2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

INTERIOR LEFT FRONT FLOOR OF CAR FLOODED WITH WATER AFTER VERY HEAVY RAIN. THERE WAS AN INCH OF STANDING WATER SITTING ON THE VEHICLE'S CARPET. THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT IN 5 WEEKS. AFTER A SIMILAR HEAVY RAINFALL IN AUGUST THE INTERIOR LEFT FRONT AND REAR FLOOR WAS FLOODED. STANDING WATER WAS IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON-LINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN ROOF DRAINS. *JB

TRACKING NUMBER: [XXX] DATE: SEPTEMBER 09TH 2006 11:24:34 AM COMPLAINANT: [XXX] - RE: 2001 PASSAT VWS AND THE ONGOING SLUDGE PROBLEMS!!! *JB COMPLAINT: MY COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH REGARD TO VW PASSATS. SLUDGE!!!! I JUST SPENT $2000 TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THAT HE DID SOME RESEARCH AND THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEMS OF SLUDGE IN THESE CARS ESPECIALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY REFERRAL ATTORNEYS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE TO RENT A CAR AT $30 DOLLARS A DAY AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER IT. IF THIS IS BEEN GOING ON SO LONG, WHY IS THERE NOT A CLASS SUIT? IF YOU HAVE A NUMBER I CAN CALL FOR SAME, PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU, [XXX]. YOU CAN REACH ME BY PHONE AT EITHER [XXX] HOME, OR [XXX]I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM SOMEONE SOON, AND YOUR HELP IS MUCH APPRECIATED. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I AM A PRIVATE FIRE INVESTIGATOR THAT RECENTLY INVESTIGATED A FIRE IN 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE FIRE WAS VERY MINOR ORIGINATING BELOW THE PLASTIC ENGINE COVER AT THE IGNITION COIL MODULES AND PLUG CONNECTOR BETWEEN CYLINDERS #3 & 4. APPEARS TO BE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION AT THE PLUG CONNECTOR CAUSING THE PLUG CONNECTOR TO OVERHEAT AND IGNITE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART AND THE CONTACT PUSHED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE RAINWATER DRAINAGE TUBES UNDER THE CARPETED FLOORBOARD AREA LEAKED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WHICH CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE TO MALFUNCTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE WIRING TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD OIL LEAKS FROM EVERY SEAL AND GASKET. OIL WAS ALL OVER THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED.

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT RAN AT REDUCED POWER. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE COOLING JACKET. *KB MOISTURE INVADED THE SENSOR, MIGRATED UP THE WIRING HARNESS AND DESTROYED THE COMPUTER WHICH MANAGED ALL ENGINE FUNCTIONS. THE CONSUMER WAS BILLED $3200. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER EXPLAIN THAT THIS WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM OF NOT HAVING ANY BRAKES AFTER MY CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 8 HOURS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 4TH TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

WE HAVE A 2001 PASSAT AND PUT ABOUT 10K MILES/YEAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ABOUT TWICE EVERY YEAR AT OUR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW. WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE CAR WITH SAFETY IN MIND. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR SEIZED/STALLED AS I WAS GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP. ONCE THEY REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THEY BECAME VERY HOSTILE. THEY ASKED US FOR ALL OF OUR RECORDS. THEY HAD INCOMPLETE ONES FOR US AS THE DEALERSHIP HAD CHANGED HANDS A FEW YEARS AGO. WE HAVE ALMOST EVERY RECORD BUT THIS WILL NOT SUFFICE FOR THEM. THEY ARE ASKING FOR HALF OF THE 11K REPAIR BILL (AND SUGGESTED THAT WE REPAIR IT AND TRADE IN FOR ONE OF THEIR USED CARS). WHAT REALLY BOTHERS US IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM OF MISSING RECORDS IS DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THE CAR HAD FAILED, THE TOW GUY SHOWED ME THAT THE OIL CAP WAS ENCRUSTED WITH SLUDGE. WHEN I POINTED THIS OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THAT WHILE THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS AT THE LAST OIL CHANGE, THAT THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO INFORM THE CUSTOMER OF SUCH A POTENTIAL HAZARD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND VW/VW DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE OBLIGED TO WATCH FOR THIS AND AT LEAST SUGGEST AN ENGINE FLUSH. AFTER TOO MUCH TRUST, WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH VW FOR THIS. THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER. *JB

MECHANIC REFUSES TO REPAIR 2001 PASSAT ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN MIS-DIAGNOSED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL HOSE LEAK. *JB