2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

I NOTICED A STAIN UNDER MY CAR WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN THE STREET. I FIGURED OUT THAT VW HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK VENT WHICH REQUIRED REPLACING THE WHOLE FUEL TANK. THE TANK RUNS ABOUT $922 AND IT TAKES UP TO 11 HOURS LABOR TIME. I STARTED A CHAT WITH A VWOA REP TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. SHE SAID THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS OR CAMPAIGNS ON MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. SHE ALSO STATED THAT MY CAR'S 26E5/R5 RECALL, IT COVERS ALL 1999-2005 PASSAT AND PASSAT WAGON (5TH GEN) EQUIPPED WITH GAS ENGINES. INSTALL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD(S): INSPECT/REPLACE FUEL LINE, FUEL TANK: UPDATE SOFTWARE, IF NECESSARY, HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON 03/12/09 BUT HAS NO SERVICE RECORD TO TELL ME WHAT WAS DONE. IT MAY NOT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN REPLACED. SHE ALSO SAID VWOA WILL NOT FIX NOR HELP ME FIX IT. I FEEL THAT IF A RECALL FOR AS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THIS IS, SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THE SAME MANOR AS THE ORIGINAL PART DID. THAT TELLS ME THEY JUST REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM PART IN HOPES THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T BE IN USE BY THE TIME IT FAILS AGAIN. I AM INCLUDING A FEW PICS FOR EVIDENCE. THE EXAMPLE TANK PIC HAS BEEN OUTLINED WHERE THE FUEL LEAK IS ON MY CAR. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

05/01/2019 CAR HAD A DEAD BATTERY---CHARGE OVER NIGHT STILL WOULD NOT START---HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AUTO SHOP--UPON ARRIVAL WITH KEY ON APPROX. 15 MIN DRIVE--SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING---DISCONNECTED BATTERY---DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER COMPLETELY MELTED--MECHANIC SAYS UNIT PULLING 30 AMPS--THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL--NOT SURE IF TOTALLY CORRECTED--DONOT WANT TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY--PLEASE ADVISE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT HOLD FUEL AND THE TANK HAD TO CONSTANTLY BE REFILLED. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ELLIS MOTORCARS INC (2235 E SOUTH BLVD, MONTGOMERY, AL 36116, (334) 280-1021) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LOW COOLANT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN ABNORMAL BEEPING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT LEAK WAS DUE TO AN ENGINE FAILURE THAT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,675. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CAR LOSES POWER AND STALLS OUT AFTER COMING TO A STOP. EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND CAR MUST BE PUT IN PARK AND STARTED UP AGAIN TO MOVE. TODAY, IT STALLED AS I PULLED OUT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING AT ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BECOME OPERABLE EVEN WHEN THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED AN INTERIOR WATER LEAK AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT PROPERLY LATCH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE, AND VARIOUS OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SOFTWARE FAILURE, AND THE IGNITION COIL SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACE HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY SHIFTED IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKES STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN PARK. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE, TIRE PRESSURE, AND EPC INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN OF SOUTH ATLANTA AT (678) 263-3711 (4305 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR POWER CUTS OFF AND STOPS IN TRAFFIC. HAVE TO RESTART. IT IS DANGEROUS THAT THE CAR JUST STOPS IN TRAFFIC. THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO DRAIN EVEN AFTER TOTALLY RECHARGING THE BATTERY. AFTER A COMPLETE BATTERY RECHARGE AND STARTING THE CAR EVERY DAY, THE BATTERY STILL DRAINS AGAIN AFTER ABOUT A WEEK. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JUNE 2016 AND I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 30 TOTAL MILES BECAUSE AFRAID IT IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. RECENTLY, I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR MY 2016 VOLKSWAGEN CC BUT I AM NOT HAVING THE PROBLEM WITH THE CC. I AM HAVING THE DESCRIBED RECALL PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 PASSAT BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR IT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND MY PASSAT NEEDS THIS REPAIR.

IGNITION COILS KEEP FAILING. JUST REPLACED IN FEBRUARY AGAIN IN MAY AND WILL HAVE TO AGAIN HERE ANY DAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WAS OLD AND A NEW TANK WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED PUDDLES OF FUEL WERE PRESENT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES SINCE SEPTEMBER. THE LEAK WORSENED TWO WEEKS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.