2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACE AT 25,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 50,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT BRAKE PADS (ESPECIALLY ROTORS) SHOULD LAST MORE THAN EVERY 25,000 MILES. I'M APPROACHING 75,000 MILES AND AM ANTICIPATING WHETHER OR NOT I WILL BE REPLACING PADS AND ROTORS ONCE AGAIN!*AK

THE SULFUR IN THE FUEL INTERACTS WITH CERTAIN ADDITIVES FOUND WIDELY. SULPHER BECOMES DEPOSITED ON CONTACT POINTS OF THREE FUEL SENDING UNITS MOUNTED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS RESULTS IN THE FUEL GAUGE'S ABILITY TO READ FULL WHILE THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. *AK

THE RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY HAS DEFECTIVE WIRING ACCORDING TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THE SAME HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED UN JULY 2001. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THE LAST TIME IT WENT OUT IN JUNE 2003 THEY REPAIRED SOME EXPOSED WIRING IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. NOW THE WIRING CANNOT BE REPAIRED ANY FURTHER. IT WILL COST OVER $300 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED TWICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN A HEADLAMP GOES OUT YOU LOOSE THE ILLUMINATION ON THE ROADWAY THAT IT SERVES. NOT HAVING THE PROPER ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO IT HELPS MOTORISTS COMING IN THE OTHER DIRECTION SEE YOUR CAR. THE OTHER OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THE FIRE THAT BE CAUSED BY EXPOSED WIRING (SEE ODI ID # 10016924). *PH *CB

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT USER COMMUNITY AS FREQUENTLY OCCURRING AND CONFIRMED BY VW SERVICE TECHNICIANS AS A PROBLEM SEEN OFTEN. MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED SEEING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 4 TIMES A MONTH. THE CAR CONTAINS A POLLEN FILTER. THE SEAL AROUND THE POLLEN FILTER FAILED. WHEN THE SEAL FAILS, WATER COMES INTO THE CAR AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL, FLOODING BOTH THE FROM AND REAR OF THE CAR, AND, IN OUR CASE REQUIRING ABOUT $600 WORTH OF REPAIR. REPORTED CONSEQUENCES OF WATER COMING INTO THE CAR, INCLUDE (1) SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTING N THE CENTER CONSOLE, MAKING THE AUDIO, VENTILATION, ANTI-SLIP OVERRIDE AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AT NIGHT; (2) FAILURE OF EITHER THE AIRBAG TRIGGERING MECHANISM OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, OWNER CANNOT DISTINGUISH; (3) AND FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM (DOORS AND TRUNK -- LOCKED DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE.) THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR GETS WET -- FOR EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN -- AND RESULTS IN FAILURE OF SYSTEMS RELATED TO INTERIOR LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AIRBAGS, AND LOCKS -- ALL CRITICAL FOR SAFETY IN EITHER NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF FROM THE REPAIR COSTS I INCURRED FIXING THE FAILURE OF THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IN MY 2001 PASSAT. *LA

REAR LEFT DOOR HAS A QUARTER OF AN INCH GAP BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE DOOR. THIS ALLOWS AIR AND SOMETIMES WATER TO ENTER INTO COMPARTMENT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR AND THROTTLE STUCK. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO RELEASE THE THROTTLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

TRUNK DOES NOT LATCH "BOOTLID OPEN." MESSAGE ON DASH AND WARNING BEEP AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN ROAD. *LA

FUEL GAUGE WAS INDICATING INCORRECT AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS INDICATED A FULL TANK OF GAS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A RECALL (01V157000) WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLES EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED MOST OF THE COST. *AK *NLM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF, THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *PH *JB

2/18/03 - REPORTED AIR BAG LIGHT ON TO DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AND RESET LIGHT. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN IN MAY '03. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 6/28/03 FOR SERVICE. TOLD THAT AIRBAG SPIRAL SPRING AND HARNESS BE REPLACED. COULD NOT CHANGE ON THAT DAY (SATURDAY) DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 8/26/03 TO REPLACE SPIRAL SPRING AND HARNESS.*AK