2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

STRONG SMELL OF GAS EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTO CABIN THROUGH HEATING SYSTEM, DROVE TO VW DEALER, WHO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THE CAR DID NOT EXPLODE, THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH HEATS TO 1000 DEGREES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL LINE, ALTHOUGH THEY CHARGED A LOT TO DO SO.*AK

2001 PASSAT ALL NEW PIRELLI TIRES 12/03. REAR TIRES CUPPING ON THE INSIDE AFTER 20,000 MILES. VEH WAS LOUD IN THE REAR, LESS TRACTION, HANDLING FUNNY. FIGHTING WITH TIRE PLACE RIGHT NOW.*AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE 2001 VW PASSAT V6 GLS ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND THE MOMENTUM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE FORWARD ENOUGH TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED WITHOUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DISASTROUS SITUATION. DURING THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED TODAY THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE BEING RESTARTED. *NM

THE ACCELERATOR STICKS. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CONSUMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE UPPER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

TRUNK LID LOCK BROKE ABOUT 5 DAYS BEFORE THE 8TH AND IT SLOWLY DRAINED THE BATTERY. WITHOUT MY KNOWING THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN I DID NOT ATTEND THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. THE CHARGES FROM VW TO FIX ARE: TRUNK-$ 120.85 BATTERY- $318.18. *NM

I OWN A 2001 1.8 TURBO VW PASSAT WITH GIVE OR TAKE 57,000 MILES. THE 1.8 TURBO HAS AN ISSUE WITH OIL SLUDGE. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8 TURBO AND HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ACCORDINGLY, VW HAS EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I HAVE RECORDS SHOWING THAT ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES WERE DONE WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER. HOWEVER IN TWO INSTANCES I EXCEEDED THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE": IN THE FIRST CASE IT WAS BY 26 MILES AND IN THE SECOND CASE IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 290 MILES. IF VW HAS DENIED MY CLAIM DUE TO THOSE SITUATIONS, THEY SHOULD NOT STATE IN THE WARRANTY THAT THE OWNER FOLLOW THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE" SCHEDULE BUT THAT THE OWNER SHOULD FOLLOW A "REQUIRED MAINTENANCE" SCHEDULE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT A 2001 CAR, THAT COST OVER $22,000, THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, AND HAS LESS THAT 60,000 MILES, SUCH AS MINE, SHOULD NOT HAVE ENGINE FAILURE. EVEN IF I WENT OVER THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE" BY 500 OR 700 MILES, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE, THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT GIVE OUT. VW NEEDS TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM VWOA REGARDING THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. I HAVE ALL OF MY RECORDS STATING THAT I HAVE PERFORMED THE "RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE" NOT REQUIRED MAINTENANCE, IN A TIMELY MANNER. YET VW HAS DENIED MY CLAIM TO COVER THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

DESPITE LIGHT USE OF THE VEHICLE, BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON OUR 2001 VW PASSAT WAGON HAVE FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY RECOGNIZED A DEFECT WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REPLACED THEM AT ITS EXPENSE, WE WERE CHARGED $600 BY THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS -- EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD FEWER THAN 25,000 MILES AT THE TIME.*AK

THE TURN SIGNAL /HAZARD SWITCH RELAY FAILED ON MY 2001 PASSAT GLX 4MOTION TWICE ON 11/20/2003 (REPLACED ON 11/23/2004) AND 12/19/2004. IT CAUSED TURN SIGNAL TO MALFUNCTION.*AK

THE CRANK SHAFT SCREW GOT LOOSE, BACKED OUT, AND RATTLED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AT 50 MPH. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE SCREW RUINED THE INTERIOR PARTS OF THE ENGINE.*AK