2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

IN FOLLOW UP TO READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT "OIL SLUDGE" PROBLEMS IN VW'S. I HAVE RECENTLY HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED ON A 2003 VW 1.8 LITER TURBOCHARGED PASSAT. THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE HAD 36,000 MILES AND WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE ENGINE CYLINDER. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED AT THE STOP SIGN 3-4 TIMES. THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE EC MODULE/FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

WE PURCHASED A NEW VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON FROM LIVONIA VOLKSWAGEN AUTOPLEX (NOW THAYER AUTOMOTIVE LIVONIA, INC.) IN JULY, 2003. AT 18,500 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAR HAS AFTERMARKET BRAKES THAT FIT DIFFERENTLY FROM VW BRAKES, HENCE THE RATTLE. HOWEVER, THESE ARE THE BRAKES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO US. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THREE OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE BRAKE PADS APPEARED "TOO NEW" TO HAVE 18,500 MILES ON THEM (IMPLYING THAT WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED). BASED ON THIS, VW OF AMERICA STATES THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE VW BRAKES TO BE PUT ON THE CAR. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR REPLACED OR SERVICED IN ANY WAY, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THE CAR SERVICED ANYWHERE BUT THIS DEALERSHIP. INCIDENTALLY, THE DAY AFTER THE 10,000 MILE SERVICE, THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, AND THE DAY AFTER THE BRAKE INSPECTION A HUBCAP FLEW OFF. THIS MAY SPEAK TO THE SKILL AND INTEGRITY OF THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF REGULATORY SERVICES WHO STATE THAT THIS MATTER WAS NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER LICENSED BY THE STATE, AND SUGGESTED WE CONTACT YOU. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH, ASSUMING, OF COURSE, THAT IT WAS MADE OF ALL VW PARTS. APPARENTLY IT IS NOT. CURRENTLY, OUR NEW CAR HAS SQUEAKY BRAKES, AN INCREASINGLY LOUD RATTLE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND A MISSING HUBCAP. VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP US. THE SALES MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT RETURN OUR CALLS. WE WOULD LIKE VW BRAKES ON OUR VW CAR, ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR IS, IN FACT, A VW PRODUCT, AND A HUBCAP REPLACED. A FAMILY WHO BUYS A NEW CAR ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWELVE YEARS WOULD APPRECIATE HELP. *JB

2003 PASSAT WITH 1.8T ENGINE. DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN ON NIEGHBORHOOD STREETS, CAME TO STANDING WATER (APPROX 2 INCHES DEEP), WITNESSED OTHER PASSENGER CARS PASSING THROUGH WATER AND PROCEEDED AT APPROX 2-3 MPH, CAR STALLS AND WILL NOT START, CAR TOWED TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, TOLD A ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO WATER (APPROX 3 GAL.) IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, WAS TOLD WATER GAINED ENTRY VIA AIR INTAKE VENTS AT THE BOTTOM (FENDER LEVEL) OF THE ENGINE, WAS TOLD TO FILE CLAIM WITH INSURANCE COMPANY. PRESENTLY WAITING FOR APPRAISER'S REPORT. VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE DRIVING CONDITIONS MENTIONED. APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THAT THE AIR COOLING INTAKE IS IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO ALLOW THE INTAKE OF WATER INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK.*AK

IT WAS CHILLY THE EVENING OF MAY 15, 2004. I STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL FROM 0 TO 5, AND DROVE ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM MY BROTHER'S HOUSE TO A HOTEL. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR I FORGOT TO TURN DOWN THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL. IT REMAINED AT 5. THE NEXT DAY (MAY 16), I MADE A SERIES OF 4 SHORT TRIPS WITH THE CAR. EACH TRIP WAS ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. ON THE 5TH TRIP, I STARTED THE CAR. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 1 BLOCK, I NOTICED AN ODD SMELL. AFTER DRIVING 1 MORE BLOCK, I DEFINITELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS SITTING ON A HOT COAL. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE SAME AREA -- MY PANTS WERE SMOLDERING! I STOPPED THE CAR AND GOT OUT. THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE AREA WAS STILL SMOKING. MY JEANS WERE SCORCHED. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL FROM 5 TO 0 AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR AWHILE TO MAKE SURE THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. ON MAY 17, I CALLED THE DEALER. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE APPOINTMENT IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22. *AK

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, AND 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS BECAME SEVERELY WORN OUT IN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OF DRIVING. AFTER THE FIRST ALL 4 BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, IN ANOTHER 10,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD FELL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING STREET DRIVING. ALL 4 ROTORS, 4 BRAKE PADS, AND 2 REAR CALIPERS BECAME SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. VWOA MADE AN EXCEPTION, AND PAID FOR THE REAR BRAKES, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS.

ONE CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT TIRE (205 55R16) ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WITH APPROXIMATELY 23,300 MILES FAILED UNEXPECTANTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROX 65 MPH). TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL AND DAMAGED BRAKE LINE AND WHEELWELL LINER. WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH IS A PASSAT GLX WITH THE 4 MOTION ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WHEN TIRE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANY CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE (E.G. PUNCTURES, HOT SPOTS, TIRE NOT ROUND). KEPT OLD TIRE AND SIDEWALL PARTS.

UNDER STANDARD DAILY DRIVING 50/50 LOCAL AND FREEWAY MILES, REAR BRAKE ROTORS WARPED BEFORE THE CAR HAD 14,000 MILES DRIVEN. REAR BREAK PADS ARE AT 6MM WHICH I AM TOLD IS JUST LESS THAN 50% OF MAXIMUM. ALSO BEEN TOLD VWOA WILL NOT REPLACE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL PADS ARE AT 2MM. WARPED ROTORS CAUSE PUMPING AND POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE DRIVING UNDER HEAVY BREAKING.

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, 2/29/04, 3/5/04, AND 4/15/04 MY 2003 VW PASSAT (6 CYL.) HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED POWER SUCH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR HOME WITHOUT ENDANGERING MYSELF ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER'S SERVICE GROUP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THUS FAR.*AK