2006 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

POWER BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (WI WINTERS). OCCURS WHENEVER TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 30'S OR LOWER. VACUUM HOSE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. APPARENTLY CONDENSATION IS BUILDING INSIDE THE HOSE (REPORTED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT.) *TR

FAILURE OF CAR TO REMAIN RUNNING WHEN STARTING; HAS HAPPENED FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW NOW. TWICE IN ONE DAY. START CAR AND THEN IT STALLS RIGHT AWAY. ALSO RECEIVE STEERING COLUMN ERROR SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VW PASSAT 2006 2.0T TODAY WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE CAR. WE STOPPED FOR A SHORT BREAK. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I GOT THE "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" MESSAGE ON THE CAR COMPUTER. AFTER I RESTARTED THE CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE MESSAGE WAS GONE. WHEN I CHECKED THE PASSAT OWNERS FORUM, I REALIZED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I DECIDED TO INFORM NHTSA ABOUT IT. I WILL SEE THE DEALER TOMORROW TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE I HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH IS A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L 55,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE. ON DEC 27 2008, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APROX 60MPH AND THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED INSTANTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSE ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, SPIN 180 AND I GOT HIT BY AN SUV DRIVING BEHIND ME ON THE SAME DIRECTIONAL LANE. AFTER THE INCIDENT I TRY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRAVEL LANE BUT THE WHEELS WERE STILL LOCKED. AFTER TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES I DRAGGED THE VEHICLE OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES TO DISENGAGE THE PARKING I WAS ABLE TO DO IT AND LEAVE THE SCENE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL I EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME LEFT AND BECAUSE I HAD MINOR DAMAGES AND I DECIDE NOT TO REPORT THE INCIDENT TO THE AUTHORITIES. IMMEDIATELY I CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE SITUATION AND OPEN UP A CASE #80411298. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER LOCATED IN NAPERVILLE IL AND AFTER 7 DAYS THE TECHNICIAN SAID: WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DOING A RESEARCH ON VW FORUM CALLED VW VORTEX, WWW.VWVORTEX.COM, I FOUND OUT THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS. THE REASON I'M WRITING YOU IS BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE HERE AND I SHOULD SAY I WAS VERY LUCKY BECAUSE I DID NOT GET HIT BY A HEAVY TRUCK, I DID NOT GET INJURED OR MAYBE KILLED. AS OF TODAY THE LOCAL DEALER DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY WANT ME TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID IT?S SAFE TO DRIVE. I THINK YOU SHOULD INTERVENE AND ANALYZE THIS ISSUE AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION QUICK BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR MAYBE KILLED. PLEASE FELL FREE TO CONTACT ME ON MY EMAIL ADDRESS OR MY PHONE NUMBER AT ANYTIME I CAN ASSIST WITH MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT STEERING LOCK FAILURE..WILL COST ME 1500 TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE COUNTLESS PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CAR. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS BIG ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. *TR

BRAND NEW VEHICLE, 06 VW PASSAT, DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS--THEN, CAR STARTING DYING SUDDENLY AFTER BEING STOPPED (AT A RED LIGHT) THEN ACCELERATING ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WOULDN'T SPUTTER OR CHOKE--JUST DIE. TOOK IT TO VW TO CHECK INTO IT--THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS PUTTING INTO MY CAR--BUT IT WASN'T. FINALLY, AFTER 34 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THE SHOP, THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I TALKED WITH VW HEADQUARTERS. THEY OFFERED ME $300. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS DYING--COMPLETELY QUITTING ON ME--IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS--AND HOW MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS I HAD AVOIDED--SO $300 WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT--BUT VW CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I EXPLAINED FURTHER THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INTERMITTENTLY DOING THIS, I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING, ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE--STILL, VW WOULD NOT ADMIT TO THERE BEING AN ISSUE. OUT OF SHEER PANIC, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND CONVINCED THEM TO GET ME A NEW CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP RE-SOLD MY OLD CAR, THE ONE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX. A YEAR LATER, A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN WITH HER 92 JETTA. HER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND REPLACED THEM. NOW, A YEAR LATER, VW SENT A NOTICE TO ME IN THE MAIL SAYING IT IS "NOT A RECALL" BUT THEY WANTED US TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS "ONLY IF A CERTAIN LIGHT INDICATOR" GOES ON IN THE CAR. I NEVER HAD SUCH A LIGHT GO ON IN MY OLD CAR, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS AND TOOK MY CURRENT VW VEHICLE IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS ANYWAY. THANKFULLY, THE DEALERSHIP DID IT FOR ME, BECAUSE THEY KNEW MY HISTORY. THE NOTICE FROM VW CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY ONLY WANT YOU TO REPLACE THEM IF THE LIGHT GOES ON IN YOUR CAR AND YOU ONLY HAD UNTIL A CERTAIN DATE (FEB. 28TH) TO DO IT. STILL SEEMS TO BE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM VW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT HAND. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE COIL FOR THE SPARK PLUG MADE A RATTLING NOISE. HE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL ODOR, THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, SMOKE WAS RELEASED FROM THE COIL ITSELF. HE USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WANTED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM HIM AND GIVE HIM CREDIT TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR PERMISSION FROM THE MANUFACTURE VOLKSWAGEN TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS WAITING FOR HIM TO ACCEPT. THE OFFER TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14000.

BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2008, I WAS HAVING MINIMAL ISSUES WITH HAVING THE KEY STICK INTO THE IGNITION. I WAS ABLE EASILY PUSH THE KEY IN AND TAKE IT BACK OUT WITHOUT A PROBLEM. AROUND DECEMBER 2008 I HAD A "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE" APPEAR ON MY DASHBOARD AND MY CAR SHUT OFF. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE EVERY 10 TIMES I TURN THE CAR ON. I TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE COMFORT SYSTEM MODULE. TOTAL COST: $1,500. *TR

STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE CAR TO SHUT OFF VERY OFTEN. VW DEALER REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN AND COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T TRUNK WILL NOT LATCH WHEN IT'S COLD. BROUGHT IT TO VW DEALER WHO TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE AND THEY'VE REPLACED SEVERAL LOCKS AND THEY COULD REPLACE THE LOCK FOR $305. THEY LUBRICATED THE LOCK IN THE HOPES THAT IT MAY RESOLVE THE LATCH ISSUE. IF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH OTHER PASSATS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. - I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE HAD THE CAM SHAFT REPLACED, CAM SEAL LEAK REPAIRED 4 TIMES, CD PLAYER REPLACED, HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR REPLACED TWICE AND BLOWER MOTOR REPLACED ONCE. ALL WAS UNDER WARRANTY EXCEPT THE CAM SEAL LEAK AND THE TRUNK THAT WON'T CATCH AND CLOSE. A FORMAL COMPLAINED WAS LODGED WITH VW OF AMERICA GIVEN ALL OF THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE NEEDED; VW OFFERED ME $750 TOWARDS A NEW VW! NO OFFER TO PAY FOR A TRUNK THAT WON'T LATCH. RESEARCH ON LINE FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS OF TRUNKS NOT LATCHING AND SOME OPENING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. VW REFUSES TO RECALL THE VEHICLE TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LOCK . I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T MAKE RECALL DECISIONS BASED ON LINE COMPLAINTS. I TRAVEL ALONE FOR BUSINESS AND DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE MY SUITCASE, LAPTOP, ETC VISIBLE IN THE CAR BUT CAN'T USE THE TRUNK BECAUSE I COULD BE STUCK WITH A TRUNK THAT WON'T LATCH. THIS HAPPENED TO ME YESTERDAY AND I WAS STUCK IN FREEZING RAIN WITH A TRUNK FULL OF HOLIDAY GIFTS AND NO WAY OF CLOSING MY TRUNK. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF TRYING TO GET THE TRUNK TO LATCH IN THE FREEZING RAIN A GENTLEMAN WHO OWNS AN AUTO SHOP STOPPED AND TRIED WORKING ON THE LOCK ; COULD NOT GET IT TO LATCH. HE ENDED UP TRYING THE TRUNK DOWN WITH ROPE HE HAD IN HIS TRUCK SO I COULD GET HOME. AFTER 4 HOURS OF WARMING UP IN MY GARAGE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CLOSE THE TRUNK. *TR

MY TRUNK LATCH ON MY 2006 VW PASSAT WILL NOT LATCH. THIS CAUSES THE TRUNK TO OPEN UNLESS I HAVE IT DUCK TAPED DOWN. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I OPENED IT TO GET SOMETHING OUT AND IT WOULD NOT SHUT. I TAPED IT DOWN AND THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS CLOSED PROPERLY. AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING, I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK AND PUT THE STUFF IN IT, BUT IT WOULD NOT CLOSE AGAIN. IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE SINCE. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME I WAS THE 5TH OR 6TH PERSON THAT DAY WITH THE PROBLEM. I CALLED VW AMERICA WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. OBVIOUSLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE TAPE CAN FAIL AND THE TRUNK WILL SPRING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

THE TRUNK OF MY VEHICLE WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED. IT APPEARS TO BE CLOSED AND THEN THE TRUNK OPENS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY THREE YEARS OLD AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *TR

ME AND MY WIFE WERE TRAVELING RT. 80 WEST BOUND TO EXIT 61 ELMWOOD PARK AT ABOUT 12:45 AM, WEATHER CONDITION WAS WET WITH RAIN AND ROADS WERE SLICK. AS MY WIFE(DRIVER) MERGED TOWARDS THE EXIT THE JEEP IN FRONT OF US DEAD STOPPED BECAUSE AS WE LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CAR BEFORE IT THAT SPUN OUT EARLIER. OUR CAR COLLIDED WITH THE STOPPED VEHICLE HITTING IT ON THE REAR RIGHT SIDE AND OURS WAS THE LEFT SIDE FRONT . MY WIFE HIT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HIT MY KNEES IN THE DASHBOARD NEEDLESS TO SAY THE AIRBAGS ON OUR VEHICLE DIDN'T DEPLOY. IT WAS A 2006 VW PASSAT. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND ACCORDING TO THEM THE OTHER SAFETY FEATURES DID WORK AND THAT AIR BAGS WERE THE LAST RESORT TO SAVE LIVES. THIS COLLISION AND IMPACT WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED US IF WE DIDN'T WEAR OUR SEATBELTS. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE PRODUCT LIABILITY OF VW OF AMERICA WITH THIS, THEIR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *TR

FAILURE OF BOLT FOR OIL PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. CAR CURRENTLY AT DEALER AWAITING PARTS INCLUDING NEW REINFORCED BOLT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE AND HAS LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES DUE TO LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. ACCORDING TO DEALER PARTS ARE RESTRICTED DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE TRUNK ON MY 06 PASSAT WON'T ALWAYS STAY CLOSED. NOTHING IN PARTICULAR PRECIPITATED THE FIRST EVENT. I HAVE TO SLAM IT SHUT EVERY TIME AND IT'S BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO CLOSE. I WAS REAR-ENDED IN MARCH 2008 AND THE TRUNK WAS REPLACED. THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT I HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK. THE ORIGINAL TRUNK WAS NOT WANTING TO LATCH PROPERLY AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK DOES THE EXACT SAME THING. IT MUST BE SOMETHING ABOUT 06 PASSAT TRUNKS. I DID NOTICE THAT BEFORE THE TRUNK HAD ISSUES CLOSING, IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN I PRESSED THE TRUNK BUTTON ON THE KEY. ONCE AGAIN, EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED WITH BOTH THE ORIGINAL TRUNK AND THE "REPLACEMENT" TRUNK. *TR

DRIVING DOWN SNOW AND ICE COVERED MOUNTAIN PASS IN COLORADO WHEN I SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED HEAVY RESISTANCE OF BRAKE PEDAL AND LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. FORTUNATELY, I MADE IT HOME SAFELY. SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE VACUUM LINE FOR THE BRAKE HAD CRACKED CAUSING LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE AND DECREASED BRAKING. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT "STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE". CAR WILL NOT START CONSISTENCY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING FROM A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO POWER. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,742. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED AS WELL.

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: NONE - SUDDEN FAILURE. WAS ON INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. POWER SUDDENLY DROPPED AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP. SPEED DROPPED VERY QUICKLY BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID INCIDENT AND GO THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FAILURE: OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR BOLT BROKEN. CAR WAS AT DEALER FOR 15 DAYS TO REPLACE OIL PUMP, TIMING CHAIN, SPROCKETS, ADJUSTER TENSIONERS. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CAR WAS AT SECOND DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL 19 DAYS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS CREATED BY FIRST DEALER WHILE FIXING THE ENGINE. (RECEIVED APOLOGY BY PHONE FROM SERVICE MANAGER OF FIRST DEALER.) ISSUES: 1.SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. 2.FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS IN MANUAL, I DROVE CAR TO NEAREST DEALER ? A DISTANCE OF 10 MILES ? WITH REDUCED OR ZERO OIL CIRCULATION. LONGEVITY OF THE ENGINE MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED. 3.VW OF AMERICA DECLINED TO INSPECT THE ENGINE IN MORE DETAIL OR TO REPLACE ENGINE. 4.THIS IS A MODERATELY COMMON FAILURE OF THIS ENGINE. I FOUND 38 ALMOST IDENTICAL FAILURES AT: A.HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3462993 B.HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3193697 SUMMARY & REQUESTED ACTIONS: 1.RECALL ISSUED FOR AFFECTED ENGINES. 2.MY ENGINE REPLACED / VEHICLE REPLACED. *TR

GOSH WHERE DO I START VW PASSAT 51000 MILES ALOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG.. CAR STARTER VOLKS CAME OUT CAUSING THE STARTER TO BREAK MY TRUNK DOESN'T CLOSE POPS OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD/FREEWAY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE THING FROM MY TRUNK EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE FREEWAY MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS DEFECTED DOES NOT LOCK I HAVE CALLED NUMEROUS OF VW DEALER SHIPS AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME CAUSE ITS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND FOR STEERING LOCK I WENT BEFORE WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 90 DOLLARS I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY LYING AROUND I HAVE CAR PAYMENT. INS ECT... IM SCARED IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPENED WHILE ME DRIVING WITH MY KIDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE "IMPORTANT STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ALSO, THE IGNITION KEY WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WITHOUT MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,700.

MY VEHICLE HAD 19K ON IT AND FROM A COLD START SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DAY OF THAT APPOINTMENT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOW HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS AND HAVE STILL NOT DIAGNOSED IT. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH CERTAIN YEAR PASSAT ENGINES. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE OIL PUMP IN PLACE BACKS OUT AND SHEARS OFF, THUS REQUIRING AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH VW SERVICE AND UNHAPPY THAT MY VEHICLE HAD SUCH A FATAL PROBLEM SO EARLY. *TR

I HAD A 2006 PASSAT THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN NOV. 2006. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AFTER I PARKED IT AT WORK. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IT AND I MAINTAINED MY CAR. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR. *TR

WHEN TRYING TO START OUR 2006 PASSAT THE INFO PANEL SHOWS "STEERING WHEEL DEFECTIVE". A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH CAME UP WITH 4 OF THE SAME SITUATIONS IN 2006 PASSATS ON ONE SITE. SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AT $1700. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. IT'S ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. VW TOLD THE DEALER THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE PART ONLY FOR "GOOD FAITH". NO, IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT FROM THE START WHICH IS ALSO A HUGE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPLETE COST IN ADDITION TO A RECALL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR BEGAN HESITATING AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. UPON PULLING OVER AND OPENING THE HOOD, THE TOP-REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE WAS GLOWING RED AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS OR SO BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY AN OFF-DUTY VOLUNTEER FIREMAN WHO ARRIVED PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SUBSEQUENT REVIEW BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOUND THE IGNITION COIL WAS THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE FIRE. PERHAPS THIS IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : EA07014, HOWEVER THAT ACTION ONLY COVERED 1999-2005 PASSATS; THIS IS A 2006 PASSAT. *TR

THERE WERE NO EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE. BASICALLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BUSTED AT A FLANGE SEAM WHERE IT BOLTS TO THE MOTOR. THIS FURTHER CAUSED MY BRAKES TO FAIL AFTER HOT EXHAUST BLEW ON THE BRAKE VACUUM TUBE FOR THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER VOLKSWAGEN OR THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ARE WILLING TO BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE, SINCE IT IS 8,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. SUPPOSEDLY THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED THE PART 10 DAYS AGO, AND IT STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED. THE IRONY OF THIS IS THAT WHEN I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THEY WOULD RETURN THE DEFECTIVE PART TO ME, THEY SAID NO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO RETURN IT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR A WARRANTY EXCHANGE! *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS LEADING UP TO 07-30-08, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START PROPERLY. VW REPROGRAMMED KEYS BUT REFUSED TO COVER COSTS EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AROUND APRIL 2009, VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS CRANKING AGAIN. VEHICLE WOULD START THEN THE ENGINE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DIE, BUT NOT EVERY TIME. CONDITION GOT WORSE AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE AND HAD THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT. THEY WERE FINE. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE COMPUTER GAVE A "STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE" ERROR. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER ON 06-16-2009. THIS TIME THEY SAID STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO EARLIER PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED AT DIFFERENT VW DEALER AT OWN COST. I KEPT THE OLD PARTS. *TR

ON A WARM DAY WITH THE A/C RUNNING, MY 2006 PASSAT 3.6L WILL HAVE AN ENGINE SURGE INCREASING RPM TO 1,000 WHILE STOPPED. THIS HAS ALMOST AMOUNTED IN A CRASH ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS IT MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO KEEP STOPPED AND CAUSES IT TO LUNGE FORWARD. IT ALSO RESULTS IN LOW FUEL ECONOMY AS THE CAR IDOLS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL 600RPM. *TR

ENGINE RPM INCREASES WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND AIR CONDITIONER IS RUNNING CAUSING THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON BRAKES TO PREVENT CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD

AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IT HAS COME ON. FIRST CAME ON 10/2006 DEALER REPLACED MALFUNCTIONING R/FRONT SIDE AIRBAG, CONNECTERS TO HARNESS WERE FAULTY AS WELL. 1/2008 CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER REPAIRED FAULTY WIRING FOR PASSENGER SIDE. 5/2008 CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER DIO FOUND UPPER LIMIT EXCEEDED DRIVERS SIDE UNIT, FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING AGAIN. 6/2008 AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN, DEALER INSPECTION FOUND WIRES FOR DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR FAULTY/POOR CONTACT. 6/2008 TO PRESENT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN, HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN YET CAUSE I'M QUITE ANNOYED. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND I PRAY TO GOD THAT IF I DO HAVE AN ACCIDENT ALL OF MY AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY BUT WITH ALL THE REPAIRS DONE I DON'T THINK THEY WILL. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL MODEL OR FUEL PUMP FAILED AT LEAST THREE TIMES ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS INFORMED HER TO STOP BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. THERE IS NEVER ANY WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL LIGHT ACTIVATED DUE TO TO THE RESULT OF A CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ACTIVATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE IS A DEFECT WITH AN OIL PUMP BOLT THAT THROWS THE CAMSHAFT OUT OF POSITION. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A LOSS OF POWER AND CANNOT ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED. THE RPM'S INCREASE UP TO 4K BUT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE DOESN'T INCREASE. INSTEAD THE RPM'S DECREASE WHILE MAINTAINING THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. PER THE MANUFACTURER, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN 2006-2007 B6 3.6 LITER PASSAT. THE 2.0 LITER PASSAT IS NOT AFFECTED. VW IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE APPLICABLE PARTS UNDER A GOODWILL WARRANTY SINCE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50K MILES. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OWNERS AFFECTED CAN BE LISTED AT HTTP://FORUMS.MOTIVEMAG.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3462993

SHEARED OIL PUMP BOLT AT 16,000 MILES. ENIGNE LOST ALL POWER. DEALER REPLACED OIL PUMP, TIMING CHAIN AND ALL RELATED HARDWARE. ASKED MANUFACTURER (VOLKSWAGEN) AND DEALERSHIP FOR NEW ENGINE DUE TO LIKLEY OIL STARVATION AFTER OIL PUMP WAS INOPERATIVE. REQUEST DENIED. VERY UNHAPPY AS THIS VERY LOW MILEAGE CAR MAY HAVE A SEVERLY DAMAGED ENGINE THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE.

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW VW PASSAT IN JANUARY 2007. SINCE THEN I HAD TO HAVE THE HID HEADLIGHTS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY THREE TIMES. IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE NOW HAD THE DRIVERS HEADLIGHT AND THE PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT BURN OUT. THUS I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS ON VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND SHE IS ALMOST LEGALLY BLIND IN ONE EYE. IN MY OPINION THE CONSTANT HEADLIGHT FAILURES (ESPECIALLY BOTH IN A TWO WEEK TIME FRAME) REPRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I APPRECIATE YOU INVESTIGATION AND FEEDBACK. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AGO OUR NEW 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T STARTED TO HAVE VERY HARD SHIFT WHEN DOWNSHIFTING WHEN CAR SLOWING DOWN. THEN THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE AND ACCELERATED BY ITSELF UNTIL CAL WAS UNDRIVABLE. DEALER FIXED THE CARD IN TWO WEEKS. TODAY A YEAR LATER THE CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE, HARD SHIFTING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND ENGINE HESITATION ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. CAR UNDRIVABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN IDLING ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE LUNGES BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS IS TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO OFFSET THE STEADY DECLINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE DUE TO A POTENTIAL DESIGN FLAW WITH THE COMBINATION MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. A PERMANENT REMEDY HAS NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT 3.6L. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS OR DURING HOT DAYS I TURN ON MY A/C TO HIGH. WHEN I DO THIS OCCASIONALLY, MY CARS ENGINE WILL RACE AND THE RPM'S WILL SHOOT UP FROM ABOUT 600 TO AROUND 900-1000. THIS IDLE RAISE CAUSES THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD THUS MAKING ME THE DRIVER HAVE TO REALLY PUSH HARD ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND THAT IS WHAT BRAKES ARE FOR, BUT I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 3 OR 4 MINOR FENDER BENDERS BECAUSE OF THIS. I AM CONSCIOUS OF THIS ON A DAILY BASIS IN PHOENIX. I KNOW OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A RECALL OUT FOR SOME OF THE NEWER PASSAT VEHICLES, BUT NONE FOR MY 2006. I MUST STRESS THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE A/C IS ON HIGH AND DURING THE HOTTER TIMES OF THE YEAR. *TR

2006 VW PASSAT WITH STEERING ISSUE. MESSAGE IN DASH INDICATES "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE." LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SAYS ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST SINCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY WITH 69,000 MILES. COST OF REPAIR IS CLOSE TO $2,000. THE CAR HAS PROBLEMS STARTING DAILY BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. AFTER SEARCHING VARIOUS INTERNET SITES IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER 2006 PASSAT OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, TRYING TO HAVE THEM COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE/DEFECT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A COMMON TREND FOR THE 2006 MODEL AND SHOULD POSSIBLY BE A RECALL. *TR

LEASED 2006 VW PASSAT IN NOV 05. IT'S BEEN TO THE SHOP 12 TIMES ALTHOUGH THE LOCAL VW REP ADMITS ONLY 4 OR 5. IT'S BEEN TOWED IN 3 TIMES AND WOULD HAVE BEEN 4 IF WE HAD NOT FINALLY GOTTEN IT JUMPED OFF AS OF YESTERDAY. THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE OR CRANK VEHICLE ONCE. INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH A SENSOR ON ANOTHER OCCASION AND HAD TO BE IN SHOP OVER 1 WEEK. EXPERIENCED WHAT SEEMED TO BE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND HAD TO BE TOWED ON ANOTHER. DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A GAS FILTER OR SENSOR AND TOOK OVER A WEEK TO REPAIR. HOSE PROBLEM ON ANOTHER OCCASION; GAS SENSOR ON ANOTHER (WRONG SENSOR ACTUALLY INSTALLED). INTERNAL PROBLEM ON ANOTHER OCCASION AND PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. IT ARRIVED TIMELY BUT TOOL TO COMPLETE REPAIR HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM GERMANY. TWO WEEKS IN SHOP ON THAT OCCASION. THE BRAKES ALSO RUST OVER AND SCREECH IF YOU DON'T DRIVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND IT RAINS. UNK IF IT CAUSES ANY DANGER IN STOPPING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SERVICE NOW INDICATORS COME ON AT RANDOM AND ON A REGULAR BASIS BUT WE'VE BEEN TOLD ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THERE ARE NO "CODES" TO EXPLAIN. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT START 70% OF THE TIME. VEHICLE STALLS ONCE STARTED. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. QUOTE WAS PROVIDED TO REPAIR, BUT PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR

I LEASED A NEW VW PASSAT IN 2006. THE TIRES WORE OUT IN 21,000 EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND BASICALLY DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. I HAVE NEVER HAD TIRES THAT LASTED LESS THAN 35K. *TR

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS MUCH SHORTER THAN IN OTHER CARS (IE, MY TOYOTA CAMRY)...I WILL NOT DRIVE OUR PASSAT 2006 2.0T BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHEN MY TENNIS SHOE HAS HIT BOTH PEDALS IN THE ATTEMPT TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS MUST BE A CONTINUATION OF THE AUDI5000 "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" PROBLEMS OF THE EARLY 1980'S?,,,,,, *TR

ABS BRAKES HAVE BEEN PUMPING WITHOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER. IT PUMPS RANDOMLY AT ANY SPEED AND ANY WEATHER. NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED FROM THE DEALER. THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE, GRINDING OR METAL TO METAL TYPE OF SOUNDS OR CONTACT. IN ADDITION, MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL OR MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE YEAR I HAVE OWNED THE CAR- ONLY 9491 MILES. A. AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. B. THE DRIVER SUN VISOR SHORTED AND WAS INOPERATIVE. C. IGNITION WAS WEAK AND WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVERAL TIMES. CAR WOULD DIE. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER, NO RESOLVE. THE COMPUTER COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FINALLY AS I AM DRIVING THE OTHER DAY, A MALFUNCITON LIGHT APPEARS AND THE CAR DIES. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. D. AFTER 5,000 MILES CHECK UP, THE SERVICE LIGHT APPEARED AND STAYED ON UNTIL I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER TO TURN OFF. E. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAULTY AND WILL BE REPLACING IT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 VW PASSAT, AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE PARKING LOT, AT 5 MILES/HOUR. MY PASSAT WOULD NOT STOP IN THE PARKING SPOT, IT WENT SLOWLY FORWARD, HIT THE LIGHT POLL ON THE LEFT SIDE, THEN IT WENT HEAD ON TO THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF THE SPOT I CHOSE TO PARK. IT HIT THIS CAR AND IT PUSHED THE CAR FOR 8 FEET BEFORE MY PASSAT STOPPED. IT ALL HAPPENED AT VERY LOW SPEED SO I COULD HAVE THE TIME TO SEE MY FOOT BEING ON THE RIGHT PEDAL, ON THE BRAKE, AND I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. AND ALL THIS WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED FUEL PUMP. SO IT SEEMS THAT VW DID NOT FIX IT'S OLDER PROBLEM, THEY HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2003 PASSAT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS IN THE NEWER MODELS, TOO. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FROM A STOP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND TO OTHERS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND OTHERWISE. THE DELAY IN THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IS TROUBLING ON NEW VEHICLES IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION. *TR

THERE IS AN UNSAFE THROTTLE LAG ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6 LITER. APPROX 4 SEC DELAY WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE CAR COMES TO A STAND STILL OR IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER, MERGING, PASSING AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU'VE DEPRESSED THE PEDAL APPROX. 3/4 TO AN INCH OF PEDAL TRAVEL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHES AND ACCELERATES AT WHAT FEELS LIKE HALF TO FULL THROTTLE. *TR

DEFECTED AIRBAG. MY LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON MY 06 VW PASSAT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES (LIKE ONCE A MONTH) TO HAVE THEM REPLACE SENSORS. THE PROBLEM KEEPS RE-OCCURRING AND IS GETTING EXPENSIVE. THE DEALERSHIPS SOLUTION IS OBVIOUSLY TEMPORARY AND CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

1ST OCCURRENCE, STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING CAME ON UPON IGNITION, IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE CAR. TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER "A" IN OCTOBER OF 2007, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR COMPLAINT, THEY TREATED IT AS AN ISOLATED EVENT. WE CONTINUED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT TO DEALER "A", WITHOUT RESOLUTION. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO DEALER "B", THEY REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. DEALER "B" ALSO STATED THAT THEY SEE 2-3 CARS A WEEK FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1500, DESPITE THAT WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A TEMPORARY METHOD TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE CAR IS STARTED WAS DISCOVERED ON A FORUM FULL OF HUNDREDS OF REPORTS FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3656214&PAGE=1) ADDITIONALLY, VW IRELAND HAS DEVELOPED A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED IN A MAJOR IRISH NATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATION, HOWEVER VW AMERICA DENIES SUCH A FIX EXISTS AND REFUSES TO COOPERATE WITH VW IRELAND OR LOCAL DEALERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WHEREIN AN INEXPENSIVE SOFTWARE FIX WOULD CAUSE VW TO EITHER LOSE OUT ON A $1500 MECHANICAL REPAIR AND HAVE TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE FIX. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PREVALENCE OF THE DEFECT WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. *TR

OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS OF LEASING MY NEW 2006 VW PASSAT, FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN THE CAR DOWN SHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR IT MAKES A VERY NOTICEABLE "HARD" DOWN SHIFT. THE NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HARD DOWN SHIFT IS VERY STARTLING -- IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS COMING THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR CONDITION THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO DO THIS...IT SEEMS RANDOM..IT ALWAYS SEEM TO HAPPEN WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN TO STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN DULLES, VA AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES, INJURIES, OR A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR AND CONDENSER FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY BEFORE THE CRASH. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE REPAIRS WERE SPECIFICALLY. SHE HAS THE REPAIR ORDERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.