2002 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP MESSAGE TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT. MY PASSAT'S IGNITION COILS ARE GOING BAD. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE, ONE IS GOING (I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS JUST 2 DAYS AFTER I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER), AND THE REST WILL PROBABLY GO. THE NEWLY DESIGNED COILS ARE ON BACKORDER FROM VW, CAUSING QUITE A BIT OF INCONVENIENCE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER AND VW KNOW THE OLD COILS ARE BAD, THEY WON'T REPLACE THEM WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED COILS UNTIL THEY GO BAD. I SMELLED SMOKE THE FIRST TIME MY CAR DIED, AND I'M VERY NERVOUS THAT IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PASSAT OWNERS. PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO MAKING VW RECALL THE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR CAN POSSIBLY STALL WHILE IN MOTION. IT'S NOT SAFE.

THE IGNITION COIL HAS FAILED TWICE ON MY 2002 PASSAT THE THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME THE CAR HAD 5500 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND WITH 6800 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM QUICKLY. IT IS UNNERVING TO KNOW THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME.

1 IGNITION COIL FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPLACE ADDITIONAL COILS UNTIL THEY FAIL. CONSUMER IS FEARFUL OF DRIVING UNRELIABLE VEHICLE. TS

WHILE TRAVELING, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RIDE ROUGH. THE ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT TRAVEL OVER 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION COIL PACK(S) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK FOUR IGNITION COILS WERE FOUND FAULTY. *SCC

CUSTOMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING MAKING IT HARD FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

FAULTY IGNITION COIL. CAR STARTED SHAKING AND MIL LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICE DEPT AT VOLKSWAGEN SAID COULD TAKE TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO FIX. VW IS ONLY FIXING WHEN THEY ARE DAMAGED. CAR IS AT 9000 MILES AND UNDER A YEAR OLD. PLEASE REVIEW THIS FOR A RECALL. TS

ONE IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED ON MY 2002 PASSAT WAGON (1.8T) CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. I RESEARCHED AND LEARNED THAT THERE ARE KNOWN DEFECTS WITH THE FACTORY INSTALLED COIL PACKS LEADING TO CRACKS AND WATER PENETRATION AFTER 10K MILES. I HAD 10300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I ASKED VW OF AMERICA TO REPLACE ALL 4 IGNITION COIL PACKS WITH NEW, DEFECT FREE PARTS AND VW REFUSED. MEANWHILE THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER (1 WEEK AND COUNTING) AWAITING A REPLACEMENT FOR THE FAILED PART. I AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE DEFECTIVE COILS AND PUTTING MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS AT RISK. IF VW DOES NOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH 4 REPLACEMENTS I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ENGAGE THE MASSACHUSETTS LEMON LAW.

YOU ARE SITTING ON MORE THAN 125 COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF CERTAIN 2002 VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI MODELS CONCERNING FAILED IGNITION COILS (ALSO KNOWN AS "COILPACKS" OR "COIL PACKS"). THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR LOSES POWER. DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ARE AT RISK FOR ACCIDENTS AND SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. THE CAR MUST BE TOWED AFTER THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF COMPILING THE COMPLAINTS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE WHICH ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUGH VARIOUS MODELS OF AUDI AND VW AND ARE CLASSIFIED UNDER VARIOUS HEADINGS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PART IN QUESTION IS COMMON TO ALL THREE VEHICLES. (THE CODE NUMBER FOR AFFECTED PARTS ENDS IN "H') THERE ARE FOUR OF THESE PARTS PER VEHICLE (ONE PER CYLINDER) AND THEY FAIL ONE AT A TIME, TWO AT A TIME OR MORE. THUS, OWNERS WILL FACE THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN ONCE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU. NHTSA COILPACK COMPLAINTS BY 2002 MODEL YEAR VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL 2002 VW PASSAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION 17 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION COIL 5 ENGINE 6 ELECTRICAL: WIRING HARNESS (FIRE REPORTED) 4 TOTAL PASSAT 54 2002 VW JETTA ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR 1 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION 7 ENGINE 3 TOTAL JETTA 20 2002 VW GTI ELECTRICAL: ALTERNATOR/REGULATOR 1 TOTAL GTI 1 TOTAL VOLKSWAGEN 75 2002 AUDI A4 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION 20 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION COIL 8 TOTAL A4 49 2002 AUDI A4 AVANT ELECTRICAL: IGNITION 2 TOTAL A4 AVANT 2 TOTAL AUDI 51 TOTAL COMPLAINTS 126

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS MY 2002 VW PASSAT 1.8T HAS HAD IGNITION COIL FAILURES. THE FIRST OCCURED NOV. 11, 7875 MILES. THE SECOND, JAN 6, 9200 MILES. THE SECOND TIME, TWO OF THE FOUR INGITION COILS FAILED AND WAITED 15 DAYS FOR REPLACEMENTS. THE DEALER SAID THE OLD COILS IN THE CAR HAVE A 90% FAILURE RATE, WHILE THE NEW COILS THEY ARE REPLACING THEM WITH HAVE A 20% EXPECTED FAILURE RATE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT HAS THOSE PROBABILITIES OF FAILURE. MYSELF AND OTHER PASSAT OWNERS DEMAN VOLKSWAGEN FIND A SOLUTION FOR THESE COST-CUTTING RELATED MALFUNCTIONS THAT COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF OUR VEHICLES.

LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER FOR THE THIRD TIME DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURER'S ENGINE COILS. RESULTING IN ANOTHER TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP.

THREE OUT OF FOUR IGNITION COILS IN MY 2002 VW PASSAT HAVE FAILED. VW STATES THAT THIS IS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN THE FIRST TWO WENT I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON ROUTE 128 AND HAD TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME DECREASE IN POWER. WE WAITED TWO WEEKS TO GET THE CAR BACK AND THE THIRD COIL WENT LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER. I NOW HAVE ONE MORE COIL TO GO BAD AND I FIND THAT I NO LONGER DRIVE MY VW BECAUSE OF THAT. I FEAR THAT MY 60 MILE A DAY COMMUTE INTO WORK WILL FIND ME ON THE SIDE OF THE MASS TURNPIKE INSTEAD OF DRIVING ON IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE QUITE THE NUMBER OF VW & AUDI MOTOR VEHCILE THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM BUT VW DEEMS IT NOT TO BE OF IMPORTANCE FOR THE THE PEACE OF MIND OF THEIR CAR OWNERS. I WILL NOW NEED TO WAIT FOR THIS COIL TO FAIL BEFORE VW WILL FINALLY REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COIL STILL RESIDING IN MY CAR.

ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ALSO EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT LACK OF POWER. CAR DEEDED TO BE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. DETERMINED TO BE FAILED COIL PACK #3.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE THEN LOSE POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

COIL PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 PASSAT. THE CAR HAS 10,000 MILES AND WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS. VW REPLACED 1 COIL, BUT THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBLILITY THAT THE OTHER 3 WILL GO, TOO. VW NEEDS TO DO A RECALL SINCE THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION WHEN THE COIL GOES.

WARPED IGNIOTION COIL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN POORLY. VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS. *AK

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IGNITION COIL FAILURE. RETURNED FROM CHRISTMAS TO MIDWAY AIRPORT, CHICAGO. CAR STARTED BUT ONE OF FOUR IGNITION COILS DID NOT FIRE. IF SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, MAY HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DEGRADATION OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT HEADLIGHT BULBS KEEPS BURNING OUT

DT: THERE WAS MOLD IN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HAS BEEN THERE SINCE JANUARY 2003. THE DEALERSHIP CLEANED IT OUT TWICE. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE EVAPORATOR. THE FOURTH TIME THERE WAS A SLIGHT ODOR. CONSUMER SAID THAT THE ODOR WAS THERE IN THE MORNING AND AFTER THE VEHICLE SET FOR AWHILE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE CLEANED. *AK *JB

FAILED COIL PACK ON VEHICLE AFTER ONLY 16000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN ALL 2001 THRU 2003 VW PASSATS WITH 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINES. SERVICE ADVISER STATED THAT VW IS HAVING SO MANY FAILURES ON THIS PRODUCT THAT THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED THROUGH VIN DIRECT FROM GERMANY. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE ALL FOUR COILS, ONLY THE FAILED ITEMS. VEHICLE FAILED ON HIGHWAY AND BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS UNTIL I COULD NEGOTIATE TO SAFE AREA TO INVESTIGATE FAILURE. TS

MY 2002 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT 1.8T WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER DUE TO ANOTHER IGNITION COIL FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. NOT THE SAME IGNITION COIL FAILED.

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSET THAT HAD TO BE TOWED THREE TIMES FOR FAILED IGNITION PACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. VOLKSWAGEN WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NEVER CONTACTED THE CONSUMERS OR THE OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE COIL THAT WENT BAD AND NOT ALL AT ONCE. IF THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME ACTION BY NOTIFYING THE COMSUMERS. VOLKSWAGEN'S ARE SUPOSED TO BE RELIABLE, BUT IT SEEMS THEY ARE NOT AT LEAST FOR THE 2001/2002 PASSET. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. MY INCIDENTS OCCURRED LAST FEB, MAY, DEC, AND JAN 03. I ALSO ASKED VOLKSWAGEN WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AFTER THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD ALWAYS SEND IN THE REPAIR AMOUNT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME. THANK YOU

OWNER'S WIFE DROVE VOLKSWAGEN HOME, PARKED IT IN THE LEFT BAY OF A TWO-CAR GARAGE. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER, OWNER WAS ALERTED BY A SMOKE ALARM/SMELL OF SMOKE. OWNER WENT OUT TO GARAGE AND OBSERVED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VOLKSWAGEN. RAN BACK INTO HOUSE AND TOLD WIFE TO CALL 911. RETURNED TO GARAGE AND OBSERVED VOLKSWAGEN ALMOST COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DESTROYED VEHICLE AND HOUSE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *NM

SECOND FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL PACK WITHIN 2 WEEKS. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IS AWAITING PARTS AND HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP NEARLY 2 WEEKS (SINCE 12/30/02)

IGNITION COIL FAILED WHILE TRAVELING, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. CONSUMER WAS STRANDED. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE COMPONENT UNTIL IT FAILS. PH

12/28/02 -- ON START UP, VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY AND FELT AS THOUGH IT WERE GOING TO STALL, SO WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT 2 IGNITION COILS ARE CERTAINLY BAD. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY GIVEN OFF AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL 2 TIMES THAT WENT AWAY AFTER ONE MINUTE OR SO, AND AT A DIFFERENT TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START AND IDLED ROUGHLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO. WE ARE WAITING TO SEE IF ALL THE COILS CAN BE REPLACED AT ONCE INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THEY GO BAD OR CATCH FIRE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM, WE CERTAINLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY VOLKSWAGEN IN A TIMELY FASHION AND HOPE THAT THEY WILL DO SO IN OUR CASE. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

THE IGNITION COILS WERE DEFECTIVE AND FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD 3 COILS FAIL. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE UNTIL COMPONENT FAILED. *TS *NLM

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY. AUTO LOST POWER AND STARTED SHAKING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. DEALER STATED IT WAS IGNITION COIL FAILURE. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 26 DAYS WAITNIG FOR PARTS BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION COIL PROBLEM WITH THE PASSAT.

COIL DEFECT ON 2002 VW PASSAT 1.8 T. THIS CAR HAS 27K MILES ON IT AND 3 COILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS (THERE IS ONE FOR EACH CYLINDER). VW HAS MADE REPAIRS AS NEEDED, BUT WOULD NOT REPLACE THE 4TH COIL. EACH TIME ONE GOES THE CAR HAS TO BE TOWED. WE ARE AT THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR OF BEING STRANDED.

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS A KNOWN COMPONENT FAILURE WITH THE IGNITION COILS ON ALL VW AND AUDI 1.8T ENGINES IN ALL 2002 MODELS. THESE COMPONENTS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND/OR LOSE POWER DRAMATICALLY AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VW HAS STATED THAT THEY KNOW THE COMPONENTS ARE BAD (4 PER ENGINE) BUT WILL ONLY FIX THESE ITEMS AS THEY FAIL. I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD THIS FAILURE TWICE AND THEY WILL NOT CORRECT ALL OF THE COMPONENTS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AND FORCE VW TO RECALL ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE ALL OF THESE KNOW BAD COMPONENTS.

THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITH A FAILED ENGINE. TWO ENGINE COILS HAD FAILED, BUT THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT ALL FOUR COILS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND REPLACED ONLY 2 OF THE 4 COILS. SINCE THE COILS ARE RATIONED, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE REMAINING COILS UNTIL THEY FAIL. AM I SUPPOSE TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY? BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ADMIT THE DEFECT. WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED? THERE ARE 40+ CUSTOMERS AT THIS DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL WAITING FOR A MAJOR PART THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE. I WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL ALL FOUR ARE REPLACED. I HAVE A YOUNG SON AND WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH A KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM THAT APPEARS TO BE PRETTY WIDESPREAD. (THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE FOR THIS MODEL SOUND LIKE I COULD HAVE WRITTEN THEM.) THE MANUFACTURER WHEN CONTACTED HAS BEEN COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****770835

2 IGNITION COILS FAILED IN LESS THAN 3 WEEKS. ONE ON THE ROAD. WE HAD TO PULL OVER, THE SECOND TIME ON A PARKING LOT. WHAT'S NEXT?

CAR STARTED UP NOT RUNNING ON ALL CYLINDERS. REFUSED TO RUN ON ALL CYLINDERS. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT (MIL) CAME ON. MANUAL AND DEALER SAID TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER IN THIS SITUATION. CAR WENT TO DEALER. BAD IGNITION COIL IS DIAGNOSIS. DEALER SAYS NONE AVAILABLE IN U.S. OR CANADA. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHEN IT CAN FIX. CAR IS 4 MONTHS OLD WITH 3,800 MILES AND IS UNDRIVEABLE. NO DATE SET FOR WHEN IT WILL BE REPAIRED. TS

THE IGNITION COIL HAS HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES IN MY 2002 PASSAT. VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DUE A SHORTAGE OF PARTS, THEY WILL ONLY FIX THEM ON A NEEDED BASIS. TS

TWO IGNITION COILS FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER REPLACED AND ADVISED THAT REMAINING COILS WILL LIKELY FAIL, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL THEY DO. PH *TS

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND SHAKE. THE DEALER REPLACED ONE OF THE IGNITION COILS. MR SCC

I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION COIL TWO TIMES AND THE SECOND TIME, THEY REPLACED ALL THE COILS. HERE IN TEXAS, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES DOWN BELOW 28 F ( WHICH IS VERY RARE) I AM AFRAID.I CAN BE STUCK IN THE ROAD. HOPE THE COIL PROBLEM WONT HAPPEN AGAIN. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. ITS MAKING CREAKING SOUNDS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE / HAND BRAKE. THE TECHNITION TOLD ME THAT ITS NATURAL..I CANT BELEIVE THAT. I GUES I HAVE TO SPEND LOT OF MONEY IN NEAR FUTURE TO REPLACE ALL THOSE BRAKE PARTS. ALSO THE METAL BEEDING ON THE ROOF IS COMING UP. IT IS NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE TO PUSH IT HARD ALMOST EVERYDAY. I GUESS VW NEVER TESTED THE CAR FOR LONG TIME. SO FAR I FOUND SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PASSAT. HOPE THEY WILL IMPROVE IT.*AK

THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF AND THE CAR MADE A VIBRATING NOISE ON 12-21-02. THE VEHICLE IS A 4 CYCLINDER 2002 VW PASSAST WITH 5200 MILES WHICH I PURCHASED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO FAIRFAX VW IN FAIRFAX, VA ON 12-22-02. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ADVISED ME THAT HE HAD TOWED A NUMBER OF PASSATS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT HAD BURNED OUT COIL PACKS. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ON 12-23-02 AND 2 OF THE 4 COIL PACKS HAD BURNED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT VW WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED THE DEALER WHY THE OTHER 2 COIL PACKS WERE NOT REPLACED AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT VW WILL ONLY APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BURNED OUT ONES. I FEEL THAT IF VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT ALL OF THE COIL PACKS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED SINCE THE OTHER TWO MAY EVENTUALLY BURN OUT, TOO. THIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE MECHANICAL DAMAGE IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

IGNITION COIL FAILURE. FIRST ONE FAILED, DEALER REPLACED BUT INFORMED US ONE FAILED COIL WOULD BE REPLACED, NOT ALL 4 EVEN THOUGH VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF COIL. THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL, BUT BECAUSE SO MANY ARE FAILING, THERE IS A BACKORDER ON THE PARTS. DUE TO THE HIGH DEMMAND, THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE FAILED COILS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH COILS TO DUE THE RIGHT THING, REPLACE THEM ALL. THEIR RESPONSE IS TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER TURN OFF THE CAR, CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND WAIT FOR A TOW. 18 MILES AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, A SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED. WE CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND WERE INFORMED IT IS USUALLY A 90 MINUTE WAIT. WE LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS, IT IS WINTER, AND THE CAR IS USED TO TRANSPORT AN 8 WEEK OLD AND A 3 YEAR OLD. VW WANTS THEM TO WAIT WITHOUT HEAT UNTIL A TOW ARRIVES. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS GIVEN THE COMPANY LINE. THEY FAIL TO SEE THE DANGER IN HAVING TWO CHILDREN WAITING IN BELOW-FREEZING TEMPS FOR A TOW. THIS INCIDENT HAS SO CHANGED HOW I VIEW VW AND HAS BASICALLY RENDERED A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD USELESS. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, EXPECTING ANOTHER ENGINE FAILURE.

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AT DEALER FOR 3RD TIME IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THREE IGNITION COIL FAILURES AND ONE COMPUTER FIX/UPDATE. STILL WAITING FOR PART TO COME IN FOR THE LATEST FAILURE, 25 DAYS AND COUNTING.

CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT THERE DRIVEWAY, AND VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING TO ACCELERATED, AND THE MIL(MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT) CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ONE OF IGNITION COIL SPRING HAD BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

THE ENGINE STARTED IDLING ROUGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. HAPPENED IN NEIGHBORHOOD, LIMPED CAR HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED FAULTY COIL PACK. WITHOUT CAR FOR EIGHT DAYS.

STARTED CAR ONE MORNING (6-MONTH-OLD CAR W/ 6,470 MILES), AND CHECK ENGINE (MIL) LIGHT FLASHED, CAR SPUTTERED AND FELT AS IF IT WOULD STALL. CALLED DEALER WHO SEEMED QUITE SURE IT WAS A COIL PACK FAILURE. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS, BUT DUE TO LACK OF SUPPLY WILL ONLY REPLACE FAILED PARTS. CAR WAS AT DEALER'S SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE PART ARRIVED AND WAS INSTALLED. DEALER/VW ASSUMED ALL COSTS OF RENTAL CAR (EST AT $500 / 14 DAYS @ $35/DAY!). TURNS OUT ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR COIL PACKS FAILED AND WAS REPLACED, BUT VW OF AMERICA WON'T REPLACE ALL FOUR EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE AWARE OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF FAILURES. VERY LIKELY THAT THE REMAINING THREE WILL FAIL, AND I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK IN FOR SERVICE/REPLACEMENT. THIS FAILURE ALSO POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, AS LOSS OF POWER CAN OCCUR ON HIGHWAYS, ETC.

HAVING THE SAME IGNITION COIL PACK ISSUES AS OTHER VW 1.8T PASSAT OWNERS. DEALER HAD 10+ CARS IN TO BE REPAIRED. ESTIMATED 2 WKS. TO FIX. DEALER SAYS VW IS AWARE OF ISSUE, BUT THEY WILL ONLY REPAIR THE COIL THAT'S BROKEN.THIS IS COSTING THEM MORE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN AS THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE RENTALS TO USERS, AND WILL BE LIABLE SHOULD A COIL FAILURE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH. HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS WITH VW BUT IT'S BEEN DISMISSED (THEIR CASE NUMBER 30003124). THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS NHTSA SUPPORT. ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE DEFFECTIVE AND THE LOCAL DEALER HAS HAD THEM ON BACKORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. APPARENTLY THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE AND THERE ARE NO OTHER REPLACEMENTS FOR THE PASSAT BLADES. THE DEALER ASKED THAT I COME SO THEY COULD REPLACE IT WITH THOSE OFF A NEW CAR.

COIL PACK FAILED FIVE TIMES. NO ANSWERS FROM VW.

ONE OF FOUR COIL PACKS (A.K.A. IGNITION COILS) FAILED IN MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO. UPON PHONING THE DEALERSHIP, I FOUND THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 20 OTHER CARS ON THEIR LOT WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. IN ORDER TO APPEASE THEIR CUSTOMERS, THE DEALER HAD BEEN PULLING THE PART OUT OF 2003 MODELS, BUT THEY RAN OUT OF CARS TO CANNIBALIZE. I HAVE FURTHER LEARNED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN LATE MODEL VW'S AS WELL AS AUDI'S WITH THE 1.8L ENGINE, AND ALTHOUGH VW IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, THEY HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED THEIR DEALERS TO REPLACE THE OTHER THREE COIL PACKS. ALSO, WHILE MY CAR COULD POTENTIALLY BREAK DOWN THREE MORE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART, THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL SCHEDULED BY VOLKSWAGEN.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION COIL SYSTEM. ALSO WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE STALL AND DIED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE COIL PACKAGE HAD A PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF IT BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO MORE THEN REPLACE THE ONE THAT IS BAD.TS

COIL PACK ON VW 1.8T ENGINE DEFECTIVE SO MANY BAD ONES DEALER DON'T HAVE REPLACEMENT PART. TS

THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED ON MY VW 2002 PASSAT 1.8T. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN ITS CONDITION. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS A PART FAILURE AND HE WASN'T SUPRISED. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THEM LATELY AND THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. LATER THAT NIGHT I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND I FIND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE 2002 1.8T ENGINE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. (VWVORTEX.COM OR GOOGLE.COM "VW COIL PACKS") SOMETHING WITH THE COLD WEATHER AFFECTS THE COIL PACKS. VW SHOULD RECALL THESE PARTS AND REPLACE THEM WITH WORKING COIL PACKS. LUCKILY WHEN MINE WENT I WAS TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT. IT DID HAPPEN HOWEVER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I ACCELERATED. ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER I EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME LOSS OF POWER AND A RUMBLING FEELING. THE CAR SHUTTERED AND I PULLED OVER TO STOP. SINCE THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE I AM LUCKY I WAS NOT STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY AS I GENERALLY COMMUTE 30 MINUTES TO WORK EVERY DAY. I WORRY THAT MYSELF AND OTHER OWNERS OF THE 1.8T ENGINE WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE ONLY FURTHER FROM A SAFE PLACE CAUSING ACCIDENTS OR BEING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SINCE IT IS A KNOWN FAILURE AMONG VW MECHANICS ITS CLEAR THAT A RECALL IS IN ORDER. VW HAS SOLD THE 1.8T AS A QUALITY ENGINE ABOVE OTHERS IN ITS CLASS AND SHOULD STAND BEHIND IT.