2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

OVER FOUR MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL M7 (APPLICABLE TO 2003 VW PASSAT'S) REGARDING A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP THAT MAY CAUSE A CAR TO "STALL WITHOUT WARNING AND . . . PRESENT A POTENTIAL RISK OF CRASH." I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A DEALER TO GET THE PART REPLACED. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SINCE. AFTER MONTHS ON A WAITING LIST I AM NOW LEAVING THE WASHINGTON DC AREA, AND AM TOLD THAT THERE IS A SIMILAR WAIT LIST (BACKED UP FOR OVER 4 MONTHS) WHERE I'M MOVING TO. VOLKSWAGEN'S DELAY AND REFUSAL TO CURE THE FUEL PUMP DEFECT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE. *JB

NHTSA RECALL 06V017000 FOR A VW PASSAT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY 3 MONTHS SINCE MY APPOINTMENT FOR THE "PART TO ARRIVE." I HAVE CALLED A WRITTEN VW ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP, ALL I GET IS - "IT'S ON ORDER." *NM

1. HEAVY RAIN STORMS 2. WATER ENTERED THE CAR VIA EITHER THE POLLEN FILTER OR BACKED UP FROM THE BATTERY WELL. THIS WATER CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) TO FAIL. 3. I PAID FOR THE POLLEN FILTER TO BE REPLACED, THE TCM TO BE REPLACED, THE COWL DRAIN HOLES TO BE CLEARED, AND THE WATER TO BE REMOVED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED RAIN WATER LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE CONCERNS EXPRESSED OF CABLES UNDER THE DASH BECOMING WET, THEREFORE CREATING AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD. THE RAIN WATER USUALLY ACCUMULATED IN THE DOORS, AND WHEN THE DOORS WAS OPENED THE WATER TRAVELED TO THE DASH BOARD.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. UPON INSPECTION, A FUEL PUMP FAILURE WAS DISCOVERED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V017000, REGARDING THE GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEM; FUEL PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

2003 VW PASSAT 4-DOOR WITH 1.8T MOTOR. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHICH CAUSES A VEHICLE TO DIE WITHOUT WARNING ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY TO NOT BE A DEFECT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART, BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENS MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH UP. JUST BECAUSE THE VIN # DOES NOT MATCH UP, DOES NOT MEAN THERE STILL IS NOT A DEFECT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I COULD RESEARCH THIS FURTHER, SO THAT I DON'T GET STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY AGAIN. *JB

STARTED CAR AND ASRS LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. SOON THE MIL LIT UP, FOLLOWED BY THE AIR BAG SYSTEM LIGHT FLICKERING AND A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE CAR. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT CHECK CAR THE NEXT MORNING B/C FULLY BOOKED SO HAD ALTERNATE MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT. MECHANIC REALIZED IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY RUNNING LOW (BATTERY CHARGE CHECKED). THE NEXT MORNING ALTERNATOR CHECKED (ALTERNATOR REPLACE AND TESTED AND SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED). THE MECHANIC FINDS A PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT SAME MORNING WHICH WAS NOT THERE DAY BEFORE. HE STATES CAR HAD BEEN PARKED AT SLIGHT INCLINE OVERNIGHT WITH FRONT OF CAR HIGHER THAN TRUNK. MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TOWING CAR TO DEALERSHIP. CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. *NM

ON JUNE 6TH 2006 MY 2003 VW PASSAT CAR CAUGHT FIRE. MY CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC STATED THE CARS AFTER RUN WATER PUMP OVER HEATED, MELTING WIRING AND THE FIRE RESULTED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY APPEARS TO BE DENING THE CLAIM. *NM

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN MY 2003 VW PASSAT LOST POWER AND STOPPED. I HAD IT TOWED TO A VW DEALERSHIP IN TOWN. THEY SAID THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, VW REFUSES TO COVER THE COST. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V017000, REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.