10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 30,016 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
On two separate occasions the connector and wiring harness providing power to the driver's side and passenger's side headlights on the 2001 Volkswagen Passat gls melted and the headlights failed. If I did not take immediate action the electrical short in these connectors may have triggered a fire. The driver's side socket/wiring harness melted and the wiring harness was replaced in October of 2004. The passenger's side socket/wiring harness melted and the wiring harness was replaced in April of 2007. While at the Volkswagen dealership to have passenger side wiring harness replaced I observed another Passat owner complaining of the same problem. A google search on the internet resulted in finding many other people that had this potentially dangerous problem as well.
- Rolling Meadows, IL, USA
The dash module begins to smoke and blows out the instrument cluster. Although the fire is inside the dash, it causes a serious driving disability. It has occurred 3 times in the last year, and Volkswagen refuses to assist. The local dealership also refuses, they just keep replacing the part.
- Portland, OR, USA
Automobile: 2001.5 VW Passat 1)the headlights stopped working - both the left and the right side. The daylights, the foglights and the brights continued to work. 2) the left side headlight electrical connection had melted. This could have caused a fire. 3) we brought the car to a service center. They replaced the right headlight. Upon inspection of the left headlight, it was discovered that the headlight electrical connection had melted. We were told that this could have caused a fire. Question: If the electrical connection on the left side has melted, isn't there a good chance that the electrical connection on the right side will also melt?
- Vadnais Heights, MN, USA
I have VW Passat, 2001. It has around 30 000 miles on it. The clutch has gone down on this car and it needs to be replaced. Parts and labor for this repair are more than $2200. This car has electrical problems also. The warranty is gone after 24000K or 2 years. I have extended warranty on this car, but they don't cover anything from the long list of repair. I called to VW customer care and ask to reimburse me for clutch repair, since it must be after 10 years/100 000 miles power train warranty. They refused to participate. I complain about VW quality ( I have friends having trouble with VW as well). I believe that manufacture has to take care of bad product and cover the repair cost. I purchased this car brand new and I expect to have a quality item, not the junk for more than $25K. I also completely dissatisfied with VW service!!!!
- Lynn, MA, USA
Vehicle caught on fire because of electrical system in engine. No prior warnings. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.
- Lexington, MA, USA
- Montville, NJ, USA