2014 Volkswagen Passat Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COMPRESSOR WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPRESSOR FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE, WITH MINOR LANE CORRECTION INPUTS, THERE IS A COUNTER FORCE FROM THE VW ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTIVE STEERING SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT LET ME TURN THE WHEEL UNLESS I APPLY HARDER PRESSURE. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FREES UP, IT?S AS IF IT BROKE FREE OF SOME STICKY SUBSTANCE. AT TIMES THIS FORCE HAS BEEN SO HARD THAT THE PASSENGERS WERE JOSTLED IN THE CAR. VW MECHANIC HAS DESCRIBED THE ISSUES AS A DEAD SPOT IN THE STEERING.. THE ISSUE OCCURS UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS; 1) ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH RELATIVELY MINOR CAMBER ANGLES. 2) ON NEW VERY SMOOTH DRY PAYMENT ? IMPORTANT - DOES NOT OCCUR ON ROUGHER NEWER PAVEMENT. 3) SET SPEED CONTROL AT 64 MPH - OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS AS WELL. HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE UNDER 60 MPH. 4) OCCURS IN ALL LANES BUT I DRIVE MOSTLY IN THE RIGHT LANE. 5) IN A STRAIGHT LINE RUN OF 1/8 OF A MILE OR SO WHERE THE STEERING ANGLE IS CENTER-LINED. 6) TURN THE WHEEL WITH MINOR DRIVER STEERING INPUTS/ANGLES TO STAY IN THE LANE - NOT TRYING TO CHANGE LANES. VW TRIED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE WITH A SOFTWARE FIX. IT DIDN'T WORK. THEY NOW SAY THE CAR IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. *TR

AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK I REALIZED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A SLIGHT INCONVENIENCE TURNS OUT TO BE A MAJOR VISIBILITY ISSUE. I HAD NOTICED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THAT IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC THE INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR CAUSES BLIND SPOTS. AT FIRST I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS BLOCKING THE UPPER SECTIONS OF MOST SEDAN TYPE VEHICLES. HOWEVER ON THE DATE IN QUESTION I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC THERE WAS A DELIVERY TRUCK WITH A HIGHER ROAD CLEARANCE. THIS VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING LEFT INTO MY LANE. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS BLOCKING MY ABILITY TO SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE DELIVERY TRUCK. AFTER NOTICING THIS ISSUE I TOOK GREATER CONCERN WHEN DRIVING AND LOOKING AT THE VISIBILITY. THEN ON THE 27TH WHILE DRIVING TO A LOCAL PARK THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR ONLY ALLOWED ME TO SEE ABOUT A SMALL PORTION OF THEIR LOWER TORSO. THE CYCLIST WAS IN THE BIKE LANE JUST OFF MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. THIS WAS STILL THE ISSUE WHEN THE CYCLIST WAS SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF MY CAR. IF THE CYCLIST HAD SIGNALED HE WAS MERGING INTO MY LANE FOR THE UPCOMING INTERSECTION I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE HAND SIGNAL. LUCKILY BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS A BLIND SPOT BASICALLY IN FRONT MY CAR I WAS ABLE TO AVOID ANY INCIDENT. THESE ISSUES WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE AN ISSUE AS MOST REAR VIEW MIRRORS HAVE BOTH THE ABILITY TO TILT (UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT) HOWEVER ALSO CAN BE MOVED AROUND TWO INCHES UPWARD, DOWNWARD , LEFT AND RIGHT. THIS IS DUE TO THE BALL JOINTS AT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER (BASE) OF THE INTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR. HOWEVER ON A NUMBER OF VW VEHICLES THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LOWER (BASE) BALL JOINT. THUS I AM UNABLE TO POSITION THE INTERNAL REARVIEW MIRROR TO AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION. HOPEFULLY I CAN HAVE THIS RESOLVED BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION AND REQUESTS A BUY BACK OF VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST STEERING MALFUNCTION OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 8, 2014, WHICH CAUSED HER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN HER AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO CORRODED WIRES IN THE STEERING BOX, A COMPUTER UPDATE WAS NEEDED AND IT WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON OCTOBER 22, 2014, THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED OCCURRED AGAIN AND SHE ALMOST HIT A PARKED VEHICLE AND A LIGHT POLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK AND HARNESS. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2014, THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN ON DECEMBER 18, 2014. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE AMPLIFIER AND RADIO WERE REPLACED. *JB

PURCHASED A NEW VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEPTEMBER 22, 2014. TWO WEEKS LATER OCTOBER 6 I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN ABRUPTLY THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL PRESSED THE GAS THE RPM WENT TO 4 I HAD TO STOP. ANOTHER TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN.I SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR NOVEMBER 17 TH. ON THE 14TH AND 15 TH OF NOVEMBER THE CAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN, HOWEVER ON THE 15 TH IT HAPPENED ON A LOCAL STREET DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MILES/ HOUR. I TOOK THE CAR FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND MAYBE I HANG MY POCKET BOOK ON THE CHANGER. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE CAR IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. I TOOK THE CAR AND THE SAME NIGHT THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN . I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND WAS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR.I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER I HAVE A CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY HE SAID " GET IT OUT OF YOUR HEAD YOU ARE NOT GETTING A NEW CAR OR YOUR MONEY BACK." I HAVE PARKED THE CAR AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN SINCE NOVEMBER 20TH EXCEPT TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY ANOTHER DEALER TWICE WHO TELLS ME THE CAR IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. I STILL HAVE THE CAR PARKED BECAUSE I CANNOT BE DRIVING SCARED. *TR

TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON INTERSTATE #10 AT CIRCA AZ MILEPOST 180 THE CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING SUDDENLY SLOWED FROM 75 TO 40 MPH AND THE RPM WENT INTO THE RED LINE ZONE <6000 RPM. THE SENSATION WITHIN THE CAR WAS AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED IN A FULL PANIC STOP. SINCE THE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED OR OTHER INDICATION TO FAST MOVING MOTORISTS, I ONLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT (BEING PLOWED INTO FROM BEHIND) BY PULLING OFF ON TO THE SHOULDER. ANY HESITATION ON MY PART OR HAD I BEEN IN A MIDDLE LANE WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN A MULTI CAR/TRUCK PILE UP. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS VEHICLE FAILURE. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER I CONSULTED THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATED DSG (DIREKT-SCHALT-GETRIEBE, I.E. THE TRANSMISSION) OVERHEATED. THE MANUAL SAID TO LET THE TRANSMISSION COOL DOWN BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. IN ALL IT WAS OVER 6 HOURS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GIVEN TO COOL DOWN TO NO EFFECT. (THIS INCLUDES THE TIME I WAITED THEN AFTER I CALLED FOR A TOW, WAITED ON THE TOW, AND WAS TOWED 140 MILES TO TUCSON) THE PROBLEM DID NOT RESOLVE. IT WAS LEFT LATE THAT NIGHT AT A VW DEALER IN TUCSON. LATE THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM GERMANY AND NOT BE AVAILABLE TO INSTALL FOR 7-10 DAYS. GERMANY? THE CAR WAS PURPORTED TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IN KENTUCKY. THIS, ON A CAR I HAVE OWNED FOR ONLY 90 DAYS WITH ONLY 7000 MILES! THIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT COULD EASILY PLACE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE AND OTHER MOTORISTS AND THEIR PASSENGERS IN MORTAL DANGER. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SHUTTING OFF WITHOUT NOTICE AND STALLING. CALLED THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US TO DROP IT OFF. ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2014 VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF GOT SEVERAL CALLS STATING THAT THE TECHNICIAN COULDN'T DUPLICATE THEM PROBLEM, FINALLY WE RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE THE TECH WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE. VEHICLE WAS GIVEN BACK TO US ON SEPTEMBER13, 2014, STATING IT WAS THE CRANK SENSOR THAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME DROVE AROUND THE WEEKEND AND ITS BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN. ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2014 DRIVING TO MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL ON THE I-15 FREEWAY PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK THE VEHICLE SHUTS OF COMPLETELY, STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD NO CONTROL, NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. I PUSHED THE HANDLE TO NEUTRAL START THE CAR AGAIN AND SLAM THE HANDLE TO DRIVE. CAR STARTED RIGHT UP PULLED TO THE SIDE AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. DROVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY WITH HAZARD LIGHTS, DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OF AT SCHOOL AND DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOLD THE SERVICE TECH, I TRUSTED YOUR TECH'S HAD FIXED THIS PROBLEM, MY DAUGHTER AND I COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF WITH NO NOTICE! CALLED THE VW CORPORATE NO ONE IS WILLING TO HELP OR LISTEN. TOLD [XXX] IN VW CORP THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS UNSAFE CAR, SHE REPLIED" YOU COULD GET KILLED CROSSING THE STREET OR IN ANOTHER VEHICLE DON'T BLAME IT ON VW CARS. NO CONCERN WITH OUR SAFETY. THE VEHICLE IS READY TO BE PICKED UP THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE HARNESS. I AM SCARED FOR MY SAFETY AND MY KIDS SAFETY. MANY COMPLAINTS IN THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS REGARDING 2014 VW PASSATS, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WITH THESE ISSUES. I JUST WANT A SAFE RELIABLE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY FAMILY. I WANT TO BE PLACED INTO ANYTHING BUT A PASSAT. SOMETHING SAFE, RELIABLE TRANSFER MY DEBT TO ANOTHER VEHICLE, JUST WANT TO BE SAFE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO TURN OFF AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO ACTIVATE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP A CURB AND RUN OFF THE ROAD, INJURING THE CONSUMERS WIFE. *TA

AS I TRIED TO POSITION MYSELF TO ENTER A PARKING LOT. I CHANGED GEAR TO REVERSE, TO BACK UP. I SWITCHED GEAR AGAIN TO DRIVE. I PROCEED TO THE LOT AND THAT'S WHEN THE CAR MOVED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. I HIT THE BRAKE, BUT HAD BREAK FAILURE . I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, IN THE PROCESS (7) OTHER CARS WERE HIT... UNTIL THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS HIT.

THE LAMP FOR SIDELIGHTS FRONT RIGHT WAS DEFECT. *TR

WAS ENTERING THE 241 TOLL ROAD AT PORTOLA RD. IN LAKE FOREST. HAVE JUST COME TO SPEED THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRONIC CAME TO AN INSTANT STOP. I WAS ABLE IN THIS CASE TO ROLL TO THE SHOULDER, HOWEVER, HAD THIS HAPPENED IN ANOTHER PLACE AT ANOTHER TIME I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH AT IT WAS. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. *TR

RECEIVED A LETTER NOTIFYING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLES 2014 PASSET AIRBAGS.

WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND SLOWING DOWN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN,COULD NOT STEER AS STEERING WHEEL LOCKED,LOST ALL POWER, COULD NOT APPLY BRAKES AS THEY DID NOT WORK, THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED A 1/2 HOUR LATER COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, CALLED THE VW NATIONAL NUMBER, EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAPPENED AT FASTER SPEEDS, THEY DID NOT SEEM OVERLY CONCERNED, TOLD ME TO TOW IT TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER FOR SERVICE, THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN TAKING IT BACK FROM THE DEALER, WHAT DO I DO? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WENT FROM THE "ON" POSITION TO "ACCESSORY" OR IN BASIC TERMS IT SHUT OFF CAUSING A LOSS IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND DRIVE IT NORMALLY. *TR

TAKATA RECALL. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AS OF YET. BUT, I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE NOTICE OF A REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL FOR OUR 2015 VW PASSAT.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY GOING EAST AROUND 8 AM. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ALONGSIDE THE ROAD, AS WELL AS MANY POTHOLES. AS I WAS EXITING FOR THE LIE, THERE WAS A BIG POTHOLE THAT I COULD NOT AVOID. I HIT THE POTHOLE AND MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. *JS

I WAS DRIVING ON THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY GOING EAST AROUND 8 AM. THERE WAS CONSTRUCTION ALONGSIDE THE ROAD, AS WELL AS MANY POTHOLES. AS I WAS EXITING FOR THE LIE, THERE WAS A BIG POTHOLE THAT I COULD NOT AVOID. I HIT THE POTHOLE AND MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. *TR

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR IS ON THE LIST BUT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT READY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS HEARING ABOUT TAKATA WRONG DOINGS THEY KNEW IT SINCE 2004, WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR MORE PEOPLE TO DIE? SO I HAVE TO PAY THIS EXPENSIVE CAR THAT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE, AND I AM ON THE ROAD EVERYDAY. DESPICABLE.

TURBOCHARGER FAILURE ON A TDI ENGINE. ENGINE DIED WITH VEHICLE TRAVELING IN THE LEFT-MOST LANE OF 3 LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. RESULTED IN VEHICLE STRANDED IN EMERGENCY LANE AWAITING A TOW. *TR

SINCE PURCHASED WE HAVE FOUND THE RNS-510 RADIO NAVIGATION ASYSTEM TO BE A DANGEROUS ITEM THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEIR TECH TIPS NUMBER, TT 91-13-01 DATED 2/8/2013, UPDATED ON 5/9/2014 BASICALLY TELLS THE CAR OWNER TO JUST LIVE WITH IT. I THINK NOT SINCE IT IS DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING. IN SPEAKING WITH VW TECHS AT A NUMBER OF DEALERSHIPS I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS SYSTEM IS , "CRAP', "SUCKS", " IS UNDERPOWERED", "HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED", "IS A PAIN IN THE [XXX]", "WILL NEVER WORK RIGHT BECAUSE IT IS UNDERPOWERED". MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF CONCERNS WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED RADIO NAVIGATION SYSTEM. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND WAITING FROM 3-7 SECONDS THE REARVIEW CAMERA SHOWS A PICTURE.WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE THE REARVIEW CAMERA STAYS ON THE SCREEN FOR AROUND 8-9 SECONDS. MY WIFE HAS FOUND THIS DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS IN MOVING FORWARD BUT HAVING A REAR VIEW STILL VISIBLE ON THE SCREEN TAKING THE DRIVERS ATTENTION FROM CONCENTRATING ON THE ROAD AHEAD. THE RADIO TOUCH SCREEN IS ALSO A PROBLEM THAT AT TIMES REQUIRES MULTIPLE TOUCHES TO GET A CHANNEL CHANGE, AGAIN A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVE. NOW THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THIS UNIT ALSO IS A PAIN. WHEN MY WIFE WOULD USE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM THE MAP WOULD FREEZE UP ON THE ORIGINAL STREETS AND NOT PROGRESS AS SHE WENT FORWARD. I TRIED ALL OF THESE THINGS AND AGREE COMPLETELY. THIS UNIT IS GARBAGE THAT IS A BIG DISTRACTION THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE THE RNS-510 WAS FIRST INTRODUCED. THE RNS-510 CAME IN MY PASSAT SEL PREMIUM WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TOP END PASSAT. ONE WOULD THINK THAT SUCH A VEHICLE WOULD CONTAIN A UNIT THAT WOULD FUNCTION IN A SAFE MANNER. I THINK THIS IS THE TYPE OF DEFECTIVE PART THAT SHOULD REQUIRE A RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I BOUGHT A 2014 PASSAT TDI AND SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT I HAD MISALIGNMENT PROBLEM. I TRIED EVERYTHING AND JACK DANIELS VW DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE BEEN TAKING VW TO CLAIM THE LEMON LAW IN THIS VEHICLE. I TRIED TO REPAIR MANY TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. FINALLY I MET A MECHANIC THAT MAYBE FOUND THE PROBLEM.HE TRIED TO BALANCE ALL 4 TIRES, ONCE HE BALANCED THE TIRE HE REMOVED THE TIRE FROM THE BALANCE MACHINE AND AGAIN PUT THE SAME SET WHEEL AND TIRE AGAIN TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SAME EXACTLY TIRE HE JUST BALANCED TURNED UNBALANCED, AND THAT APPLIED TO EVERY WHEEL AND TIRE. HIS CONCLUSION WAS THAT EVERY WHEEL HAD A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NOT THE ALIGNMENT. BUT NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. THE WHEELS AND TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT ONCE IS SHOWS THAT IS BALANCED AND YOU RUN AGAIN THE SANE TIRE, IT GIVES AN ERROR THAT THE TIRE IS UNBALANCED

I RENTED A 4 DOOR VW PASSAT (LICENSE PLATE[XXX]; MVA #[XXX]) FROM AVIS AT THE BATON ROUGE AIRPORT ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014. TODAY, APRIL 11, 2014, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM NEW ORLEANS TO BATON ROUGE MY CAR ACCELERATED TO 80 MILES AND STAYED AT THAT RATE (WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE GAS), APPROXIMATELY 7 OR 8 TIMES. MY SPEED DID NOT GO DOWN UNLESS I PRESSED ON THE BREAKS, SIMILAR TO WHAT OCCURS WHEN SOMEONE ENGAGES CRUISE CONTROL (BUT I HAD NOT ENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL). ALTHOUGH THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I COULD NOT POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE MOVEMENTS NECESSARY TO RECREATE THE EFFECT. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT IT OCCURRED AT LEAST SOME OF THE TIMES (AND POSSIBLY EVERY TIME) WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING TO PASS A CAR *AND* MOVED TO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. TOWARDS THE END OF MY DRIVE I MADE SURE TO ONLY BE TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE BOTTOM, THEREFORE IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE THAT I ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL VIA ANY OF THE SIDE LEVERS, AND ON MY MODEL THE ONLY BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF WERE FOR RADIO VOLUME AND STATION. I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT I COULD IMAGINE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES HAD THIS ISSUE ARISEN DURING DENSER TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40MPH WHEN A CAR TRIED TO MERGE INTO MY LANE. I TRIED TO BLOW THE HORN AND THE HORN FAILED TO WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BUT NOT AT A POINT WHERE I HAVE BEEN THIS CLOSE TO BEING CRASHED INTO. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE CHANGE TRACK AND VOLUME BUTTONS DO NOT WORK, AS WELL AS THE HANDS FREE CALLING BUTTON. IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL GOES DEAD. *TR

TURBOCHARGER FAILED. STARTED MAKING NOISES, THEN POWER LOSSES, THEN DASHBOARD LIGHTS. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED TURBOCHARGER FAILURE DUE TO 'INTERNAL MALFUNCTION' AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRIVING STYLE, EXTERNAL FACTORS. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI SEL ON 03-31-2014. I WAS DRIVING IT HOME WHEN I WENT THROUGH A FREEWAY INTERCHANGE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ROAD WAS DRY AND OTHER VEHICLES WERE GOING THROUGH THE INTERCHANGE AT A SPEED FASTER THAN ME. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) APPLIED THE BRAKES IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT TRIED TO STRAIGHT MY VEHICLE OUT INTO THE TURN, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY HIT THE GUARD RAIL. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE VW DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE ESC ISSUE AND THE FACT THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT (ALIGNMENT ISSUE). THEY CHECKED IT AND FOUND NOTHING AND EVEN SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE. THEY SAID THE ESC SOUNDED NORMAL TO THEM. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THE SAME ROADS FOR 20 YEARS AND I KNEW THIS WASN'T NORMAL. I MADE VIDEOS OF THE ESC CAR SLOWING ME DOWN BELOW HIGHWAY SPEEDS AROUND SWEEPING CORNERS. I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTER HOME ONE DAY AND A FORD EXPLORER NEARLY REAR ENDED ME. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES, DURING WHICH THEY CORRECTED THE ALIGNMENT AND FIXED A TRIM PANEL THAT WAS FALLING DOWN. THE ESC THEY MAINTAIN IS WORKING PERFECTLY. THE FUNNY THING IS I ALSO HAVE A 2014 VW JETTA TDI THAT NEVER ENGAGES THE ESC, THOUGH IS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME SYSTEM. I DROVE A 2014 VW CC AS A LOANER AND THE ESC NEVER ENGAGED. THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE IF VW IS ALLOWED TO TELL CONSUMERS THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PROGRAMMING OR HARDWARE. *TR

THE CAR TENDS TO HAVE JERKING MOVEMENTS DURING SLOW TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. THE CAR WILL NOT STOP SMOOTHLY AND GIVES WHIP LASHES AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES PEDAL TWICE TO ENSURE THE CAR STOPS. THE DSG SYSTEM FAILS TO ENGAGE SMOOTHLY WHILE IN AUTOMATIC BUT RUNS SMOOTHLY WHILE IN "SPORT" MODE. WE HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL CARS WHILE DRIVING IN AUTOMATIC DUE TO THE JERKY DSG GEAR SHIFTING AND POOR RESPONSE TIME IN THE BRAKING SYSTEMS WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. A VW SALES PERSON INFORMED ME YESTERDAY THAT THE CAR IS DESIGNED FOR FULL TIME "SPORT" MODE ON OPEN HIGHWAYS. THIS IS NOT REALISTIC AS LARGE CITIES NATURALLY HAVE HORRIFIC TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. I FEAR THAT THIS DSG SYSTEM WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS OR EVEN DEATHS DUE TO THE "JERKY" RESPONSE IN AUTOMATIC MODE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW CORPORATE AND LOCAL DEALERSHIPS TO CHECK THE CAR BUT THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THE CAR IS WORKING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. THIS IS A NEW CAR AND THE FIRST CAR I FEARED DRIVING. *TR

EXITING INTERSTATE AND MERGING ONTO STATE ROUTE, VEHICLE LOST POWER, COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED IN TRAFFIC. TOWED TO DEALER NEXT DAY, FOUND TURBOCHARGER HAD FAILED WITH NO WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED EXCESSIVELY IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

WHILE GOING AROUND A RIGHT CORNER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A DRY DAY AND OTHER VEHICLES GOING MUCH FASTER THAN MY VEHICLE. THE CAR APPLIED THE BRAKES IN AN AGGRESSIVE MANNER IN THE OPPOSING DIRECTION OF THE TURN AS IF IT WANTED ME TO GO STRAIGHT I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT THE ISSUE. I FIRST BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON 1/13/14 AND WAS TOLD NO MALFUNCTIONS FOUND. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN ON 2/15/14 AND WAS TOLD VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN ON 3/14/14 TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY FOUND THAT THE TIRES WERE SET AT 41.5 PSI. THE RECOMMEND PRESSURE IS 30PSI. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH HIGHER PSI THE WHEELS WOULD BOUNCE AND COULD LOOSE TRACTION. I NEVER HAD TO A AIR TO ANY OF MY TIRES SINCE PURCHASE. DURING THESE OCCASION MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR A NUMBER OF REASON ALONG WITH A SQUEAKING SUSPENSION AND BACKUP CAMERA ISSUES AND AT NOT TIME NO ONE NOTICED THE ADDITIONAL 11 PSI. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WEEK IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON 3/21/14 EVEN AFTER THE TIRE PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT. I AM SCHEDULE TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 3/27/14. ALL THIS TIME I'M LEFT TO DRIVE THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE BECAUSE VOLKSWAGEN WANTS TO TRY AGAIN AND FIX THE PROBLEMS WITHOUT GIVING ME A LOANER TO AVOID THE LEMON LAW OF 30 OUT OF USE IN MARYLAND. SO FAR IT'S BEEN 20DAYS OUT OF USE BECAUSE OF THE REPAIRS. *TR

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. LUTHER WESTSIDE VOLKSWAGEN IN ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, CAN'T FIX THE SAFETY DEFECT 'DUE TO NO PARTS.' I ASKED THE DEALER FOR A LOANER CAR AND WAS ADVISED IT WASN'T AVAILABLE AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I ALSO WILL CALL THE DEALER'S MANAGER ON MONDAY. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VW, I TRADED IN A TOYOTA BECAUSE IT HAD TAKATA RECALLS ON IT. I PURCHASED THE 2014 VW BECAUSE VW IS KNOWN FOR ITS SAFETY. I ADVISED THE VW DEALER THAT I HAD NOT DRIVEN MY TOYOTA IN OVER A YEAR BECAUSE OF AIR BAG RECALLS AND NEEDED TO GET A NEW CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY RECALLS. 6 MONTHS LATER, VW ISSUED A RECALL. VW SHOULD HAVE KNOWN NOT TO USE TAKATA AIR BAGS IN A 2014 MODEL, AS IT APPEARS ISSUES HAVE BEEN ONGOING WITH TAKATA AIR BAGS FOR A GOOD 10 YEARS. THE DEALER DID NOT MENTION THAT THE SAME DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS WERE IN THE 2014 VW PASSAT. I NEED A DIFFERENT CAR WITHOUT TAKATA AIR BAGS OR A LOANER UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE SAFETY PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS ALSO INSPECTED IN FLORIDA AND I UNDERSTAND FROM THE TOYOTA RECALL THAT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN IN FLORIDA MAY HAVE PRIORITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET PRIORITY REPAIRS.

TAKATA RECALL - VW STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO REPLACE THE TAKATA AIRBAGS.

PURCHASED 2014 FULLY LOADED PASSAT ON 10/26/13, SAFETY ISSUE WITH CAR DUE TO MY 1.5 HR DAILY COMMUTE. EXTREMELY POOR QUALITY WHEN USING BLUETOOTH THROUGH CARE STEREO, NOT RECOGNIZING NAMES ON IPHONE 4S CAUSING DRIVER TO REMOVE EYES FROM ROAD TO LOOK UP NUMBER WHICH IS A MAJOR DISTRACTION ESPECIALLY DURING NIGHT DRIVING. *TR

TAKATA RECALLED AIRBAGS NEVER FIXED IN 3 YEARS I HAD MY LEASE SO THEY KNOWINGLY ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE ME AND MY KIDS FOR 3 YEARS IN AN UNSAFE CAR!!! THE TDI DEISEL WAS ALSO AN ISSUE AND HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SLOW TO START UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT WHEN TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT CENTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE DEALER REPLACED FOUR TIRES BUT THE FAILURE STILL RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS THEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.

VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT CONTROL SPEED DOWNHILL WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET. VEHICLE SPEED KEEPS INCREASING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. *TR

MY 2014 PASSAT TDI VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT ...ON HIGHWAY, IN RIGHT LANE, WILL MOVE RIGHT OFF THE ROAD IN LESS THAN 7 SECONDS IF HANDS ARE NOT ON THE WHEEL. DEALER MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS ....IE BEFORE IT WOULD RUN OFF THE ROAD IN LESS THAN 3 SECONDS. VW FIELD REPRESENTATION CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL EFFECT OF ROAD CROWN AND REFUSES TO CORRECT THE CONDITION. I DROVE A PASSAT ( NON DIESEL ) THAT DROVE FINE... I DROVE A 2015 PASSAT DIESEL THAT WAS BETTER BUT STILL HAD EXCESSIVE PULL FROM ROAD CROWN. I'M CONSTANTLY FIGHTING THE VEHICLE TO STAY ON THE HIGHWAY....ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME .....VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY ON THE ROAD! *TR

WHENEVER OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHES BELOW 20 DEGREES F THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK FREEZES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THIS DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE ONLY MEANS OF ENTRY AND EGRESS IS THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, SUBMERGING IN WATER, FIRE, OR OTHER TYPE INCIDENT, THERE IS SIGNIFICANT RISK, SHOULD THE DRIVER NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS (CASE NUMBERS ARE DOCUMENTED, CALLS RECORDED), ONLY TO BE REASSURED THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER CALLS REGARDING THIS. THE SOLUTION (HELP) THAT THEY OFFER IS TO HAVE ME BRING THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALERSHIP WHEN THE LOCK IS FROZE, SO THE DEALER CAN SEE THE LOCK WHEN IT IS IN THIS CONDITION. IN ESSENCE, THEY ARE ASKING ME TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THEY MANUFACTURED WITH A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN TO MY DEALERSHIP WHEN IT IS THE MOST UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SHOULD I OR ANYONE ELSE HAVE A NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE LOCK IS FROZEN, THERE IS NO WAY TO DO THIS. THIS POSES AN IMMINENT HEALTH THREAT, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE OR LIMB. AS I STARTED INVESTIGATING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS WEBSITES AND FORUMS THAT ADDRESS THIS SAME CONCERN WITH DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK FREEZING ON VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCTS, TO THE EXTENT THAT IT REALLY MAKES ME WONDER WHY OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT ENTRENCHED IN THIS ISSUE. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE TO THIS CONCERN THAT I RAISE. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO MY WRITING, PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION THAT I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN THAT WARRANTS GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION. FURTHERMORE, THIS ISSUE PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, AND IMMANENT RISK TO CONSUMER HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND NOW YOU HAVE NOTIFICATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR