10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,704 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #11

Feb 112019

Passat

  • 57,665 miles
This car only has 65000 original one owner miles and has experienced all & more of the current recalls with same model yr, VW local dealerships (2) refuse to acknowledge the problems (one even tried to double charge me for Bosch ABS part last year before the recall to fix) and numerous emails to VW have gone unanswered. Most recent issues in last 1.5yrs have been fuel pump went out and I paid to replace (dealer scammed us by throwing out dead brand new aaa stamped and warranted battery, they sd we needed new one and old one already picked up from dealer to expose of, charged $200 for that as well. I paid for the ABS light repair which I have paid and diagnosed numerous times for last 10yrs to fix and finally just paid the over $1000. To get it fixed for safety reasons. 9 months ago rear brake lights would come on randomly when parked and locked killing the battery. I would drive it to charge it up but since it is a car we don't drive often or far, it continued to do the same for a few weeks until it dawned on me that the seat warmer on those cars could leave an open current, turned that off, good for a few weeks, then found out same for the trunk light, unplugged and capped that and it is far better, but something still. After reading online VW Passat forums and recalls I know 2 dealerships sd they performed the brake light sensor recall, but was it truly done and causing the issue...answer is no, VW dealers 2X after checking and billing VW for the repair falsified doing the recall. I know because I checked it and the part is original from 2002 stamped on it and I replaced it and have it along with most all other receipts from 2003 to today. Feb 11, 2019 I opened a case and supposed formal investigation with VW corporate customer care (very nice people), lied like the rest of the company and never heard a word... +++18 VW and Audi personally, since 1991...done!

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #10

Nov 182017

Passat

  • 172,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle jerked and stalled. The vehicle inadvertently shifted in reverse and the brakes stopped working. The contact had to apply the parking brake. The contact mentioned that the gear shifter was stuck in park. Also, the check engine, tire pressure, and epc indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to heritage Volkswagen of South atlanta at (678) 263-3711 (4305 jonesboro rd, union city, ga 30291) where it was diagnosed that the ignition control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The contact was advised to call NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.

- Newnan, GA, USA

problem #9

Jun 102015

Passat

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 50 mph, the brakes engaged independently and the vehicle shook violently without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000.

- Providence, RI, USA

problem #8

Apr 212015

Passat

  • 90,000 miles
Problems with the ABS control unit fails after few years. This could lead to an accident since the car cannot stop in the time & distance originally specified when car was purchased. Also, the smog stations are not able to read the obd2 connector due to this issue, which forces you to buy a new module for almost $600. The most important in this issue is the safety in stopping and not having your brakes lock, which also causes the car to skid in sudden stops and cause an accident. There is a blinking warning light that comes on the dashboard that points to the dashboard.

- Oakland, CA, USA

problem #7

Oct 022015

Passat

  • 150,000 miles
ABS light and brake light on Volkswagen states faulty control module.

- Smithfield, VA, USA

problem #6

Aug 122015

Passat

  • 90,000 miles
My dash showed 2 lights a red break light and yellow ABS it keeps beeping. It started randomly one morning when I turned my car on its been doing it for 6 months now

- Lacenter, KY, USA

problem #5

Mar 152014

Passat 6-cyl

  • 181 miles
I took my car to Volkswagen dealership to find out why my brake light was on and why my brakes would flutter at times when using them. I got estimate that my brake reservoir was bad and the sensor that it would be okay to drive till I got fixed in a week. I faxed my warranty papers to dealership to find out to see what was covered..on Saturday 5 days later when I was driving 35 miles an hour tried to stop and brake pedal went to floor had nothing to stop me but the car in front of me. I was issued a ticket had my car towed and I. am having headaches and neck pain which I'm getting treated..I don't feel as if that car was safe to ne driving..

- Ladylake, FL, USA

problem #4

May 202013

Passat 4-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
ABS module failure, ABS light on brake light blinking and then asr light on, happens randomly, no specific reason, dry weather, humid, day or night. Still comes on randomly, no speeding, problem goes away when car is turned off.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #3

Feb 012012

Passat 4-cyl

  • 129,000 miles
ABS control module on my 2003 VW Passat failed. This appears to be a common failure that disables the ABS.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #2

Aug 012012

Passat 4-cyl

  • 94,900 miles
The ABS light comes on on the instrument panel followed by the brake light and sometimes the anti-skid indicator. This is a common and expensive problem for Volkswagen for many years: tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=2447&start=40&tstart=0 Volkswagen should be held to account.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #1

Jun 032003

Passat

  • 5,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The contact was traveling 30 mph when the ABS warning light and brake light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 5,000 and the current mileage 56,000.

- Cicero, NY, USA