2002 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

THE AIR DAM THAT PROTECTS THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE BOTTOM, ONLY THE FRONT CENTER BOLT HAD BEEN ATTACHED. THE RIGHT AND LEFT BOLTS WERE NOT INSTALLED. DAM BROKE WHILE MOVING AND COULD GET WEDGED UNDER VEHICLE CAUSING A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. *JG

FRONT END/ENGINE PROTECTOR HAS SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *BF IN BOTH CASES, THE TURN BOLTS ON THE LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT SIDE SEPARATED. A SINGLE CENTRAL SCREW BOLT AT IT'S FRONT THEN SUPPORTED THE AIR DAM. THE PLASTIC AROUND IT FINALLY TORE UNDER VIBRATION AND AIR PRESSURE FORCES. *SC

DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE DOES 1 OF 3 THINGS: 1)GASPS FOR GAS AND GOES NOWHERE (DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS) OR 2) TRIES TO MOVE AHEAD LIKE A CARBURETED CARE WITH VAPOR LOCK OR 3) PERFORMS NORMALLY.

I PURCHASED MY 2002 VOLKS PASSAT GLS. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY RADIO QUIT, I HAD THE SPEAKERS REPLACED TWICE, I HAD THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED, I HAD THE IGNITION COILS REPLACED 3 TIMES (RECALL), WV CAMPAIGN (RECALL), SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE (RECALL), THE RIGHT WHEEL TIRE HULL REINFORCED (RECALL). I HAVE TALKED WITH VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE OFFICE AND HAVE AN ACTIVE COMPLAINT NUMBER. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE BOTH AT THE CORPORATE AND DEALER LEVEL. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN AUBURN, WA IS INEPT AND HAS PUT THE WRONG OIL IN THE MY CAR 2 TIMES. I WOULD LIKE VOLKWAGEN TO BUY-BACK MY CAR OR GIVE ME A LIFE-TIME WARRANTY ON THE CAR. ANY IDEAS? THERE HAVE BEEN TOO MANY INCIDENTS TO LIST JUST ONE. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THREE FLAT TIRES. THE CONUMER FEELS THAT UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE DESERVES SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR THESE TIRES (MICHELIN MXV4PLUS 205/55R16). *SCC

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE PRIMARILY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. THE OWNERS BACKROUND IS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND HAS MEASURED THE PROBLEM AND IDENTIFIED ISSUE TO BE DRIVELINE INBALANCE. DEALERS FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE WHILE DRIVING WITH OWNER THEN CLAIM "NON-VERIFIABILITY" TO A CONDITION WHICH OCCURS 100% OF THE TIME. OWNER HAS MEASURED SIMILAR VEHICLES FROM DEALER LOT AND HAS VERIFIED THAT THE CONDITION IS NOT INHERANT TO ALL LIKE VEHICLES.

THIS WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED RIGHT IN MY PASSAT. WITH LESS THAN 800 MILES ON MY CAR, I DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. WITHIN AN HOUR THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CV JOINT WAS "BAD". WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THERE NONCHALANCE. NO OFFER OF A LOANER CAR (THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE RENTAL OF A MUCH CHEAPER CAR), NO ATTEMPT TO RUSH DELIVERY ON THE NEEDED PART (AT THE EARLIEST, IT WILL ARRIVE 4 DAYS AFTER IT WAS ORDERED), NOT EVEN THE SIMPLIEST APOLOGY.

THREE OF FOUR ORIGINAL IGNITION COILS HAVE FAILED. TWO OF THE REPLACEMENTS HAVE FAILED. VW AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT A NEW COIL IS AVAILABLE, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE COILS UNTIL THEY FAIL. WHEN THE COILS FAIL, THE CAR RUNS VERY "ROUGH" DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO THE TURBO PHASE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DT

FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (APPROXIMATELY 2"-3" HIGH 6"-12" INCHES WIDE) NO ACTION TAKEN BY FACTORY AFTER 10 DAYS OF HAVING THE CAR IN THE DEALER. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 14 MILES ON IT AND IT WAS ON FIRE WITHIN 59 MILES ON IT AND FACTORY & DEALER TOLD ME NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT HOME. AFTER MY PERSISTANCE THAT FIRE DOES NOT JUST STARTS ON IT'S OWN AND PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED, DEALER NOW AFTER 10 DAYS IS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM MEAN WHILE I PURCHASED THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR VOLKS WAGEN SELLS IN U.S.A. AND ONLY HAD IT FOR LESS THAN 20 HOURS. BECAUSE OF THE INSTANT PROBLEM AND THEIR LESS THAN INTERESTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM I ASKED FOR MY TRADE IN BACK AND RECIND THE DEAL, ALSO I ASKED FOR NEW CAR AND BOTH THE DEALER & FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME NO! NOW AFTER TECH. FINALLY TAKING CAR FOR A 15-20 MIN. TEST DRIVE( I'VE BEEN TOLD) THEY REALIZED SMELL AND DRIPPING OF SUBSTANCE (WHAT I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MANAGER) STILL NO NEW CAR AND NO RESELOTION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO.*AK

EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE DRIVERS SEAT EMITTED A CLICKING SOUND AND A SLIGHT FEELING OF MOVEMENT IN THE SEAT WHEN THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR IS STOPPED. WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES. THIS IS DOCUMENTED ON MY BILLS WITH MILEAGE READING 19K AND 35K MILES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE SOUND AND MOVEMENT. FINALLY, WHEN THE CAR HAD 40K MILES ON IT (AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD) THE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED. A FACTORY REP WAS ON HAND THAT DAY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS PLAY IN THE SEAT TRACK. I ASKED THAT THIS BE COVERED AND FIXED UNDER VW'S GOODWILL PROGRAM AND APPEALED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE LIFE OF THE CAR (DURING THE WARRANTY). I WAS DENIED THIS CLAIM AS THE REP SAID THAT THE SEAT DID NOT POSE ANY SAFETY THREATS AND THIS RESULTED FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FELT THAT THIS WAS NOT A FARE DETERMINATION OF THIS CASE SO I APPEALED TWICE TO VW (CASE # 60127133). THEY STATED TWICE THAT THEY HAD TO STAND BY THE DETERMINATION OF THE REP ON HAND THAT DAY AND WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE (COST = OVER $800). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY CONSUMERS UNION TO CONTACT YOU AS THEY STATED THAT ANY PLAY IN THE SEAT TRACK IS IN FACT A SAFETY ISSUE... *JB *NM

THE ENTIRE STEREO AND RADIO (MONSOON SYSTEMS) HAS FAILED, THE CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY AWAITING THE 5TH SYSTEM TO COME INTO THE DEALER AND BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. NLM

NAR 02/28/2003 RECALL ISSUED FOR IGNITION COILS ON 2002 PASSAT. *CB

THE DEFECTIVE FRONT RIGHT DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP ON CONSUMER'S 2002 VW PASSAT.*MR *NM

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP WAS CONSTANTLY FAILING ON HIS 2002 VW PASSAT.*MR THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE LIGHTS A PRONE TO BURN OUT BECAUSE THE ARE ON WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ON. *NM

LTR FROM CONSUMER REFERENCING DEFECTIVE FRONT RIGHT DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP CONSTANTLY FAILING ON HIS 2002 VW PASSAT, REPLY DIRECTLY TO CONSTITUENT. *TS THE LIGHT HAS FAILED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO EXPLAINED THAT THE LIGHT BURN OUT FREQUENTLY BECAUSE THEY WERE ON ALL THE TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP HAS NEVER FAILED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING FIRE STARTED IN VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WINDSHIELD AT AN ACUTE ANGLE HAS A DISTORTION OR LOSS OF CLARITY. BLUR STARTS IN CORNERS AND EDGES OF GLASS ONE END TO THE OTHER. PROBLEM IS VERY NOIICEABLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

TOO MARKED A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIT AND UNLIT AREAS WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON ON DARK ROAD WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC OR LIGHTING. IT IS LIKE THERE IS A BLACK CURTAIN ABOVE THE LIT AREA. WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD OR THE CAR IS AT CERTAIN SHARPER ANGLES TO THE ROAD, THE BLACK CURTAIN COMES DOWN TO WITHIN 2 CAR LENGTHS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING IN THE BLACK AREA, EVEN WHITE ROAD MARKINGS. OF COURSE, YOU CAN SWITCH ON YOUR BRIGHTS QUICKLY, BUT THAT TAKES ANOTHER SECOND AND BY THAT TIME YOU COULD BE OFF THE ROAD OR HIT SOMETHING. TRAVELING ON DARK UNEVEN CURVING ROADS IS UNNERVING. IF I HAD IT DO OVER I WOULD NOT BUY ANY CAR WITH THIS TYPE OF HEADLIGHTS. I FEEL NOW THAT I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND CAN'T DRIVE SAFELY ON DARK ROADS AT NIGHT.*AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION COIL. ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH THE IGINITION COILS AND THAT ONE WAS REPLACED BUT SHE STILL THINKS THAT THE OTHER ONES CAN GO BAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY DO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACED THEN UNTIL THEY GO BAD. TS

NOTICE THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A NUMBER OF PASSAT'S AND THEY ARE LISTED UNDER DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, BUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE COILS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY KEEP REPLACING ANYTHING RELATED TO IT. DT

CONSUMER STATES HIS VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH. DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE COIL. ON NOVEMBER 10, DEALER CHANGED THE ENGINE COIL #4 ON DECEMBER 26, DEALER CHANGED ENGINE COIL #3, CONSUMER ASKED THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE OTHER 4 INOPERABLE COILS AND DEALER REFUSED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE JERKING AND BUCKING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, TECHNICIAN NOTICE IGNITION COLE NEED TO BE REPLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHAKES, CONSUMER STATES" TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED A COIL HAD BURNED OUT. CONSUMER STATES DEALER IS ONLY CHANGING THE COILS AS THEY BURN OUT, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770842

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION COIL PACK. ALSO CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WILL ONLY REPLACE ONE AT THE TIME. PH

DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE THE #4 H-STYLE COIL PACK FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE AND CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CAR WAN NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE AFTER THE FAILURE. ALTHOUGH VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED THE FAILED COIL PACK, THERE ARE 3 OTHER IDENTICAL COIL PACKS BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER (BREMI) THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT REPLACE (UNTIL FAILURE). IT IS WIDELY KNOWN AMONG VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS ENGINE (1.8T) THAT THE H-STYLE COILS ARE UNRELIABLE AND DEFECTIVE. ONE ONLINE VW OWNER FORUM (CLUB B5) 600 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN POSTED. VW NEEDS TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE COIL PACK BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY OR FATALLY INJURED IN A CRASH OR COLLISION CAUSED BY THEM. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770845

COIL PACK #2 FAILED UPON WARM START AFTER HAVING SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. MIL WAS FLASHING INDICATING A SERIOUS PROBLEM. DROVE CAR ON THREE CYLINDERS LESS THAN 2 MILES TO HOME, AND CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COORDINATE TOWING AND DEALER. **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770849

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THERE'S A BURNING SMELL AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. NEXT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL. DEALER STATES COILS ARE ON BACK ORDER AND WILL ONLY BE CHANGED AS THEY FAIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TECHNICIAN NOTICE IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIR TWICE FOR REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE COIL PACKS HAVEN'T FAILED YET, BUT I'M HEARING STORIES THAT IT WILL AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME. VW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770858

TWO OUT OF FOUR IGNITION COILS FAILED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.RIDE WA SCONSTANTLY JERKY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, AND ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WHOM STATED THE ENGINE COILS WERE DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER STATED ENGINE COIL NEEDED REPLACING. TS

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE COIL PACKS. ALSO STATED THAT SHE WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED CAN STILL BE DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 3 IGNITION COILS FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A BACKFIRE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

THE SPARK PLUGS/IGNITION COIL HAS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. BOTH COMPONENTS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER WITH NO WARNING. PH

THERE WAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REGARDING THE SPRING COILS.*JB

THE IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THE PARTS. *NLM

THE BRAKE PADS MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MAY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED. *NLM

THE ENTIRE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE FLOODS WHEN IT RAINS.CAUSE/LOCATION OF THE LEAK IS UNKNOWN. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE LIGHTLY HIT RETAINING WALL WHILE PARKING THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED TAKING OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT VW PAY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY FOR DAMAGES. *SCC

CONSUMER NOTICED AFTER FILLING VEHICLE WITH FUEL VEHICLE INTICATION LIGHT WOULD FLASH, STATING LOW ON FUEL. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THIS OCCURRED 4 TIMES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALERSHIP DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE DRAINING THE BATTERY.*AK *MR