2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AND THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN HE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL LINE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE SAME FAILURE ADDRESSED IN NHTSA CAMPIGN ID NUMBERS: 02V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP), 06V017000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP), 07V375000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP), AND 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HE RECEIVED A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN REGARDS TO THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE, HE NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WAS A ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE VOLUNTARY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 3/13/12 *CN

REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS PULLED OFF WINDSHIELD BY A 2 YR OLD, MIRROR SEPARATED AT THE BALL-AND-SOCKET HINGE WITH THE BASE REMAINING GLUED TO THE WINDSHIELD. NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE MIRROR. PUSHING MIRROR BACK TOGETHER SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD IN THE AREA OF THE MIRROR. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT PULLING THE MIRROR APART HAD ALREADY DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD (NOT CHECKED BEFORE TRYING TO PUT THE MIRROR BACK TOGETHER). I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE MIRROR TO UNGLUE FROM THE WINDSHIELD OR BREAK BEFORE THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. *TR

METAL FUEL LINE IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DRIPPED GASOLINE ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BELOW, DESPITE A PATCH THAT A VW MECHANIC HAD INSTALLED EARLIER. FIRST SMELLED GAS IN MARCH AND TOOK IT TO A VW REPAIR SHOP. PATCH WITH CLAMPS WAS ADDED. SMELLED GAS AGAIN IN MAY AND DISCOVERED THE FUEL LEAK. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THE LEAK WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE RESULT OF A CRACKED FUEL LINE, WHICH HE SAID IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH OLDER PASSATS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND SHE WAS ADVISED TO CALL BACK AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALER ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY REPAIR DEALING WITH THE OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,600.

MY 2003 VOLKSWAGAN PASSAT WAGON HAS ROOF/CHASSIS DRAINS THAT ARE BACKING UP INSIDE THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE ELECTRONICS TO SHORT OUT AND FAIL. MY REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT W8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN THE STEERING. SUDDENLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. WITHIN TEN MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE CAM SHAFT AND TORQUE. THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/29/11*LJ UPDATED 1/13/2012 *LN *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 06/20/11*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE HEATED SEAT ENGAGED, THE CONTACT FELT A BURNING SENSATION COMING THROUGH THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS A BURNED HOLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT AS WELL AS A BURN TO HIS PANTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.