The contact owns a 1997 Volkswagen Passat. While parking the vehicle, the contact heard an unfamiliar noise and the air conditioning began to blow hot air. He exited the vehicle and discovered water leaking from the undercarriage. He believes that the heater core may have failed. The current and failure mileages were 157,000.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

On Sunday, August 5th, 2007, while driving the car with my 7 year old son in the back seat, dense, noxious 'steam'/smoke began to come out of all vents and around the dash area in my well-maintained Volkswagen. Hot coolant also leaked into the passenger compartment of my Passat on the driver's side. Note that this occurred while air conditioning (A/C) was on & continued to pour out of vents without A/C on. My 'low coolant' indicator light (red led in instrument cluster) also began flashing. Fortunately, I was able to get the car (and my son) home without overheating after stopping on the side of a busy Washington DC thoroughfare (Wisconsin avenue), opening the fogged-up windows, cleaning the interior of the front windshield, and refilling the coolant reservoir/'overflow' tank with antifreeze purchased nearby. Since the 'steam' smelled like coolant/antifreeze, I immediately suspected that this was due to a failure of my car's heater core. I subsequently confirmed this diagnosis after dropping off the Passat at my long-time, certified, mechanic, beahm's auto service of silver spring Maryland. Beahm's diagnosed, but did not replace my heater core on Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 (the heater core has been temporarily bypassed so that the car could be driven without additional coolant loss or of the car's windows/interior). My Passat is otherwise in excellent, well-maintained condition with only 116,000 miles, no accidents, and it passed Washington DC safety and emissions inspection in August, 2007.

- Washington, DC, USA

Heater core failed- clouding the window to a degree that we nearly had an accident before we could get the car pulled over.

- Elmwood Park, IL, USA

Hot coolant suddenly started coming out of the vents and caused all the windows to fog over. Had to pull of freeway and get a tow. No indication of a problem prior to the failure. Problem turns out to be a bad heater core. Had heater core bypassed because of the cost of the repair.

- Palo Alto, CA, USA

The contact stated the heater core was leaking coolant onto the floor, not allowing the windshield to completely defrost. The vehicle has not been seen by a dealer and no repairs have been made. Updated 01/19/06.

- Madison, WI, USA

Heater core failure. Initially I only smell the radiator fluid. Then it quickly changes over to steam actually coming out of your vents. This causes your windows to fog up. Radiator fluid came shooting out of the dash but on the passenger side. This probably would have scalded someone if they were sitting there.

- Baltimore , MD, USA

I haven't experience a failure yet, but I have a 1997 Passat VR6 and it seems that many people with my model have experienced heater core failures, especially while driving. I'm filing this report as a preemptive mechanism.

- Harwich, MA, USA

Heater core failure - heater core failed catastrophically, dumping hot coolant in the drivers side foot well, and obscuring visibility by rapidly steaming up all windows. Upon request, vwoa replaced the heater core and covered parts/labor 100% as a good will gesture. This should be a formal recall as the heater core in this vehicle is the same part (same part number, manufacturer, etc...) that was the subject of formal recalls in the late 1980's and early 1990's golf/jetta/corrado/Passat chassis.

- Portsmouth, NH, USA

While driving at any speed and without prior warning chemical fumes are coming through the vents. Dealer stated heater core failed.

- Ogunquit, ME, USA