2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 600 complaints submitted for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - ANCHORAGE, AK

    HEATER CORE PLUGS THUS RESULTING IN INOPERABLE HEATING OF THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. ALSO CAUSING A LEAK THUS SPEWING STEAM AND FLUID INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WITH THE WINDSCREEN RECEIVING THE STEAM AND IMPAIRING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - SEATTLE, WA

    THE VW 1.8T ENGINE HAS KNOW SLUDGE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILS THE DRIVER LOOSES ALL POWER FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS INCLUDES STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE LEFT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PARK. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OUTCOME. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - OREM , UT

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND WHEN HE INSPECTED, HE SAW THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE COTNACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLASTIC GAS NOZZLE CRACKED AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR RECALL 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY) BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE FUEL LIKE WAS TOO LONG. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,235.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - SMITHVILLE, MO

    ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION #PE10027 1.AT ABOUT 2:45 IN CVS 2.WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES 3.I WAS PAGED BY IDENTIFICATION OF MY CAR 4.ADVISED CAR ON FIRE 5.A MAN IN A DEFFENBAUGH UNIFORM WAS TRYING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR 6.THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS AGGRAVATING THE FLAMES 7.I ADVISED HIM TO STAND BACK 8.I ASKED IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN CALLED 9.A CVS EMPLOYEE DID CONTACT FIRE DEPARTMENT TWO TIMES 10.CVS PHARMACY EMPLOYEE CAME OUT ' HER CAR WAS PARKED TWO SPACES TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR 11.THE MAN FROM DEFFENBAUGH MOVED HER CAR 12.AN OLDER MAN APPROACHED MAN AND SAID THAT HE WAS THE ONE WHO REPORTED THE FIRE 13.HE WAS WALKING IN FRONT OF MY CAT TO ENTER THE STORE AND SPARKS WHERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD 14.THE FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY 15.WHAT LOOKED TO BE LIKE CARD BOARD SUBSTANCE WAS FALLING TO THE GROUND TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR 16.THE PRODUCT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAME. CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - GUERNSEY, WY

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - WINGATE, TX

    CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT CAUSED FABRIC MATERIAL BEHIND SILVER REFLECTIVE LINER ON PASSENGER SIDE TO CATCH AND HOLD A SMOLDER AND FLAME CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURAL BODY PANELS AND MELTING SOME PLASTIC COMPONENTS. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY USING A CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND REMAINING SMOLDERING COMPONENTS HAD TO BE EXTINGUISHED AS EXPOSED MANUALLY. CAUSED GRASS TO CATCH FIRE AND LEFT SMOKY RESIDUE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - ALABASTER, AL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD DINGING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,452. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 12/19/2011 *LN

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - MOUNT KISCO, NY

    RUPTURED FUEL LINE - PRESSURE SIDE FUEL LINE FAILED AT POINT WHERE IT IS SECURED TO THE FIRE WALL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GROMET WORE THROUGH, ALLOWING THE FUEL LINE TO RUB AGAINST THE FASTENER AND THE LINE SUBSEQUENTLY RUPTURED ALLOWING FUEL TO ESCAPE IN A LARGE VOLUME. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - LAS VEGAS , NV

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND. SHE LOOSENED THE FUEL CAP TO STOP IT FROM LEAKING BUT IT CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR FOR RECALL 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY) SEPTEMBER 2008. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE AND HEAT SHIELD. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A REPORT AND ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - CLAIRTON, PA

    VEHICLE IS 2003 VW PASSAT 4 MOTION. A FUEL LEAK WAS DETECTED IN THE TANK AREA. AUTOMOBILE WAS BROUGHT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE ROLLOVER VALVE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THIS CAR FOR THIS PROBLEM (RECALL #(08V156000, NHTSA INVESTIGAITON #PE08008) AND THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE PURPORTEDLY DONE BY THE AUTHORIZED VW REPAIR SHOP. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE