2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

THE HORN ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT (AND MY 1998 VW PASSAT) DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS NOT ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE CONFIRMED WITH THE DEALER THAT THIS IS INDEED THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. I DISCOVERED THIS DESIGN FLAW WHEN PARKED IN A GAS STATION WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF GETTING GAS. ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED INTO THE STATION AND APPARENTLY DIDN'T SEE ME. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO LEAN ON THE HORN. I TRIED BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. LUCKILY, THE OTHER CAR NARROWLY MISSED ME. HOWEVER, I CAN THINK OF PLENTY OF SCENARIOS WHERE ONE WOULD ABSOLUTELY NEED AN OPERATIONAL HORN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION TO THOSE INVOLVING POTENTIAL VEHICULAR ACCIDENT SITUATIONS, THERE ARE ALSO PERSONAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS (E.G. MY WIFE GETS IN THE CAR AND IS ATTACKED BY AN INDIVIDUAL PRIOR TO STARTING THE CAR). I DID CONTACT VW THROUGH THEIR ONLINE CUSTOMER CARE SITE. WHILE A CUSTOMER CARE CASE WAS OPENDED (#10644291), I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION OF THE HORN DESIGN. BY THE WAY, IT APPEARS THAT MERCEDES AND BMW HAVE A SIMILAR HORN DESIGN. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE MANUFACTURERS REGARDING HORN DESIGN. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2001 VW PASSAT ON AUGUST 21,2001 FROM PATRICK MOTORS IN AUBURN, MASS. IN THE 5 WEEKS I HAVE OWED THE CAR IT HAS HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES ( 2 X TOWED) FOR THE SAME RELATED PROBLEM. MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS GONE ON EACH OF THOSE TIMES. CAR HAS DRIVEN IN LOW GEAR AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH HESITATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS FRAYED WIRES REPAIRED THAT CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAR HAS BE UNDRIVEABLE PER THE DEALERSHIP DURING THESE TIMES. I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE TYPE OF COMMUTE I DO EVERY DAY TO WORK. I DRIVE 50 MINS ONE WAY DOWN RT 2, 495 AND RT 3. I HAVE BEEN IN THE POSITION OF CONCERN IF MY CAR WILL MAKE IT HOME, TO WORK, WILL I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH THE HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS. TO ME THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE. FURTHER INFO CAN BE PROVIDED WITH MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AS WELL AS COPIES OF SERVICE REPAIR ORDER. THANK YOU. *AK

AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PICKED UP FOR 6 DAYS, THE FRONT LEFT CV BOOT WORE OUT DUE TO LOOSE INSTALLATION. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT FOUND BY DEALER BEFORE DELIVERY. THE CV BOOT IS NOW REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK

I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS DEFECT AS A HAZARD. MY NEW 2001.5 PASSAT WAGON HAS A PERCEPTIBLE DISTORTION, OR RIPPLING EFFECT, IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD; E.G., WHEN SEEING POLES, TREES, OR BUILDING SIDINGS WHILE MAKING A TURN, OR WHEN VIEWING PARKWAY EXIT SIGNS WHILE PASSING THEM. THERE'S AN ACCORDION EFFECT; VERTICAL OBJECTS INCHWORM; LETTERS EXPAND AND CONTRACT. JUST MOVING MY HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE BY A FEW INCHES CAN PRODUCE THIS EFFECT. I CAN'T SAY YET THAT IT'S HAZARDOUS BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DISTRACTING. MEANWHILE, I CAN'T GET THE DEALER TO EVEN SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND TELL ME IT'S MY IMAGINATION. WHEN POSTED TO PASSAT USERS GROUP FOLLOWING MESSAGES RESULTED:  (1) I'VE SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS. TIME TO GET A NEW DEALER. YOU SHOULD GET NEW GLASS UNDER WARRANTY. (2) MY '99 WAS 5000 MILES NEW WHEN I REALIZED THE WINDSHIELD HAD A DISTORTION AND RIPPLE EFFECT. THEY REPLACED IT NO CHARGE, BUT THE SECOND ONE IS AS BAD AS THE FIRST ONE. (3) HAS ANYONE WITH A '99 B5 NOTICED DISTORTIONS IN THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS? I'VE HAD MY WINDSHIELD AND REAR GLASS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE NEW GLASS IS ALSO DISTORTED - ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS BAD AS THE ORIGINAL. (4) WHEN I RECENTLY HAD A GENUINE NEW VW WINDSCREEN INSTALLED AFTER DAMAGE I NOTICED AN OPTICAL DISTORTION RIGHT OF MY STRAIGHT AHEAD VISION. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL QUALITY CONTROL FROM A MAJOR MOTOR MANUFACTURER AND THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR DEALER. (5) THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. A WAVY, VERTICAL LINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT MINE AND FOUND IT RIGHT AWAY, HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOTED ON SEVERAL NEW 2000'S ON THE LOT, AND THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAS A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT. CHECK THE WINDSHIELD BY LOOKING OUT AT A STRAIGHT LINE, THE SIDE OF A BUILDING OR A POLE, AND MOVING YOUR EYES UP AND DOWN AS WELL AS RIGHT AND LEFT. VW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IM NOT HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEIR MESS MADE ON A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OUTISIDE OF DRIVEWAY AND THE RED LIGHT DISPLAYED ON DASHBOARD SAYING STOP CHECK COOLIANT, DON'T DRIVE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND KEPT VEHICLE OVER NIGHT. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTED A BLURRED VISION ON RIGHT SIDE OF GLASS, MAKING EVERYTHING DISTORTED. HORIZONTAL LINES LOOK CHOPPY AND GUARD RAILS LOOK WOBBLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WINDSHIELD ON JULY 5TH AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD ALSO HAS STRESS FRACTURES THAT LOOK LIKE STRANDS OF A COBWEB, DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *SLC

PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW AND NOTICED DISTORTION ON FRONT WINDSHIELD LATER THAT DAY. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH ONE THAT HAS EVEN MORE DISTORTIONS. I STRESSED STRONGLY TO EXAMINE PRIOR TO PUTTING IN AND THEY DIDN'T. AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING TO VW OF AMERICA THEY AGREED TO PUT IN WINDSHIELD #3 BUT CAN NOT PROMISE IT WON'T HAVE BAD DISTORTIONS. THEY SAY PASSAT WINDSHIELD ARE JUST THAT WAY. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH POOR QAULITY GLASS IN ANY PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. I'M ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DON'T CARE. I POSTED ON VW BOARD AND RECEIVED MANY RESPONSES FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WHO ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE USA. AT THIS POINT DON'T WANT MY CAR TORN APART FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PIECE OF GLASS. I COULD GET A GENERIC WINDSHIELD (HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT YET) BUT PREFER A VW WINDSHIELD FOR WARRANTY AND LOOKS WITHOUT VERTICAL DISTORTIONS CAUSING THINGS TO APPEAR WAVY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

SEE ODI 746847: CONNECT ERROR ON FOLLOWING. MY NEW 2001.5 PASSAT WAGON HAS A PERCEPTIBLE DISTORTION, OR RIPPLING EFFECT, IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD; E.G., WHEN SEEING POLES, TREES, OR BUILDING SIDINGS WHILE MAKING A TURN, OR WHEN VIEWING PARKWAY EXIT SIGNS WHILE PASSING THEM. THERE'S AN ACCORDION EFFECT; VERTICAL OBJECTS INCHWORM; LETTERS EXPAND AND CONTRACT. JUST MOVING MY HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE BY A FEW INCHES CAN PRODUCE THIS EFFECT. I CAN'T SAY YET THAT IT'S HAZARDOUS BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DISTRACTING. MEANWHILE, I CAN'T GET THE DEALER TO EVEN SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND TELL ME IT'S MY IMAGINATION. WHEN POSTED TO PASSAT USERS GROUP FOLLOWING MESSAGES RESULTED:  (1) I'VE SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS. TIME TO GET A NEW DEALER. YOU SHOULD GET NEW GLASS UNDER WARRANTY. (2) MY '99 WAS 5000 MILES NEW WHEN I REALIZED THE WINDSHIELD HAD A DISTORTION AND RIPPLE EFFECT. THEY REPLACED IT NO CHARGE, BUT THE SECOND ONE IS AS BAD AS THE FIRST ONE. (3) HAS ANYONE WITH A '99 B5 NOTICED DISTORTIONS IN THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS? I'VE HAD MY WINDSHIELD AND REAR GLASS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE NEW GLASS IS ALSO DISTORTED - ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS BAD AS THE ORIGINAL. (4) WHEN I RECENTLY HAD A GENUINE NEW VW WINDSCREEN INSTALLED AFTER DAMAGE I NOTICED AN OPTICAL DISTORTION RIGHT OF MY STRAIGHT AHEAD VISION. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL QUALITY CONTROL FROM A MAJOR MOTOR MANUFACTURER AND THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR DEALER. (5) THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. A WAVY, VERTICAL LINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT MINE AND FOUND IT RIGHT AWAY, HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOTED ON SEVERAL NEW 2000'S ON THE LOT, AND THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAS A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT. CHECK THE WINDSHIELD BY LOOKING OUT AT A STRAIGHT LINE, THE SIDE OF A BUILDING OR A POLE, AND MOVING YOUR EYES UP AND DOWN AS WELL AS RIGHT AND LEFT. VW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IM NOT HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEIR MESS MADE ON A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE.

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER WORM SHAFT IN THE STEERING. *JG

AFTER I POSTED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE TO THE PASSAT USERS GROUP: MY NEW 2001.5 PASSAT WAGON HAS A PERCEPTIBLE DISTORTION, OR RIPPLING EFFECT, IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SEEING POLES, TREES, OR BUILDING SIDINGS WHILE MAKING A TURN, OR WHEN VIEWING HIGHWAY EXIT SIGNS WHILE PASSING THEM ON THE PARKWAY. THERE'S AN ACCORDION EFFECT; VERTICAL OBJECTS INCHWORM; LETTERS EXPAND AND CONTRACT. JUST MOVING MY HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE BY A FEW INCHES CAN PRODUCE THIS EFFECT. I CAN'T SAY YET THAT IT'S HAZARDOUS BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DISTRACTING. MEANWHILE, I CAN'T GET THE DEALER TO EVEN SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND TELL ME IT'S MY IMAGINATION. I WAS REFERRED TO THE FOLLOWING MESSAGES: (1) I'VE SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS. TIME TO GET A NEW DEALER. YOU SHOULD GET NEW GLASS UNDER WARRANTY. (2) MY '99 WAS 5000 MILES NEW WHEN I REALIZED THE WINDSHIELD HAD A DISTORTION AND RIPPLE EFFECT. THEY REPLACED IT NO CHARGE, BUT THE SECOND ONE IS AS BAD AS THE FIRST ONE. (3) HAS ANYONE WITH A '99 B5 NOTICED DISTORTIONS IN THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS? I'VE HAD MY WINDSHIELD AND REAR GLASS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE NEW GLASS IS ALSO DISTORTED - ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS BAD AS THE ORIGINAL. (4) WHEN I RECENTLY HAD A GENUINE NEW VW WINDSCREEN INSTALLED AFTER DAMAGE I NOTICED AN OPTICAL DISTORTION RIGHT OF MY STRAIGHT AHEAD VISION. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL QUALITY CONTROL FROM A MAJOR MOTOR MANUFACTURER AND THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR DEALER. (5) THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. A WAVY, VERTICAL LINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT MINE AND FOUND IT RIGHT AWAY, HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOTED ON SEVERAL NEW 2000'S ON THE LOT, AND THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAS A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT. CHECK THE WINDSHIELD BY LOOKING OUT AT A STRAIGHT LINE, THE SIDE OF A BUILDING OR A POLE, AND MOVING YOUR EYES UP AND DOWN AS WELL AS RIGHT AND LEFT. VW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE MESS THEY MADE ON A