SAME TYPE OF SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT DO THIS. I HAVE READ 2 NEW CAR REVIEWS THAT HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. AFTER TAKING DELIVERY, I CALLED TO TELL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL", THEY TOOK MY CAR IN TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS THERE FOR 10 DAYS, DURING WHICH TIME 2 ENGINEERS CAME OUT FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO LOOK AT THE CAR. THEY AGREED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING AMISS, AND FELT THAT THEY NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE INSTALLED. THERE WAS NOT ONE AVAILABLE, AND I WAS TOLD ON MARCH 30TH THAT IT WOULD BE READY WITHIN 30 DAYS. IT HAS NOW BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE THEN, AND MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS LATER, A FIX IS STILL NOT READY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS READY, BUT WAITING GOVERNMENT APPROVAL, AND THEN TOLD THAT NOTHING IS READY. NO ONE AT VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME AN ESTIMATED TIME WHEN MY CAR CAN BE REPAIRED. THERE IS REALLY NO "INCIDENT" TO REPORT, OTHER THAN AN UNSAFE MALFUNCTION WHICH NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *NM

Jun 28, 2006

PARKING BRAKE

4 complaints

THE VEHICLE I HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH IS A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L 55,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE. ON DEC 27 2008, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APROX 60MPH AND THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SPIN 180 AND I GOT HIT BY AN SUV DRIVING BEHIND ME ON THE SAME DIRECTIONAL LANE. AFTER THE INCIDENT I TRY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRAVEL LANE BUT THE WHEELS WERE STILL LOCKED. AFTER TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES I DRAGGED THE VEHICLE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING I WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND LEAVE THE SCENE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL I EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME LEFT AND BECAUSE I HAD MINOR DAMAGES AND I DECIDE NOT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE AUTHORITIES. IMMEDIATELY I CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND OPEN UP A CASE #80411298. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN NAPERVILLE IL AND AFTER 7 DAYS THE TECHNICIAN SAID: WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DOING A RESEARCH ON VW FORUM CALLED VW VORTEX, WWW.VWVORTEX.COM, I FOUND OUT THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS. THE REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND I SHOULD SAY I WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE I DID NOT GET HIT BY A HEAVY TRUCK, I DID NOT GET INJURED OR MAYBE KILLED. AS OF TODAY THE LOCAL DEALER DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WANT ME TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID IT?S SAFE TO DRIVE. I THINK YOU SHOULD INTERVENE AND ANALYZE THIS ISSUE AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION QUICK BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR MAYBE KILLED. PLEASE FELL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON MY EMAIL ADDRESS OR MY PHONE NUMBER AT ANYTIME I CAN ASSIST WITH MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

Jan 16, 2009

Crash: 1

PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE. HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED FIRST TIME. THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAITED A WHILE AND TRIED AGAIN AND THE BRAKE DID RELEASE. HAD TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BRAKE REPLACED. ALSO, PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED BY ITSELF ONCE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING THE CAR OFF AND NOT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

Jan 12, 2009

ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE. I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO WALK ME THROUGH HOW TO "DEACTIVATE" THE PARKING BRAKE. *JB

Nov 29, 2006

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION. BY PUSHING THE BUTTON FOR THE PARKING BRAKE, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO RELEASE IT WHEN YOU PRESS YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT APPEARS LOCKED AND UNABLE TO RELEASE. *JB

May 24, 2006

TIRES

3 complaints

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE VEHICLE TIRES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGH AND THE STEERING WAS VIBRATING DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING 3 BAD TIRES. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED 4 NEW TIRES. *JS

Mar 23, 2018

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

Feb 22, 2010

I LEASED A NEW VW PASSAT IN 2006. THE TIRES WORE OUT IN 21,000 EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND BASICALLY DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TIRES THAT LASTED LESS THAN 35K. *TR

Aug 28, 2008

STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE COLUMN STEERING LOCK WARNING LIGHT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Sep 12, 2011

THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY, YET SPORADICALLY, NOT START. THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO START BUT IT STALLS. THE ERROR MESSAGE SOMETIMES SAYS STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, INCLUDING WHEN I LEAVE FROM WORK. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND ONCE AFTER AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *TR

Aug 06, 2010

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2006 VW PASSAT, WHO HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LATEST BEING OF MOST CONCERN. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR, IT WILL EITHER NOT TURN OVER AT ALL, OR THE ENGINE TURN OVER, THEN DIE. THIS HAPPENS NEARLY EVERYTIME I AM IN THE CAR. MY VEHICLE IS 4,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, SO NEITHERVOLKSWAGON, NOR MY LOCAL VW DEALER WILL ASSIST ME WITH THE COST (BEING AN '!@#$% AMOUNT OF $1643.00 OUT OF POCKET), NOR HAS A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. I HAVE CALLED AND EMAILED NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AT VW CORPORATE LEVEL, WITH NO RESULTS. IN DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY FORUMS, WITH MULTIPLE POSTS OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, SPECIFICALLY THE 2006 MODEL. I HAVE ALSO WENT THROUGH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO ATTEMPT TO GET ANSWERS ON WHY VW IS NOT DOING MORE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. BELOW IS THE REPLY EMAIL I GOT FROM THEM, INSTRUCTING ME TO CONTACT YOUR COMPANY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND TIME ON THIS MATTER. COPY OF EMAIL FROM BBB-- {I AM IN RECEIPT OF YOUR EMAIL SENT TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, INC. UPON REVIEW OF YOUR EMAIL, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THOUGH YOU HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I SUGGEST YOU BEGIN THERE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) IS AN OFFICE WITHIN THE NHTSA. ODI CONDUCTS DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS AND ADMINISTERS SAFETY RECALLS TO SUPPORT THE NHTSA'S MISSION TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON OUR NATION'S HIGHWAYS. NHTSA IS AUTHORIZED TO ORDER MANUFACTURERS TO RECALL AND REPAIR VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT WHEN ODI INVESTIGATIONS INDICATE THAT THEY CONTAIN SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS IN THEIR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OR PERFORMANCE. ODI ALSO MONITORS THE ADEQUACY OF MANUFACTURERS' RECALL CAMPAIGNS. BEFORE INITIATING AN INVESTIGATION, ODI CAREFULLY REVIEWS THE BODY OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OTHER AVAILABLE DATA TO DETERMINE WHETHER A DEFECT TREND MAY EXIST. WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV}. *TR

May 20, 2009

SEAT BELTS

3 complaints

REAR PASSENGER (DRIVER SIDE) SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND THEREFORE COULD NOT BE APPLIED (BUCKLE IN) TO PASSENGER. SITUATION STILL EXISTS.

Jun 05, 2011

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

Jan 12, 2010

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, CAR WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE AND DRIVER'S SEAT RECEPTACLE WAS REPLACED. ELECTRONIC PARKING ASSIST HAS SUFFERED REPEATED MALFUNCTIONS, EVEN AFTER TWO ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. *NM

Feb 05, 2007

SEATS

3 complaints

SEAT POSITION MOTOR INSTALLED ON 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6L. FRONT SEAT WILL NOT RECLINE UP AND DOWN. *TR

Jun 21, 2010

LTR FM (PA) OWNER OF A 2006 PASSAT DEFECTIVE SEATING QUESTION WHY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED DOT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER SEATS BURNED HIM. *JB

Feb 15, 2006

Injuries: 1

THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN MATERIAL FOR THE LEATHER SEATS AND HEADREST. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY FOR THE LIMITED NEW VEHICLE. I WANTED TO A INDEPENDENT AUTO INTERIOR SPECIALIST, WHO SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. YET, VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT'S NORMAL AND SAID THE OTHER VEHICLES ARE THE SAME. HOWEVER, WHEN ASKED TO SEE THE OTHER VEHICLES THERE WAS NONE AVAILABLE. *NM

Feb 02, 2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE

2 complaints

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V509000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure to obtain assistance with reimbursement. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

May 12, 2025

I GOT A SEVERAL TIME OF SERVICE FROM VW DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL RECURRING. I GOT MORE 100 TIMES OF SUDDENLY ENGINE OFF OR NOT ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. I FOUND YOUTUBE LINK THAT IT IS EXTREMELY SAME WITH MY PROBLEM : WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LYJB4ERLJES THE PROBLEM RECURS FOR A YEAR FROM THE FIRST RECOGNITION, I REPLACED FUEL PUMP, FUEL SENSOR, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND SUCTION VALVE FOR THIS PERIOD. BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I FOUND ANOTHER FORUM LINK FOR MY PROBLEM : 1) HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?3462993-ATTN-3.6L-OWNERS-HAS-YOUR-ENGINE-FAILED I GOT VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MANY TIMES DUE TO THE PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD TWICE THAT MY CAR WAS STOPPED WHEN I LEFT TURN AROUND ON CROSS WAY. ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING TO MY SIDE AND STOPPED BARELY. IF THE CAR COULDN'T STOP, I MIGHT GET SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR

Jun 10, 2013

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

THE ENGINE LOST IT'S POWER, GAS CONSUPTION IS SO HIGH, ENGINE IS SHAKING AND NOISY AND WLECTRICAL CONTROLE IS DOWN RANDOMLY. AM SCARED OF DRIVING IT.

Oct 01, 2018

FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE CAUSES CONSISTENT STALLING AT STARTUP. RECALL STATES COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN MOTION.

May 15, 2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING ROUGH FOR A WHILE AND EPC , TRACTION CONTROL, AND ENGINE LIGHT KEEP POPPING UP TIME TO TIME, WHEN LIGHTS APPEAR CAR BARELY RUNS AT ALL. LATELY IT HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED! (HIGHWAY, STREET , OR PARKING LOT!) FEEL LIKE I QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL THAT CAME OUT AUGUST 16, 2017 (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSE ENGINE STALL IF THE FUEL PUMP FAILS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.) DO TO MY SYMPTOM BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE!

Jun 08, 2018

TAKATA RECALL-FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE: MY CAR WON'T START, MY KEYS GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION THIS HAPPENS WHEN ITS STATIONARY. MY BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. THE COOLANT AND WATER PUMP ARE LEAKING. THERE ARE SENSOR ISSUES. DEFECTIVE LIGHTBULBS. THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR STREET. THE STEERING WHEEL LOSES POWER WHEN TURNING CAUSING THE CAR TO ALMOST SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKES WONT STOP IMMEDIATELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP.

Dec 13, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 complaints

FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE OR FUEL PUMP FAILING PER DIAGNOSIS FROM INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THIS FAILURE IS DRAINING BATTERY WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT. NOTICED A BUZZING SOUND FROM REAR OF CAR. 2+ AMP DRAW. CARS HAS PERIODICALLY STUTTERED UPON ACCELERATION ALSO.

May 17, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE LOCAL DEALER (DAVID MAUS VOLKSWAGEN NORTH, 1050 LEE ROAD, ORLANDO FL, 32810) WAS CONTACTED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Nov 14, 2017

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

WHEN STARTING THE CAR THIS MORNING THE ENGINE CRANKED HARD BEFORE STARTING. THE BATTERY IS LOW. WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE IT THIS MORNING THE CAR TOLD ME I NEEDED TO DEPRESS MY CLUTCH PEDDLE. THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC, THERE IS NO CLUTCH. THE CAR IS UNUSABLE. I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME.

Nov 02, 2017

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.

Feb 01, 2010

VISIBILITY/WIPER

2 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V470000 (WIPERS/ VISIBILITY) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN THERE WAS NO RAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Dec 27, 2016

WINDOWS CONTINUE TO COMPLETELY FOG UP CAUSING VERY LITTLE VISIBILITY. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD AND AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY. THERE IS ALSO A STRONG ODOR. *TR

Dec 11, 2013

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

2 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WERE CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY, PISTON, AND SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,562....UPDATED 06/30/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS FROZEN AND GIVING AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION WARNING. UPDATED 07/13/16.*JB

May 02, 2016

BROKEN SEATBELT SENSOR CAUSES AIRBAG FAULT. I AM NOT SURE NOW IF AIRBAG WILL WORK. ONLINE SEARCH INDICATES MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM. AIRBAG FAULT SHOULD BE COVERED BY RECALL BECAUSE SEATBELTS SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL USE AFTER 105000 MILES. *TR

Jul 30, 2014

STRUCTURE

2 complaints

TRUNK WON'T LATCH WHEN COLD. *TR

Dec 22, 2011

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS MUCH SHORTER THAN IN OTHER CARS (IE, MY TOYOTA CAMRY)...I WILL NOT DRIVE OUR PASSAT 2006 2.0T BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHEN MY TENNIS SHOE HAS HIT BOTH PEDALS IN THE ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS MUST BE A CONTINUATION OF THE AUDI5000 "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" PROBLEMS OF THE EARLY 1980'S?,,,,,, *TR

Mar 27, 2008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

2 complaints

20 AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR AT CARMAX IN LAUREL, MD IN JUNE 2009 I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE MY AC WAS BLOWING HOT AIR, AFTER A DIAGNOSIS CARMAX SENT MY CAR TO A FITZGERALD VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN ANNAPOLIS, MD WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED IT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IN TURN HAD TO REPLACE MY AC COMPRESSOR, CONDENSOR AND CLUTCH. I RAN THE AC FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS (JULY & AUG 2009) THAT YEAR, SINCE WE WERE ALREADY HALF WAY THROUGH THE SUMMER. IN MAY 2010 WHEN I TURNED MY AC ON AGAIN IT BLEW HOT AIR, I SENT IT BACK TO CARMAX WHO DIAGNOSED IT AGAIN AND SAID THE AC COMPRESSOR AND PRESSURE SWITCH SHOULD BE REPLACE, LESS THAN A YEAR SINCE THE INITIAL AC WAS REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. AT THIS POINT, I CALLED FITZGERALD AND WAS TOLD I WAS PAST MY 12,000 MILES PER THE REPLACEMENT WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE WORK WHICH WAS QUOTED AT $2300 AND $1700. AFTER I COMPLAINED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE, THE DEALER OFFERED A GOOD WILL ONE TIME OFFER DECREASING THE ESTIMATED COST TO $900. I DECLINED THE OFFER SINCE I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. AFTER PURCHASING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I AGREED TO HAVE THEM FIX IT BASED ON MY WARRANTY COVERAGE HOWEVER, I WAS DENIED COVERAGE BY THE WARRANTY COMPANY BECAUSE VOLKSWAGEN PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A TSB REGARDING AC ISSUES IN 2006 VW PASSAT. THIS TSB WAS ISSUED IN 2007, MY CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2009. SO AS OF TODAY 7/20/2011 I AM STILL WITHOUT A WORKING AC SYSTEM AND I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING AROUND IN HEAT ADVISORY WEATHER WITH NO AC. I AM FORCED TO MAKE ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION AS A RESULT, SINCE THE EXCESSIVE HEAT EXPOSURE CAUSES ME HEADACHES & DIZZINESS. *KB

Jul 20, 2011

AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING AFTER 5 YEARS. CONDENSER CRACKED/BROKEN ACCORDING TO DEALER, REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF ALL AIR CONDITIONING COMPONENTS. TOTAL COST $1,700 INCL. LABOR. *TR

Mar 09, 2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

2006 VW PASSAT. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING RATTLING AND LOUD POPPING NOISE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE LEAVING WORK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT. EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ON, THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE RIGHT AXLE HAD BROKEN. PRIOR TO THE AXLE FAILING, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT ALSO CAUSED THE BRAKE BOOSTER PIPE TO MELT, WHICH LEFT THE CONSUMER WITH NO BRAKES. *JB

Aug 27, 2010

MY 2006 PASSAT 3.6 HAS PROBLEMS WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL.. VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A DELAY WHEN PUSHING PEDDLE.. YOU CAN PUSH PEDAL DOWN 1/4 WAY BEFORE VEHICLE EVEN JUMPS RPM'S.. VEHICLE WILL THEN JUST JUMP FORWARD.. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET INTO 3 OR 4 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I HAVE PULLED OUT AND CAR JUST SITS THERE THEN WILL JUST TAKE OFF.. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP AND HAD UPDATE DONE BUT THIS DIDN'T HELP MY PROBLEM.. UPDATE CAUSED ME TO NOW HAVE SAME PROBLEM BUT ALSO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEM.. *JB

Sep 26, 2007

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

2 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL MODEL OR FUEL PUMP FAILED AT LEAST THREE TIMES ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED HER TO STOP BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Feb 02, 2009

I OWN A 2006 VW PASSAT, AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE PARKING LOT, AT 5 MILES/HOUR. MY PASSAT WOULD NOT STOP IN THE PARKING SPOT, IT WENT SLOWLY FORWARD, HIT THE LIGHT POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE, THEN IT WENT HEAD ON TO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF THE SPOT I CHOSE TO PARK. IT HIT THIS CAR AND IT PUSHED THE CAR FOR 8 FEET BEFORE MY PASSAT STOPPED. IT ALL HAPPENED AT VERY LOW SPEED SO I COULD HAVE THE TIME TO SEE MY FOOT BEING ON THE RIGHT PEDAL, ON THE BRAKE, AND I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. AND ALL THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED FUEL PUMP. SO IT SEEMS THAT VW DID NOT FIX IT'S OLDER PROBLEM, THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2003 PASSAT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS IN THE NEWER MODELS, TOO. *TR

Jun 17, 2008

Crash: 1

SUSPENSION

2 complaints

MY 2006 PASSAT 3.6 HAS LOUD NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT CORNER.. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES NOW.. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS HITTING FIREWALL.. NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN GIVING CAR GAS YOU CAN HEAR LOUD CLUNKING NOISE.. DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT SOUNDS BAD.. DOESN'T SOUND SAFE AT ALL. *JB

Sep 26, 2007

WHEN DRIVING MY NEW 06 PASSAT 2.0T AT 35 MPH+, W/ PASSENGERS (AVG. WEIGHTS - APPROX 140 EA.) THE CAR BOTTOMS OUT, RUBBING THE ROAD SURFACE, OVER EVEN MODERATE BUMPS & 'SWOOPING' HUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT OCCURS W/ MORE SEVERITY WHEN ENCOUNTERING BUMPS DURING CORNERING. IT STARTED WITHOUT WARNING, AND WAS 'MODERATE' AT FIRST, THEN BEGAN TO GET WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I CAN ALSO HEAR A 'CLICKING' SOUND WHEN THE DRIVER WINDOW IS DOWN, & GOING OVER EVEN SMALL, SLOW SPEED BUMPS (<5MPH) AFTER SEVERAL OF INCIDENCES I TOOK IT THE LOCAL VW DEALER IN VANCOUVER, WA,. AFTER 3+ VISITS, NO SOLUTION. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FINE, THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE EITHER THE CLICKING OR BOTTOMING OUT. I CONTACTED VW USA & FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THAT DICK HANNAH DEALERSHIP. I WAS QUICKLY CONTACTED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO OFFERED TO TAKE A RIDE W/ ME, DURING WHICH WE EASILY REPRODUCED BOTH CONCERNS, AT SLOW SPEEDS, WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING THERE LOT - SHE WAS SHOCKED, & SAID SHE'D LOOK INTO IT - WHICH SHE DID. THE SOLUTION? "THE FACTORY INSTALLED FRONT MUD FLAPS WERE 'TOO LONG' & DRAGGIED WHEN ENCOUNTERING BUMPS" ! NEEDLESS TO SAY, & EVEN W/O BEING A 'MECHANIC', THIS ANSWER WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE REASON FOR A SUSPENSION THAT 'CLICKS' LOUDLY OVER BUMPS & BOTTOMS OUT DURING NORMAL DRIVING. I ACCEPTED THIS ANSWER W/ THE IDEA I'D DO SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH. THE CAR CONTINUES TO BOTTOM OUT, IS GETTING WORSE & IRONICALLY ONLY HAPPENS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE - REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I AM DRIVING (AT 180LBS) OR MY FIANCE' IS DRIVING (AT 115LBS) NOW EVEN W/O PASSENGERS! THERE'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE W/ AT LEAST THE FRONT STRUT UNIT - WHICH WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN THE CLICKING COMING FROM THAT UNIT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, THEY STAND BY THERE DIAGNOSIS - THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN BOTH THERE SERVICE AND LEVEL OF EXPERTISE/KNOWLEDGE - EVERY SUSPENSION MECHANIC I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SAYS THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A FAULTY OR LEAKING STRUT UNIT - AN EASY FIX. *JB

Dec 26, 2006

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

SHAKING ISSUE WHILE BRAKING AND AFTER RELEASING BRAKE. THE ENTIRE CAR VIBRATES. DEALER CONTACTED AND SAID THERE WAS NO WAY TO REPAIR AT THE CURRENT TIME. *JB

Aug 02, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE RPM GAUGE NEEDLE GAVE SPORADIC READINGS. WHILE THE RPM READINGS WERE INACCURATE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS QUICKLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND CURRENTLY IS UNDER GOING ADDITIONAL TESTING.

Mar 06, 2006

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,ENGINE

1 complaint

My family and I have been VW owners for over 60 years. Unfortunately, the 2006 VW Passat has been layered with defects, negligent manufacturing issues, faulty wiring, electrical problems, computer glitches, to mention a few. There have been many recalls including an official recall by the NHTSA, for steering linkage problems and tie rod assembly which caused a loss of steering, crashes and deaths. Over 292 complaints are filed with Consumer Affairs, over 561 defects reported, and thousands of horror stories like mine about this car. It's considered a lemon by many car professionals. Many dealerships in the USA offered to inspect, and replace the electronic steering column lock free of charge and address any other concerns, which should be standard, reasonable behavior for all VW dealerships, mandated by this Federal agency. Shortly after this car almost killed me in 2013, VW put me through countless stressful hours of calls, emails and the like and still refused to be fully accountable. Shortly after my almost end of life, the notorious VW Emissions Scandal spoke volumes. VW was well aware of their defects including the electrical system in the steering column/immobilizer, (the system won’t recognize the key; a module in the car that connects the key and starts the engine is defective). In many cases, the entire steering column is defective and has to be completely replaced because the car’s pistons, internal combustion and engine are all subpar. Even the Sunroof and drains are defective and every time it rains, there is a flood in my car which has caused life threatening mold and mildew. I am respectfully asking for your help in having VW provide me, a near [XXX] woman, a safe, reliable, car without another defective sunroof and without defective water drains. It can be used as long as it's reliable and without deadly mold and mildew. I have photos. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mar 15, 2024

AIR BAGS,ENGINE

1 complaint

The contact owned a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while her husband was driving in traffic, he rear-ended a vehicle at approximately 25 MPH. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. While her husband was exchanging information with the other driver, the other driver alerted him that his vehicle had caught fire. As her husband attempted to retrieve a fire extinguisher from the truck, he was alerted that the fire had worsened and was instructed to move away from the vehicle. Within minutes, the vehicle became engulfed in flames and was incinerated. A police report was filed. No injuries were reported. The contact had the vehicle towed to her home where it remained in her possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Sep 06, 2022

Crash: 1

Fire: 1

POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS ...THE EPX LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WHICH MAY REFERENCE TO THE OIL PUMP BOLT FAILING...CRANKSHAFT AND CAM SHAFTS CODES KEEP COMING ON EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE REPLACED...TRANSMISSION SHIFTING SLIGHTLY HARD.. OVERHEATING EVEN THOUGH NEW PARTS WERE INSTALLED...AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON..BRAKES HAVE BEEN BLEED OVER 10 TIMES AND ARE STILL TOO SOFT CAUSE ME TO BRAKE AT A FURTHER DISTANCE TO AVOID A WRECK....I AM ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANT AFFORD A MASSAGE BILL TO FIX IT AND VW IS AWARE OVER THESE YEARS OF THE ISSUES AND WONT RECALL TO REPAIR ANY OF THE ISSUES...I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS FOR THE PARTS REPLACED... *TR

Jun 17, 2020

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

MY VEHICLE DOES. SUDDEN STOP WHILE I'M DRIVING EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS UP ND THEN ON DASH IT STATE TO STOP VEHICLE PULL OVER AND DOESN'T WANT TO ADVANCE TO MOVE OUT OF DANGER FROM TRAFFIC ON STREETS AND FREEWAY. THEN I WON'T WANT TO ADVANCED AT TIME AND THE PRND ALL LIGHT UP AT ONE OR NONE AT ALL AT TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT X 4 TIMES LAST YEAR AND NOW IT KEEPS DOING IT EVERY TIME. SO KNOW I JUST KEEP MY CAR PARKED BECAUSE I'M AFRAID OF PUTTING MY KIDS IN DANGER I CAN'T EVEN TAKE IT IN TO A DEALER FOR AIRBAG RECALL.

Dec 04, 2019

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

STARTED TO SOUND LIKR A DEISEL ENGINE AND LEAK OIL. OIL PUMP BOLT BACKED OUT. TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX.

May 10, 2019

POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

THERE WAS A VALVE BODY RECALL FOR ROUGH SHIFTS. I HAD NOTICED THESE A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO THE VACUUM PUMP, AIRBAGS ECTS.

Feb 25, 2019

STEERING,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOSEPH VOLKSWAGEN OF CINCINNATI (LOCATED AT 3813 MONTGOMERY RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45212, (513) 914-1785) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V247000 (AIR BAGS). IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBERS: 180151960, 181324957, AND 08125390. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Oct 26, 2018

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

THERE IS 2 SAFETY RECALLS ON MY CARS VIN NUMBER AN MY DEALERSHIP I GOT IT FROM WOBT FIX IT I'VE ASKED OVER AN OVER I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 8 OR 9 MONTHS. IM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT BUT RARELY DRIVING IT

Sep 22, 2018

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

THIS IS MY 2ND TIME WRITING ONLY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM SEEMS AS IF IT MAY BE MORE THEN JUST ONE THING! THINKING IT WAS ECM OR SOMETHING ELECTRICAL, NOW MAY BE THE TIMING CHAIN OR FUEL PUMP OR COMBINATION OF ALL! THE CAR JUST RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF! ON THE HIGHWAY, OR AT A STOP, OR JUST AT CURSING SPEED! SOME TIMES IT COMES BACK ON, OTHER TIME IT TURNS OVER AND SHUTS RIGHT OFF AGAIN! I NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, ALSO NOTICED A RECALL FOR EXACT SYMPTOM MY CAR HAS, AND FOR THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AS MY CAR BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL??? HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE TO FIX THIS SITUATION SOON SO THAT I CAN REMAIN A LOYAL VOLKWAGEN CUSTOMER!

Aug 14, 2018

AIR BAGS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

HI I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T AND IT HAS TWO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO FIX THE RECALLS BUT THEY SAYING THEY CAN'T FIX MY CAR BECAUSE IT WON'T START. I TOLD THEM THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE RECALL COULD BE THE REASON IT WON'T START AND THAT THEY NEED TO FIX IT EVEN IF IT DOESN'T START. THE GUY NAME RYAN SAY HE WILL HAVE TO CHARGE ME $130 TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR BEFORE HE CAN FIX THE RECALLS. I THINK HE FULL OF IT AND JUST WANT TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH MY CAR SO HE CAN SAY OH THIS THE PROBLEM AND TRY TO CHARGE ME A ARM AND A LEG. I FEEL LIKE JUST BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T START DOESN'T MEAN HE CAN'T FIX MY RECALLS. AM I WRONG BECAUSE I THOUGHT BY LAW NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE THE RECALLS HAVE TO BE FIXED.

Jul 30, 2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRES WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

Jul 16, 2018

AIR BAGS,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

TAKATA RECALL FOR AIR BAG AND FAULTY AIR BAG SYSTEM, FAULTY FUEL PUMP RECALL STILL NOT ACTIVATED AND I HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT ARE VOLKSWAGEN'S FAULT.

Mar 09, 2018

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED EMICH VOLKSWAGEN AT (877) 380-2203 (LOCATED AT 1260 S COLORADO BLVD, DENVER, CO 80246) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

Feb 05, 2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EMERGENCY/ SIGNAL LIGHTS MALFUNCTION, SUNROOF PROBLEMS AND OTHER VEHICLE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE ELECTRONIC KEY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE BLINKER/TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO TURN OFF WHEN PROMPTED. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE SIGNALS WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED COMPLETELY STRAIGHT. THE SUNROOF OPENS UNPROMPTED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ROTTED UNDERNEATH. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHED INCESSANTLY. *JS

Jan 30, 2018

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE STEERING LOCK KEPT FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE STARTED. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE RECALL LETTER STATED THAT THE REMEDY AND PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE SINCE OCTOBER OF 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

Jan 09, 2018

POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES BUT THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND I AM AFRAID MY KIDS COULD HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT

Dec 07, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS

1 complaint

TAKATA RECALL I WENT IN TO GET THE REPAIR A WEEK LATER AN AIRBAG FAULT CAME ON AND STILL ON. THEN TWICE WHILE I WAS DRIVEING ON HIGHWAY CAR CUTS OFF COMPLETELY THEN I HAVE TO PULL OVER WITH IT JUST ROLLING. THE STEERING SOMETIMES COMES ON AND SAYS DEFECTIVE THEN THE SUN ROOF OPEN CLOSES BY ITSELF. ALOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALWAYS HAVE TO GET SOMETHING FIX JUST PRAY THAT I DONT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE HEATED SEATS DONT WORK NOMORE FOR SOME REASON ON DAY THEY WAS GOOD NOW NO AND ITS NOT THE FUSE.

Oct 30, 2017

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

1 complaint

HAVE BEEN GETTING STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTIONS WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. TODAY, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT ALL. WAS ABLE TO STOP AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. SEEMS THIS IS/ WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL VOLKSWAGEN AND A VOLUNTARY RECALL WAS AVAILABLE UNTIL 2013. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE CAR NEVER DID ANY RECALLS OR EVEN REMEMBERS EVER BEING NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. THIS PROBLEM IS ONE OF MANY FOR THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY WERE NO HELP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. MY 17 YEAR OLD SON DRIVES THIS CAR. I CANT ALLOW HIM TO DRIVE IT NOW AFTER THIS. HOW CAN VOLKSWAGEN ALLOW THIS? THEY BASICALLY DONT CARE IF WE CRASHED AND HURT OTHERS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR A STEERING ISSUE?? DOES THAT SOUND SAFE??

Oct 16, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, HEADLIGHT, AND EPC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE AUTO NATION DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CANCELLED APPROXIMATELY FOUR APPOINTMENTS DUE TO NO PART AVAILABILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Jul 06, 2017

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE

1 complaint

WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP THEY TELL ME IT HAS A BLOW HEAD GASKET.

Jul 06, 2017

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

ABS SYSTEM IS FAILING. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK WELL, DASHBOARD ABS SIGNALS ARE CONSTANTLY ON. PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES. JUST CALLED VW USA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V-913) BUT THE RECALL COVERS MODEL YEARS 2009 AND 2010. MY CAR IS A 2006, BUT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. VOLKSWAGON WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTICS SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. PERHAPS THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES AFFECTED IS LARGER THAN THE RECALL POINTS OUT?

Apr 10, 2017

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

CAR WILL NOT START AFTER FLASHING SIGN OR IT COULD STOP ANYWHERE WHICH COULD CAUSE CRASH: STEERING - INSPECT FOR STEERING CONCERN - COMFORT CONTROL MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF THE CAR - STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE: ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK, HARDWARE NEED TO BE REPLACED AND PROGRAM CORRECTLY AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF VEHICLE AS IT IS VW PROGRAMING IS DEFAULTED.

Feb 16, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

TAKATA RECALL

Jan 17, 2017

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

TAKATA RECALL FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES IT SELF THEN. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN CAR ON IT SHUTS OFF SAYS STEERING DEFECTED THEN ITS TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS TO COME ON. MY WIND SHIELD WIPERS KEEP SAYIN I NEED WATER BUT ITS FULL THEN MY DAYTIME LIGHTS ARE OFF THIS CAR HAS MANY PROBLEMS I KEEP GETTING THE SAME PARTS FIXED OVER AND OVER. AND THEN I HAVE NO RECALLS WHAT THE ONLY WAY IF WE CRASH AND DIE THEN WE WILL GET IT FIXED IM PUTTING SO MUCH MONEY INTO CAR SO CAN YOU PLEASE HELP THANK YOU. THIS HAPPEN IN DIFFERENT PLACES THE CAR SHUTS OFF DIFFERENT TIMES. *TR

Oct 27, 2016

AIR BAGS,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V079000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN FAILED, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE SAME LOCATION OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Aug 19, 2016

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND JERKED AS THE RPMS REVVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FORCE WAS CONSTANTLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Jul 01, 2016

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

BAD IGNITION COILS AND MISFIRES. CAM FOLLOWER AND CAMSHAFT WEAR PROBLEMS. DIVERTER VALVE (DV) FAILURE. HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP). CARBON BUILD UP AND COLD START MISFIRES. INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROL (IMRC) MOTOR. TIMING CHAIN, CHAIN ADJUSTER AND TENSIONER. VW AND AUDI FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. PCV VALVE FAILURE.

Jun 26, 2016

Crash: 1

AIR BAGS,SEATS,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

I HAVE AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND I GET A WARNING SIGN THAT IT SHOULD BE SERVICED. WIPERS ARE NOT THAT EFFECTIVE AND I KEEP ON HAVING FOGY WINDOWS SO I HAVE TO KEEP ON ADJUSTING THE HEAT.

Nov 28, 2015

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

HORN AND AIRBAG HAD SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR ONLY 7 YEARS. WAS THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE FUSE, BUT SADLY NO. SOMETIMES THE HORN SUDDENLY BURSTS TO LIFE IN SHORT SESSIONS, BUT ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS JUST TURNED ON, RARELY IS IT HEARD. ALSO, THE TURBO SEEMS TO TAKE MUCH LONGER THAN USUAL TO REACH THE NEXT GEAR, (AGAIN, THIS SELDOMLY ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS JUST STARTED)

Oct 25, 2015

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

HAS I WAS DRIVEN THE CAR WILL CAME UP WITH NEED SERVICES SOON AND WILL SHOW BRAKE LIGHT ON AND DEAD SYSTEMS FAILED CHECK PARKING BRAKE AND IF YOU PRESS THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON ON AND OFF THE CAR WILL NEARLY SUCH GEARS OR NEARLY MOVE AT ALL WHERE IF YOU SHOUT IT OF THE CAR AND THEN WAIT FOR 5_10 MIN AND TURN IT BACK ON IT WILL GO LIKE NOTHING WRONG AT ALL . TRANSMISSION HAS OIL AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. *TR

Mar 02, 2015

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

DRIVING 65 ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY RAIN, CAR MADE HORRIBLE SOUND AND LOST ACCELERATION POWER. ALMOST INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT , HOWEVER MANAGED TO PULL TO SHOULDER WHEN THE CAR THEN FILLED WITH A GAS SMELL. CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOWED 100 MILES BACK TO MY MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION, MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DISCONNECTED AT THE TURBO FLANGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD FIXED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN MY EXACT VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL THE WEEK PRIOR. CONTACTED VW TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE 80K MILES EMISSIONS WARRANTY, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IN CALIFORNIA THE WARRANTY ONLY GOES TO 70K MILES. THE ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1,150. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM VW WAS MUCH MORE STURDY THAN THE ORIGINAL INSTALLED , INDICATING THAT VW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, HE STATED IT WAS ODD THAT A CAR DEALERSHIP STOCKS THAT PART AS IT IS NOT TOO COMMON TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER 100K MILES. *TR

Nov 05, 2014

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

I PURCHASED A 2006 PASSAT 3.6 ON FEBRUARY 20TH,2014 AND MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. TWO WEEKS LATER I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE IDLE WAS UP AND DOWN. THEY CHARGED ME $700 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS AS IS. ONCE I GOT THE CAR BACK I STARTER SEEING THE EPC LIGHT WHICH IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND NOW THE CAR WONT GO OVER 40MPH , TWO WEEKS AGO I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I CANT LOCATE ANY TYPE OF LEAK. HERE A LINK OF OTHER PASSAT OWNER WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND AS OF NOW THERE'S NO RECALL ON IT, I AM BEGGING FOR YOU GUYS HELP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/PASSAT/2006/DRIVETRAIN/POWER_TRAIN.SHTML. *TR

Jun 02, 2014

VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

DRIVING SOUTH ON THE 57 FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 P.M. WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER WHEN SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON THE SUNROOF POPPED OFF ONTO THE FREEWAY, WE DID NOT HAVE THE SUNROOF OPEN. WE ARE LUCKY IT DID HIT ANYONE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA & WAS TOLD TO TAKE CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SPOKE WITH [XXX] THE REGIONAL CARE MANAGER AND HE SAID THAT HE COULD ONLY OFFER $2000.00 TOWARDS A NEW CAR AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANYTHING TOWARDS A REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Apr 03, 2014

STEERING,SUSPENSION,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAULT; WAS DRIVING ON JANUARY 18,2014. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THIS EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING YELLOW. ALSO THERE WAS A RED BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS FLASHING AND BEEPING THREE TIMES. SHE GOT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL MIND YOU SHE IS ONLY 17 AND SHE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM CAMPUS AUTO HERE IN FORT DODGE, IA ON THE 10TH AND HE TOLD HER NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. EVERYTHING HAS WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT CAN GO WRONG. SHE PULLED OVER AND READ IN HER MANUAL THAT WITH THE BEEPING 3 TIMES AND THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR SAID THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSE TO GET IT TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY. SO SHE DID THE SMART THING AND CALLED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. BUT WHAT IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. SHE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THIS CAR ON A HIGHWAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE PASSAT. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THEM. WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD IN THE REAR. FUEL PUMP WENT BAD. COILS BURN. THESE ARE ALL DANGEROUS THINGS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Feb 04, 2014

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE MAINE TURNPIKE AT 55-60 MPH DUE TO SOME BLACK ICE IN AREAS. TEMP WAS 35, CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, VISIBILITY GOOD. AFTER PASSING EXIT 75, WITHOUT WARNING MY VW PASSAT ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGING, CAUSING MY BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SWERVING SIDE TO SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS. DURING THIS TIME, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AS WELL AS A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE ON THE DASH WAS DISPLAYED. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REFERRED TO MY MANUAL, WHICH WAS NO HELP. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED AROUND IT AND THEN CALLED A FEW PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND I SAW NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF ERROR. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE BUTTON ON THE DASH. I BELIEVE ITS ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN VEHICLES NEAR MINE, WE WOULD OF COLLIDED. I HAD MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE ALL VERY SCARED DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT. AFTER 10 MIN OF SHUT OFF, I RESTARTED, THE DASH STILL DISPLAY PARKING BRAKE FAULT. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE BRAKING BRAKE. BUT THE "FAULT" ERROR ON DASH WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I THEN OPERATED THE VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH WITH HAZARDS ON TO EXIT GRAY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 30 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE "FAULT" LIGHT HAD GONE OFF AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OK. BUT I WAS UNSURE IF I SHOULD VENTURE FURTHER AND TOOK ROUTE 100 BACK TO MY HOME IN LEW. THE NEXT DAY I DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE AND CALLED VW ON MON AFTER NOTING NUMEROUS VW FORUMS WITH COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. CASE #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Jan 22, 2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (ALMOST EVERY DAY) I WILL TRY TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL DIE THE SHOW A "STEERING WHEEL LOCK COLUMN" ON THE DASH BOARD, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AND RUN. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT THE AVERAGE OF 60-75 MPH AND THE CAR WILL JUST SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!!! I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON ERROR, THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE! *TR

Jul 12, 2013

STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR ROOF HEADLINER HAD BECOME SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Sep 12, 2012

PARKING BRAKE,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

I HAVE A VW PASSAT 3.6 AND AM ALWAYS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. CURRENTLY I AM UNABLE TO GET THE PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE AND DON'T KNOW WHY. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THE ONLY PLACE I GO TO GET IT SERVICED IS VOLKSWAGEN. ON ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE NOR DISENGAGE. *TR

Sep 06, 2012

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,ENGINE

1 complaint

TRUNK HAS DIFFICULTY CLOSING. SEAT BELT DON'T WORK PROPERLY. AIRBAG LIGHT ALONG WITH THE MOTOR LIGHT TURN ON. THESE LIGHTS WERE NEVER REALLY FIXED BY THE CAR DEALER. THE PASSENGER BACK DOOR DOES NOT LOCK MOST OF THE TIME LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT THE ALARM WORKING. *JB

Jun 26, 2012

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 complaint

I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. EVERY TIME I HAD IT CHECKED, IT CODED SOMETHING DIFFERENT (PO455, PO171, PO441) WITH THESE RESULTS: FUEL CAP LIGHT CAME ON, HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM , AND LEAN BANK 02 CENSOR BEFORE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. IT BECAME HARD TO CRANK, AND ONCE SHOOK WHEN IT DID CRANK. THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE AND COMFORT CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED IN 2008 UNDER WARRANTY AFTER I TOOK VOLKSWAGEN TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP IN ATLANTA (THERE ISN'T ONE CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE) AND THEY COMPLETED THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS: CODE PO444, THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM PURGE CONTROL VALVE CIRCUIT; CODE PO193, FUEL MEASURING SYSTEM 2 ABNK 1; AND P2187 SYSTEM TOO LEAN AT IDLE. TOTAL= $884.84 ($619.95 LABOR; $204.31 PARTS; $43.25 WASTE DISPOSAL CHARGE; AND $17.33 TAX). AT NO CHARGE, THEY CHECKED THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE @ TWICE A YEAR AND INSPECTED HIGH PRESSURE PUMP, GFF GUIDED FUNCTIONS AND A COURTESY VISUAL SERVICE INSPECTION. *TR

Feb 21, 2012

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

CHECK ENGINE (MIL) LIGHT TURNED ON, CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN IDLES AT A HIGHER RPM WHILE WE WERE DRIVING!!! VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP. CAR IS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS! DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC, CAME UP WITH: CODE P0123 (THROTTLE HIGH INPUT), P0299 (TURBO UNDER BOOST), P0456 (EVAP LEAK), P1098 (INTAKE TURNING VALVE SHORT TO B+), CODE P2004 (INTAKE RUNNER STUCK), CODE P3237 (INTAKE RUNNER BASIC SETTINGS). DEALER RECOMMENDED INTAKE RUNNER MOTOR REPLACEMENT & REPLACEMENT OF TURBO & N80 VALVE, ALSO CV BOOT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS OVER $1200!!! WE ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND HAVE THEM SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD DEFECTIVE INTERIOR PARTS. INTERIOR TRIM (ALL SWITCHES - LOCK, WINDOW & RADIO ARE BUBBLING AND CHIPPING). DOOR PANEL TRIM (RUBBER IS PEELING). SHIFT KNOB - METALLIC PIECE ON SHIFT KNOB, PEELED AND DUG INTO SKIN AND CAUSED INJURY. CARBON FIBER DASH IS PEELING APART. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, PER THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. CAR IS A 2006 - 67,000 MILES. LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A VOLKSWAGEN HAD I KNOWN THEY WERE NOT RELIABLE VEHICLES. UNKNOWLEDGABLE SALES REPS, OR JUST AFTER CUSTOMERS TO MAKE A BUCK. SELLING PEOPLE UNRELIABLE VEHICLES AND VOLKSWAGEN CLEARLY DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS NOR DO THEY CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER LOYALTY OR SAFETY. *TR

Aug 04, 2011

STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

THERE ARE SEVERE TOXIC ODOR'S (VOC'S) COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CARPET INSULATION OF THE INTERIOR IF THE CAR. IT IS SO POTENT THAT I HAVE SORE THROATS , HEADACHES AND FEEL LIGHT HEADED DURING AND AFTER I DRIVE THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THIS ODOR/VOC HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO FAINT DUE TO THE SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION I HAVE TO IT. I HAVE TO HAVE ALL WINDOWS OPEN TO EVEN DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET UNDER "VOLKSWAGEN CRAYON SMELL" THERE ARE HUNDREDS ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT VOLKSWAGEN CARS WHERE THEY HAVE FOUND THE INTERIOR SOUND INSULATION MAT UNDER THE CARPER FLOOR TO BE THE CAUSE. I NEED MY CAR AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT LIKE THIS AS IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY HEALTH AND I FEAR THIS "CRAYON ODOR" COULD CAUSE ME TO HAVE A CAR ACCIDENT. I HAVE TRIED TO ENLIST VW AMERICA AND THEY STATE THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE , HOWEVER, THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSAND COMPLAINTS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM THIS TOXIC ODOR THAT IS COMING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN OF THEIR CARS ESPECIALLY THE 2006 PASSAT. THIS TOXIC CRAYON ODOR IS PRESENT AT ALL TIMES , IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE CAR RUNNING (BEING ON) WHAT SO EVER.. PLEASE HELP!!! *TR

Jul 14, 2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I'VE HAD MY 06 PASSAT FOR LITTLE UNDER 2 YEARS NOW, IT WAS BOUGHT USED FROM CARMAX AND IT HAS BEEN HORRIBLE FROM THE START. AS OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE NOTICED I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE TO START AND STOP THE CAR AT LEAST FIVE OR MORE TIMES BEFORE IT WILL DISLODGE. ALSO, IF THE KEY ISN'T STUCK THE ENGINE ITSELF WON'T CRANK, ALSO TAKING AT LEAST FIVE TRIES BEFORE THE ENGINE WILL START. I HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP REGULARLY, ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS, FIXING THE SAME PROBLEMS REPEATEDLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON AND NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS THEY NEVER LAST. MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE NOISES MY CAR IS MAKING. IT'S LIKE A RATTLING, KNOCKING NOISE THAT HAS ONLY GOTTEN LOUDER SINCE TAKING IT TO THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC HAS SAID IT WOULD TAKE AROUND 3 TO 4 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX, WHICH IS ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT LESS THAN I'VE PUT INTO BUYING THE CAR, NOT INCLUDING THE MONEY I'VE BEEN POURING INTO CONSTANT REPAIRS. THIS IS A HORRIBLE CAR AND NOW THAT I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SEEN JUST HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE (AND MORE SEVERE, POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEMS IN SOME CASES) I MAKE IT MY BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT A DUD THIS CAR IS AND HOW VW DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CONSUMERS BY NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THESE EVER PREVALENT PROBLEMS. *TR

Jun 02, 2011

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

BOUGHT THE 2006 VW PASSAT IN FEB OF 2009 @ 11,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS STARTED @ 22,900 BATTERY CABLE (HARNESS) NEEDED REPLACEMENT; @ 25,012 STEERING COLUMN AND CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED, SYSTEM WOULD LOCK THE WHEEL; @ 26,096 COULDN'T OPEN GAS DOOR, GAS ACTUATOR FAULTY AND REPLACED; @ 32,390 CAT CONVERTER INTERNALLY BROKEN, REPLACED; BUT THE SCARIEST WAS @ 37,280 TRACTION LIGHT AND EPC LIGHT POPS ON AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER, INTERNAL FAULT IN THROTTLE BODY, REPLACED BUT NOT REPAIRED AS OF TODAY 37,438 LIGHTS HAVE REAPPEARED. *TR

Feb 11, 2011

VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE A/C OF MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0. THE TECHNICIAN TELLS ME THAT BASICALLY ALL THE COMPONENTS OF MY A/C SYSTEM IS DAMAGED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER I SEARCH THE INTERNET, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS SINCE 2007 AND IT'S FOR MODELS FROM 2001 TO 2007 (AS FAR AS I CAN FIND NOW). PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A DESIGN PROBLEM INSTEAD OF A WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY WE AS CONSUMERS CAN RELY ON YOU TO HELP US FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. *TR

Jan 21, 2011

STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I GOT 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T - 77,000MILES. LAST WEEK, I GOT ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DURING THE DRIVE AND WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED COMPUTER SYSTEM THEN FIXED AIR FILTER HOUSING. I PAID $585.00. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN BREAK, BUT I DON'T HAVE CHOICE. AND NEXT DAY ON THE DRIVING IT HAPPEN AGAIN AND I WENT TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME PCV VALVE WAS NOT WORKING SO ANOTHER FIX COST $281.00. LAST SEPTEMBER I DID REGULAR MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING GOOD. BUT AFTER EVERY MONTH IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN, FIRST PROBLEM WAS STEERING COLUMNS......I PAID $485.00 SECOND PROBLEM WAS BATTERY........I PAID $130.00 THIRD PROBLEM WAS ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I PAID $585.00 AND THIS TIME ANOTHER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON $281.00 WITHIN TWO DAY. NOW I KNEW VW CARS ARE PIECES OF JUNKS. IT IS REALLY JUNKS. *TR

Jan 11, 2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

1. STARTED HEARING "TICKING" NOISE FROM ENGINE 2. "TICKING" BECAME LOUDER, SLOW PERFORMANCE 3. REPLACED INTAKE CAM / LIFTERS, H.P. FUEL PUMP, VALVE COVER GASKET AND SEALANT, VACUUM PIPE TO LEAK DETECTION PIPE (ALL 2 TIMES EACH). *TR

Jan 05, 2011

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 complaint

I OWN A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6, ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY AFTER PULLING OUT ACROSS A 45MPH STATE ROUTE, AFTER ENGINE FAILED, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKES, HAD TO PUSH CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC WITH MY 2 YOUNG SONS INSIDE. YOUNG VW, EASTON PA. STATED THE FAILURE AS A OIL PUMP BOLT THAT HAD BACKED OUT AND SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND 58 FAILURE OF THIS TYPE OF THIS SAME YEAR AND ENGINE, AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?3462993-ATTN-3.6L-OWNERS-HAS-YOUR-ENGINE-FAILED , - THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE VW WAS AWARE OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AS EVIDENCED BY THE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF SO MANY, 58+ ENGINES THAT I CAN DOCUMENT, AND CHOOSES NOT TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE, I BELIEVE DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS AS THIS FIX IS $3,000 IN LABOR ALONE. I CONTACTED VWOA, (REF. # [XXX]) AND VW AG, (,REF. NO.: [XXX]) WITH THIS ISSUE AND NEITHER HAD RECOGNIZED THIS AS A KNOWN ISSUE, MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND VW ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT $12,800 FOR A REBUILT ENGINE. ASIDE FROM BEING ABUSIVELY EXPENSIVE, THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO OCCUR RANDOMLY, IN TRAFFIC OR ANYWHERE CREATING A VERY UNSAFE AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, VWOA SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THESE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR ENGINE, BY THE MANY THEY HAVE REPLACED OR FIXED AND SHOULD MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE AND EFFECT A FIX TO PREVENT A LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO THIS KNOWN ENGINE DEFECT. MY VIN # [XXX], 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L 4MOTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Dec 28, 2010

STEERING,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1 complaint

I HAD A STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE WARNING LIGHT COME UP IN MY CAR, THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT START. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, IT STARTED. I CALLED MY DEALER AND HE SAID HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAR HAVING THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN TOO HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM NO ONLY HERE IN THE STATES BUT ALL OVER THE WHOLE WHERE THE CAR WAS SOLD. MY CAR ONLY HAD THE WARNING AND THE NO START PROBLEM. BUT MANY OTHERS WERE COMPLAINING THAT THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I CAN'T BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2006 PASSAT WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE HERE. *TR

Oct 14, 2010

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

06 VW PASSAT, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE EPC AND ANOTHER LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 15 MPH AND 20 RPM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. CAR HAS 44, 960 MILES AND NOT SURE IF IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW. *TR

Oct 04, 2010

STEERING,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

VW, 2006 PASSAT, NOW HAS A "STEERING COLUMN DEFECT" WARNING, AND THE CAR DOESN'T START. THE CAR HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT, AND THIS STARTED JUST AFTER THE 50,000 MILE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CAR ALSO STALLS AT HIGH SPEED WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING, AND CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CAR ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SLAMS INTO LOW GEAR AS THOUGH THE CAR HIT SOMETHING. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES WITH THE 2006 PASSAT, AND FOUND THAT THE FIX FOR THE STEERING COLUMN ALONE COSTS BETWEEN $1400 AND $2000. BECAUSE THIS APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT, AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I WANTED TO REPORT IT AS SUCH. ALTHOUGH THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED IN MY CASE, THE POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER IS HUGE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. *TR

Sep 24, 2010

AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY SOMETIMES WHEN I PUSHING ON THE GAS, IT WILL JUST DIE, I HAVE TO EITHER FLOOR IT TO GET IT BACK AND GOING OR RELEASE THE GAS ALL TOGETHER AND THEN PUSH ON IT AGAIN FOR THE CAR TO PICK UP SPEED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY AND I CANT AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO GET FIXED. I AM ALSO GETTING THE AIR BAG FAULT AND I HAD GOTTEN IT FIXED ONCE BEFORE FOR ABOUT $300 AND THEN A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON. THE WAY IT CAME BACK ON IS AFTER I REPROGRAMMED MY KEY BECAUSE THAT WASN'T WORKING EITHER... *TR

Jul 14, 2010

STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

SYMPTOM #1) CAR WILL NOT START OR IF IT DOES START IT WILL IMMEDIATELY STALL AND STEERING COLUMN WILL LOCK. AFTER MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH REPEATEDLY, REOPENING THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE PUSH IGNITION 5-10 TIMES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AND RUN. SYMPTOM #2) MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL IMMEDIATELY, THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE LOSS OF ALL POWER CONTROLS AT SPEEDS AT LEAST UP TO 70 MPH. THERE IS NO WARNING FROM THE CAR ITSELF. THERE IS NO STUTTERING OR NOISE. SUDDENLY THE CAR IS JUST DEAD AND ROLLING ALONG AT EXTREME SPEEDS. THE FIX IS TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART BY REMOVING AND REINSERTING THE KEY UNTIL IT STARTS AGAIN. THE DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP "STEERING COLUMN DEFECT" AND PROMPT A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE STEERING COLUMN AS IF IT WERE LOCKED FROM A CAR ALARM PROMPT. OCCASIONALLY, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION AND HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS DONE WITHOUT THE AID OF POWER STEERING AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEEDS AS THERE IS NO WAY OF "KNOWING" WHEN THE DEFECT WILL OCCUR. THIS DEFECT IS OCCURRING DAILY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS TOLD IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN REQUIRING A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. ESTIMATED COST TO MYSELF WAS $1,000-2,000. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY (58,000 MILES). I BELIEVE THIS DEFECT IS NOT A RESULT OF ANY HABIT OF MYSELF AS THE DRIVER BUT RATHER A DEFECT IN THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. A SEARCH ON GOOGLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE REVEALED THOUSANDS OF OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DIFFICULTY STARTING AND RESTARTING, POSSIBLE STRANDING OF THE DRIVER). I URGE A RECALL TO MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY! *TR

Jun 13, 2010

STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

BRAND NEW VEHICLE, 06 VW PASSAT, DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS--THEN, CAR STARTING DYING SUDDENLY AFTER BEING STOPPED (AT A RED LIGHT) THEN ACCELERATING ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WOULDN'T SPUTTER OR CHOKE--JUST DIE. TOOK IT TO VW TO CHECK INTO IT--THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS PUTTING INTO MY CAR--BUT IT WASN'T. FINALLY, AFTER 34 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THE SHOP, THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I TALKED WITH VW HEADQUARTERS. THEY OFFERED ME $300. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS DYING--COMPLETELY QUITTING ON ME--IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS--AND HOW MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS I HAD AVOIDED--SO $300 WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT--BUT VW CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I EXPLAINED FURTHER THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INTERMITTENTLY DOING THIS, I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING, ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE--STILL, VW WOULD NOT ADMIT TO THERE BEING AN ISSUE. OUT OF SHEER PANIC, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND CONVINCED THEM TO GET ME A NEW CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP RE-SOLD MY OLD CAR, THE ONE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX. A YEAR LATER, A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN WITH HER 92 JETTA. HER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND REPLACED THEM. NOW, A YEAR LATER, VW SENT A NOTICE TO ME IN THE MAIL SAYING IT IS "NOT A RECALL" BUT THEY WANTED US TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS "ONLY IF A CERTAIN LIGHT INDICATOR" GOES ON IN THE CAR. I NEVER HAD SUCH A LIGHT GO ON IN MY OLD CAR, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS AND TOOK MY CURRENT VW VEHICLE IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS ANYWAY. THANKFULLY, THE DEALERSHIP DID IT FOR ME, BECAUSE THEY KNEW MY HISTORY. THE NOTICE FROM VW CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY ONLY WANT YOU TO REPLACE THEM IF THE LIGHT GOES ON IN YOUR CAR AND YOU ONLY HAD UNTIL A CERTAIN DATE (FEB. 28TH) TO DO IT. STILL SEEMS TO BE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM VW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT HAND. *TR

Mar 09, 2010

STEERING,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

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

Jan 31, 2010

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,TIRES,EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 complaint

'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 HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHUT OFF; WE STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED; WHEN LOCKING THE CAR WITH THE ALARM, THE DOORS LOCKED BUT THE ALARM DID NOT TURN ON; LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, FEARING THAT THE BATTERY WOULD RUN LOW AND WE WOULD BE STRANDED '08/05/09: TOOK THE CAR TO ELK GROVE VW AND TOLD THAT WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS '10/24/09-12/14/09: THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SINCE 10/23/09 AND SITTING IN OUR GARAGE & NOW AT NEILLO VW. *TR

Dec 14, 2009

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

1 complaint

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

Nov 02, 2009

STEERING,PARKING BRAKE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

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

Aug 11, 2009

STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1 complaint

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

May 20, 2009

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

POWER BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (WI WINTERS). OCCURS WHENEVER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 30'S OR LOWER. VACUUM HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. APPARENTLY CONDENSATION IS BUILDING INSIDE THE HOSE (REPORTED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.) *TR

Mar 22, 2009

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

1 complaint

EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TIMES DOES NOT DISENGAGE OR ENGAGE. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF WAIT A WHILE AND SOMETIMES IT DOES AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT ENGAGE/RENGAGE. GIVES ME A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE. *TR

Mar 10, 2009

STEERING,SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

GOSH WHERE DO I START VW PASSAT 51000 MILES ALOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG.. CAR STARTER VOLKS CAME OUT CAUSING THE STARTER TO BREAK MY TRUNK DOESN'T CLOSE POPS OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD/FREEWAY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE THING FROM MY TRUNK EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE FREEWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS DEFECTED DOES NOT LOCK I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS OF VW DEALER SHIPS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME CAUSE ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND FOR STEERING LOCK I WENT BEFORE WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 90 DOLLARS I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LYING AROUND I HAVE CAR PAYMENT. INS ECT... IM SCARED IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPENED WHILE ME DRIVING WITH MY KIDS. *TR

Jan 19, 2009

AIR BAGS,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

ME AND MY WIFE WERE TRAVELING RT. 80 WEST BOUND TO EXIT 61 ELMWOOD PARK AT ABOUT 12:45 AM, WEATHER CONDITION WAS WET WITH RAIN AND ROADS WERE SLICK. AS MY WIFE(DRIVER) MERGED TOWARDS THE EXIT THE JEEP IN FRONT OF US DEAD STOPPED BECAUSE AS WE LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CAR BEFORE IT THAT SPUN OUT EARLIER. OUR CAR COLLIDED WITH THE STOPPED VEHICLE HITTING IT ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE AND OURS WAS THE LEFT SIDE FRONT . MY WIFE HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HIT MY KNEES IN THE DASHBOARD NEEDLESS TO SAY THE AIRBAGS ON OUR VEHICLE DIDN'T DEPLOY. IT WAS A 2006 VW PASSAT. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND ACCORDING TO THEM THE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES DID WORK AND THAT AIR BAGS WERE THE LAST RESORT TO SAVE LIVES. THIS COLLISION AND IMPACT WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED US IF WE DIDN'T WEAR OUR SEATBELTS. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE PRODUCT LIABILITY OF VW OF AMERICA WITH THIS, THEIR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *TR

Nov 28, 2008

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

STEERING,PARKING BRAKE,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I BOUGHT A CAR BRAND NEW AND EVER SINCE 1700 MILES IT'S BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST IT STARTED WITH WINDOWS NOT WANTING TO ROLL UP, THEY'D ROLL DOWN FIRST THEN UP. MY RADIO WAS STUCK ON LOUD AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF OR DOWN OR CHANGE RADIO STATIONS. THE PARKING BRAKE (ELECTRICAL) ENGAGED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, A HOSE CAME UNDONE AT 18K MILES ON THE FREEWAY AND CAUSED HEAVY CONVULSING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK RANDOMLY HAD "ERRORS", THE AIRBAG HAS "ERRORS", THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED VERY ROUGH WHICH MADE ME JOLT IN THE CAR AND STARTED MAKING MY NECK SORE. FOR EVERY INCIDENT MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED, THEY FIX THE PROBLEM AND A NEW ONE HAPPENS A WEEK LATER. I AM A VALET AND OTHER VW OWNERS SAY THE SAME THINGS HAPPEN TO THEIR CARS. SO I KNOW I HAVE A LEGIT COMPLAINT HERE. *TR

Jun 04, 2008

PARKING BRAKE,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

WHEN THE CAR IS TRAVELING APPROXIMATED 2-10 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ACCELERATES AND BRAKES AS THE AUTOMOBILE BUCKS A FEW TIMES. THEIR IS A LOUD THUNKING NOISE AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL. FROM TIME TO TIME THE CAR GETS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR, WHICH FORCES ME TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. WINDOWS ARE SUPPOSEDLY AUTOMATIC UP AND DOWN, BUT DON'T WORK PROPERLY 50% OF THE TIME. REAR BACK SPEAKER PLAYS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN PARKING AND SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE, THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TURN ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE KEY IS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. OVERALL ISSUES SEEM TO BE ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER RELATED. I HAVE TAKEN BACK TO DEALER TWICE IN THE LAST 6 MOTHS AND THE PROBLEMS KEEP BUILDING. *TR

Jan 26, 2008

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

ABS BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUMPING WITHOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT PUMPS RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED AND ANY WEATHER. NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED FROM THE DEALER. THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE, GRINDING OR METAL TO METAL TYPE OF SOUNDS OR CONTACT. IN ADDITION, MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL OR MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE CAR- ONLY 9491 MILES. A. AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. B. THE DRIVER SUN VISOR SHORTED AND WAS INOPERATIVE. C. IGNITION WAS WEAK AND WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVERAL TIMES. CAR WOULD DIE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, NO RESOLVE. THE COMPUTER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FINALLY AS I AM DRIVING THE OTHER DAY, A MALFUNCITON LIGHT APPEARS AND THE CAR DIES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. D. AFTER 5,000 MILES CHECK UP, THE SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON UNTIL I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER TO TURN OFF. E. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY AND WILL BE REPLACING IT. *TR

Jan 13, 2008

PARKING BRAKE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH KEY BECOMES STUCK AND THE GEARS MUST BE SHIFTED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY, AND THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR SMELLED LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. ON APRIL 9, 2007 THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS, 10,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.*AK

Apr 09, 2007

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

2/5 NOON: AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON TO A MAIN ROAD, MY BRAKES WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING 10 MPH SO WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP SIMPLY BY LETTING OFF THE GAS AND PUSHING THE WHEEL AGAINST A CURB. ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND EMI CAME ON. 12:07: IN MY ATTEMPT TO REACH VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, I WAS PUT ON AUTOMATED HOLD FOR OVER 25 MINUTES. 12:35: I CALLED THE GENERAL CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND AT THAT POINT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE REGARDING VACUUM HOSE TO THE BRAKE LINES BUT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. RE-DIRECTED ME TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN. 12:40: PLACED ON AUTOMATED HOLD WITH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR 15+ MINUTES AGAIN AND AT THAT POINT BEGAN LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS. 1:15: RECEIVED A CALL FROM THIRD PARTY MOC ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CONFIRMING SOMEBODY WAS ON THEIR WAY TO PICK ME UP AND SHOULD BE THERE WITHIN THE HOUR. 2:25: CAR WAS DROPPED OFF AT TOM WOOD VOLKSWAGON OF INDIANAPOLIS, IN. I WAS GIVEN A RENTAL CAR FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. 2/9 WENT TO GET MY CAR. THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM AND HAD NO EXPLANATION WHY I DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER. THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD BEEN MADE PUBLIC 26 DECEMBER 2005 AND THAT I SHOULD CHECK MY MAILING ADDRESS WITH VAG (IRONIC HOW ALL MY FINANCING STATEMENTS COME ON TIME THOUGH!). THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WIPER SYSTEM ISSUED AT THE SAME TIME (ALSO OF WHICH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED). WHEN THEY PERFORMED THIS RECALL AT THIS TIME ALSO, THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME W/O THE WIPERS FUNCTIONING! I WAS OUTRAGED THAT THEY DIDN'T CHECK THE WIPER SYSTEM BEFORE TELLING ME IT WAS O.K. IT TOOK THEM A FEW MINUTES TO GET THE WIPERS GOING AND I WAS ON MY WAY. IT WASN'TT DOING ANY GOOD TO SPEAK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEGUN TO CONSULT LAWYERS REGARDING ACTIONS AGAINST VAG DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS SAFETY RECALL. SUFFERING: MENTAL ANGUISH, FEAR OF UNSAFE CAR, LOST PRODUCTIVITY AT WORK. *NM

Feb 11, 2007

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IT STALLED IN A TURN. HE HAD BEEN DRIVING ALONG STEADILY FOR 2 HOURS WITH OUT INCIDENT PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERABLE, THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, HOWEVER 2 HOURS LATER THE HEADLIGHT FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A ONE TO THREE SECOND LAG IN THE ACCELERATOR, MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CONSUMER IS TRUING TO ACCELERATOR. THERE WAS A RATTLE COMING FROM THE HEADLINER/SUNROOF ASSEMBLY. THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TRIM PIECES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE FOG LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 01/31/07. *JB

Jan 05, 2007

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I HAVE HAD RECURRENT ISSUES WITH MY 2006 PASSAT. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER AFTER BEING AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR 25 DAYS, AND I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE AT THE END OF MY STREET AND THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE. THE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD -- I COULD BARELY PUSH IT IN WITH TWO FEET. I ACTIVATED THE PARKING BRAKE, AND THE CAR STOPPED -- THANK GOD, I WAS ONLY GOING 10 MPH, BUT IF I ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING UP AND DOWN AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING OR SURGING AND GETTING BRIGHTER AND DIMMER AND BRIGHTER VERY RAPIDLY. I TURNED ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO BETTER VIEW MY DASH, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE SURGING/FLICKERING AS WELL. IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS VISITS FOR DEALER REPAIRS, THEY TOLD ME THEY PUT IN A BRAND NEW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING AGAIN? THIS CAR IS BEYOND REPAIR. I BELIEVE I HAVE A LEMON AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AFTER A 25-DAY STINT IN THE DEALER REPAIR CENTER IT'S STILL NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE LAST OF MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. INCIDENTALLY, WHILE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, I BOUGHT IT AFTER USING IT AS A LOANER WHEN MY 2006 JETTA TDI WAS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I DROVE IT DURING MY PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. THAT CAR HAD SOME ISSUES AS WELL, SO WHEN I LIKED THE PASSAT I DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN. I'VE ONLY DRIVEN THIS PASSAT FOR LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AND IT IS TERRIBLE. MY WIFE DRIVES A 2006 JETTA TDI (A DIFFERENT ONE) WHICH RUNS GREAT. HOW CAN ONLY ONE OF THREE CARS PURCHASED IN LESS THAN A SIX MONTH PERIOD FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS IS SERIOUSLY IMPACTING MY VIEWS OF VW QUALITY. I HAVE TROUBLE WRITING VW AND THE WORD QUALITY IN THE SAME SENTENCE. THANK GOD I DIDN'T DIE TONIGHT. *NM

Nov 07, 2006

SUSPENSION,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OF 0-5MPH THE ENGINE JUMPS TO RPM'S OF 900 TO 1000 RPM'S CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A WHILE AND THE ENGINE IS HOT. THE RPM'S GO DOWN ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND THE MOTOR IS REVVED UP, OR WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY AND HESITATES. WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THERE IS LAG BETWEEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED AND THE WHEN THE ENGINE KICKS INTO GEAR. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE PARKED, AT LOW SPEEDS, OR TURNING THE VEHICLE RIGHT OR LEFT, THERE IS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT SUSPENSION AREA. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER STRUT BEARING WHICH SEEMED TO HELP FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THE GRINDING SOUND IS BACK. THE GRINDING SOUND IS NOW COMING FROM THE LEFT SUSPENSION AREA. *AK

Jul 25, 2006

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

ON 7/13/06 I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 VW PASSAT FROM BERT SMITH VW IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. I TOOK DELIVERY AT 5PM ON FRIDAY 7/14/2006. I HAVE 4 MAJOR PROBLEMS. BERT SMITH VW SERVICE PERSON (NOEL APONTE AND HIS SERVICE MANAGER MICHAEL) AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE BELOW ISSUES. FIRST ISSUE: I HAVE EXTREME IDLE SHAKING OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS CONSTANT - MEANING YOU WOULD HAVE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP IT. I CAN SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STILL FEEL THE SHAKING. I CAN PUT THE GEAR IN PARK OR IN DRIVE AND IT IS STILL SHAKING. SOMETIMES THE SHAKING IS MILD (LIKE THE SHAKING WHILE BRAKING) OTHER TIMES IT IS SEVERE...SO SEVERE YOU CAN SEE THE ENTIRE CAR SHAKE. SECOND MAJOR ISSUE: I DRIVE MY CAR OF A PARKED POSITION (OR AFTER COMING TO A ROLLING STOP AT A LIGHT) AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO PULL OR LUNGE FORWARD WHILE MY FOOT WAS PREVIOUSLY ON THE BRAKE. AT THIS TIME I HAVE TO PUT EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND I AM OFF. I COME TO ANOTHER LIGHT, THE SAME THING HAPPENS. REGARDING THESE 2 ISSUES, HERE IS A THREADED DISCUSSION ON THE WEBSITE VWVORTEX.COM. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=2619540 ALL OF THESE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL FEEL VW IS GIVING THEM THE RUN AROUND. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. IS THERE A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM? THESE ISSUES ARE ON-GOING THE MOMENT I LEFT THE BERT SMITH DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY 7/14/06. THIRD ISSUE: THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE SEVERE THROTTLE LAG WHILE DRIVING AND AT A STAND STILL. I AM AT A LIGHT, I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE'S SIGNIFICANT LAG TIME BETWEEN THE TIME THE CAR BEGINS TO ROLL. FOURTH ISSUE: THE FRONT END SQUEAKING REALLY BAD. IT BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND BERT SMITH REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT BEARING ON THURSDAY 7/21. IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. THE 2ND FRONT BEARING HAS TO BE REPLACED, AND MAYBE THE ONE THAT WAS ALREADY REPLACED HAS TO BE FIXED AGAIN. *NM

Jul 24, 2006

SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

2006 VW PASSAT 3.6 TWO WEEKS AGO A NOISE APPEARED QUITE SUDDENLY. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD A BAD MUFFLER. NOISE COMING FROM FRONT, RIGHT OF CAR. ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A BASEBALL CARD IN YOUR BIKE SPOKES BUT LOUDER AND DEEPER. STARTS AT AROUND 50 MPH. TONE AND SPEED OF SOUND DECREASES AS SPEED OF CAR DECREASES BUT OTHERWISE STAYS CONSTANT. DISAPPEARS WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF GAS. TOOK IT TO CARTER VW. THEY HEARD SOUND. TOLD ME THAT AIR PRESSURE IN FRONT, RIGHT TIRE WAS AT MAX AND SO THEY LET SOME AIR OUT AND THAT "FIXED" THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. SINCE I HAD NOT HAD THE TIRE PRESSURE CHANGED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOV - I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WOULD FIX THAT PROBLEM AND TOLD THEM THAT. WILL TAKE IT TO CHAPLINS VW, WHICH IS MUCH CLOSER TO HOME. *JB

Jun 08, 2006

2006 VOLKSWAGEN Passat Problems & Complaints

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