2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

1) OUR 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T IS LEAKING WATER INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAB. 2) THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE PASSAT AS WELL AS OTHER VOLKSWAGENS AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. 3) REPAIR WILL REQUIRE MODIFICATION OF DRAIN SYSTEMS AROUND THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF WATER INTO SENSITIVE SPACES. *NM

2003 VW PASSAT W8 OVERHEATED AFTER BEING SERVICED FOR TEMP SENSOR. ENGINE SEEMED TO BLOW HEAD GASKET. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER WHERE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. VEHICLE STILL THERE AND DAMAGE MAYBE WORSE. *NM

2003 VW PASSAT DRIVER LEATHER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE OPERATING CAR. IT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT & SCORCHED/DAMAGED MY COAT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ONLY DRIVING A FEW BLOCKS & HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I CONTACTED VW CONSUMER RELATIONS & WAS SHOCKED AT THE RESPONSE. IT SEEMED ROUTINE TO THE MANAGER. THEY "MAY GIVE ME THE REPLACEMENT VALUE OF MY COAT IF IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". I WAS TOLD THAT A CAR WOULD BE GIVEN TO ME TO DRIVE AT NO CHARGE WHILE MINE IS BEING REPAIRED. I EXPLAINED THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION UNDER ME AND I WAS TOLD THAT A TOW WOULD BE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE. I WILL HOLD VW RESPONSIBLE THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT SEATS & WARMER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE COSTS OF A RENTAL OR LOANER CAR WHILE MINE IS IN REPAIR, THE COST TO REPLACE ANY DAMAGED CLOTHING, & ANY OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCIDENT YET TO BE DETERMINED. IT IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME TO THINK THAT I WAS SITTING ON A FIRE WHILE OPERATING MY CAR. WHAT IF MY COAT CAUGHT ON FIRE??? I DRIVE A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE TO & FROM WORK. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS ON MY LUNCH BREAK DRIVING A VERY SHORT DISTANCE & NOT DRIVING HOME. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE CAR SEAT STARTED SMOLDERING THEN FLAMES APPEARED. TURNED OFF CAR SEAT HEATER AND EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER. *JB

I HAD JUST BEGAN LEAVING A SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT WHEN I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LEFT UPPER THIGH. I REACHED DOWN TO DETERMINE WHY AND THEN SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. LOOKING DOWN, I SAW A BURN HOLE IN THE DRIVER SEAT, LEFT SIDE, TOWARD THE BACK OF THE SEAT. IT LOOKED LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH WAS ON 3, PULLED OVER AND EXTINGUISHED THE SMOLDERING WITH MY HAND. THE DEALERS INITIAL RESPONSE WAS THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEY WOULD SEE IF IT COULD STILL BE COVERED AT NO CHARGE. I'M WAITING ON A RESPONSE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RELATIVELY COMMON FAILURE BASED ON THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AND IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER 15 MINUTES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER ON, THE SEAT BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THEN SMOLDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHITE STEAM ERUPTED FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND DETERMINED THE COOLANT WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, WHO DETERMINED THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT'S HEATER ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND CAUGHT THE CONTACTS CLOTHES ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE LEGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. UPDATED 12/01/06. *JB

FUEL PUMP FALIIURE ON 2003 VW PASSAT CAR STALLED ON I-95 IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC FAMILY WAS STRANDED ON I-95 AT 1:00AM

THE HEATED DRIVERS LEATHER SEAT ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY PANTS. I FELT THE BURN AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR THE WINDOWS TO DEFROST. THE CAR IS A 2003 VW PASSAT 1.8T. I CALLED A VW DEALER, AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR INSPECTION. *NM