2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

HEADLIGHT BUILD CONNECTOR SHORTED AGAINST ADJACENT METAL DUE TO EXPOSED WIRE. CHARRING AND MELTED HARNESS CONNECTOR RESULTED. POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THIS TO CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE WITH POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. HEADLIGHT IS INOPERABLE UNTIL WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN BE REPLACED. *TT

CONSUMER WAS DISSATISFIED WITH NHTSA'S RESPONSE TO SENATOR LARRY CRAIG IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS IN THIS VEHICLE, AND QUESTIONED WHY THE DEFECT WAS NOT A MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE, ES03-001397/S/BRENNER. MR SCC *JB....*AK

SEVERAL TIMES NOW, I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT V6 GLX. THE LAST TIME IT WAS ABSOLUTELY IRRITATING BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE STILL SHOWED A QUARTER TANK AVAILABLE AND DID NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION OR WARNING OF LOW FUEL. WORSE, THE CAR STOPPED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. WORST, WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER, THEY OFFERED TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE GAS TANK, BUT THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME AT THAT TIME, THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT EVEN CONTACT ME AND INFORM ME THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM AND A RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE!!! PLEASE CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT OWNERS GET INFORMED OF THE SAFETY RELATED RECALL!!!! IF I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND YOUR WEBSITE PER PURE INCIDENT, I WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN OF THIS ACTUAL PROBLEM KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN. *NLM

THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE IGNITION COILS REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. *PH *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ON RAINY DAYS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. A LADY HIT MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSING THAT SIDE ALONG THE DOORS AND SOME OF THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUT MY FEET ON ACCELERATOR FOR SPEED AND THE CAR REFUSES TO RESPOND. THE MORE I ACCELERATE THE SLOWER THE CAR GOES. *NLM

CAR WENT INTO PASSING GEAR WHILE PASSING SLOW VEHICLE ON TWO-LANE ROAD. WHEN PASS WAS COMPLETED AND FOOT WAS LIFTED FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DANGEROUSLY EVEN THOUGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURNED TO NORMAL POSITION. ONLY BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, BRAKING WITH BOTH FOOT AND HAND BRAKE AND SWITCHING IGNITION OFF WAS DRIVER ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AVOIDING COLLISION WITH OTHER CAR AHEAD IN SAME LANE. AFTER A MINUTE, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESUME JOURNEY AND RESTARTED ENGINE IN PARK. ENGINE RACED TO FULL RPM. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) AND AIRBAG WARNING LAMPS WERE LIT AT THIS TIME. DRIVER SWITCHED OFF IGNITION, DEEMED VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND CALLED FOR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO SEND TOW TRUCK. AFTER WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK ABOUT 30 MINUTES, DRIVER RESTARTED ENGINE NORMALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE SHOWING EXCEPT THE AIR BAG LIGHT, BUT DRIVER ELECTED TO WAIT FOR VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HEAVY VIBRATION, WHICH WAS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES.*JB

I HAVE A 2001.5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY (AROUND 15,000 MILES), THE SEATBELT MECHANISM WAS RETRACTING VERY SLOWLY SO I TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED, WHICH THEY DID DO AT NO CHARGE. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND I'M AGAIN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT COULD BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. IS THIS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD THEY REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE?

2001.5 PASSAT GLS 1.8T THE COIL PACK FOULED AND CAUGHT THE COIL ON FIRE. HAD I NOT OPENED IT UP AND REMOVED THE VALVE COVER ALONG WITH THE COIL PACK ITSELF, THE CAR WOULD HAVE WENT UP IN FLAMES. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH VW COIL PACKS. VW CLAIMS THAT IF THEY GO BAD YOU CAN STILL DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DONT BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFE IDEA.

VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS LEAKING OIL CAUSING FUMES TO ESCAPE INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH