2003 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND CONSUMER'S PANTS. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

SEAT HEATER IN 2003 VW PASSAT WAS TURNED ON. APPROX. 3 MINUTES LATER THE HEATER BURNED MY JEANS, AND MY SKIN. I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY SEAT. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOLDERING SEAT. WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART B/C THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE IN THE US RIGHT NOW. *JB

I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT SW. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED WHEN IT STARTED TO GET COLD IN THE WINTER THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD MAKE NOISES AS IF SOMETHING WAS GRINDING OR BROKE IN THE SUSPENSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO VICTORY VW IN HARRISBURG, PA IN THE LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER OF 03'. THEY ENDED UP CHANGING THE CONTROL ARMS THAT TIME I BELIEVE. WELL, THIS YEAR WHEN IT STARTED GETTING COLD THE NOISES CAME BACK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SAME DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT. BOTH TIMES THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THE AIR TEMP HAS BEEN TOO WARM FOR THE NOISES TO BE REPRODUCED. I'VE LOOKED AROUND THE INTERNET ON VARIOUS VW BLOGS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHERS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION AS I AM. I ALSO FOUND THAT SOME ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION IN GENERAL. MY DILEMMA IS THAT THIS CAR IS GETTING READY TO GO OUT OF WARRANTY IN ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES AND I DON'T FEEL IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT HAS BEEN FIXED BY VW IN THE PAST AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE FIXED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ON THIS ISSUE IS APPRECIATED.

A HOLE WAS BURT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1. COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP MORE THAN ONCE THAT VEHICLE STALLED, RAN ROUGH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, UNRESOLVED. 2. ENGINE STOPPED, DIED, QUIT RUNNING WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. THE ONLY REASON I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I DISENGAGED THE DRIVETRAIN, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER. 3. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, DETERMINED FUEL PUMP FAILED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP, DO NOT HAVE OLD PART. *JB

SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO HEATING ELEMENT INSIDE SEAT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN I LEFT TO GO TO AN ATM AND SHE SWATTED OUT THE FLAME COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON POSITION 3 OF 5 FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *JB

WINDSHIELD CRAKED REPEATEDLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE LOWER LEFT NEXT TO PASSENGER SIDE PILLAR, NEXT WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALMOST IDENTICALLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY STONE, ETC.*AK

DRIVERS HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WITH SEVERAL CARS IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME MOVED AND WAS ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD WITH OUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I WAS STARTLED AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL AND ONLY THE REAR END OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED MY CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FOOT TO MAKE SURE I HAD HIT THE BRAKES AND NOT THE ACCELERATOR. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. NORMALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE HIT HARD THE FRONT END OF THE CAR DIPS AND THE SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE CAR JERKS THE DRIVER FORWARD. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED UNTIL MY CAR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *JB

DRIVING WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER ON - SMELL A BURNING - FEEL THE SEAT - QUICK BURN TO MY HAND - SEAT HEATER BURNT HOLE THROUGH LEATHER SEAT - IMMEDIATELY SHUT-DOWN HEATER. *AK

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE JUST DIED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE GAS PUMP. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO CRUISE THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY CONSIDERING I HAD CARS IN FRONT OF ME, BEHIND ME, AND ON THE SIDE OF ME, ALL MOVING AT SPEEDS 50-60 MPH. IN OVER 27 YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A SERIOUS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON, OR FUNNY SOUNDS BY THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *AK

OWNER DROVE VEHICLE TO WORK AND NOTICED IT STARTED SMOKING. DROVE BACK HOME AND WENT INSIDE TO CALL AND HAVE VEHICLE TOWED. HE DID NOT GO BACK OUT TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL LATER IN THE EVENING, WHEN HE FOUND THE WINDOWS GRAY FROM SMOKE AND THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY MELTED BECAUSE IT CAUGHT FIRE. CATALYTIC CONVERTER LIGHT CAME ON SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. FIRE DAMAGE LIMITED TO FLOOR BELOW CENTER FRONT OF DASH, ABOVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.

I OWN A 2003 PASSAT GLS WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. A FEW DAYS AGO, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ADVISING THAT I STOP DRIVING THE CAR. AS I WAS JUST PULLING INTO PARKING LOT OF MY WORK, I PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED. THE FIRST THING THE MECHANIC FROM VW TOLD ME WAS MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE HONORED WITHOUT PROOF OF ALL MY SERVICE RECORDS FROM VW. I DO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED REGULARLY BUT NOT ALWAYS AT 4,999 MILES. I HAVE MOVED AND HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT DIFFERENT PLACES AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE GETTING ALL MY RECORDS. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS IN WHICH I WAS T OLD MULITPLE THINGS ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE LIGHT TO COME ON, I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT MY ENGINE WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $11,000. I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL OIL CHANGES DONE TO THE CAR IN THE ALMOST TWO YEARS I WONED IT AND VW WOULD NOT HONOR MY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I PAID FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE. THE MECHANIC AT VW SAID IT IS RARE THAT ANYONE CAN PRODUCE ALL RECORDS AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO LACK OF PRECISE MAINTENANCE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN NEW ENGINE PUT IN THE CAR AS THE CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THE COST OF THE ENGINE. I AM LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF REBULIT ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND FELT A STINGING SENSATION IN THE REAR OF MY LEFT THIGH. I TOUCHED THE SEAT AND FOUND IT HAD BECOME VERY HOT C IN ONE SPOT AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER WHICH HAD BEEN SET ON "5". UPON ARRIVING HOME I FOUND THE HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND DEALER SAID NEW SEAT COVER AND PADDING WILL BE ORDERED FOR REPLACEMENT. *JB

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO 30000 MILES, "OIL PRESSURE" INDICATOR LIGHTED, IMMEDIATELY STOPPED VEHICLE. AFTER TOWING TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS "FULL OF SLUDGE" AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER UNLESS I HAD PROOF OF *EVERY SINGLE OILCHANGE* WITH VW SYNTHETIC OIL. OIL CHANGES HAVE BEEN REGULAR IN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER I LACK PROOF OF EVERY SINGLE ONE. AGAIN, ODOMETER ONLY 30000 MILES. RESEARCH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW/AUDI 1.8L ENGINES BETWEEN 1998 AND 2004.*AK

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SW DEVELOPED PROBLEMS REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED 8,493 MILES LATER THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE DAMAGED AGAIN. THE HEAD LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED.*JB

WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ON 5, MY WIFE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HER THIGH AND BURNED HER FINGER WHEN SHE REACHED DOWN TO FEEL WHAT WAS HAPPENING. SHE PULLED OVER AND FOUND A 2CM HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HERB EASLEY MOTORS (OUR LOCAL VW DEALER), THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED THAT THE BURN WAS FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE (NO ONE IN OUR FAMILY SMOKES...). HE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM (VEHICLE HAS 22,000 MILES AND IS UNDER FULL WARRANT)Y, AND HE CLAIMED HIS VW REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE HAD TOLD HIM THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CONTACTED VW CONSUMER CARE, THEY ARRANGED FOR ME TO WORK WITH CABLE VOLKSWAGEN IN OKLAHOMA CITY. CABLE TOLD ME THEY HAVE FIXED "DOZENS" OF THESE SEATS, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS WITHOUT MY TELLING THEM (THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE ONLY SEEN THE PROBLEM IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO WHAT OTHERS HERE ARE SAYING...). I HAD TO DRIVE 150 MILES FOR CABLE VW TO INSPECT AND ORDER PARTS, AND WE ARE NOW AWAITING BACKORDERED PARTS FOR THE REPAIR (THEY'VE WARNED ME IT COULD TAKE MONTHS FOR THE PARTS BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF REPAIRS BEING MADE). VW INSISTS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO COMPENSATE ME FOR HAVING TO GO TO ANOTHER STATE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR THE TWO MONTHS OF INFURIATING RUNAROUND FROM HERB EASLEY, THEIR AUTHORIZED SERVICE LOCATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMERS WOOL COAT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *JB SEAT COVER AND ELEMENT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WE NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL AFTER A SHORT RIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO CLEAN SNOW OFF OF THE CAR AND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ABOUT 1/2" IN DIAMETER IN THE SEAT. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND BEGAN CLEANING THE SNOW OFF THE CAR AND CALLED MY FIANC TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WITH IN 2 MINUTES THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR, SPARKS AND SMALL FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOLE IN THE SEAT. WHEN TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEATS THE MELTING AND SMOKING SUBSIDED LEAVING A HOLE (ABOUT 1" DIAMETER) THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. (LATER FOUND A HOLE HOLE IN THE CLOTHING THAT WAS WORN THE NIGHT BEFORE) VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES, SO THE MALFUNCTION IS COVERED IN FULL BY THE WARRANTEE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CALLS REGARDING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APROX 1 MONTH BEFORE THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAR. AS A REMEDY THE MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT COVER.*AK

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING DEVISE MALFUNCTIONED. THE HEATER BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, AND THROUGH MY SHIRT. AFTER 8 WEEKS, THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AND A "FIX" WAS DONE TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT. THE NEW SEAT DOES NOT HEAT WELL.*AK

CONSUMER SMELLED AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ASKED HER SPOUSE TO CHECK IT OUT. CONSUMER TURNED SEAT HEATER ON AND THE SEAT STARTED TO BURN. THE SEAT SLIGHTLY SCORCHED THE CONSUMER.*AK THE PASSENGERS COAT WAS BURNED BY THE SEAT. *TC

I AM CURRENTLY HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A 2003 VW PASSAT. AFTER 27,000 MILES, THE ENGINE AND POSSIBLE THE TURBO HAS GONE, AND THE DEALER IS SAYING THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COST 9,000 DOLLARS. VOLKS WAGEN HAS HAD AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR OF PASSATS THAT TYPICALLY RESULTS IN THIS PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE. VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED A NOTICE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THEIR DRIVERS CHANGE THE OIL TO A SYNTHETIC OIL. I HAVE BEEN CHANGING MY OIL AT THE RECOMMENDED 5,000 MILE INCREMENTS, ALTHOUGH USING A NON-SYNTHETIC BRAND OF OIL. I AM NOW HAVING A VERY HARD TIME COMING UP WITH MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I CAN PROVE THAT I CHANGED THE OIL 3 TIMES ALTHOUGH I NEED TO PROVE I CHANGED IT 5 TIMES FOR THE WARRANTY TO KICK IN. EVEN AFTER CHANGING THE OIL AT THE REQUIRED INCREMENTS MY ENGINE IS GONE DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT VW IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I AM EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AT THE SERVICE THAT I AM CURRENTLY RECEIVING AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS MATTER ? AS I AM CURRENTLY SITTING WITH A 9,000 BILL FOR A PROBLEM THAT VW HAS ADMITTED TO, ALTHOUGH WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR.*AK

VW PASSAT - BRAKE ROTORS WARP, CAUSING DANGEROUS BRAKING SITUATION. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM KNOWN BY VW, AND COMPLAINED OF BY THOUSANDS OF PASSAT OWNERS (MANY, MANY SITES AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, AND MECHANICS). VW REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB

CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE WITH BRAKING SYSTEM ON 2003 PASSAT. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THERE WAS ALSO GRINDING IN THE REAR BRAKES. THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HAD GONE OUT TWICE. *SC *JB

SEAT WARMER ON MY 2003 VW PASSAT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT (DRIVERS SIDE), BURNED THROUGH MY PANTS AND LEFT A MARK ON MY SKIN. *JB

DRIVER SEAT FIRE. REMEMBER FIRESTONE, LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR AND KILL SOMEONE ELSE OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY AS THE ELECTRIC SHOCK FROM THE SEAT WAS UNBEARABLE - LET ALONE MY LEFT PANT LEG BURN THROUGH TO MY SKIN. IT BLOWS ME AWAY THAT VW HAS NOT RECALLED ALL VEHICLES WITH SAME HEATING ELEMENTS. SHOULD THIS OCCUR TO AN ELDERLY PERSON THINGS MAY NOT TURN OUT SO SUCCESSFULLY. PLEASE PUBLISH IMMEDIATELY! THANK YOU. DAVID M. GILBLAIR SR. *JB

FUEL PUMP FAILED WITH NO WARNING AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY WAS INSTANTLY LOST. THIS OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF AN EXTREMELY BUSY FREEWAY WITH LARGE TRUCKS ON EITHER SIDE. THROUGH SHEER LUCK, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER WITHOUT BEING HIT BY THE FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *NM

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WANTED $11,000.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FOR OIL SLUDGE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VW HAS CLEARLY ADMITTED TO THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. ARTICLE ATTACH FROM VOLKSWAGEN TO WORK WITH DEALERS TO IMPROVE GUIDELINES FOR SLUDGE REPAIRS. *BF *NM

HEATED VELOUR SEATS CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED SMALL HOLE IN SEAT. *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH SEAT CUSHIONING, THROUGH LEATHER COVERING, THROUGH PANTS POCKET, AND THROUGH WALLET CONTAINED IN THE POCKET. HOLE IN THE SEAT 2-3 INCHES DEEP AND 1 1/2 - 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER. HOLE IN PANTS WAS 1/2 INCH IN DIAMETER, LEAVING BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATING MECHANISM HAD BEEN TURNED ON HIGH. SMOLDERED, BUT NO OPEN FIRE. *JB

SEAT HEATER WAS ON HIGH WHEN I FELT MY BOTTOM HEATING UP AND WHEN I LIFTED MY BOTTOM OFF OF THE SEAT THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. I DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP (LUCKILY UNDER WARRANTY) AND SURE ENOUCH THERE WAS A BURN IN MY LEATHER SEATS. THEY ARE ORDERING ME A NEW SEAT HEATER!! DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND THE FACT THAT I WAS BURNED.*AK

SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC, BURNING THE DRIVER ON THE LEG. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER TO POUR WATER ON IT SINCE SMOKE AND SPARKS WERE ON IT. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

NEW '03 PASSAT PURCHASED IN DEC. '02. FEB. '03 I NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH POWER STEERING FLUID WAS FOUND TO BE LOW AND REFILLED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN MAR '03, THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN UNDER WARRANTY. NOV. '04, I AGAIN NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING IN EXTREME LEFT OR RIGHT WHEEL POSITIONS. DEC. '04, VW DETERMINES THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK AGAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO LARGER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR LEADING TO REPEATED FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING RACK. LIKEWISE, THEY INSIST THAT THERE IS NO INTRINSIC PROBLEM WITH VW POWER STEERING RACKS. HOWEVER, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT TWO POWER STEERING RACKS FROM VW PLACED IN THE SAME CAR IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD JUST HAPPENED TO BE FAULTY. *JB

2003 VW PASSAT, BUILT 11/2002, FUEL PUMP FAILED 12/2004, AT 52695K MILES. NOW THERE IS A FUEL PUMP RECALL FOR 2003 VW PASSAT BUILT BETWEEN 09/01/2002-03/31/2003 WITH A RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS, THAT MINE APPEARS TO FALL IN, AND I AM BEING TOLD MY CAR SHOWS NO PENDING RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY VIN. *NM

I HAVE OWNED MY PASSAT FOR 17 MONTHS, I HAVE REPLACED TIRES TWICE, AND HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE FLAT TIRES, TWO OF WHICH WERE THE R REAR. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THE R REAR TIRE. NOTIFIED MY DEALER, THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING, STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE TIRE COMPANY. WELL, TWO DIFFERENT BRAND TIRES, AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB

8/01/03 - CAR INSPECTED AND TOLD HAD PROPER J IGNITION COILS INSTALLED 8/18/03 - CAR AGAIN INSPECTED AND TOLD HAD PROPER J IGNITION COILS INSTALLED 11/18/03 - COIL IGNITION RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR FOR A 3RD TIME. AFTER ALL THREE ATTEMPTS OF CHECKING THE IGNITION COILS THEY YET FAILED AGAIN. THIS IS THE 12 COIL I HAVE HAD REPLACED ON A VOLKSWAGEN IN 2 YEARS. *JB

THE HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT OVER HEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE CONSUMER'S PANTS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP POSITION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM *SC *JB

AFTER RAINY DAYS MY 2003 PASSAT WAGON (4 MOTION) HAS 1 -2 INCHES OF WATER ON FLOOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THIS HAS NOW BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE (I JUST TOOK IT BACK TODAY) - THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS A DRAIN PROBLEM FROM THE SUN ROOF THAT WAS CLOGGED. THE CARPET SMELLS AND I AM AFRAID THAT THE ELECTRIC SEATS WILL SOON SHORT OUT.*AK

2003 VW PASSAT; HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH CUSHION AND STARTED SMOLDERING. DEALER REPLACED SEAT. SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE HEATING ELEMENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S HEATED SEAT BURNED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PASSENGER'S SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD A SLUDGE BUILD UP WHICH WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BLAMED CONSUMER FOR THIS DEFECT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND STARTED TO BURN THE CONSUMER'S CLOTHING.*AK

RELATIVE TO NHTSA RECALL 06V017000, MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN 1.8T PASSAT, WHICH I PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH 25K MILES, EXPERIENCED WHAT LATER WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FUEL-PUMP FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 29K MILES. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN OCTOBER 2004, WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A RURAL INTERSTATE FOLLOWING A WEEKEND TRIP TO A NEIGHBORING STATE. I HAD BEEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO TRAVEL AT THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT, AND HAD ACCELERATED TO PASS A SEMI-TRACTOR-TRAILER. HAVING PASSED THE TRUCK, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT KICK BACK IN AS USUAL WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR BUT, RATHER, THE CAR LOST POWER SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE TO THE SIDE SHOULDER WITHOUT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY, WHERE I ARRANGED FOR TOWING TO THE NEAREST TOWN WITH A VW DEALER (THE TOW-TRUCK DRIVER SENT TO RETRIEVE ME NEARLY WAS SIDE-SWIPED/KILLED BY A PASSING SEMI WHILE LOADING MY VEHICLE ONTO HIS FLATBED, HOWEVER). IT BEING A SUNDAY, MY TRIP WAS DISRUPTED AND I WAS FORCED TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN THE DEALER LOCALE UNTIL THE PROBLEM COULD BE ADDRESSED THE FOLLOWING DAY. BECAUSE A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS NOT IN STOCK AND COULD NOT BE DELIVERED FOR ANOTHER 2 DAYS, I RETURNED HOME IN A RENTAL CAR AND ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TRANSPORTED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ONCE THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE SOME 9 DAYS LATER. EXPENSES OF THE DISRUPTION WERE REIMBURSED COMPLETELY BY VW OF AMERICA. I BECAME AWARE OF THE SUBSEQUENT RECALL ONLY RECENTLY VIA AN INTERNET WEBSITE ON VW PASSAT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY VW ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT I PRESUME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE MY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL ACTION WAS INITIATED. *JB

1.) DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVIATED. 2.) DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH SEAT LEATHER AND SCORCHED DRIVER'S PANTS 3.) DEALER CONTACTED, APPOINTMENT SET FOR WARRANTY EVALUATION. DEALER STATED "WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE OCCUR.*AK

I AM A SCHOOL TEACHER AND WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 19, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 A.M. I WAS SMELLING A STRONG SMOKE ODOR AS I STARTED DRIVING AND AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE I LOOKED OVER TO MY PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE WAS SMOKE SMOLDERING THROUGH THE SEAT. AS I NOTICED THIS HAPPENING TO THE CAR, I TURNED OFF THE PASSENGER HEATED SEAT (AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN IT). NO ONE WAS INJURED! WITHIN MINUTES MY CAR STALLED ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY AND I WAS STRANDED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR ALMOST TWO ENTIRE WEEKS. IT'S VERY UNFAIR THAT A VEHICLE UNDER TWO YEARS HAS FAILED IN THIS WAY. THIS SITUATION WAS VERY UNSAFE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PROVIDE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF MY CAR. I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

HEATED SEATS OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE (ABOUT 1/4" DIAMETER) THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. VEHICLE HAD 23K MILES, SO THE MALFUNCTION WAS COVERED IN FULL BY THE WARRANTEE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATING COILS AND SEAT COVER. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE.

REAR BRAKE PADS AND DISKS WORN OUT AFTER 19000 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE WITHIN SPEC. DEALER STATES IT'S NORMAL FOR PASSAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S TRUE. THE FRONT BRAKES ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO ENGAGE, IF NEEDS A HARDER BRAKING - THEN THE REAR BRAKES BECOME ACTIVE! DID THE VW RE-INVENT THE WHEEL??? OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I'VE HAD JAPANESE AND AMERICAN CARS BEFORE - USUALLY YOU HAVE TO SERVICE THE REAR BRAKES AROUND 50K MILES! AS FOR THE DEALER - THE SERVICE MANAGER IN THIS CASE - HE CONVEYED SOME KIND OF NONSENSE JUST TO GET RID OF ME. *NM

THE VEHICLE 1.8L ENGINE SIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOW TO THE DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS ENGINE SLUDGE BUILD UP. *NM

VW PASSAT 2003, PURCHASED01/09/03, 4 MOTION SEDAN, FOR $32,766.50. ON 10/7/2004, I WENT THROUGH A 2" OR LESS, RAIN PUDDLE. BECAUSE OF THE AIR INTAKE ON THE PASSAT LOCATION BEING VERY LOW, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE WATER INTAKE IN THE AIR INTAKE PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND COST $11,077.53. THE CAR MILEAGE WAS 29,143. VW REFUSED TO PAY, SAYING IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFAULT IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO PAY THE $11,077.53 TO KEEP A VEHICLE THAT I HAD PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. IT WAS 1/3 THE COST OF THE NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 29,143 MILEAGE. THE AMOUNT OF RAIN CAN BE DETERMINED ON THE DAY IT HAPPENED, IN MIDDLEBURY, IN. I DID CONTACT CARTALK, AFTER NO RESULT FROM VW, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO POST A RECALL, BUT IT IS STILL SOMETHING I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED IN 2004. I DO STILL OWN THE CAR, BECAUSE OF MY INVESTMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER $44,000, BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE COMPARED TO THIS ONE. *TR

I WANTED TO NOTE THAT ON OCTOBER 1ST, MY HEATED SEAT ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGENW PASSAT MALFUNCTIONED. IT ACTUALLY BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT, FILLED MY CAR WITH SMOKE, AND LEFT ME WITH A SMALL BURN ON MY THIGH. LUCKILY, I AM FINE. BUT, THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED, AND I WAS LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK