2013 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A CLICKING NOISE FOR A FEW DAYS. WHEN MAKING A TIGHT TURN I HEARD A POP FOLLOWED BY THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR THE CLOCK SPRING HAD TO BE REPLACED.

I FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THERE IS KNOW WAY TO BYPASS THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL. EVERY OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED INCLUDING MY 2005 PASSAT HAS A BUTTON THAT ALLOW YOU TO BYPASS THE TRACTION CONTROL. THE PASSAT IS DESIGNED TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WHEN THE TIRES BEGIN TO SPIN. THIS MAY HELP A NOVICE DRIVER OR BE HELPFUL IN THE RAIN, BUT WHEN YOUR IN THE SNOW OR ICE AND ON A HILL OR INCLINE IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND LEAVE YOU STOPPED. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TRACTION ON A HILL OR TO GET ANY MOMENTUM WHEN THE CAR SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN WHEN THE TIRES SPIN. THIS LEAVES YOU AT A STAND STILL AND VULNERABLE TO CARS OR TRUCKS BEHIND YOU. THE PASSAT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO BYPASS THE TRACTION CONTROL UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,SO YOU CAN SPIN THE TIRES TO GET MOMENTUM, SO YOU CAN AT LEAST MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY. IT IS NECESSARY TO SPIN THE TIRES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SO AT LEAST YOU CAN MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE GET HURT BECAUSE THE PASSAT BECOMES IMMOBILE WHEN THE TIRES SPIN. *TR

TAKATA RECALL HASN'T BEEN REPAIRED YET. IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME.

AT ABOUT 12000 MILES ON MY VW PASSAT CLUNKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP IN FRONT END OF CAR. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT INTO VW GARAGE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS AT 15000 MILES. THE TOLD ME THE SWAY BARS FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM. AFTER REPAIR THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED AND CAR IS WITHOUT NOISE. *TR

ON NOVEMBER 19TH AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM, AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE, THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO MY HUSBANDS WORK BENCH WHICH WAS AGAINST A CONCRETE WALL. DAMAGING FRONT OF CAR,WINDSHIELD, WORKBENCH,STEEL STORAGE CABINET,ETC. *JS

ON 11/9/14 THE TURBO FAILED ON MY 2013 VW PASSAT WITH THE TDI DIESEL ENGINE. VW KNOWS THEY ARE HAVING A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THEIR TURBOS ON THE TDI ENGINE (EUROPE CURRENTLY HAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST THEM). IN AUGUST I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM VW EXTENDING MY WARRANTY ON THE TURBO TO 10 YEARS/120000 MILES. THEY ARE SIMPLY WAITING FOR THE TURBOS TO FAIL RATHER THAN REPLACING THEM ON ALL 2012 & 2013 PASSATS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN, WHEN THE TURBO FAILS YOU LOOSE ALL ENGINE POWER (IE. GM IGNITION RECALL). THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION FOR VW TO PUT ITS CUSTOMERS IN WHO DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TO DO IN A SITUATION WHEN YOU LOOSE ENGINE POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MINE DID JUST THAT, IT FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN NO POWER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE VW RECALL THESE TURBOS AND REPLACE THEM IN ALL THE AFFECTED CARS BEFORE IT CAUSES A FATALITY. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS HIT IN AN ACCIDENT THAT CRUSHED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE JAMMING THE FRONT DOORS AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSES GREAT CONCERN THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE FAULTY IN THE 2013 VW PASSAT. THE CAR WAS SO SEVERELY DAMAGED SHE HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE BACK DOORS OF THE CAR AS THE ENGINE WAS SHOVED IN.....UPDATED 11/18/14 *BF UPDATED 8/12/2015*JS *TR

OUR 2013 VW PASSAT TDI HAD THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAIL AT 25,599 MILES. WHEN WE ASKED WHY THE PUMP WOULD BE FAILING SO SOON AND IF IT WAS COMMON, THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE SAID IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER SOMEONE PUTS GASOLINE IN THE TANK. I CAN ASSURE 100% THAT GASOLINE WAS NEVER PUT INTO THIS CAR'S TANK. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE VW TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAS A DESIGN FLAW OR IT CANNOT WORK CORRECTLY WITH AMERICAN DIESEL. *TR

I DRIVE A 2013 VW PASSAT TDI SE. YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARD/OUTWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE WEATHER WAS NOT EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD. WE WERE ON A "LONELY" STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 40 JUST EAST OF WINSLOW, AZ. THIS OCCURRED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, NOT DURING THE HOT, MIDDLE OF THE DAY. NO OBJECTS STRUCK OUR CAR/SUNROOF, IT JUST BLEW UPWARD LEAVING A LARGE HOLE IN THE GLASS. *TR

REDUNDANT TANK HEATER FAILURE. VERY COMMON ISSUE (TO THE POINT THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL "HOW TO" FIX IT YOURSELF PROCEDURES AND A "HACK" TO TRICK THE MIL LIGHT INTO THINKING IT IS WORKING. EVEN THOUGH IT FAILED WITHIN THE CARB WARRANTY PERIOD, VW REFUSED TO FIX UNDER CARB WARRANTY BECAUSE A VW DEALERSHIP DID NOT DIAGNOSE IT WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD (IT WAS 3RD PARTY MECHANIC) AND CAR IS NOW WELL OUT OF CARB WARRANTY. IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND AN EXTREMELY COMMON FAILURE, TO THE POINT WERE THERE IS A VW TSB ON THE PART FAILING IN THE PASSATS AND TOUREGS. I HAVE APPROACHED VW TWICE ON THE ISSUE, BUT TO NO LOVE FROM THEM. CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE SINCE THIS PART IS NOT USED IN THE CLIMATE THAT I DRIVE IT IN, SO I HAVE NOT FIXED IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF NOW.

ON SEPT. 27, 2014 DURING A PRE-LONG TRIP SAFETY CHECK, AUTO MECHANIC NOTICED UNUSUAL BULGE ON REAR LEFT TIRE. I CALLED MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER.AND WAS DIRECTED TO MY NEAREST AUTHORIZED TIRE DEALER.WHO FOUND POSSIBLE DEFECT AND ORDERED A REPLACEMENT TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. TIRE DOT A35M 3WL 1113. CONTINENTAL PROCONTACT 215/60R16 CLAIM # [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE IN NICE WEATHER AND LOW TRAFFIC THE SUNROOF OF MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT EXPLODED OUTWARDS CREATING A LARGE HOLE 18" - 20". IT WAS A LOUD GUNSHOT TYPE NOISE AND SOME GLASS ENDED UP ON OUR FACES AND ARMS CREATING MINOR CUTS. MOST OF THE GLASS WAS BLOWN OUTSIDE THE CAR AND DAMAGED THE ROOF AND TRUNK. WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED AND THE SUNROOF WAS ALSO CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. WE WERE NOT UNDER ANY OVERPASSES OR NEAR BUILDINGS OR ROAD DEBRIS. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY SAYING IT IS AN OUTSIDE FORCE. VW CUSTOMER CARE WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH AND ALSO DENIED THE CLAIM AND I WILL HAVE TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM DUE TO EXTENT OF DAMAGE. *TR

HEATED SIDE MIRRORS WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 68 DEGREES. IN HOUSTON, IT'S OFTEN OVER 68 DEGREES, AND MIRRORS WILL FOG OVER. THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE USELESS WHEN THEY'RE FOGGED OVER, AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY. *TR

COMPANY IS CLAIMING THAT AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE OF A SPILL ON PASSENGER SEAT HAS CAUSED THE AIR BAG FAULT THAT DISABLES THE AIRBAG. *TR

COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER: VEHICLE ON THREE OCCASIONS HAS EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. DISPLAY DEPICTS 'ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTION' BUT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO FAULT CODE STORED, THEREFORE NO REPAIR CAN BE MADE. I PROVIDED PHOTOS OF THE TROUBLE LIGHTS AND A VIDEO OF OTHER LIGHTS THAT COME ON AFTER THE POWER LOSS HAPPENS. DEALERSHIP VERBALLY ACKNOWLEDGED SOMETHING IS WRONG. VEHICLE TAKEN IN TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE, DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP TROUBLESHOOTS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.TECHNICIAN VERBALLY TOLD ME IT COULD BE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM W/ THE INTERNAL CLUTCH FAILING TO RELEASE, STALLING THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY CERTIFIED 2013 VW PASSAT TDI SEL WITH ONLY 32,100 MILES AT 60 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING "POP" AND FELT THE CAR SHUDDER. I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT NOTICED THE I HAD NO POWER. I CRUISED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAITED TO BE TOWED TO A VW DEALERSHIP. FOUND OUT LATER THE FUEL PUMP HAD "CAME APART" AND IT WILL TAKE 1.5 WEEKS UNTIL IT IS FIXED. VERY TROUBLING PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR HAS SUCH FEW MILES AND WAS STILL UNDER FACTORY AND DEALER WARRANTY. *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND ENTRY ABOUT THIS INCIDENT; THIS CAR WAS A CERTIFIED 2013 PASSAT TDI SEL THAT I HAD OWNED FOR FOUR DAYS! I HAD NEVER EVEN REFUELED IT ONCE AND THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED ON I-95 IN MARYLAND AND THE ENSUING INCIDENT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. I WAS AT THE ENTRY TO THE BALTIMORE I-95 TUNNEL WITH NEARLY NO WHERE TO PULL OVER ONCE THE CAR STOPPED--CARS AND TRUCKS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE TUNNEL MOVING CREW CAME SHORTLY AFTER SINCE MY STOPPED CAR WAS AN EXTREME HAZARD--I AM HANDICAPPED AND HAD NO WHERE TO ESCAPE TO. I EVENTUALLY WAS TOWED BACK TO MY DEALER AND NOW THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP TO BE FIXED FOR 1&1/2 WEEKS. VW CLAIMS THAT THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE IS THAT OWNERS ARE PUTTING GASOLINE IN WITH THE DIESEL. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE IN MY CASE AS I ONLY HAD THE CARE FOR 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE DEALER HAD TOPPED IT OFF WITH THEIR OWN FUEL! VW IS NOT BEIG HONEST ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM AND NHTSA NEEDS TO ORDER A TOTAL RECALL. IT IS A NEAR MIRACLE THAT I WAS NOT KILLED. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE TUNNEL WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OVER AT ALL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND MOST LIKELY A FATALITY (ME!) PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS STUCK AND FAILED TO OPEN THE DOOR. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FAILED AND THE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE LOCK WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

WHILE SITTING STILL IN A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY KNOCKED VIOLENTLY AND STOPPED RUNNING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING METAL FRAGMENTS TO BE SPREAD THROUGH THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TANK OF FUEL AND HAD RAN PERFECT BEFORE THE INCIDENT. AT NO TIME HAVE WE EVER ACCIDENTALLY FILLED IT WITH GASOLINE INSTEAD OF DIESEL AND AT NO TIME HAD THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH AS IF IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE COMBUSTING THE FUEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES, SIZE 215/55R17 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,727.

TURBO QUIT MAKING A HIGH PITCH NOISE... BLOWING SMOKE. *TR

ENGINE LOST POWER, GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING BARELY MADE IT TO THE DEALER. DEALER BLAMED BAD FUEL. IDENTICAL PROBLEM AT 26,480 MILES. DEALER REPLACED HPFP. *TR

OUR 2013 VW PASSAT'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENTLY WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD. WE PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT TWO MILES, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF AND AGAIN WE PULLED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE WE CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR CURRENTLY IS AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER BEING REPAIRED. APPARENTLY, OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. NHTSA, PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *JS

CAR PULLS SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. VOLKSWAGEN STATES THAT EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. NOTHING IS BENT OR BROKEN. WE HAVE A SECOND 2013 PASSAT THAT DOES THE SAME THING. THE CASTER IS OUT OF SPEC IN A INDEPENDENT ALIGNMENT, BUT WAS TOLD IT IS NON ADJUSTABLE.( CAME FROM THE FACTORY THIS WAY) MANY PASSATS FROM 2012- 2014 HAVE THIS ISSUE. AT 65 MPH OUR TWO PASSATS WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE LANES IN 6 SECONDS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE OF I-84 SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 6TH WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL STAYED ON THE FLOOR AND THE CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP WITH NO SUDDEN JERKING MOTION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT INVOLVED NOR DID IT STAY ON THE FLOOR AS THE CLUTCH DID. *TR

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN BUSY TRAFFIC. GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING (IT'S A TDI) AND I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN SMOKE. I WAITED ON THE SHOULDER OVER AN HOUR FOR A TOW WITH CONTINUED BUSY 60+ MPH TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST DEALER. THEY'VE DIAGNOSED IT AS A TURBOCHARGER FAILURE. CLEARLY THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT ONLY 15,000 MILES BUT IT APPEARS TO BE COMMON. TURBO AND EXHAUST SYSTEM ARE BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

I WAS PULLING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED AND HIT A PARKING METER POLE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN SIX AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, AGAIN AT VERY LOW SPEED. THIS TIME THE CAR HIT THE WALL OF THE PARKING RAMP, AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IN BOTH CASES, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THAT MORNING, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT THREE MILES. *TR

CAR PULLS SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN SAYS EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. NOTHING IS BENT OR BROKEN. THEY ALSO SAID " IT'S JUST THE WAY THE CAR HANDLES" I AM NOT STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, JUST COASTING ON ANY ROAD AND WITHIN 5 TO 6 SECONDS I AM HALFWAY IN THE OTHER LANE. *TR

"TAKATA RECALL" CAR WAS RECALLED FOR LIGHTS, AFTER BEING IN THE SHOP MY CAR WOULD NOT START, I WAS TOLD MY SERVICE MANAGER THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE WEATHER, I RESPONDED WITH IT CANT BE CAUSE THE BATTERY IS HOLDING A CHARGE, I WAS KICKED OUT OF SERVICE AREA, I HAVE ALSO PAID FOR MY AIRBAGS TO FIXED AND I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WARNING LIGHT BEFORE RECALL HAPPENED, AND BEFORE 36K MILAGE EXPERATION.. MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT RECALL, HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES STILL DOES WORK.. I CANT SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. MY CAR SOMETIMES STAHLS IWHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT GO OVER2KRPM, OH YOU CAN ALSO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT WITHOUT HOLDING BUTTON DOWN WHILE DRIVING..

SIDE PANEL OF CENTER CONSOLE COMES LOOSE OFTEN. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (3 TIMES OUT OF 11 INCIDENTS TO DATE) THE PANEL FELL ONTO THE FLOOR CAUSING DANGEROUS INTERFERENCE WITH THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SAFELY USE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. INFORMAL RESEARCH REVEALS MANY REFERENCES TO THIS PANELS POOR FIT ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. *TR

THIS INCIDENT HAD TO HAPPEN TWICE FOR THE DEALER TO SEE THE ISSUE. ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT A LIGHT WHEN I REACHED 3000 RPM THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON PROBLEM WAS GONE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY ISSUE. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN BUT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CAR OFF OR EVEN SHIFTING OUT OF D. I DROVE THE CAR WITH THAT CONDITION DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND INSTRUCTED ONE OF THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO GET IN THE CAR AND TAKE A RIDE WITH ME. HE SAW THE ISSUE AND THIS TIME BELIEVED ME AND THEY INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. MY SEAT FRAME WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY TWICE. MY NAVIGATION UNIT REPLACED TWICE AND VW STILL IGNORING THE LAG AND FREEZING OF THE UNIT. WHY PAY 5000 MORE FOR A NAVIGATION AND CAMERA FOR THEM NOT TO FUNCTION RIGHT. A SECTION OF MY MUFFLER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AS WELL. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE KEY FOB. I FOUND OUT IT IS EFFECTED VERY EASILY BY INTERFERENCE AND WHEN YOUR KEY FOB IS IN THE CAR IT CAN SAY KEY FOB NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS VEHICLE, I THOUGHT VW HAD BETTER QUALITY STANDARDS. *TR

ON 5/17/2014 WE BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER THERE VERBAL, THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE CAR FROM PULLING RIGHT. THEY SCHEDULED US TO BRING THE CAR BACK 5/29/2014 TO FIX THE PULL TO THE RIGHT AND HAVE COSMETICS DONE TO THE CAR. 5/30/2014 WE PICKED UP THE CAR, ON 6/5/2014 WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR STILL PULLS RIGHT, DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR THREE WEEKS TRYING TO FIX THE RIGHT PULL. THEY CHANGED THE TIRES FROM HANKOOK TO CONTINENTALS, THIS HELPED A LITTLE AND WE TOOK THE CAR. 2/16/2015 WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR IS PULLING US OUT OF THE LANE WITHIN 4 SECONDS, IF YOU DON'T PULL DOWN ON THE STEERING LEFT, THE CAR TAKES YOU RIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CAR MEETS VW SPECS FOR ALIGMENT, WE HAVE HAD TWO OTHER COMPANIES VERIFY THIS, AND THEY STATE ITS PULLS RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF WE CAN HAVE THIS CAR INSPECTED FOR SAFETY ISSUES, TAKING YOU OUT OF YOUR LANE (ALWAYS RIGHT), IN 4 SECONDS WE FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STALLED FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED ON SLOW SPEED CITY STREETS. THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DIAGNOSIS BY DEALER IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE. THE DIAGNOSIS AND RESOLUTION OF THE ABOVE ISSUE TOOK 2 WEEKS TO RESOLVE. HOPEFULLY IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

THERE WAS A WHINE BY THE TURBO THEN BLACK SMOKE. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE TURBO WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE BLEW. NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CAR HAD OIL. VW SAYS PAY 12K FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE AND TURBO. THEY WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I MISSED THE 10K SERVICE. WE LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA BUT I HAD ADDED APPROVED FACTORY OIL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT AN OIL CHANGE HAS TO DO WITH A TURBO? *TR

TURBO FAILED FOR SECOND TIME AND AFTER ONLY 4,000 MILES. BEGAN AS WHINING NOISE. VEHICLE THEN SHOWED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE ABOVE 1ST GEAR. *TR

MY NAME IS [XXX]. MY WIFE AND SON WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION BACK LAST YEAR ON MAY 02, 2014. WIFE WAS SITTING STILL AT A LIGHT WAITING FOR LIGHT TO TURN GREEN IN ORDER TO TURN LEFT WHEN A CAR HEADING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION RAN A RED LIGHT SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN SLAMMED HEAD ON INTO MY WIFE'S CAR WHICH WAS SITTING STILL AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND THEN AIR BAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY. DUE TO THE IMPACT, WIFE'S HEAD WAS SLAMMED INTO STEERING WHEEL GIVING HER A CONCUSSION AND BLACKING OUT AND GETTING HURT BADLY AND MY SON WAS SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT AND JARRED AROUND PRETTY GOOD. I AM VERY UPSET AS HOW THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND THEY DID NOT. IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE AIRBAGS ON THIS CAR AND POSSIBLY MANY MORE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 4/5/18*JB *TR

STARTED HEARING A WHISTLING TYPE OF SOUND AND NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING WHEN I PUSHED ON THE PEDAL. AS I TRIED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I COULD NOT GET IT STARTED TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD. VERY SCARY. IT FINALLY STARTED LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT STALLED OUT AGAIN. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND HAVE IT SERVICED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED TO TELL ME IT WAS THE TURBO AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE BUT WILL HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS ON WHAT EXACTLY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND WHAT TYPE OF WARRANTY THIS NEW ENGINE HAS. *TR

OWN A 2013 VW PASSAT SEL TDI. GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OVER, CALLED DEALER, THEY IN TURN HAD ME TURN VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART. GLOW PLUG LIGHT ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. DROVE TO DEALER LESS THAN 4 MILES. DIAGNOSTIC AT DEALER "EXHAUST TEMP SENSOR" BAD AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PART. WAS TOLD THESE SENSORS ARE LIKE "LIGHT BULBS", PER DEALER, AND WILL GO BAD ROUTINELY. PRETTY EXPENSIVE LIGHT BULB IF YOU ASK ME. I PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BEING MAINTENANCE FREE, I TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY, THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT A SENSOR SHOULD GO BAD WITH 51,000 MILE ON A NEW VEHICLE AND IF THIS PART IS A "LIGHT BULB" THAN VW SHOULD ALLOW CONSUMER TO REPLACE NOT CHARGE THEM THIS RIDICULOUS LABOR FEE. *TR

WAS DRIVING 2013 PASSAT TDI SEL JUST FINE. TURNED AROUND IN A PARKING LOT AND WHEN I WENT TO PULL BACK INTO TRAFFIC, THE CAR HAD NO POWER. STEPPING ON THE GAS ALMOST MADE THE CAR STALL, BUT IT WOULD IDLE FINE. AFTER TRYING EVERYTHING AND EVEN SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, IT DID THE SAME, WOULD IDLE FINE BUT YOU COULD NOT STEP ON THE FUEL PEDAL, IT WOULD MAKE THE CAR STALL OUT. LOCAL MECHANIC DROVE TO HIS NEARBY SHOP BY JUST LEAVING IT AND DRIVE AND USED IDLE POWER ONLY TO GET IT THERE (YES IT TOOK A WHILE). THERE WERE NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASH SO HE HOOKED IT UP TO HIS COMPUTER AND IT GAVE THREE ERRORS FOR INJECTOR FAILURES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO DEALER 100 MILES AWAY. THE NEXT DAY, I WAS TOLD THE TURBO CHARGER HAD FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS TOLD THEY WERE STILL WAITING FOR A GASKET. FINALLY AFTER ALMOST 3 WEEKS TO THE DAY, THEY SAID MY CAR WAS FIXED. I AM GOING TO PICK IT UP TOMORROW BUT HAVE VERY LITTLE FAITH IN THIS CAR AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS THREADS OUT THERE ABOUT THE TURBO CHARGER FAILURE RATE IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. I THINK ITS TIME FOR A RECALL. *TR

TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VW PASSAT TDI SE (THE "VEHICLE") LOST POWER, CAUSING THE GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. TO PREVENT ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE, THE VEHICLE ENTERED INTO LIMP MODE. WHILE IN LIMP MODE, THE AUTOMOBILE BECOMES UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER AND PHONE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AT WHICH TIME NOTIFICATION WAS GIVEN THAT THE VEHICLE'S TURBO NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY A WEEK. DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SERVICE CONSULTANT, THEY STATED THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED RECENTLY BY VW, ON TURBO FAILURES AND PROPER MODIFICATIONS OF THE INSTALLATION TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKS AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SECOND TURBO FAILURE. AT WHICH TIME, THE TURBO FAILED WHILE CROSSING INTO TRAFFIC, JEOPARDIZING LIVES OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. VW HAS ONCE AGAIN REPLACED THE TURBO. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OTHER INCIDENTS OF THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOTHING SUSTAINED. IF THE TURBO FAILS AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE A THIRD OCCURRENCE. VW'S RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RATHER INSIGNIFICANT. *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS I WAS TURNING AND STILL IN THE INTERSECTION, THE CAR STALLED. I LUCKILY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CLEAR OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS EVEN AFTER BEING SEEN BY THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE "GLOW PLUG" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE NEARLY STALLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHILE IN TRAFFIC, AND THEN WOULD NOT OPERATE ABOVE 25-30 MPH. I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN BY FLAT BED TOW TRUCK TO THE VW DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS "TURBINE SHAFT SEIZED" AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. REVIEW OF PUBLIC DATA REVEALS THIS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE PASSAT EQUIPPED WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE. *TR

WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN, VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE LOW POWER. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT VERY SLOWLY. A FEW MILES LATER, I HAD TO STOP FOR ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD STOPPED TO TURN LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AFTER THAT CAR HAD TURNED, I HAD NO POWER (VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING). I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT A VEHICLE COMING UP FROM BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR FROM BEHIND. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHICH CONFIRMED A FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER SYSTEM AND THEN REPLACED THE TURBOCHARGER UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT OF TURBOCHARGER APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TURBOCHARGER FAILED. DEALER IS FIXING UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TURBOCHARGER FAILURES ON THE DIESEL TDI THAT THEY ARE NOW STOCKING ALL TURBO PARTS FOR REPAIR. *TR

WHEN I OPERATE MY CAR AND SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR I FEEL A NOTICEABLE STUTTER, THIS OCCURS AT AROUND 1200 RPM. I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS LINKED TO THE NUMEROUS TURBO FAILURES THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH THE 2012 AND 2013 TDI PASSATS. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOTED COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWED BY A TURBO FAILURE. *TR

AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED A TURBO FAILURE. DRIVING HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MINUTES INTO A TRIP AND THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 25% POWER AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. CALLED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID TO PULL OVER AND HAVE TOWED TO THE CLOSED AUTHORIZED DEALER. *TR

NOTICED HI-PITCHED WHINE WHICH GOT LOUDER AS RPM'S OF ENGINE INCREASED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED UNDER WARRANTY TO VW DEALERSHIP. ISSUE WAS A DEFECTIVE TURBO. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THIS LOW OF MILEAGE. IF THE TURBO HAD FAILED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY OR DURING A AVOIDANCE/PASSING MANEUVER, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY OR WORSE. I'M HEARING OF MORE AND MORE OF THESE TURBO ISSUES ON THIS MODEL/STYLE OF VW PASSATS. *TR

VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT WHEN A LOUD "CRACK" WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY A LOUD GRINDING AND WHISTLING SOUND, THE CAR LOST POWER. MY WIFE FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND TURN INTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET. AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AT A VERY SLOW SPEED (CAR WOULD GO NO FASTER THAN ABOUT 10 MPH) TO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND CALL VOLKSWAGEN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE OUR CAR TO THE NEAREST VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISER INFORMED US OF THE TURBO FAILURE. *TR

TURBO FAILED ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. SEVERE DAMAGE TO ENGINE, INTAKE COMPONENTS AND EXHAUST DEVICES. WHILE THIS FAILURE DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IT PLACED US IN CONSIDERABLE DANGER. *TR

VEHICLE WAS DOWN ON POWER WITH NOTICEABLE TURBOCHARGER WHINING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, TURBOCHARGER WAS REPLACED. ORIGINAL TURBO HAD DAMAGE ON IMPELLER AND TURBO HOUSING. *TR