2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SUDDENLY FLEW OPEN. THE CONTACT INJURED HIS LEG WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,000.

I HAVE A 2003 VW PASSAT THAT HAS LEAKED WATER FROM THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES AND POLLEN FILTER. THE WATER POOLED INTO THE FLOOR PANS UNDER THE CARPET ALL OVER THE CAR AND THREATENS ALL OF THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. VW DEALER WANTS OVER $1000 TO FIX THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING STATED ANYWHERE IN THE OWNER MANUAL REGARDING DRAIN TUBE MAINTENANCE OR POLLEN FILTER LEAKS. THESE DRAINS ARE NEITHER EASILY ACCESSIBLE OR VISIBLE (ESPECIALLY THE REAR DRAIN CHANNELS). THESE PROBLEMS ARE CLEARLY ENGINEERING FLAWS AND THERE ARE TONS OF DOCUMENTED CASES ALL OVER THE INTERNET OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING. VW DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO CLEAN UP ALL OF THE WATER DAMAGE AND FRIED ELECTRONICS. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND CONSIDERED FOR ACTION. IN ADDITION TO WATER DAMAGE, MOLD AND MILDEW POSE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISKS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE WAS ACTIVATED. A HIGH VOLTAGE OF HEAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AND SMOKE SUDDENLY APPEARED. THE DRIVER DEACTIVATED THE HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE. HE BURNED HIS FINGER ON THE SEAT. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN M2 WAS REFERENCED. THE FREE REMEDY CONSISTED OF INSTALLING A REPAIR KIT FOR THE HEATED SEAT. THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2005; HOWEVER, IT WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

9/2002 PURCHASED 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8 TURBO. 2005- 48,000 ENGINE FAILED DUE TO SLUDGE. TOWED TO COMMONWEALTH MOTORS SANTA ANA, CA AFTER 2 MOS INSTALLED NEW OIL PUMP, WE EACH PAID HALF EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW WITH OIL PUMP. 2007 SAME THING HAPPENED( BUT I WAS AWAY AND CAR TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE) MECHANIC STATED THAT NO WARRANTY WOULD COVER PROBLEM. ESTIMATED 95. FINAL $2,569 TO REPLACE OIL PUMP AND TURBO PICKED UP CAR IN MARCH 2008, IN DEC 2008 ENGINE FAILED AGAIN TOWED TO MESA WEST WHO SUGGESTED DEALER SHOULD BE CALLED. DEALER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY ON PHONE SINCE THEY HAD DONE ORIGINAL REPAIR, 4 MONTHS LATER CAR NEEDS NEW ENGINE IS STILL AT DEALER. OIL PUMP CANNOT PROCESS PROPERLY. VW AWARE OF CHRONIC PROBLEM BUT WON'T STAND BY PRODUCT UNLESS ALL RECEIPTS FROM OIL CHANGES ARE AVAILABLE. CAR NEED $6000.00 OF WORK AND DEALER DOING NOTHING TO ASSIST REGARDLESS OF PROMISES MADE. *TR

VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVERS SEAT SLID ALL THE WAY FORWARD IN ITS TRACKS AND THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY FLAT. SEAT INTEGRITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED IN THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *TR

WHILE OPENING MY TRUNK LID, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE BROKE. THE LID, DROPPED, DOWN AND I CAUGHT IT, WITH OUT HARM. BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HURT MY HAND OR HEAD. I CALLED THE DEALER TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART, HE INDICATED IT WAS VERY POPULAR. *TR

PURCHASE CAR IN FL, NOW LIVE IN IOWA DUE TO JOB TRANSFER. A/C UNIT CONTINUES TO NOT BLOW COLD AIR IN A DEPENDABLE METHOD. HAVE TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART TO SOMETIMES GET IT STARTED AGAIN. NOW TORQUE CONVERTER LIGHT CAME ON JUST AFTER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED 1 MONTH OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. GOT IN CONTACT WITH VW OF AMERICA. WOULD NOT ASIST, BUT INSTEAD SENT $2,000 GOOD FAITH VOUCHER TOWARDS TO PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

APPARENT ENGINE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WITH A WARNING TO STOP THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AWAITING EVALUATION OF THE EXTENT DAMAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED AND HAVE NO RECORD OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS MAINTENANCE. I MAINTAIN MY OWN VEHICLE THEREFORE DO NOT HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE EACH OIL CHANGE ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE. VW RECOMMENDS CHANGES EVERY 5,000 MILES; I CHANGED IT EVERY 3,000. *TR

DEALER REFUSES TO FIX RECALL UNLESS I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE TO AFTERMARKET PARTS OCCURRING WHILE REPLACING HEAT SHIELD ON EXHAUST SYSTEM. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE IF ORIGINAL HEAT SHIELD IS NOT REPLACED. RECALL R5, CRITERIA 1. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2003 VW PASSAT FOR 7 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE ALREADY HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES. RIGHT AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A VW DEALERSHIP THE TURBO WENT OUT. I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT. I THEN DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 150 MILES FOR A TOURNAMENT AND WHEN ALMOST THERE A LIGHT CAME ON SAYING TO STOP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. TOOK IT TO VW DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS COVERED BY VW. IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH SLUDGE FROM OIL. GOT IT BACK AND 3 DAYS LATER A LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS THE MIL LIGHT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. STILL WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THIS TIME. I HAVE NOW HAD MY OIL CHANGED 3 TIMES IN 5 THOUSAND MILES DUE TO REPAIRS. IT HAS BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR SO FAR. *TR