2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD AND SCRAPING SOUND CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC ENGINE NOISE SHIELD WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND BECAUSE IT HAD LOST THE FASTENERS, THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW INNER FENDERS AND LOWER COVER. *YH

THERE IS A BIZARRE ACCELERATION LAG IN VEHICLE WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE, BUT WOULD NOT INFORM HIM WHAT PROBLEM WAS. WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION OF THE PROBLEM OR ATTACHMENTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS TO GRAB/PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. DEALERSHIP HAS YET TO EXAMINE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 9 MAY, REPLACED CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 16 MAY, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN ON 23 MAY, DEALER REPLACED 1 AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY.AIRBAG LIGHT ON AGAIN ON 3 JUNE, AND DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH AIRBAGS. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER AT THIS TIME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING REAR PASSENGER'S WINDOW EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. JUST PRIOR TO EXPLOSION, HAD JUST CLOSED WINDOW.*AK *JB

THERE IS A DEFECT AND DISTORTION IN MY WINDSHIELD IN MY LINE OF VISION. I BELIEVE ( AFTER INSPECTING SIMILAR PASSATS ) THAT THIS DEFECT AND DISTORTION IS PRESENT ON A NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT VW PRODUCED. AT THIS TIME, THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO AUTHORIZE A REPLACEMENT. I AM SENDING IN THIS COMPLAINT TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE MADE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM CAN BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD THAT VW IS NOT WILLING TO SOLVE.*AK

AUTO HAS CRUISE CONTROL. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES THAT THERE IS A CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON/ENGAGED, NO INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS ON THE DASH. MORONG VW (THE FALMOUTH, MAINE SERVICE CENTER WE USE) AND THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE INDICATE THAT DESPITE THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATEMENT THAT CARS WITH CRUISE CONTROL HAVE A CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT, NONE IS INSTALLED IN 2001 VW PASSATS. THEY BOTH INDICATED THAT NO REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE TO THIS PROBLEM, DESPITE MY REQUEST. IN MY VIEW, IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FOR THERE NOT TO BE AN INDICATOR SHOWING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE ENGAGED. I'VE NEVER OWNED A CAR OR BEEN IN A CAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL THAT DID NOT HAVE SUCH A LIGHT. WITHOUT THE LIGHT, THERE IS HIGHER RISK OF INADVERTENT ENGAGEMENT, OR FAILURE TO REMEMBER THAT THE SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, BOTH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. IS THERE ANY REGULATION THAT REQUIRES SUCH A LIGHT? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON STARTING 02/12/2001. IT WAS CHECK BY THE DEALER ON 03/06/2001 BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND CLEARED CODE. THREE DAYS LATER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN WITH AIRBAG FAULT SIGN WAS ALSO ON. TOOK TO DEALER ON 03/22/2001 ALONG WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION PAN, GASKET PUNCTURED AND OIL LEAKING. THE DEALER SERVICE REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND UPPER HARNESS UNDER WARRANTY OF THE CAR, WHILE TRANSMISSION REPAIR WAS CHARGE TO MY INSURANCE. MY SAFETY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PAN IS MAYBE TOO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT IT CAN EASILY BE PUNCTURED, WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. AND FOR THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGN TURNED ON, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF ACCIDENT OCCURS OR MAY ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY MPH STEPPED OFF GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, AND VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN. AS SOON AS LET BRAKE PEDAL GO, VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AGAIN.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES JUST STOP. ON OCTOBER 18, 2000 WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON FREEWAY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. CONSUMER ALMOST GOT HIT 3 TIMES TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF ROAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 8 TMES. THEY HAVE TRIED MANY THINGS TO RECTIFY PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED ARBITRATION FOR ASSISTANCE. ONCE CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED THEM THEY TRIED UNPLUGGING COMPUTER AND CHIPS TO SEE WHY LIGHT COMES ON. VOLKSWAGEN FINALLY SAID TO REPLACE COMPUTER.*AK