2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, A NHTSA RECALL, #06V017000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP WAS RECEIVED IN APRIL 2006. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE PARTS FINALLY ARRIVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 07/03/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IT FEELS AS THOUGH THERE IS SOMETHING FALLING OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

TIMING BELT BROKE AT ONLY 66,000 MILES AND 3 YEARS OF VEHICLE USE. MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT AT APPROX. 100,000 MILES. FAILURE TO ADVISE PURCHASERS OF PREMATURE CATASTROPHIC TIMING BELT FAILURE IS INEXCUSABLE. IT POSES A GRAVE RISK OF HARM TO DRIVERS. OUR TIMING BELT BLEW ON A BUSY STREET IN MIAMI. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT INJURED. THERE HAVE BEEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS INVOLVING THE EXACT SAME ENGINE-- USED IN AUDI CARS-- THAT WERE SETTLED BY PROVIDING A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THESE FAILURES. A SIMILAR WARRANTY EXTENSION SHOULD BE OFFERED TO VW OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME ENGINE (1.8L TURBO, 4-CYLINDER). A CLASS ACTION AGAINST VW SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY (THOUGH IT MAY BE FORTHCOMING)-- THEY SHOULD ACCEPT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN DEFECT AND THEREBY POTENTIALLY SAVE LIVES. WHAT IF YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER WERE HURT IN A TIMING BELT-RELATED CRASH? SHAME ON VW.*JB

AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER, DATED MARCH 2006, STATING A RECALL WAS NEEDED FOR MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO GET THE ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH THE SAME CAR AND LEARNED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RECALL AFTER HER CAR CUT OFF ON HER WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS CALLED ROUGHLY A DAY BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY WOULD NEED TO MOVE MY APPOINTMENT BACK 2 WEEKS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK WITH CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RENTAL CAR AVAILABLE UNTIL THE PART CAME IN. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR BUT I COULD CALL VOLKSWAGEN AND SPEAK WITH THEM ABOUT IT. I GUESS THEY DIDN'T FEEL MY SAFETY WAS AN ISSUE, THEREFORE THEY DID NOT GIVE ME A RENTAL, BUT THEY DID OFFER TO CALL AROUND AND SEE IF I COULD BE SEEN SOONER. THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR THE SAME PART. I KEPT MY APPOINTMENT FOR TODAY AT 8AM, TOOK OFF WORK, DROVE CLEAR ACROSS TOWN, CHECKED IN WITH THEM, THEY TOOK MY KEY, AND I HEADED TO THE CUSTOMER WAITING AREA. I WAS CALLED BACK DOWN TO THE DESK 5 MINUTES LATER FOR THEM TO TELL ME THAT THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AND WOULD HAVE TO CALL ME WHEN IT CAME IN. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT NO ONE CALLED TO INFORM ME OF THIS INSTEAD OF HAVING ME DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP! I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT MORE CONCERNED REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS TO PLAN AHEAD. MAKES ME NEVER WANT TO BUY A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE OIL PUMP. THE OIL PUMP, PIPES, RESONATOR, OIL AND SURROUNDING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED.

USE OF DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER CREATED BURNING SENSATION IN THE REGION OF MY LEFT HIP AND SCENT OF SINGED/BURNING MATERIAL AROSE FROM THE SEAT. THE SEAT HEATER WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF, HOWEVER A BURNING SMELL PERSISTED FOR 3-5 MINUTES. I HAVE USE THIS FEATURE IN THE SAME VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR 2.5 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED STOPPAGE OF FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE COULD CAUSE IT TO STALL. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V017000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE DELIVERY FUEL PUMP. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT ON APRIL 14, 2006 THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP PER VOLKSWAGEN SAFETY RECALL M7, BUT THE WORK WAS CANCELED DUE TO NO REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO INQUIRE FROM THE LOCAL DEALER WHEN THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER. THE CONTACT CONTACTED A DEALER 60 MILES AWAY AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE WORK DONE THERE. IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIPS BY CONTACT UNTIL THE REPLACEMENT WORK WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT WAS UNHAPPY BY VOLKSWAGEN UNCARING ATTITUDE AND LACK OF ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE BY VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS. *AK

WE OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. TWICE THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF HWY. 29 IN NAPA. THE FIRST TIME THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT WENT OUT, YESTERDAY, THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WE WERE CHARGED $441 TO HAVE IT FIXED. VOLKSWAGEN DENIES THAT OUR MODEL HAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP EVEN THOUGH OTHER PASSAT MODELS ARE UNDER RECALL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE SECOND FUEL PUMP WAS PUT IN LAST JANUARY, ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO. NOW ANOTHER FUEL PUMP WAS PUT IN YESTERDAY, APRIL 27, 2006. BOTH TIMES THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT WITHOUT WARNING ON HIGHWAY 29 IN NAPA. *JB

RECALLED FUEL PUMP IS NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER SAYS PUMP IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *JB

FUEL PUMP FAILED WITH NO WARNING AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY WAS INSTANTLY LOST. THIS OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF AN EXTREMELY BUSY FREEWAY WITH LARGE TRUCKS ON EITHER SIDE. THROUGH SHEER LUCK, I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER WITHOUT BEING HIT BY THE FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *NM