2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

WAS USING THE HEATED DRIVERS SEAT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN COLD WEATHER. THE SEAT BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNED A HOLE IN MY PANTS, AND BURNED THROUGH THE PADDING AND SEAT FABRIC IN MY 2003 VW PASSAT. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE SEAT AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING SEAT. THE SEAT, PADDING, HEATING ELEMENTS, AND MY PANTS ARE COMPLETELY RUINED. *JB

2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L FUEL PUMP DIED WITHOUT WARNING DURING RUSH HOUR IN A VERY BUSY PART OF TOWN. IT CAUSED A HUGE TRAFFIC JAM, AND I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE BY AAA. I HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND HER VERIFIED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD DIED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 55K MILES ON IT, WHICH IS VERY PREMATURE FOR A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THIS IS A RECALL ITEM ON 2003 PASSATS BUILT UP UNTIL 3/03. MY CAR WAS BUILT ON 4/03 AND VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR, NOR FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE MY CAR IS OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. *JB

AIRBAG FAULT - BAD MODULE - AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT - 2003 VW PASSAT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, AN OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND FAILED DUE TO MAINTENANCE NEGLIGENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TO WORK, FRONT UNDERBODY COVER BECAME DETACHED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND I WAS WITHIN 5 MILES OF A REPAIR SHOP. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A BURNING SMELL WAS NOTICED AND THE DRIVER SEAT WAS HOT. THE CONTACT NOTICED TWO HOLES WERE BURNED IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.

I AM INVESTIGATING AND GATHERING INCIDENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLOODING PROBLEMS THAT VOLKSWAGENS, ESPECIALLY THE PASSAT, EXHIBIT FROM MODEL YEARS 1998 TO THE PRESENT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR WHICH THIS INFORMATION IS BEING GATHERED. IF INTERESTED, PLEASE RESPOND TO [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION. *NM

I WAS DRIVING MY PASSAT WITH 1.8 T ENGINE AND THE ENGINE FAILED. VOLKSWAGEN "ADVOCATES" WERE COMPLETELY UNHELPFUL THIS OCCURRED IN SUMMER OF 2005. VOLKSWAGEN AWARE OF PROBLEM AND LEFT CONSUMER TO PAY FOR 9000 DOLLAR REPAIR. IN THE LAST YEAR MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. COMPANY AWARE OF PROBLEM AND UNWILLING TO HELP. *NM

MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A CAN OF SODA ON HAND TO POUR ON IT BECAUSE THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM DEEP INSIDE THE INTERIOR OF THE FOAM PADDING INSIDE THE SEAT. I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE FLAMES, COULD HAVE EASILY LOST MY ENTIRE CAR IF I HAD NOT BEEN ON A SLOW ROAD (ABLE TO STOP QUICKLY) AND DOUSE IT WITH SOMETHING WET. I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON SO IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. SEVERAL DAYS LATER I TURNED THE WARMER BACK ON TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN - WITHIN 60 SECONDS SMOKE AND SPARKS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE HOLE CAUSED BY THE ORIGINAL FIRE. THERE WERE REAL FLAMES AND MY CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT THEM OUT QUICKLY AND HAD MY CHILDREN STRAPPED INTO THEIR CAR SEATS AT THE TIME THIS COMPLAINT WOULD PROBABLY BE A DEATH NOTICE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, NONE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 04V096000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/18/2006 - THE NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS INSTALLED ON 11/28/2006. *NM