2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

THE WINDSHIELD, IN RAINING OCCURRENCES, IS COVERED WITH A WHITE THICK COATING AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE, PUTTING LIVES IN PERIL.

I OWN A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEL PREMIUM. ONE OF MY PRIMARY CONCERNS IS THAT THE AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION ACCORDING TO PAGE 271 OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL, OR AS PROMOTED BY THEIR DEALERS, AND IN TV COMMERCIALS. I TOOK MY PASSAT TO TWO DEALERS, BOTH SUPPOSEDLY CHECKED IT AND SAID IT TESTED 100% A WEEK LATER, THE CAR DID NOT SLOW AT ALL WHEN I WAS CLOSE TO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME GOING 65 MILES AND HOUR AND IT SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES. IF I HAD NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I WROTE A LETTER REGARDING MY CONCERNS TO MR. HINRICH WOEBCKEN, CEO OF VW OF AMERICA. THE RESPONSE FROM VW WAS THAT MY SYSTEM WORKS FINE ACCORDING TO THEIR DEALERS, AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING FURTHER FOR ME! AFTER THAT, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THE RESULTS OF FRONT COLLISION PREVENTION TESTING THAT WAS DONE BY THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY. THEIR TESTS ON 2017 CARS INCLUDED THOSE OF OVER 20 MANUFACTURERS. THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT PARTS TO THE TEST: FORWARD COLLISION WARNING (ON THE PASSAT THIS IS A TWO CAR SYMBOL IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) LOW SPEED AUTO BRAKE (THIS IS FOR SPEED UNDER 12 MPH) HIGH-SPEED AUTO BRAKE (THIS IS FOR SPEEDS OVER 25 MPH) THE RESULTS OF THESE TESTS SHOWS THAT ALL COMPARABLE MANUFACTURER'S SEDANS EITHER SCORED 2 OR 3 POINTS ON THE HIGH-SPEED AUTO BRAKE TEST. HOWEVER THE VW PASSAT SCORED "0" POINTS, AND WAS UNABLE BRAKE THE CAR OR REDUCE THE CAR SPEED AT ALL! THE 2017 VW TOUAREG ALSO FAILED THE HIGH- SPEED AUTO BRAKE PORTION OF THE TEST. I FEEL THAT VW NEEDS TO INFORM OWNERS, AND STOP ADVERTISING THAT THEIR CARS HAVE A FUNCTIONING HIGH-SPEED AUTO BRAKING, AS THEY DO NOT! THEY SHOULD QUICKLY COME UP WITH A FIX, AND RECALL ALL 2016 TO 2018 PASSATS, AND OTHER MODELS THAT HAVE THIS FAULTY SYSTEM! DRIVERS HAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY FOR A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK!

BOTH SIDE MIRROR ARE AUTOMATED.THE SIDE MIRRORS OPEN WHEN THEY WANT TO. SOMETIMES ONE STAYS CLOSED, SOMETIMES THEY BOTH STAYED CLOSED. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND OR HOW OFTEN. GENERALLY THEY WORK WITH A MORE FREQUENT DELAY IN OPENING THE MIRES - I.E. WHEN DRIVING AWAY ALREADY THEY OPEN ON THEIR OWN. THE REAL LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE IS WHEN THEY DO NOT OPEN AT ALL. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND SOMETHING THERE VW DEALER CANNOT CONFIRM WITH ERROR CODES. MY QUESTION TO VW IS : HOW CAN THE CAR BE DRIVING FORWARD WITH THE MIRROR STILL COLLAPSED AND THE SYSTEM IS NOT RECORDING AN ERROR CODE? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALSO... I HAVE REQUESTED TO HAVE THESE MIRROR DISENGAGED - TO REMAIN OPEN - BUT ACCORDING TO VW (DEALER) THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE AT ALL. SO... I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS A MAJOR LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE AND VW IS IGNORING IT WITHOUT AN ACTION BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ERROR CODE ETC... I HAVE VIDEO OF DRIVING WITH THE MIRRORS STILL COLLAPSED FOR REFERENCE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE DAY1 OF OWNERSHIP.

FAILED STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ON A 2017 VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN 20,000 MILES OVER 14 MONTHS. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROX 40 MINS, PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT MY STEERING WHEEL MAKE POPPING/CLICKING SOUNDS AND IMMEDIATELY THE AIRBAG ERROR SENSORS WENT OFF ALONG WITH MY SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING. UPON TURNING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A FEW ADDITIONAL POPS/CLICKS. IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE A PART ON HAND AND HAD TO ORDER IT, SO I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. NOW THAT I'M HOME AND RESEARCHING THE FAILED STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ISSUE, I AM QUESTIONING WHETHER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT.

TOO SENSITIVE ESC ISSUE ON 2017 PASSAT COULD CAUSE SAFETY HAZARD I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SUPER SENSITIVE ESC THAT ENGAGED AT 35 MILES/HOUR OR MORE AT HIGHWAY ENTRANCE AND EXIT WITH 2017 PASSAT R LINE. THIS 35 MILES LIMIT IS TOO LOW COMPARED WITH VW 2014 JETTA SE, 2016 JETTA 1.8T, 2014 SUBARU FORESTER, 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK, 2007 MERCEDES C230, 2011 C300 I OWN/ED. DRIVER'S PERCEPTION IS NOT MUCH CHANGE DUE TO THE CAR MODEL, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE SAME OEM LIKE VW, THE CORNER IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 50 MILES/HOUR, BUT THE PASSAT HAS SUPER SENSITIVE ESC THAT ENGAGED UNEXPECTEDLY AT THE SUCH LOW SPEED AND IT COULD CAUSE A SUDDEN TIRE TRACTION CHANGE THAT COULD TRIGGER CAR SPIN OR FLIP AT WORST CASE. MY EXPERIENCES WERE AT DRY ROAD CONDITION ONLY AND NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO THE WET OR ICY ROAD IN A PAST, BUT OTHER CONSUMER MAY FACING THE SAME ISSUE AT SOME OTHER STATE BY THE DIFFERENT ROAD CONDITION. LOCAL DEALER AND VW HAVE HELP TESTED AND TRY CHANGING THE SYMPTOMS BY 1. CHANGE TIRE DUE TO ONE OF THE TIRE'S CIRCUMFERENCE WAS 1 INCH OFF, 2. CHANGE SPEED SENSOR, 3. CHANGE BEARING, AND 4. CHANGE ABS ECU, BUT NO IMPROVEMENT BEEN OBSERVED. ALTHOUGH THIS MIGHT BE CONTRADICTED, BUT ONE OF THE LONER PASSAT R LINE HAVE NOT SHOWING THE ISSUE, AND ANOTHER BRAND-NEW PASSAT IN A LOT HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SENSITIVITY ISSUE MIGHT DIFFERENT BY THE UNIT ASSEMBLY/ALIGNMENT, OR DEPENDING ON THE PARTS BEEN USED FOR EACH UNIT. TESTED AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS: CA 237 E TO NORTH 1ST ST EXIT, CA 85 N TO EL CAMINO REAL N EXIT, US-101 & SAN TOMAS EXPY INTERCHANGE X 4 CORNERS, US-101 TO N MATILDA SOUTH EXIT, I-280 & WOLF RD ENTRANCE/EXIT VW SHOULD ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY TO BE SAME AS OTHER STANDARD MODELS. IF THEY SAY THIS IS THE STANDARD, THEN THE CAR IS USELESS. (ESPECIALLY FOR THE R LINE THAT SHOULD SUPPORT MUCH SPORTIER DRIVING.)

TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE REAR BACKUP CAMERA FAILED TO DISPLAY ON THE MONITOR. THE REARVIEW CAMERA SYSTEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL (LOCATED ON 10455 NW 12TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33172) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CASE WAS BEING REVIEWED AND AN UPDATE WOULD BE PROVIDED ON OCTOBER 4, 2017. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 09/22/17*LJ *TR

I PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THIS IS MY FIRST KEYLESS CAR AND I DON'T LIKE IT. IT IS SOMETIMES CONFUSING AS TO WHETHER THE CAR IS RUNNING OR OFF AND THE IGNITION BUTTON LOOKS IDENTICAL IN BOTH SCENARIOS. ON JUNE 12, I PARKED MY CAR (IT WAS STATIONARY) AND TOOK MY DOG INTO HER DAY CARE CENTER. WHILE I WAS IN THERE, MY CAR APPARENTLY ROLLED OUT OF THE LOT AND CAME TO REST ON A SIDEWALK. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND ONLY THE BUMPER AND REAR LIGHT WERE IMPACTED. WHILE I THOUGHT I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, I MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY HAVE LEFT THE CAR IN DRIVE WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THIS IS MY CONCERN. WITH KEYED SYSTEMS, THE SAFETY MECHANISM IS THAT ONE CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY UNTIL THE CAR IS PROPERLY IN PARK (I ASSUME OTHERS HAVE DONE THIS). WITH THE KEYLESS, I PARKED, PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, TOOK MY KEYS, LOCKED THE DOOR AND LEFT THE CAR. I DON;T HAVE PHOTOS BUT I DO HAVE THE SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE CAR MOVING.

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW JAN 10 2017. I HAVE PUT 1500 MILES ON IT AS OF 5/8/17. TODAY AT A STOP LIGHT WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT OR CHANGE, THE TIRE EXPLODED I FELT TH CAR MOVE OR WIGGLE, LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WENT TO INSPECT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS LOOKS LIKE A VOLCANO SPROUTED OUT OF THE TIRE. ITS NOT THE SIDEWALL THERE IS NO DAMAGE GOING INTO THE TIRE.. THE RUBBER HAS SPILT OUTWARD...THE METAL WIRING IN THE TIRE IS BENT OUTWARD. NOT INWARD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

LOUD AND ABRUPT THUD SOUND WHEN CHANGING GEARS IN 2017 VW PASSAT R-LINE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODEL. THIS LOUD THUD CAN BE HEARD EASILY WHEN CAR IS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND CAN EVEN BE FELT AT THE BASE OF THE GAS PEDAL. HAPPENS MORE NOTICEABLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. MY CAR NOW HAS 5500 MILES ON IT BUT THIS LOUD THUD HAS BEEN HEARD SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO REYDEL VW IN NEW JERSEY TO GET CHECKED BUT THE TECHNICIANS SAY THERE ARE NO ISSUES, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER PASSAT'S AND HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2014 VW JETTA WHICH NEVER MADE THIS LOUD THUD SOUND WHEN CHANGING GEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.