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
    - TUCSON, AZ

    THIS CAR WAS NEVER INSPECTED FOR RECALLS, OR SAFETY ISSUES. THE MOMENT THE CAR WAS HANDED TO US THE BATTERY DIED. THE DEALERSHIP QUICKLY CHANGE THE BATTERY. THE CAR WAS HESITATING ON ACCELERATION EVER SINCE. IT WAS ON JULY 27 2008 THAT FINALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE AND IT HAS COAST US 270 DOLLARS TO FIX IT SO FAR. WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON THIS CAR THAT WERE NEVER LOOK AT OR FIXED BY PRECISION TOYOTA OF TUCSON . ONE OF THESE RECALLS CAN CAUSE FIRE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - VALRICO, FL

    I HAVE OWNED 3 VWS AND HAVE ALWAYS MADE SURE TO STAY UP TO DATE ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. RECENT KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE LEAD US TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A REPAIR AT WHICH TIME WE WERE INFORMED THAT WE HAD A MAJOR SLUDGE PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST ME $6900 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *TR

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

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE HAZARD LIGHTS ALSO STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND AND THE FAILURES WERE INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUE TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - TEMPLE HILLS, MD

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND DRIVE SLUGGISH. SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION AND THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED WITHIN MINUTES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A NEARBY VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO ITS PASSENGER SIDE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - BEAVER DAM, WI

    WATER LEAKED IN TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VW PASSAT. THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC CONTROLS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE FLOOR MAT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AUTO. THE WATER SHORTED OUT THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE TRANSMISSION DISABLING THE VEHICLE. A VW DEALER REPAIRED THE PASSAT BY REPLACING THE ELECTRONICS AT A COST OF $2250.00 TO US. THEY ALSO MODIFIED THE AIR INTAKE TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME WE HAD THE AUTO IN FOR CABIN WATER. THE SERVICE REP. TOLD ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CABIN AIR INTAKE AND THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL ON THE 2000, 2001 AND 2002 YEARS OF THE PASSAT. HE TRIED VW FOR WARRANTY BUT THEY DECLINED. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - MANSFIELD, OH

    CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP, COST $45. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP, COSTING ANOTHER $110 FOR THIS INFORMATION. A FEW DAYS LATER CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. TOWED ONCE AGAIN TO VW DEALERSHIP, COST $155. THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE AND ALSO CHECK ALL OTHER RECALLS. WE RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER THE DAY AFTER THE NO START. I AM ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR BOTH TOWS AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AS ALL COST INCURRED WERE DUE TO THIS RECALL. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - MESA, AZ

    MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN, AND THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, SO I HAD TO KEEP DRIVING. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO STEER IT OFF ONTO A SHOULDER. I HAVE ALSO BEEN BURNED MY THE HEATED SEAT WHEN THE WIRING OVERHEATS, AND IT HAS BOTH SHOCKED AND BURNED MY SKIN. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - FRESH MEADOWS, NY

    IN 4/08 AND 5/08 HAD MALFUNCTION LIGHT INDICATOR COME ON, THEN HAD SEPARATE REPAIRS AT BAYSIDE VOLKSWAGEN. SAME LIGHT CAME ON 7/6/08. ITS SEEMS EVERY MONTH OR SO, ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND HAVING DIFFERENT REPAIRS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - ALEXANDRIA, VA

    2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH RECALL FOR FAULTY SEAL AND HEAT SHIELD. CONSUMER HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED AND THEN RECEIVED THE RECALLS. HE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE REPAIRS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DISCOVERED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVER AND CLEANED IT. THE SUNROOF TUBES AND DRAIN PLUG WERE REPLACED. *JB

    Source: CONSUMER LETTER
  • 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
    - ST LOUIS, MO

    MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS HOLDING 6INCHES OR MORE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FLOOR BOARD AND HAS SHORTED OUT THE COMPUTER UNDERNEATH, IN SERVICING THE CAR THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HE FOUND 3 OTHER VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS OF THE SAME YEAR TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN ADVISED THAT A SERIOUS CRASH COULD HAVE RESULTED BECAUSE THE COMPUTER UNDERNEATH REGULATES THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE