2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

POWER TRAIN LACK OF POWER WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS DUE TO WATER LEAK IN POLLEN FILTER BOX (CRACKED) WHICH AFFECTED THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID, AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT MILEAGE OF 121,000 MILES. NORMALLY GARAGED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. AFTER RAIN, FOUND AN INCH OF WATER IN REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. TRANSMISSION NON-FUNCTIONAL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON. DEALER SAID THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL WAS NO GOOD AND THAT WATER LEAKED IN AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY ANGRY OWNERS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE LEAKS FROM THIS SEAL HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHECKING THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IS NOT PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK IT, YOU'D NEED TO DISASSEMBLE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW AN OWNER COULD POSSIBLY KNOW IF THE SEAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HE REPLIED "YOU FOUND OUT HOW". I AM CLEARLY NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM A PART THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY MAINTAINABLE (THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL) AND THAT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PASSAT THAT VW SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR. THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OWNER TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION -- IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. IT GOT TO DO WITH THE PASSAT LEAKING WATER AND THE LOCATION OF AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPONENT IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE AREA WHERE ANY WATER THAT LEAKS MIGRATES TO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING, I MIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION SPENT ANOTHER 2000$ AND ITS NOT EVEN THIS THE PROBLEM!!!! *TR

DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WITH ALL PASSATS 1998 AND UP THEY ARE PRONE TO HAVING MAJOR FAILURE OF TCM TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AS IN CASES OF HEAVY RAIN WATER WILL LEAK INTO PASSENGER FLOOR AREA AND FILL THE TCM WITH WATER HENCE LOCKING TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND NO LONGER ALLOWING VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SEATBELTS DID NOT RETRACT ON IMPACT. AS A RESULT, HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING A CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000. UPDATED 4/11/2011 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK IN TO PLACE. UPDATED 04/22/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER MADE SIX ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER BUT OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,252 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

AT AROUND 85,000 MILES ABS/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS TURNED ON AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS MODULE FAULTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON WITH CLOTH HEATED SEATS. WHILE USING HEATED SEAT OPTION, FELT BURNING ON RIGHT LEG. FOUND SEAT HEATER HAD MELTED RIGHT BOLSTER OF SEAT CUSHION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY VW PASSAT 1.8L TURBO STATIONWAGON AT A SPEED OF 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. MY FOUR MONTH OLD BABY WAS IN THE BACK IN HIS CARSEAT AND HAD I BEEN IN A DIFFERENT SETTING WE BOTH COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD OCCURRED AND ONCE I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE FINE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS LIKELY A PARTS RECALL ISSUE: RECALL: 07V375000: FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED VW AMERICA, INC. AND WAS INFORMED THAT WHILE IN FACT THERE WAS SUCH A RECALL FOR 2003 PASSATS, MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL AND THUS THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD/WOULD DO TO HELP ME DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE VERY ONE INDICATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY. *TR

VW 2003 PASSAT AWD 2.8 L V6 GASOLINE ENGINE...WIFE CALLED ME SAID CAR WAS MISS FIRING BADLY AND THEN SMOKE WAS REPORTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR. SHE PULLED OVER AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. TURNED CAR OFF AND FIRE LUCKILY WENT OUT...I CHANGED COIL AND PROBLEM WAS FIXED FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS. NOW CAR IS MISS FIRING AGAIN AND RUNNING ROUGH....I HATE THAT I'VE FIXED THIS SAME COIL THREE TIMES NOW AND IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN... *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 PASSAT 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM IT. IT IS JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO BE FIXED ABOUT SIX TIMES. I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER EVERYTHING I HAVE HAD TO HAVE FIXED. I DO REMEMBER THE LAST THING THOUGH. IT WAS THE TAIL LIGHTS, THE TAIL LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT EVEN WHEN I HAD NO LIGHTS ON AND EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN RIGHT NOW. IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE MONDAY DECEMBER 27TH. IT IS A FOUR CYLINDER AND HAS BEEN RUNNING ON THREE. I FOUND OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME MONDAY THAT MY CAR HAS 5 RECALLS ON IT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF NONE OF THEM. AFTER LEAVING IT FOR ALL THE RECALLS TO BE FIXED, I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR 30.00 TO GET HOME. NOW I HAVE NO WAY TO PICK UP MY CAR BECAUSE I HAD TO RETURN THE RENTAL CAR THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY 30.00 PER DAY. I HAVE NOBODY TO TAKE ME TO PICK UP MY CAR, I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO TAKE A TAXI AND THAT WILL PROBABLY COST ME ABOUT 50.00. I AM VERY UPSET WITH VW I PAID MY HARD EARNED MONEY FOR A RELIABLE CAR AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH NOTHING BUT A LEMON, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I HAVE NO WAY TO GO ANYWHERE, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? *TR

I PURCHASED A USED 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON IN 2006. IT WORKED PERFECTLY UNTIL THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 75,000 MILES AND A NUMBER OF ISSUES OCCURRED THAT I FOUND OUT ARE KNOW ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND ISSUE. FIRST THE ENGINE COILS STARTED FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ENDED UP REPLACING FOUR OF THEM AND THEN VW ISSUED A RECALL BUT ONLY COVERED A FRACTION OF WHAT IT COST TO REPLACE. THEN THE STOP TURN ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE 1.8T ENGINE HAS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THAT LEAVES THIS ENGINE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CREATING OIL SLUDGE EVEN WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. VW ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS ENGINE AND ISSUE BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BUT WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNLESS YOU SHOW THEM A COMPLETE RECORD OF ALL OIL CHANGES. I MAINTAINED THIS CAR ROUTINELY BUT DO NOT HAVE ALL RECORDS MILLIONS OF OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE NOW STUCK WITH A DILEMMA OF SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX SOMETHING THAT VW KNEW ABOUT AND SHOULD HAVE FIXED. VW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND MADE TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE FOR VEHICLE OWNERS REGARDLESS OF A COMPLETE MAINTENANCE RECORD, BECAUSE IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE EVEN WITH COMPLETE MAINTENANCE. *TR