A 2000 Passat station wagon had water leak into the passenger-side foot well twice after heavy rains. Once the leak was more than an inch. All of the windows and the sunroof had been securely closed prior to the rains. A series of electrical problems in the dashboard resulted on the two different occasions, leading to approximately $3,500 in repairs. The repairs were to the engine timing system and to a motor in the air conditioner.

- Bethesda, MD, USA

Battery drain was designed too small, so it's clogged. There is a water leak entering from pollen filter through the housing down to tcm which caused a damage to tcm(transmission control module). Although this is a design issue I was told that this is an outside influence so it doesn't cover under warranty. I was driving out of parking lot and the gear won't shift out of second. So I restarted the car then everything was normal. But shortly after it went back to the same. And when I put the vehicle in park, gear shift out of park without having to put your foot on brake. Very dangerous. Nothing has done from dealership under warranty yet nor there isn't any recall. I'm still waiting for a call back from Volkswagen. But the dealer wants me to repair it at my cost for $2000 even though it is power train component.

- Palisades Pk, NJ, USA

After recent rain, a pool of water collected on the right rear floor. Electronics are starting to malfunction. Apprently is a huge problem that hasnt been resolved. www.theautobahn.com/forum/archive/index.php/T-12789.html.

- Watsonville, CA, USA

The floor well of my VW Passat becomes wet every time it rains. Accordingly to the VW dealer there is a crack in the pollen filter housing which results in the leak. I have read numerous accounts of the same problem occuring in other Passats, along with electrical failures. Besides being inconvenienced, my concern is the potential for an electrical fire and/or other electrical failures which could result in harm to driver, passanger(s) or other individuals. I would like Volkswagen to acknowledge this design fault and respond accordingly by rectifying the issue.

- Hull, MA, USA