2002 VW Passat, 1.8T has been returned to dealer for defective coil. This is the second coil failure in as many months. There are a total of four coils which are in the words of VW service deaprtment to be of poor qualitity and should be replaced in total. VW corporate refuses to allow the dealers to replace all at once but only upon failure. So numerous trips, rental cars, and out of work time is expended getting these coils replaced and waiting parts which are backorder because VW has numerous cars awaiting new coils. Read info obtained from your web site and others.

- Bedford, NH, USA

2002 Volkswagen Passat at dealer for 3rd time in the last 2 months. Three ignition coil failures and one computer fix/update. Still waiting for part to come in for the latest failure, 25 days and counting.

- East Peoria, IL, USA

1 ignition coil failed while driving on the highway causing the vehicle to stall. Manufacturer will not replace additional coils until they fail. Consumer is fearful of driving unreliable vehicle.

- Milton, MA, USA

Consumer states while driving the vehicle the check engine light came on then without warning the vehicle cut off.

- Baldwin, NY, USA

With less than 5,000 miles on my 2002 VW Passat, an ignition coil blew rendering the car unable to be driven. The car was towed and the part replaced. There are 3 more coils on this car, but VW will not guarantee that they are not also defective, and, therefore, can blow at any time. VW admits to having a big problem with the coils on this vehicle, but will only replace as each one blows. If this happens on at high speed, the vehicle may very well cause serious damage to other drivers as well as myself.

- Old Chatham, NY, USA

I have a new 2002 VW Passat (1.8) in the last 18 months that I have had the car, I have had the coil sets fail on 3 occassions. The car would shake violently and the malfuntion indicator light would come on and continue blinking. I have then had to get the car towed to the dealer each time.

- Austin, TX, USA

The ignition coils were defective and failed without warning causing vehicle to stall while driving. Consumer had 3 coils fail. Manufacturer is aware of the problem, but would not replace until component failed.

- Pekin, IL, USA

Faulty ignition coil. Car started shaking and mil light came on. Service dept at Volkswagen said could take two to three weeks to fix. VW is only fixing when they are damaged. Car is at 9000 miles and under a year old. Please review this for a recall.

- Wellesley, MA, USA

Car is approx 8 months old. Car was running rough and shaking and mil light came on. Pulled over and had car towed to dealership. They said they had to replace a faulty ignition coil. A week later problem repeats late night. Had to have the car towed again. Dealer says it is the same problem and they will have to replace all coils. Not sure I feel safe driving this car any more.

- Stamford, CT, USA

Engine ran very rough and check engine light flashed in the middle of the road. Also experienced significant lack of power. Car deeded to be tow to the dealership. Determined to be failed coil pack #3.

- Fremont, CA, USA

The ignition coil has failed twice on my 2002 Passat the the past two months. The first time the car had 5500 miles on it. The second with 6800 miles on it. The dealer replaced them quickly. It is unnerving to know that this could happen again at any time.

- Woodbury, MN, USA

Second failure of ignition coil pack within 2 weeks. Currently vehicle is awaiting parts and has been at the dealership nearly 2 weeks (since 12/30/02)

- Weare, NH, USA

While attempting to merge into highway traffic which was going approximately 70 mph, my 2002 VW Passat suddenly lost power and would not accelerate. We had to pull to the side of the road to avoid being crushed by oncoming traffic. The diagnosis from the dealer was a failed ignition coil pack on cylinder #3. this is a known issue with coil packs on Audi/VW 1.8T engines and there needs to be a recall to prevent serious injuries. This failure nearly caused an accident and was only narrowly avoided.

- Dayton, OH, USA

Started car one morning (6-month-old car w/ 6,470 miles), and check engine (mil) light flashed, car sputtered and felt as if it would stall. Called dealer who seemed quite sure it was a coil pack failure. Volkswagen of America is aware of these defective parts, but due to lack of supply will only replace failed parts. Car was at dealer's shop for two weeks before the part arrived and was installed. Dealer/VW assumed all costs of rental car (est at $500 / 14 days @ $35/day!). turns out only one of the four coil packs failed and was replaced, but VW of America won't replace all four even though they're aware of the high number of failures. Very likely that the remaining three will fail, and I will have to take the car back in for service/replacement. This failure also poses a safety hazard, as loss of power can occur on highways, etc.

- Watertown, MA, USA

There were problems with the ignition coil pack. The dealer was contacted and stated that there is a back order on the part. The engine malfunction light had come on and the vehicle began to shake. The vehicle had to go back to the dealer for a second time for the original problem. Scc

- Union, NJ, USA

This is a follow up message to an earlier complaint. My Passat's ignition coils are going bad. One has been replaced due to failure, one is going (I had the same symptoms just 2 days after I got the vehicle back from the dealer), and the rest will probably go. The newly designed coils are on backorder from VW, causing quite a bit of inconvenience. Although the dealer and VW know the old coils are bad, they won't replace them with the newly designed coils until they go bad. I smelled smoke the first time my car died, and I'm very nervous that it will catch on fire as has happened to other Passat owners. Please, please look into making VW recall the vehicles for this problem. The car can possibly stall while in motion. It's not safe.

- Grosse Pointe Park, MI, USA

Consumer states the ignition coil is busted, the check engine light stays on and the vehicle makes a loud noise.

- Morris Plains, NJ, USA

Warped igniotion coil causing the vehicle to run poorly. Vehicle will shut down without prior warning. Please provide additional information. Dealer is aware of the problem. Ts.

- Belmont, MA, USA

I, too, have had two different ignition coils go bad on my 2002 Passat. I, too, do not drive the car for long distances for fear of getting stranded hundreds of miles from home. I, too, have gotten no support from VW. I, too, only get the bad coils replaced by the dealer. They are unwilling to replace ones that haven't died yet. I, too, am embarrassed to say that I have a car that has 11,000 miles on it and can't be driven for fear of being stranded. To other fellow Passat owners with this problem, please don't think that it only happens in cold weather. My first one died in August (the second one died in October). Is NHTSA planning to intercede?

- Cheshire, CT, USA

While driving at any speed, without warning vehicle will die out. The dealership indicated that this is caused by the ignition coil going bad. This part is on back order, cause it is a common problem with this model/year vehicle.

- Bay Shore, NY, USA