2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE "OIL PRESSURE" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE BUTTONS USED TO ADJUST THE HEATED SEATS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND FEEL AS IF THEY ARE SHOCKING THE DRIVER WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE LEATHER AROUND THE COILS HAS MELTED A HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. ALTHOUGH, THE CONTACT HAS NOT TURNED THE HEATED SEATS ON THE COIL CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND BECOME HEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79200.

WHILE DRIVING OR IDLING, AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT APPEARS TELLING THE DRIVER TO STOP IMMEDIATELY DUE TO NO OIL PRESSURE. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE BY VW OF OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE UP AND NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH BUT NOT ALWAYS INCLUDING THE TURBOCHARGER. VW HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES FOR THOSE ENGINES, BUT UNREASONABLY REQUIRES PRODUCTION OF ALL OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FOR THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE CAR. *TR

VW ISSUED A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD ON MY 2003 PASSAT WAGON. (OPEN CAMPAIGN: 26E5/R5). I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO ADDRESS THE RECALL BUT WAS TOLD MY CAR COULD NOT BE SERVICED WITHOUT POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FLEXIBLE JOINTS BEHIND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. BOTH JOINTS WERE SAID TO HAVE SMALL FRACTURES IN THE METAL AND BRAIDED STEEL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAT SHIELD REPLACEMENT REQUIRED THE EXHAUST LINE TO BE DROPPED VIA THE FLEXIBLE JOINTS AND THAT THEY COULD BE BROKEN IN THE PROCESS. IF DAMAGE TO THE JOINTS OCCURRED, THE CHARGE FOR THE PARTS (EXCLUDING LABOR) WOULD BE $1500 AND THAT THE FULL BILL FOR PARTS/LABOR WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE COST, I WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE HEAT SHIELDS REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE VOLKSWAGEN TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF REPLACING THE HEAT SHIELD UP TO AND INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FLEXIBLE JOINTS, SHOULD THAT BE NECESSARY. *TR

HEATER CORE HAS FAILED (PLUGGED UP) AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. OVER $1200 TO REPLACE; MAY BURST HOT FLUID THROUGH VENTS INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IF NOT REPLACED SOON. CURRENTLY THE SMELL IN THE CAR WHEN RUNNING IS VERY STRONG OF RADIATOR FLUID. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER IN MY 2003 VW PASSAT IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN ON THE LEFT SEAT BOLSTER (I DO NOT SMOKE). THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CABIN. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS A SECOND BURN HOLE ABOUT A HALF INCH FROM THE FIRST HOLE. I HAVE STOPPED USING THE HEATER, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SIDE ROAD. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF AN OIL/SLUDGE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,167. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

2003 VW PASSAT HEATER CORE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND VW AMERICA REFUSED TO DO IT AT NO COST. *TR

MY 2003 VW PASSAT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH COILS AND VALVE COVERS. MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE! LUCKILY THE FIRE WENT OUT ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED! IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO? ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OUT THERE?! *TR

CAR HAD SLUDGE IN 2007 DEALER CLEANED ENGINE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. IN FEB 2009 THE SLUDGE CAME BACK AGAIN AND THE DEALER FIXED THE SLUDGE AGAIN. ON OCTOBER 2009 THE CAR OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS NOT SLUDGE BUT THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTERS WHICH THEY SAID WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CAM SHAFT ADJUSTERS ARE DAMAGED AND BREAK UP DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE WHICH IS A DIRECT RELATION TO SLUDGE IN YOUR ENGINE WHICH I HAD TWICE. DEALER NOW CLAIMS I DID NOT MAINTAIN MY CAR AND THIS IS WHY THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR