2000 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY INDICATED TO STOP IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVERS MANUAL INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. *NM

PURCHASED MY 2000 PASSAT IN 2003, HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING ON THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS, O2 SENSORS, TWICE, BELTS, STEREO DIDN'T TURN ON, ALL NEW HOSES RIGHT AWAY, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, AND NOW TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE ABS LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. MY HUSBAND HAS A 2000 AUDI A4, VIRTUALLY THE SAME CAR, AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SAME THINGS. THE ABS SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1800 TO FIX IT. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER, (BOSCH OR VOLKSWAGEN, SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE AUGUST 2006 BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT! I AM COLLEGE STUDENT. HELP!

A 2000 PASSAT STATION WAGON HAD WATER LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER-SIDE FOOT WELL TWICE AFTER HEAVY RAINS. ONCE THE LEAK WAS MORE THAN AN INCH. ALL OF THE WINDOWS AND THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SECURELY CLOSED PRIOR TO THE RAINS. A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DASHBOARD RESULTED ON THE TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, LEADING TO APPROXIMATELY $3,500 IN REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS WERE TO THE ENGINE TIMING SYSTEM AND TO A MOTOR IN THE AIR CONDITIONER. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE DRIVEWAY WAS NOTICED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL LINES, CLAMPS AND SEAL WERE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM.

DUE TO THE CLOUDINESS OF MY FRONT HEADLIGHTS I ALMOST RAN OVER TWO JOGGERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS NOT SPEEDING AND I HAD JUST REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS, YET, BECAUSE OF THE DECREASED LIGHT OUTPUT OF MY HEADLIGHTS WHICH I ESTIMATE TO BE AT LEAST A 40% REDUCTION, I SIMPLY COULDN'T SEE THE JOGGERS UNTIL I WAS ALMOST ON TOP OF THEM. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE/REPAIR NON-CONSUMABLE SAFETY ITEMS SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLIES. *JB

THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, HAVING OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES DURING THE PAST YEAR. IT CAN BE BEST DESCRIBED AS A SUDDEN LURCHING, WHICH HAS OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED, WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (60-70 MPH), AND AT SPEEDS BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES. WHILE STOPPED, IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES, AND THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD; EXTRA BRAKE PRESSURE MUST BE APPLIED DURING THESE OCCURRENCES, WHICH LAST LESS THAN A SECOND OR TWO, BUT WHICH OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE PROBLEM MANIFESTS ITSELF AS A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOUS DECREASE IN SPEED OF BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN MILES PER HOUR; THIS DECREASE IN SPEED OCCURS IN LESS THAN A SECOND. ONE GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING IS THAT IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE HAS HIT SOMETHING. I CONSIDER THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION, BECAUSE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHILE ON A CURVE IN THE RAIN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE LOST. I HAVE INFORMED MY LOCAL DEALER OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES (DUE TO ITS INTERMITTENT NATURE), THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. *NM

PREMATURE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE. I HAVE RECEIVED AN AIR BAG FAULT' WARNING CODE. FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS HAVE INDICATED THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS NECESSARY. THIS ON A 6-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THAT THERE ARE VEHICLES 3 TIMES AS OLD THAT ARE STILL ON THEIR ORIGINAL AIR BAGS, I WOULD CONSIDER THIS FAILURE UNACCEPTABLE. *NM

STEERING TIE RODS AND FRONT SUSPENSION ARE WORN OUT ON VW PASSAT MAKING STEERING VERY INACCURATE AND IN A STATE OF CONSTANT STEERING INPUT TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT DIRECTION OF VEHICLE. AFRAID THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. CAR HAS ONLY 82,000 MILES ON IT AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HEARD OF SUCH COMPLETE IMPENDING FAILURE OF A FRONT SUSPENSION. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS COMMON IN PASSATS. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *JB

I HAVE A 2000 PASSAT GLS. IT'S ABS LIGHT IS ON NOW WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING AND THE MESSAGE STOP SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

HEAT SHIELD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM CARMAX WHO HAD LIED ABOUT THE AUTO FROM THE BROKEN SEATBELTS FORWARD ON THE DAY OF SALE. VW DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AUTO AFTER FIRE BUT ANOTHER MISHAP WITH HEATSHIELD WHEN IT FELL OFF AND UNDER THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE @ 65 MILE PER HR, WHILE DRIVING DOWN TURNPIKE. I WAS NOT INJURED THANKS TO A TRUCK DRIVER WHO ASSISTED MY NAVIGATION TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CUT OFF THE SHIELD SO I COULD RETURN HOME. THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, SINCE THE FIRE THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME AND HAS BEEN A HAZARD, STALLING ON A BELTWAY, ETC... NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS WAS FOUND ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AS IT HAS BEEN CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES..IT IS WHEN THE EMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AND A BAD SENSOR NEEDS REPLACED OR SWITCH. BUT NOTHING FIXES THIS CAR FOR LONG. *TR

OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME OUT, AND OBSERVED A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. HEAT SHIELD ABOVE RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MELTED AND SOME WIRING IN THE DASH WAS BURNED.

9/2003: HEADLIGHTS AIMED INCORRECTLY; ROAD WASN'T ILLUMINATED. WITHIN 2 WKS, 1 OF THE BULBS BURNED OUT. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE 1ST, THE 2ND BULB BURNED OUT. COST TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS REPOSITIONED & BULBS REPLACED: $267. 9/2003: REAR TAIL LIGHT OUT. COST TO HAVE BULB REPLACED BY MECHANIC: $32.50. 11/2003: BOTH REAR WINDOWS OFF TRACK. COST TO TEAR DOORS APART & FIX: $159.75. 12/2003: ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH FRONT POWER WINDOWS. NEVER KNOW IF WINDOW WILL GO UP OR DOWN. 2004: HAD CAR IN FOR (AT LEAST) 3 DIFFERENT DASHBOARD WARNING CODES. ONE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FUEL, OR THE FUEL TANK OR SOMETHING. AFTER SOME TRIAL AND ERROR ON MY MECHANIC'S PART, DISCOVERED THAT UNSCREWING AND TIGHTLY RESCREWING GAS CAP FIXED THE PROBLEM. COST TO DIAGNOSE AND "FIX": $165. HAD (AT LEAST) TWO OTHER WARNING CODES IN 2004 THAT REQUIRED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN. 6/24/2005: HAD BEEN HEARING CRUNCHING SOUND FROM FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF CAR THAT WAS PARTICULARLY APPARENT WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE, A DIP IN THE ROAD OR ATTEMPTING A TIGHT 360 TURN. MECHANIC (SPECIALIZING IN EUROPEAN CARS) IDENTIFIED A BAD CONTROL ARM. COST OF REPAIR & ALIGNMENT: $713.70. COST OF RENTAL CAR: $100.88. TOTAL: $814.58. NOTE: THE LEFT SIDE HAS BEEN MAKING THE SAME SOUND SINCE 12/2005. HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED IT. 10/24/05: CAR STARTED GOING DEAD INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 60000 MILES ON IT. REPLACED BATTERY FOR $106.50. 1/2006: TEMP GAUGE MAXED OUT, COOLANT BOILED OVER, SMOKE & STEAM ISSUED FROM HOOD IN LESS THAN 8 MINUTES AT IDLE. COOLED CAR FOR 2L HOURS, REPLACED COOLANT AND DROVE TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP & TIMING BELT. COST: $725. 2/2006: BRAKES ARE SPONGY AND PROVIDE NO RESISTANCE UNTIL NEARING THE FLOOR. MECHANIC SAYS ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ARE FINE. 6/2006: TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. MUST STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF AND THEN RESTART. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND IS GOVERNED BY THE COMPUTER. COST TO FIX: UNKNOWN. 6/2006: FRONT WINDOW NOW OFF TRACK. HAVE NOT YET FIXED IT. *NM

THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. I HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED LAST YEAR IN 08/05 WHEN IT INITIALLY OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM WENT OFF. IT CAME BACK ON JUST YESTERDAY 07/11/2006. THE MESSAGE SAYS IT IS EMISSION WORKSHOP. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A VW DEALER, HOWEVER, I SUSPECT IT IS THE SAME CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE HAD IS THE STOP - BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE. THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WHILE THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO CHECK ON THE ISSUES. THEY MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE ALL FINE. AND SO WAS THE FLUID BRAKE RESERVOIR LEVEL. THEY WERE GUESSING IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR ABS SENSOR PROBLEM. *JB

ABS FAILURE WARNING APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY BOOSTED. ALSO MAY HAVE SPILT W/W FLUID ONTO ABS UNIT WHEN FILLING W/W CONTAINER. DEALER WANTS AT LEAST $700 TO REPLACE CONTROL MODULE. BRAKES ARE OTHERWISE OK. DEALER SAID HE WOULDN'T DRIVE WITHOUT ABS AS WAS TOO DANGEROUS. THIS IS MY 1ST CAR WITH ABS AND I AM NOT CONVINCED IT IS WORTH FIXING AT LEAST AT THAT COST. SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST VW & BOSCH TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE UNITS. A FEW SITES PROMISE TO REBUILD ECM FOR $250. NOT SURE IF THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER SCAM. *JB

ABS COMPUTER FAILURE. NO EVENTS LEADING TO ITS FAILURE IT JUST SHUT DOWN ONE DAY AND THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. FAILURE = NO ABS, DEALER WANTS OVER $1000 TO REPLACE ENTIRE SETUP HOWEVER THE PUMP IS OK THE COMPUTER IS GONE. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A CHEAPER FIX OR POSSIBLE RECALL. *NM

ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN MY 2000 VW PASSAT. IT GIVES WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES THAT IT'S NOT WORKING. *JB

WITH 47,000 MILES ON MY VW PASSAT, THE ABS MODULE FAILED WITH NO WARNING. FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL (WHICH STATE THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT OPERATIONAL ABS) I HAD THE MODULE REPLACED AT AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $750. $500 OF THIS COST WAS THE "NEW AND IMPROVED" MODULE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF PASSAT, AND PASSING THIS COST ONTO THE CONSUMER IS UNACCEPTABLE. I'VE READ MANY POSTS ONLINE FROM OWNERS THAT AREN'T REPAIRING THIS ISSUE DUE TO COST, WHICH AS VW STATES, ISN'T SAFE. VW SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THESE REPAIRS. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASING OF CAR ~ ELECTRA AUTO SALES WAS AWARE OF THIS AND NOTED THIS WAS THEIR RECORDS THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY ENGINE SYSTEM. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO ALMOST BEING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING AND ROUGH IDLIING ~ PAUL VARGAS OWNER OF ELECTRA AUTO SALES HAS NOT RETURNED ANY CALLED BACK . AK

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 VW PASSAT, 4 CYL. ON 3/24/06, THE DEFROST NO LONGER WORKED PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE. PINKISH-ORANGE COOLANT STARTED SPRAYING OUT ON MY FEET WHILE DRIVING, WHITE SMOKE CAME SPILLING OUT OF THE VENTS & THE COOLANT SPREAD ITSELF THICK ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDSHIELD & WINDOWS. THIS LEFT IT CLOUDY & I HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND WIPE THE WINDOWS WITH CLEANER AND PAPER TOWELS. WITH IT BECOMING IMMEDIATELY CLOUDY, I LOST VISIBILITY OF THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. COOLANT ALSO LEAKED ONTO THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD/MAT. I IMMEDIATELY LOOKED ONLINE FOR FEEDBACK AND FOUND IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A CRACKED HEATER CORE (WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY). I TOOK IT BY A VW DEALER FOR A DRIVE BY DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS CONFIRMED IT WAS THE HEATER CORE. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA IMMEDIATELY TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS PROBLEM AND ASKED IF THEY COULD ASSIST WITH 50%-100% OF THE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS A REPORTED PROBLEM EVERYWHERE. VW CUSTOMER CARE SAID I NEEDED TO SET UP A DIAGNOSIS APPT WITH THE VW DEALER, WHICH WAS ON 4/24/06. 10 MINUTES AFTER I DROPPED MY CAR OFF, MY SERVICE CONSULTANT RUSSELL DILLEY W/MIRAMAR VW IN SAN DIEGO, CA CALLED MY CELL PHONE AND SAID "YES IT IS THE HEATER CORE". PRIOR TO LEAVING MY CAR WITH HIM, HE BELIEVED IT TO BE A CRACKED HEATER CORE, JUST WITH MY FEW SYMPTOMS EXPLAINED AND HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE AND HE CONFIRMED VW OF AMERICA HAD COVERED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. I NOTIFIED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE THAT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED AND READY. I HAD TO PAY $99.00 FOR THE SO CALLED ONE HOUR DIAGNOSIS APPT, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CONFIRMED IN 10 MINUTES. CUSTOMER CARE SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 48 HOURS TO LET ME KNOW THEIR DECISION W/THE ASSISTANCE OF THE REPAIR. I RECEIVED A CALL YESTERDAY 5/1/06 FROM MARLINA, SHE SAID VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR OF THE CRACKED HEATER CORE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE & THE MILEAGE. YEAR 2000, MILEAGE 89K. *NM

THE 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE OWNER/OPERATOR CANNOT CHANGE THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS. IT MUST BE TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. TO QUOTE FROM THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL: IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE VEHICLE LIGHT BULBS SINCE IN MANY CASES, OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR MUST FIRST BE REMOVED BEFORE YOU ARE ABLE TO GET TO THE BULB......FOR YOUR SAFETY, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE YOUR AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER REPLACE ANY BULBS SINCE YOUR DEALER HAS NECESSARY TOOLS, THE CORRECT BULBS, AND THE EXPERTISE. SUPPOSE I AM ON A LONG DRIVE OVER THE WEEKEND, MILES FROM HOME, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS BURN OUT. I CANNOT REPLACE THEM, EVEN IF I HAVE THE CORRECT BULBS, CONSEQUENTLY I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT TAIL LIGHTS OR BRAKE LIGHTS. THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM COMPUTER. *NM

OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE. 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8 TURBO 4 CYLINDER 49000. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 PASSAT, THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TO NOTIFY ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OIL PRESSURE. THERE WAS NOTHING PRIOR TO THIS WARNING THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NO ODD NOISES IN THE CAR AND IT WAS DRIVING FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS TOTALED AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $7,000. I DID FIND OUT THAT IN AUGUST OF 2004, VW OF AMERICA ISSUES A SERVICE NOTICE TO ALL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP, OIL SLUDGE MAY BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. THIS WAS NOT SENT TO ANY OF THE VEHICLE OWNERS. IN THE NOTICE, VWOA SAID THAT THEY WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF THE CAR AND REPLACE THE MOTOR, ONLY IF THERE WAS PROOF THAT THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 5000 MILES. BECAUSE I HAVE GAPS IN MY OIL CHANGES WITH THE DEALER, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE NEW MOTOR. I'VE HAD THE CARE IN A NUMBER OF TIMES BETWEEN AUGUST OF 2004 AND FEBRUARY 19, 2006 WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE AND HE SAID THAT VWOA ISSUES A NUMBER OF SERVICE MEMOS AND WAS HE TO TELL ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS EVERYTIME ONE WAS ISSUED. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE END RESULT OF THE OIL PUMP NOT BEING REPLACED IN 2004, I WOULDN'T BE IN MY CURRENT SITUATION. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF WEB POSTS WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR LOCAL DEALERS AND VWOA. *JB

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO ECU DEFECT OR FAILURE. *JB

2000 PASSAT GLS 4-MOTION V6 HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. AT APPX 65000 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR OVERHEATED WHILE IDLING (IT HAD BEEN IDLING FOR LESS THAN 8 MINUTES, IT WAS ONLY 50 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THE COOLANT HAD BEEN CHECKED A FEW WEEKS PREVIOUS AT THE CAR'S LAST OIL CHANGE). THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE DASH MAXED OUT AND STEAM AND SMOKE STARTED ISSUING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED THE CAR OFF & LET IT COOL FOR APPX 20 MINUTES BEFORE OPENING HOOD. CHECKED COOLANT, IT HAD COMPLETELY BOILED AWAY. REPLACED COOLANT, LET CAR CONTINUE TO COOL FOR APPX ANOTHER 1.5 HRS. STARTED CAR AND DROVE IT (SLOWLY) TO A GARAGE SPECIALIZING IN EUROPEAN CARS. (MY REGULAR MECHANIC.) REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, BOTH OF WHICH HAD STOPPED WORKING. VW RECOMMENDS THAT THE TIMING BELT BE REPLACED AT 80000 MILES. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING BELT LOOKED SIGNIFICANTLY WORN AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW FOR FEAR IT MIGHT BREAK BEFORE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT. REPLACED TIMING BELT. TOTAL COST OF REPLACING WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT: $725. DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE TEMPERATURE FROM THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILURE, PISTONS AND VALVES IN ENGINE NOW KNOCK AND ENGINE IS NOISY, PARTICULARLY WHEN FIRST STARTED. ENGINE NO LONGER SEEMS TO BE AS RESPONSIVE, POWER WISE, AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY. 65000 MILES SEEMS A BIT YOUNG TO BE EXPERIENCING A WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SO QUICKLY AND WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING PROBLEM, AND THAT THIS RESULTED IN SUCH STRESS TO THE ENGINE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVED. (HAVE HAD WATER PUMPS GO OUT IN OTHER CARS, BUT NEVER PRIOR TO 80000 MILES, NEVER IN UNDER 8 MINUTES AND NEVER WITH SUCH DIRE RESULTS AND HIGH REPAIR COSTS. *NM

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE FOR 2000 1.8T PASSAT WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR, WHEN THE HEAT SHIELD ON THE TOP OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BEGAN TO SMOLDER. NO INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE PROBLEM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND CAME, ALTHOUGH NO FLAMES ERUPTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE. HOWEVER, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE CAUSE OF THE SMOKE WAS THE HEAT SHIELD.

2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THAT DIE UNEXPECTEDLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE MAKING TURNS ACROSS HIGHWAYS AND ENTERING FREEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE STALLING CONTINUED. *JB

ABS /BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AT ABOUT 112,000 MILES. FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANT. THE ABS PUMP SEEMS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT KNOWN AS THE EBCM. I REALIZE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, OTHERWISE VW WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESSURED TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE STATE OF NJ WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO PASS INSPECTION WITH THE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH IN REALITY IT'S JUST LIKE DRIVING IN THE PRE-ABS DAYS. SO, THE CONSUMER IS FORCED TO PAY $1500-$2000 TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. OF COURSE VW AND BOSCH, WHO MADE THE FAULTY COMPONENT, GET OFF THE HOOK AND IN FACT PROFIT THIS EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE. WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE CONSUMER? PLEASE HELP! *TR

THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY 2000 VW PASSAT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT ONLY ABOUT 61,000 MILES. I HAVE CHECKED VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT ABS FAILURES ON VOLKSWAGENS FROM THIS ERA ARE EXTREMELY COMMON--SO COMMON IN FACT THAT AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS SPRUNG UP TO REBUILD THE DEFECTIVE BOSCH ABS SYSTEMS IN VW'S AND AUDIS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE I STILL RECEIVED AN ALARMING MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD TO STOP WHILE IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE NJ TURNPIKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR A FAILURE LIKE THIS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE TO BE SO COMMON. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WORD "STOP" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE ABS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,500.

CREAKING, GROANING, CLUNKING, SQUEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT END, MOST NOTABLY AT LOW SPEEDS OVER BROKEN PAVEMENT, SPEEDBUMPS, COMING TO A SLOW STOP AND PULLING AWAY SLOWLY FROM A STOP. CONTROL ARMS ISSUE. *TR

AFTER RECENT RAIN, A POOL OF WATER COLLECTED ON THE RIGHT REAR FLOOR. ELECTRONICS ARE STARTING TO MALFUNCTION. APPRENTLY IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT HASNT BEEN RESOLVED. HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-12789.HTML. *NM

OWNER HAD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. A FEW WEEKS LATER, OWNER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN STOPPED AND WAS SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY USING HER CELL PHONE WHEN SHE SMELLED SMOKE. SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAW FIRE. EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD OVERHEATED, CAUSING MELTING OF THE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD AND MATERIALS ON THE FLOOR PAN JUST ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

PURCHASED A USED CAR FROM DAN PERKINS CHEVROLET, IN MILFORD, CT ON MARCH, 18, 2004.I WAS ADVISED BY THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA, THAT THE CAR CAME IN AS A TRADE FROM A GIRL WHO BOUGHT CARS FROM HIM ALL THE TIME AT DAN PERKINS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A COUPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THAT DAN PERKINS PURCHASED IT AT AN AUCTION. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON/THE LIGHTER DID NOT WORK/THE TIRES WERE BALD, AND THE 6 DISC CD CHANGER WAS NOT IN THE CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE SALESPERSON, JOHN ALMEIDA, AND THE USED CAR MANAGER, THEY STATED THEY FIXED EVERYTHING, BUT THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CD CHANGER, I WROTE A LETTER TO DAN PERKINS HIMSELF, AND HE GAVE ME A NEW ONE BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED WITH THE CD CHANGER. WHEN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON I BROUGHT IT TO CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN IN STRATFORD, CT. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A COPY OF MY CONTRACT FROM DAN PERKINS AND ANY OTHER PAPERWORK FROM DAN PERKINS. I CONTACTED THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA AND HIS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING A COPY OF ANYTHING. THEY DO NOT KEEP COPIES OF CONTRACTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. HE ALSO YELLED IN THE BACKGROUND THAT CURRAN VW WAS TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK AND THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK!!!THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO ENGINE!I AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT DOES NOT WORK, ON A CAR THAT I HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS!I CONTACTED CURRAN VW BECAUSE VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE ENGINE TO 8 YEARS, I ONLY FOUND THIS OUT BECAUSE I DID MY OWN RESEARCH ONLINE. VW OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM BECAUSE ONE OF MY MECHANICS, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER, HANDWROTE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGES.CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $12,074.60. THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE IS $8,000!!!!!VW OF AMERICA ADVISES THEIR CONSUMERS TO HAVE OIL CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES OR EVERY 6 MONTHS. I HAD MINE CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES.DAN PERKINS SHOWED ME NO VEHICLE HISTORY REPORTS. *AK

BATTERY DRAIN WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL, SO IT'S CLOGGED. THERE IS A WATER LEAK ENTERING FROM POLLEN FILTER THROUGH THE HOUSING DOWN TO TCM WHICH CAUSED A DAMAGE TO TCM(TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE). ALTHOUGH THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE SO IT DOESN'T COVER UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS DRIVING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND THE GEAR WON'T SHIFT OUT OF SECOND. SO I RESTARTED THE CAR THEN EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. BUT SHORTLY AFTER IT WENT BACK TO THE SAME. AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, GEAR SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON BRAKE. VERY DANGEROUS. NOTHING HAS DONE FROM DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY YET NOR THERE ISN'T ANY RECALL . I'M STILL WAITING FOR A CALL BACK FROM VOLKSWAGEN. BUT THE DEALER WANTS ME TO REPAIR IT AT MY COST FOR $2000 EVEN THOUGH IT IS POWER TRAIN COMPONENT. *NM

THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE TRIP COMPUTER DISPLAYED "STOP", "BRAKE FAILURE" AND "SERVICE MANUAL" LIGHTS, AND THERE WERE A SEQUENCE OF LOUD BEEPS. AFTER TALKING TO THE VW MECHANIC, WHO READ AND LOOKED UP THE DTCS, I DISCOVERED IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THERE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR JUST THE CONTROL MODULE AND NOT THE ENTIRE ABS UNIT, MODEL NUMBER 8E0-998-375-G, AVAILABLE FROM THE VW DEALER FOR $686 PLUS LABOR COSTS TO INSTALL. STILL, MY CAR ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT!! IT IS A 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *NM

I OWN A PASSAT 2000 V6. AT 82,000 MILES MY ABS MODULE HAS FAILED. MY CAR HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE I CAN NOT AFFORD THE RIDICULOUS AMOUNT THAT I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL SHOP. $3,000 TO FIX THIS? I DON'T THINK SO! THERE ARE HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, OF VEHICLES MADE BY VOLKSWAGON BETWEEN 1998-2001 WITH FAILING ABS UNITS. I DEMAND A RECALL! HOW DARE THEY CHARGE US SO MUCH FOR OUR CARS, WHEN THEY CAN NOT GUARENTEE THAT THEY WILL EVEN LAST?! *NM

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GARAGE WHERE THE CAR IS SERVICED INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIND A CAUSE OTHER THAN IT MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. *NM

PREMATURE TIE ROD FAILURE. LEFT AND RIGHT TIE ROD ENDS ARE PREMATURELY WORN RESULTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD IN BREAKING, PARTS NEED TO REPAIR DAMAGE, LEFT AND RIGHT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, BALL JOINTS, 1/2 SHAFTS. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $1678. *NM

IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 MY VW PASSAT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY HAVE THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COME ON. MY LOCAL DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $2000 TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THAT THE PART WAS NOT EVEN AVAILABLE. AFTER A SIMPLE SEARCH UNDER "VW ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE" IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. IT GOES TO THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AS WARNING LIGHTS INDICATE "BRAKE FAILURE" AND STOP IMMEDIATELY. FROM THE MANY THREADS, AND MY EXPERIENCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT VW IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT BUT DOES NOTHING. WHY ARE THEY NOT FORCED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT EFFECTS THE SAFETY OF MY CAR? *JB

WHEN I BROUGHT MY 2000 VW PASSAT (55K MILES) TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, THEY SAID THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS SLUDGE. THE RADIATOR, HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NEED TO HAVE COOLANT FLUSH FOR 2 TIMES. THE TOTAL IS $2600!!! THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE ONLY CAUSE WOULD BE WRONG TYPE OF COOLANT, BUT I HAVE NOT DONE SERVICE OTHER THAN THE VW DEALER. SO, I SUSPECT THAT THAT IS DEFECT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THE 2000 PASSAT. *NM

MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE AN ERROR INDICATING THAT THE COMPUTER CAN NO LONGER COMMUNICATE WITH THE ABS CONTROLLER. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE VW CHAT GROUPS, THE REPLACEMENT PUMPS COST APPROXIMATELY $2000. I THINK THE CAR IS TOO NEW TO HAVE AN ABS FAILURE AND THE COST IS EXCESSIVE.*JB

INTER.,BRAKE ABS LIGHT W/STOP DO NOT DRIVE MESSAGE. *NM

THE FUEL GAUGE READS FULL WHEN, IN FACT, IT IS NOT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY RECEIVED 93 OCTANE GASOLINE PER THE MANUFACTURER'S REQUIREMENTS AND NO ADDITIVES OR OTHER CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK. *JB

ABS CONTROL MODULE ON 2000 VW PASSAT FAILED IN OCTOBER 2005. REPLACEMENT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1000. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VW IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. A RECALL IS NEEDED. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS 5 SPEED MANUAL CAR WITH 65000 MILES; FOR PAST 6 MONTHS WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SPEEDS ABOVE 65 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL AUTOMATICALLY GETS ENGAGED MANY A TIMES EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER SWITCHED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ATLEAST 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS AND I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW AND WHEN IT GETS ENGAGED. I HAVE TO BE ALWAYS ALERT TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE-ENGAGE THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. *NM

2000 PASSAT ABS COMPUTER MODULE IS FAILING. SEVERAL POSTINGS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED - SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *NM

2000 VW PASSAT 1.8 L TURBO 4 CYL. ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. SAFETY ISSUE. VW WANTS $1,800 TO REPAIR PART. FLASHING LIGHTS APPEAR IN RANDOM PATTERN WARNING ABOUT MALFUNCTION. *JB

FAILURE OF ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON VW PASSAT, YR=2000, MODEL=PASSAT, ENGINE 2.8L. BOSCH ABS 5.3 (VW P/N 8EO 614 111 AH) HAS VERY POOR RELIABILITY HISTORY. *NM