2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THAT VW HAS FAILED TO OFFER A RECALL FOR 2006 PASSAT STEERING COLUMN AND COMFORT MODULE MALFUNCTION. THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SAFETY ISSUE IS A POTENTIALLY STRANDED DRIVER. *TR

BRAND NEW VEHICLE, 06 VW PASSAT, DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS--THEN, CAR STARTING DYING SUDDENLY AFTER BEING STOPPED (AT A RED LIGHT) THEN ACCELERATING ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WOULDN'T SPUTTER OR CHOKE--JUST DIE. TOOK IT TO VW TO CHECK INTO IT--THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS PUTTING INTO MY CAR--BUT IT WASN'T. FINALLY, AFTER 34 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THE SHOP, THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I TALKED WITH VW HEADQUARTERS. THEY OFFERED ME $300. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS DYING--COMPLETELY QUITTING ON ME--IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS--AND HOW MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS I HAD AVOIDED--SO $300 WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT--BUT VW CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I EXPLAINED FURTHER THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INTERMITTENTLY DOING THIS, I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING, ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE--STILL, VW WOULD NOT ADMIT TO THERE BEING AN ISSUE. OUT OF SHEER PANIC, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND CONVINCED THEM TO GET ME A NEW CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP RE-SOLD MY OLD CAR, THE ONE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX. A YEAR LATER, A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN WITH HER 92 JETTA. HER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND REPLACED THEM. NOW, A YEAR LATER, VW SENT A NOTICE TO ME IN THE MAIL SAYING IT IS "NOT A RECALL" BUT THEY WANTED US TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS "ONLY IF A CERTAIN LIGHT INDICATOR" GOES ON IN THE CAR. I NEVER HAD SUCH A LIGHT GO ON IN MY OLD CAR, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS AND TOOK MY CURRENT VW VEHICLE IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS ANYWAY. THANKFULLY, THE DEALERSHIP DID IT FOR ME, BECAUSE THEY KNEW MY HISTORY. THE NOTICE FROM VW CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY ONLY WANT YOU TO REPLACE THEM IF THE LIGHT GOES ON IN YOUR CAR AND YOU ONLY HAD UNTIL A CERTAIN DATE (FEB. 28TH) TO DO IT. STILL SEEMS TO BE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM VW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT HAND. *TR

2.0T FSI ENGINE WITH 44K MILES HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MISFIRES IN CYLINDER #2, UNRESOLVED AFTER 5 VISITS TO DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. DEALER HAS FOLLOWED VW CORPORATE TECHLINE INSTRUCTIONS AND REPLACED IGNITION COILS (TWICE), CAMSHAFT, FUEL PUMP, HYDRAULIC LIFTER IN BAD CYLINDER, INTAKE BREATHER HOSE, INTAKE MANIFOLD SENSOR AND OTHER PARTS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. CAR WILL RUN OK WITH NO ERROR CODES FOR AN AVERAGE OF 3 - 5 DAYS AFTER REPAIR BEFORE PROBLEM RECURS, AND CONDITION OF ENGINE CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE. DUE TO MISFIRES, UNBURNED FUEL IS NOW REACHING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (DETECTED BY SULFUR SMELL) AND LIKELY DAMAGING THAT COMPONENT AS WELL. ENTIRE ENGINE VIBRATES SEVERELY DUE TO IMPROPER FIRING SEQUENCE AND FEELS AS IF IT WANTS TO JUMP OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR HAS 1 MONTH LEFT ON WARRANTY; WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT "WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FIXED WHILE THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS OUT OF POCKET," BUT THEY APPEAR EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FIX THE ROOT CAUSE. DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO PROVIDE RENTAL OR LOANER CAR DURING MULTIPLE REPAIRS, SO I HAVE HAD TO RELY ON A 15-YEAR OLD VEHICLE AS PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION DURING MULTIPLE REPAIRS LASTING 1 TO 5 DAYS. WILL CALL VW CUSTOMER CARE TODAY BUT DO NOT EXPECT SATISFACTION, DESPITE THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

CAR WILL NOT START, HAVE TO KEEP TRYING OVER AND OVER HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY. AFTER A FEW MINS ANYWHERE FROM 2MIN TILL 15MIN OF RESTARTING IT WILL START. *TR

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY STEERING COLUMN LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING ON AND OFF. IT STATES STEERING COLUMN DEFECT. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT TURNS OFF AFTER I RESTART MY CAR A FEW TIMES. I FIGURED IT WAS AN ELECTRIC ISSUE. NOW FOR THE PAST WEEK OR SO, MY CAR HAS PROBLEMS TURNING ON AND IT CONTINUES TO STATE STEERING COLUMN DEFECTIVE. IT TOOK 10 TIMES TO GET MY CAR STARTED TODAY. MY STEERING COLUMN LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT AND ENGINE ALL CAME ON EACH TIME I TRIED TO START MY CAR WITHOUT SUCCESS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BEFORE I FINISHED EXPLAINING MYSELF, THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, BUT MY CAR IS CERTIFIED SO IT MAY BE COVERED. THERE ARE OVER 40 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO RECALL WHATEVER IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM! *TR

I AM A PHD COMPUTER SCIENTIST AND MY VW'S COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE SPONTANEOUSLY CHANGED ITS SETTING. A VW DEALER TECHNICIAN DOCUMENTED THE CHANGE, AND RESET THE PARAMETER TO FACTORY SETTINGS. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES ON MY CAR AT COSTCO. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, THE "LOW TIRE PRESSURE" WARNING LIGHT LIT. I REPORTED THIS TO THE COSTCO EMPLOYEE WHO HAD DONE THE WORK. HE CHECKED THE FACTORY SETTINGS BY THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND MADE SURE ALL TIRES WERE SET TO THAT PRESSURE, 35 LBS. THE WARNING LIGHT WENT ON EVERY TIME I DROVE. I SCHEDULED A REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH A VW DEALER. THE TECHNICAL FOUND THAT THE CONTROL UNIT'S SETTING HAD CHANGED TO 100101 FROM 100100. HE RESET THE PARAMETER, AND THE START-UP WARNING STOPPED. *TR

I ADVISED VOLKSWAGEN THAT I HAD THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIX THE ISSUE FOR ME BUT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT 900 DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2006 PASSAT I OWN. THE REP TOLD ME THAT A WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS BUILT WRONG. IT IS TO SHORT AND THE TSB THAT IS OUT FOR THIS ISSUE EXPLAINS THAT A WIRING HARNESS WITH LONGER WIRES IS NEEDED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THE ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM SAYING IT WAS NOT THERE FAULT AND THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER LOOKING AT YOUR RECALLS I NOTICED THERE IS AN EXACT RECALL FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN CC WITH THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME . *TR

I HAVE A 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T WITH 30,000 MILES. I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS OVER THE LAST YEAR, KEY WILL NOT COME OUT IN PARK, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, CAR CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS TO THE DEALER'S ATTENTION, BUT WAS BRUSHED OFF BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO "DO IT AGAIN." NOW THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT IS ON. VW DEALERSHIP SAYS I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. IF NOT REPLACED, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD FIX ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. *TR

1ST OCCURRENCE, STEERING COLUMN LOCK WARNING CAME ON UPON IGNITION, IMMEDIATELY DISABLED THE CAR. TRIED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT EVENTUALLY STARTED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY HAPPENED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER "A" IN OCTOBER OF 2007, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE OUR COMPLAINT, THEY TREATED IT AS AN ISOLATED EVENT. WE CONTINUED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM AT EVERY SERVICE VISIT TO DEALER "A", WITHOUT RESOLUTION. UPON TAKING THE CAR TO DEALER "B", THEY REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MODULE AND COMFORT MODULE ARE BOTH DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK. DEALER "B" ALSO STATED THAT THEY SEE 2-3 CARS A WEEK FOR THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECT AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1500, DESPITE THAT WE FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, A TEMPORARY METHOD TO CIRCUMVENT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE CAR IS STARTED WAS DISCOVERED ON A FORUM FULL OF HUNDREDS OF REPORTS FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. (HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=3656214&PAGE=1) ADDITIONALLY, VW IRELAND HAS DEVELOPED A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM THAT WAS COVERED IN A MAJOR IRISH NATIONAL NEWS PUBLICATION, HOWEVER VW AMERICA DENIES SUCH A FIX EXISTS AND REFUSES TO COOPERATE WITH VW IRELAND OR LOCAL DEALERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WHEREIN AN INEXPENSIVE SOFTWARE FIX WOULD CAUSE VW TO EITHER LOSE OUT ON A $1500 MECHANICAL REPAIR AND HAVE TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE FIX. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PREVALENCE OF THE DEFECT WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PROCEEDING FROM A TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS NO POWER. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,742. UPDATED 3/8/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED AS WELL.