2001 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

TOOK CAR TO VW DEALER TO HAVE TIMING BELT REPLACED AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OPEN RECALLS AND THEY OFFERED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL #08V156. MANUFACTURER #26E5. THEY INSTALLED THE HEAT SHIELD BUT COULD NOT PERFORM SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. NOW VW WANTS TO BUY THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. IT'S A 2001 VW PASSAT WITH 25K MILES IN SHOWROOM SHAPE. WAS NEVER DRIVEN IN SNOW AND GARAGED IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. THEY OFFERED ME $1500 OUT OF WHICH I OWE $1300 FOR THE TIMING BELT. THEY SAID IT MAY NEED A ECU BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM VW BUT REFUSE TO INSTALL A USED ONE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE VW DEALER SINCE 12/28/2020. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT RECALLS NEVER EXPIRE.

FAULTY CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE TO VALVES, PISTONS, CAMSHAFT, CAM TIMING CHAIN. I WAS STATIONARY WAITING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER. THE CAR LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS CLEAR TO SEE THAT THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER HAD SELF DESTRUCTED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL.

I WAS DRIVING AND I PULLED INTO MY PARKING LOT AND MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I PUT IT OUT WITH SNOW THANK GOD OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. I ALWAYS HAVE COOLANT AND OIL AND I CHECKED IT A LOT CAUSE OF THE FREEZING WEATHER WE HAVE HAD RECENTLY HAD -30 FOR QUITE AWHILE. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY WERE VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY SAFETY AT 1ST THEN THEY HAD A PRODUCT SOMETHING GUY CALL ME AFTER SEE THE PICTURE I SENT THEM. I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE PEOPLE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A QUICK ESCAPE GOAT BUT THIS WAS A FIRE IT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE IF THERE WAS NOT SNOW NEAR BY. I WANT MY CAR FIXED BUT I AM MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE NEXT PERSON THIS COULD HAPPEN TOO. I SHOULD TELL YOU AFTER ASK HIM IF HE JUST WANTED TO FIND THE REASON BEHIND IT HE SAID NO. PERSONALLY A CAR FIRE IS NOT A NORMAL THING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMISSIONS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP AND A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OIL EMITTED FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED OIL LEAKING ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE EMISSION WORKSHOP LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAD NO ANSWER, AS TO WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON. THE CONSUMER STATED IN DURING SOME RESEARCH, HE FOUND THE LIGHT WAS ON DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. ALSO, A PLUGGED PCV SYSTEM CAUSED EXCESSIVE INTERNAL ENGINE PRESSURE.

CAR HAD BEEN SITTING ALL DAY DROVE IT ONCE CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 4AM IN THE MORNING CAR TOTAL ALOT BURN BAD IN THE FRONT. I HAD NOTICE THAT SOME FEATURES WERE NOT WORKING BUT I DID NOT ATTRIBUTE IT TO A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FIRE DEPT WHO CAME TO PUT THE BLAZE OUT. *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN LEAKING COOLANT. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS BAD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE INSIDE COMPUTER ALREADY AND PROBABLY ALL THE CARPET SINCE THE WATER HAS BEEN LEAKING INTO THE CAR. I SUFFER FROM ASTHMA AND CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR SINCE IT SMELLS LIKE COOLANT/MOLD AND NOT TO MENTION WATER LEAKING ON MY FOOT AS I DRIVE (VERY UNSAFE SINCE THE PEDAL GETS SLIPPERY.) I HAVE READ ONLINE ON MANY SITES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THE OWNERS WERE NEVER NOTIFIED. I NEED THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS; EITHER I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR I END UP IN THE HOSPITAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING BACK TO ME AND GETTING THIS MATTER FIXED PROMPTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING COOLANT, CAUSING SMOKE TO BE RELEASED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT ANTIFREEZE LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,980 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND AVAILABLE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

"OIL PRESSURE. STOP ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER SEVERAL MILES DRIVING AND LOT OF NOISE FROM BACK OFF THE ENGINE. NEED NEW OIL PUMP PASSABLE REBUILT ENGINE. IT IS SITTING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. *TR

CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT SETTLED WITH VW FOR OIL SLUDGE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE BY THE TIME THE SETTLEMENT WAS REACHED MY 2001 VW PASSAT, 1.8 TURBO WAS NOT COVERED. 7 OR 8 WEEKS AGO I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE VW DEALER (HALMARK VW OF MADISON) THEY TOLD ME I HAD A SLUDGE PROBLEM AND DID NOT EVEN MENTION THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM OR THAT THE LAW SUIT WAS UNDERWAY- VERY SNEAKY. THEY TOLD ME TO REPLACE MY ENGINE OR TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 1000 MILES FOR AWHILE. MY ABS AND COMPUTER MODULE FAILED AT THE SAME TIME WITH NO ONE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. NOW I HAVE THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO WAY TO GET IT RESOLVED. *TR

VW ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM.

HEATER CORE FAILURE,PLUGGING UP. VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT UNABLE TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD TO SEE. HEATER CORE PORSES TOO SMALL AND CLOGGED FROM REACTION FROM ANTI FREEZE CALCIFIED REACTION WITH METAL USED IN CORE. *TR

I HAVE A 2001.5- 2.8 DOHC VW PASSAT WITH JUST OVER 106K MILES.AT AROUND 98K MILES I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE AND GOT MULTIPLE MISFIRES ON THE SCAN OF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, ALTHOUGH MOSTLY WHEN I START THE CAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE. FAST FORWARD 6 MONTHS, AFTER ALREADY REPLACING THE COIL PACK TWICE, I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER $600 DOLLARS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT "MIGHT" BE THE PROBLEM. THEY'RE STILL NOT SURE. IF ANYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU'VE FIGURED OUT WHAT IT IS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE TUNE-UP AND A HONDA DEALER WROTE ON THE INVOICE THAT THE CONTROL VALVE JOINTS AND BOOTS WERE TORN, IN ADDITION TO THE SHAFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,511. UPDATED 05/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB

2001 1/2 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON, MANUAL, 1.8T PERSISTENT ISSUES WITH IGNITION COILS, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OVER 8 YEARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE FAILED A ROUTINE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE INSPECTOR ADVISED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL ON HER VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 62,004. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS EVERY TIME SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONTACT STATED HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND HE WAS TOLD THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACING. THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT SINCE JULY 1, 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. VWB

I WAS DRIVING TO MY NEW EMPLOYMENT WHEN MY 2001.5 PASSAT LOST POWER. THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND THE IDLE WAS STABLE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO STALL AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNUSABLE. MY PASSAT WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE NEAR MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND I WAS TOLD THE CYLINDER #4 HAS FAILED. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME (90 MILES) TO MY LOCAL GARAGE TO BE TOLD THE SAME. CYLINDER #4 HAS NO COMPRESSION AND THE TURBO HAS ALSO FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILING CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE COIL PACKS AND SPARK PLUGS AND THE ERROR SHOULD CLEAR UP. I HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AND ALL FOUR COIL PACKS ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE MECHANIC STATED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE AND ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED WITH THE REPAIR AND THE CYLINDER #4 WAS STILL DOWN. I HAVE BEEN LEFT WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS WHILE STILL HAVING TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE THAT I CAN NOT USE. *TR

MY 2001 VW PASSAT ABS MODULE BECAME DEFECTIVE AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNING CAR FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. NOT SURE IF ORIGINAL OWNER HAD DONE REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS OF THE UNIT. NOW THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CAR COMPUTER AND THE MODULE, THEREFORE NO ABS BRAKE IS ACTIVE. ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. THERE ARE ALSO 3 BEEPS WHEN CAR HAS BEEN STARTED. I AM A VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER OF VW DUE TO THEIR FAULTY VEHICLE EQUIPMENT AND HAS DETER ME FROM PURCHASING ANY VW IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE RECENTLY JUST HAD A REPAIR TO REPLACE MY MAF SENSOR, 2 IGNITION COILS, 4 SPARK PLUGS AGAIN AFTER PURCHASING BRAND NEW ONES JUST A MONTH PRIOR. IT WAS VERY COSTLY!! *TR

OWNER DRIVING THE CAR WHEN SMOKE BEGAN APPEARING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DENSITY INCREASED RAPIDLY AND OWNER DROVE INTO A SAFEWAY PARKING LOT WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IMMEDIATELY FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRE DEPT. WAS CALLED AND BROKE ALL WINDOWS CAUSING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SMOKE TO BE RELEASED. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE AND BLACK. *TR