2000 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

I HAD TWO TIRES BLOW OUT WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. THE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL TO MY 2000 VW PASSAT GLS WAGON AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 30000 MILES OF WEAR. THE TIRES ARE MADE IN GERMANY - MODEL: "195/65 R15 RADIAL 91H M+S ECOPLUS CONTITOURING CONTACT" *NLM

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE, AND THEN STALLED.*JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD.*JB

WET WEATHER BRAKING...SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN BRAKING RESPONSE IN WET WEATHER. ONCE THE BRAKES 'GRAB' STOPPING IS NOT A PROBLEM; I'VE LEARNED TO BRAKE EARLY. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE REDUCED IF YOU TRY TO FREQUENTLY TOUCH THE BRAKES, I'M ASSUMING THIS CLEARS WATER BUILD-UP FROM THE ROTORS/PADS. IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH THE OPEN DESIGN OF THE ALLOY WHEELS OR IS THE DISC/ROTOR GUARD THAT SITS BEHIND THE WHEEL BECOMING FILLED WITH WATER? FYI, I HAVE A 2000 PASSAT 4MOTION GLX WAGON.

FUEL SENDER UNIT FAILS TO RECORD PROPER LEVEL OF FUEL IN TANK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES DESPITE A RECALL ON SAME VEHICLE WITH DIFFERENT 'TRIM' LEVEL. FUEL GUAGE WILL READ FULL FOR 250 OF APPROXIMATELY 300 TOTAL MILES THEN ROCKET DOWN TO EMPTY.

MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

I DRIVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX 4MOTION. I HAVE FELT THAT I GOT A BAD CAR SINCE VERY EARLY ON IN MY LEASE (I NOW HAVE 8 MONTHS LEFT). ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCAISION, I HAD A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY OIL PAN THAT MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A ROCK (I DON'T RECALL FEELING ANYTHING HIT THE CAR HARD ENOUGH TO PUT A HOLE IN ANYTHING). I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTEED ITEM, RATHER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED 5 OTHER CARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING WHEN THE BREAKS ARE APPLIED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. I ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY KIND OF BREAK PROBLEMS WITH THAT FEW MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTEE EITHER, AGAIN, NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE OTHER 5 CARS THAT I OWNED EASILY HAD OVER 20,000 MILES ON THEM AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKE ROTORS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND WITH THIS VEHICLE. EARLY ON IN MY LEASE, I HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING. EACH TIME IT WAS DUE TO CARBON BUILDUP ON MY SPARK PLUGS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THERE WAS ONLY 2,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THAT SPARK PLUGS WERE STANDARD MAINTENENANCE ITEMS AND I MUST NOT BE TAKING CARE OF MY CAR PROPERLY. 2 YEARS LATER, THERE WAS AN EMISSION CONTROLS RECALL WHICH FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH THE DEALER INITIALLY CALLED DRIVER ERROR, NOT A VEHICLE PROBLEM.

NAR 1/15/2003. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE. THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH HAD COME ON AND DID SO SPORADICALLY. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WHICH BEGAN MOVING ERRATICALLY, TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC THERE WAS A READING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. AS OF NOW THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. IN THE OWNER MANUAL IT STATES WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON DON'T DRIVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEIRS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH COIL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALERSHIP. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED. CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY ON DISABILITY AS THE RESULT OF THE INJURIES OBTAINED BY THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY STALLS WHEN SHIFTING FROM A GEAR INTO NEUTRAL (FOR THE PURPOSE OF BRAKING). TODAY IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES STOPPING AT STOP LIGHTS, AND 2 TIMES IN PARKING LOTS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING, OFTEN, ALL WEEK (ONCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SLOWING FOR AN EXIT RAMP - ENGINE STALLS, POWER STEERING AND BRAKING GOES OUT, NOT GOOD). THIS PROBLEM WAS 'FIXED' AT AROUND 40K MILES WHEN A 'WASTE SOLENOID GATE' AND A 'TURBO VALVE' WERE REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP OVER 3 SEPARATE VISITS. THE STALLING WAS GONE FOR ABOUT 6000 MILES, BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED. THIS MAY BE CONNECTED WITH THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' WHICH WAS ON AT THAT TIME, AND HAS FLASHED ON RECENTLY. I'M PLANNING ON TAKING IT TO A LOCAL VW SHOP SOON TO GET THIER OPINION. DT

VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSIONS WORKSHOP INDICATOR HAVE BEEN COMING ON 2-3 MINUTES AFTER START UP. VEHICLE TAKEN IN FOR 40,000 MILE SERVICE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSTIC. VISIT # 1) REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR ON EMISSIONS SYSTEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON NEXT DAY. VISIT # 2)RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON NEXT DAY. SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR FULL DIAGNOSTIC NEXT WEEK. VISIT #3) REPLACED VACUUM LINES, THOUGHT 40,000 MILE SERVICE WAS STRESSING OLDER PARTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEXT DAY. VISIT # 4) RESET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NEXT DAY. SCHEDULED ANOTHER FULL DIAGNOSTIC. VISIT # 5) ORDERED AND REPLACED SECONDARY AIR PUMP, LEFT VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT PICK UP. NO ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE, AGREED TO RETURN VEHICLE NEXT DAY. VISIT # 6) REPLACED RELAY FOR SECONDARY AIR PUMP. PLAN TO RETURN VEHICLE TO ME AFTER 3 MORE DAYS. HOPING 6TH REPAIR ATTEMPT IS SUCCESSFUL (11/22/02) DT

THE BELLY PAN BECAME DISLODGED FROM THE FRONT UNDERCARRIAGE AS I ACCELERATED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WHEN I STOPPED FOR ASSISTANCE AT THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE TWO MECHANICS ON DUTY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SEEN EIGHT SIMILAR INSTANCES THAT WEEK, ALL INVOLVING VOLKSWAGENS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I HADN'T RAN INTO ANY CURBS OR BELGIAN BLOCKS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR RECENTLY. I BELIEVE THAT ALL THE SCREWS/BOLTS THAT HAD HELD UP THE PAN HAD FALLLEN OUT OVER TIME. THREE DAYS LATER, I TOOK THE CAR TO A VW DEALER, BECAUSE ONLY A DEALER HAD THE RIGHT FASTENERS TO SECURE THE PAN. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PAN WAS SCRAPED IN THE FRONT, THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING FOR THE PAN TO FALL OFF. I DISAGREE I THINK THE SCREWS FELL OUT OVER TIME. THE MECHANICS HAD THE OPINION THAT THE DESIGN OF THE SCREWS/BOLTS IS FLAWED, SINCE THEY HAD SEEN THIS SITUATION HAPPEN ON SO MANY RECENT MODEL VWS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A TREND OF VW BELLY PANS COMING LOOSE OVER TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BELLY PAN SERVES TO DEADEN ROAD NOISE. ISN'T IT PURPOSE ALSO TO PROTECT THE UINDERCARRIAGE? IF SO, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND SCRAPING UP AGAINST CURBS OR SURVIVNG ASSAULT FROM OTHER REGULAR ROAD DEBRIS. THE FACT THAT THE BELLY PAN MAY FALL OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DT

I BOUGHT MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM GEORGIA AUTO SQUARE IN ATHENS, GA. IT WAS BRAND NEW WITH NO MILES. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS & RECOMMENDATIONS DONE AT THIS DEALER. MY CAR HESITATES & LOSES POWER WHEN TRYING TO PASS OTHER CARS ON TWO LANE ROADS, ACCELERATING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY OR ACCELERATING WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER ONE HOUR AWAY SIX TO SEVEN TIMES OVER A YEAR (NOT INCLUDING THE TIMES IT WAS IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE). THEY HAVE KEPT MY CAR OVER 50 DAYS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM, WHICH THEY CLAIM, IS A WET AIR FILTER. THEY TOLD ONCE THAT THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE SNOW GUARD, WHICH WORKED WITH OTHER CARS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM (OBVIOUSLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE). THIS SEEMS BIZARRE SINCE IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE WEATHER RELATED. HOW DOES WATER GET INTO AN AIR FILTER (IF THAT IN FACT IS THE PROBLEM) AND WHY AFTER ALL THIS TIME HAVEN'T THEY BEEN ABLE REMEDY IT? I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS INVOLVING MY FAMILY & OTHER DRIVERS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE NEAR ME DURING THESE POWER FAILURES. BEING IN SEVERAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS AFTER BEING ASSURED THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED, THEIR SERVICE MANAGER APOLOGIZED FOR "MY INCONVENIENCE". THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING TO A FUNERAL, MY CAR STALLED WHILE MERGING AT I-985 & I-85. AFTER SUDDENLY LOSING POWER & TERRIFYING ME AND THE DRIVER BEHIND ME, WHO SAW THAT I EXPERIENCING TROUBLE, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED JERKING, LET OUT A BILLOW OF SMOKE & FINALLY (AND THANKFULLY) CAUGHT & DROVE ON. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE A NISSAN WITH 240,000 MILES ON IT WHILE I PAY FOR A VOLKSWAGEN WITH A LITTLE OVER 40,000 MILES, WHICH ONCE AGAIN SITS AT THE DEALER'S. THIS TIME HE HAS HAD IT FOR OVER A WEEK (TEST DRIVING, YET AGAIN) THE CAR I AM PAYING FOR. HE HAS ADMITTED PREVIOUS TIMES EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEMS I REPORTED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. YET, THE DEALER AND THE VOLKSWAGEN REP CONTINUE TO EXERCISE RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR MY LIFE, MY FAMILY'S LIVES, AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. DT

FAX FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH HER VW PASSAT. *KB IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 8-10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL ROCK AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. REPLACED AIR BAG, SENOR LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND STAYED ON. *MR

IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, I HAVE HAD THE WINDOW REGULATOR IN MY VEHICLE REPLACED 4 TIMES. UPON RESEARCHING, THERE APPEARS TO BE (LITERALLY) HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF REPLACEMENT PARTS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. WILL VOLKSWAGEN DO NOTHING UNTIL SLAPPED WITH A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT BECAUSE SOMEONE DIES FROM A WINDOW MALFUNCTION IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT?*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT PROBABLY WAS A ROCK.*JB *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 5MPH, LIKE THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. CONSUMER PRESSED ACCELERATOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. DROVE VEHICLE AT 15 MPH. VEHICLE DECELERATED AT 5 MPH, AND MASHING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR DID NOT INCREASE THE SPEED. BOTH HAPPENED IN A DURATION OF 5-7 MINS. THE VEHICLE THEN RESUMED AT NORMAL OPERATION. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, NO PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE VW FACTORY CONTACT HAD NO RECORD OF ABERRANT ACTION AND HAD NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *SCC

VEHICLE WAS ENTERING HIGHWAY AND DUE TO TRAFFIC SPEEDING UP CONSUMER HAD TO ACCELERATE FASTER. ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK BY SLAMMING DOWN ON IT. CONSUMER HAD TO REACH DOWN AND PULL PEDAL UP WHILE DRIVING. VOLKSWAGEN WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

CONTROL ARM FAILURES ARE VERY COMMON ON THIS SUSPENSION DESIGN, PLEASE INVESTIGATE FURTHER BEFORE THERE ARE FATALITIES. *AK

THE SHIFT LEVER CANNOT BE SHIFTED PAST REVERSE DUE TO FAULTY GEARBOX. NLM

THE CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS BECAUSE THE CAR CREAKS OVER BUMPS AND WHEN BEING DRIVEN AROUND CORNERS ALSO WHEN YOU SIT DOWN IN THE CAR IT CREAKS. *JG

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP USED FOR IGNITION HAS FAILED. WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT MAKES A LOUD WINING NOISE. HARD PART REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM STARTED DIRECTLY AFTER 40,000 MILE TUNE UP AT DEALER. I HAVE HEARD STORIES OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM OF WHEEL STICKING WHEN TURNING. FEELS LIKE RACK IS NOT ALIGNED WITH RACK AND PINION. HAVE HEARD OF ONE INSTANCE WHERE STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT. PLEASE CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SO MYLSELF AND OTHER ARE NOT IN DANGER OF LOOSING STEERING WHILE DRIVING.*AK

CAR WOULDN'T START, TOWED TO DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS A CARBON BUILDUP ON THE VALVES. SOLUTION OIL CHANGE, TUNE UP, CHANGE THERMOSTAT, FUEL CLEANER. COST $946 NOT COVERED UNDER WARANTY. *AK

MY SUNROOF SHATTERED OUTWARD WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE, NO WARNING, NO COLLISION.*AK

EMISSIONS WORKSHOP LIGHT COMES ON, THEN ENGINE CHECK LAMP SHOWS ON DASH. DEALER REPLACED AIR PUMP, SAID THAT A HOSE WAS LOOSE AND NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM. VW OF AMERICA WAS CONTACTED ALONG WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER. WE HAD TO TRADE THE CAR BECAUCE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY AT THIS TIME. WHY IS VW ALLOWED TO SELL CARS THAT THEY CANNOT REPAIR? I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR OUR FINANCIAL LOSS AS WELL AS FOR OUR TIME AND TROUBLE.*AK

TIRE JACK IS WEAK. CONSUMER JACKED UP VEHICLE TO CHANGE TIRE, AND JACK BENT/ TWISTED, CAUSING IT TO FALL FROM UNDER VEHICLE.ALSO, AXLE OF VEHICLE FELL TO GROUND. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE JACK TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

ISSUES MAY ALL BE RELATED, COULD BE VACUUM PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS ARE CONSTANT, OCCURRING EVERY DAY REGARDLESS OF WEATHER. 1. ENGINE REVS IN NEUTRAL, WHILE CREEPING AT LOWEST RPMS AND WHILE STOPPED IN DRIVE. RPMS FLUCTUATE EVERY SPLIT SECOND, 750-900 RPMS. WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE, THE REVVING OFTEN CAUSES COLLISION WITH OBJECTS IN GARAGE. 2. ALSO, ENGINE ALMOST STALLS ON TAKEOFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START OR HOT RESTART. 3. POWER-ASSIST BRAKES FAIL IN REVERSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE START AND BACKING OUT OF PARKING SLOT. DANGEROUS SITUATIONS HAVE OCCURRED. DEALER HAS CHECKED AT LEAST THREE TIMES, REPLACED PARTS, MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WITHIN SEVERAL BLOCKS OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER REPAIRS, ALL PROBLEMS BEGIN OCCURRING AGAIN.*AK

I PURCHASED A NEW 2000 PASSAT IN FEB. OF 2000. ON NOV. 5, 2001 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE DASH DISPLAYED EMISSION WORKSHOP.THE SYSMPTOMS WERE A JOLTING WHEN PLACING THE CAR INTO ANY GEAR AND THE CAR LOSING POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WHILE DRIVING.I TOOK IT IN AND FOUND OUT THE "ENGINE CONTROL MODULE" NEEDED REPLACMENT & THE "MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR" NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS FIXED AT NO CHARGE. THEN, ON DEC. 23, 2002 I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND TOOK IT IN AND HAD TOPAY $161.00 TO REPLACE THE "VACCUM LINE TO MANIFOLD". NOW YESTERDAY APRIL 28,2003 I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND FOUND OUT THE "MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR" NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SEONCD TIME AND THE DEALER WILL ONLY PAY 50% AND THEY WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR DECISION BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT'S MORE THEN FAIR. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS VERY RARE FOR THIS PROBLEM TO HAPPEN. WELL IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MAY COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED ON CASE NUMBER:748685. I FEEL LIKE I PURCHASED A LEMON AND WILL BE DEALING WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND A VOLKSWAGEN TO ANYONE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER EVERY TIME VEHICLE STALLED, COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK

WINDOW MOLDING AND DOOR MOLDINGS FALL OFF. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON ALONG WITH EMISSIONS WORKSHOP LIGHTS; GAS TANK, VACUMN PUMP AND SENSORS ALL REPLACED BUT STILL THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AK

CONTROL ARM FAILURE IS COMMON AMONG VW PASSATS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM.*AK

BRAAKE PEDAL GOES SLOWLY TO FLOOR WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. DEALER COULD NOT REPAIR. NEEDS FURTHER INFO FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

THE ENGINE USES TOO MUCH OIL PRIOR TO THE RECOMMENDED REGULAR SERVICE CHANGES, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 OIL CHANGES. NLM

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #00V1471000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE APPOINTMENT WAS GIVEN. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS,HAD TO WAIT. WAS INFORMED REPAIRS WERE DONE. ONE (1) WEEK LATER, VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE REPAIRS WERE DONE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT GAS GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING.*AK

DRIVERS SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED INTERMITTENTLY, SUNROOF SLIDER JAMBS/HARD TO SLIDE. *AK

2-3 SEC DELAY WHEN BRAKES ARE USED IN WET WEATHER. PROBLEM PRESENT SINCE NEW. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WOULD BE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JG

TRANSMISSION PERIODICALLY EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTING ON STARTUP. THE VEHICLE THEN GOES INTO "LIMPING MODE" WHICH CAUSES VERY SLOW ACCELERATION. THE PROBLEM CAUSES A SENSOR IN THE CAR TO DISPLAY "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" WARNING ON THE DASH INDICATOR. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING SEEMS TO CORRECT THE FAULT. VW DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS "1 DTC RECOGNIZED 18227 P1819 035 PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID 2 OPEN/SHORT TO GROUND SPORADIC DTC 1551 DIAGNOSIS". THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTUP, AND ON A SECOND OCCASSION WHILE IN GEAR STANDING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. SUBSEQUENT TESTING COULD NOT IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND NO CORRECTIVE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE VEHICLE FAILS TO OPERATE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS WHEN OPERATED ON HIGH SPEED CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS. FAILURE TO ACCELERATE ON A FREEWAY AT A CRITICAL TIME COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THREE FAILURES OF THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IN EACH INSTANCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY. EACH FAILURE RESULTED IN A SEVERE LOSS OF POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS ONLY REPLACED THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WITH NO OTHER CAUSE FOUND REPORTED FOR THE PREVIOUS FAILURES.*AK

THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. TECHNICIANS WORKED FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS - PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. *AK

THERE IS A NOISE IN FRONT, UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHILE WHEELS ARE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE PAD SENSORS FAILED BY CRACKING DOWN THE MIDDLE PREMATURELY, SETTING OFF BRAKE LIGHT SNESOR ON DASHBOARD. DT

MY REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AND COMPLETELY SHREDDED ON THE FREEWAY FOR NO REASON. IT APPEARED OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME SITUATION. IS THIS VEHICLE WITH THESE TIRES SAFE?*AK (DOT NUMBER: HDTACXYX48 TIRESIZE: 19565R1591)

THE EXPLOSIVE IN THE SEAT BELT WENT OFF WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. INJURING THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WITH EAR RINGING AND BRUSING. THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WONDER WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NOW THEY WANT ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN. *AK

TIRE FAILURE. TIRE RIPPED FROM WHEEL. BY THE TIME THE CAR STOPPED, THE ENTIRE TIRE HOUSEING HAD SHREDDED OFF THE RIM.*AK (TIRESIZE: R195/65R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R195/65R15 )