10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,786 miles

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problem #7

Jan 172006

Passat 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 142,900 miles
95 Passat heater core rupture filling the vehicle cabin with hot radiator fluid and steam. Windshield became coated with anti-freeze solution that just smeared and could not be wiped off. Vehicle left the road into the ditch. I will bypass the heater core for I can't afford to have it repaired at this time. Contacted vwoa and no specific recalls have been issued.

- Spring Grove, MN, USA

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problem #6

Dec 022005

Passat 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 134,000 miles
Contact stated while driving at 35 mph. The vents started steaming. The vehicle was then towed to a mechanic. They performed a diagnostics test, which indicated that the heater core malfunctioned. The vehicle was not at a local dealership, and no repairs have been made.

- Ivyland , PA, USA

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problem #5

Jun 102005

Passat 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,853 miles
1. normal driving on a surburban road at about 45mph. All of a sudden, smoke/steam from the vents, a completely fogged windshield, a sweet smell, and scalding hot coolant onto my feet, almost causing me to hit a pedestrian walking alongside the road. 2. it was the heater core. A very common problem to 80's and 90's VW passenger cars. So now I have no working heater (luckily its summer) and my car wont reach its max cooling capacity. Thus, car runs hot. 3. because I am a college student and cannot afford a $1200usd fix, I have bypassed it with a copper U-pipe. The part is avalible, and vwoa have done a massive number of 'good-will' fixes. I'm still talking with them to come of with a resolution.

- Mableton, GA, USA

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problem #4

Feb 062004

Passat

  • miles
Heater core on the VR6 powered vehicles is the valeo brand, known to fail. It just blews coolant through the dash vents all over the coupe inside.

- Athens, WV, USA

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problem #3

Mar 252003

Passat 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 31,750 miles
The heater core ruptured.

- Sunnyvale, CA, USA

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problem #2

Dec 122000

(reported on)

Passat

  • miles
Heater core is dead care smells like antifreeze. Driver's door no longer opens from outside, and other doors are starting to do the the same. Car can't be shut off for short stop or it will not start again. A/C went out 2 years ago contacted VW of american no help.

- Memphis, TN, USA

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problem #1

Nov 031999

Passat

  • miles
Heater core gives a "mist" smell like antifreeze causing discomfort to driver. Dealer will not be able to get part until Monday 08-Nov-99. The driver side door is jammed & the rear door behind the driver is malfunctioning.

- Ft Gordon, GA, USA

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