Transmission clunks into gear and loses traction while shifting.

- Las Vegas , NV, USA

We owned vehicle approx 8yrs and in late 2022 will driving/on highway 55mph or local roads like Broadway 15-20mph the vehicle goes into neutral. VErY dangerous it wil work as it should after a restart

- Winthrop , MA, USA

Have replaced numerous parts...the epx light keeps coming on which may reference to the oil pump bolt failing...crankshaft and cam shafts codes keep coming on even though they were replaced...transmission shifting slightly hard.. overheating even though new parts were installed...air bag light stays on..brakes have been bleed over 10 times and are still too soft cause me to brake at a further distance to avoid a wreck....I am on a fixed income and cant afford a massage bill to fix it and VW is aware over these years of the issues and wont recall to repair any of the issues...I have all receipts for the parts replaced...

- Ripley, WV, USA

The automatic transmissions used in the B6 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T along with several other VW models are notoriously problematic. There was a recall on the transmission control unit needing a software update which was done on my vehicle, however this does not address the real issue with these transmissions. The widespread and more serious issue with these transmissions is the valve body assembly part of the transmission causing hard shifts usually between first and second or third and fourth gear. These hard shifts cause the entire car and it's passengers to jerk violently during upshifts and sometimes downshifts between these gears. At only 91,000 miles and well taken care of my car has developed this problem between third and fourth gear making it feel very dangerous and unsettling for the driver and passengers of the vehicle when getting up to speed especially on on-ramps to the highway. I also want to mention that this problem has destroyed my motor mounts as well. VW should take responsibility for this defective part of the transmission similar to the way Honda did with their Odyssey, only this does not require the whole transmission to be replaced like with the Odyssey. This is an enormous safety concern that needs to be acknowledged and address by Volkswagen, the largest automobile manufacturer in the world.

- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA

Misses shifting from 1st to second speed and 2nd to 3rd. Rough shifts. Difficulty to engage in the next speed causing the vehicle to lose propulsion. Malfunction observed when in motion.

- Anasco, PR, USA

There was a valve body recall for rough shifts. I had noticed these a couple of times. Also the vacuum pump, airbags ects.

- Springfield, MA, USA

This is my 2nd time writing only because the problem seems as if it may be more then just one thing! thinking it was ECM or something electrical, now may be the timing chain or fuel pump or combination of all! the car just randomly shuts off! on the highway, or at a stop, or just at cursing speed! some times it comes back on, other time it turns over and shuts right off again! I noticed a lot of people having similar problems with this make and model, also noticed a recall for exact symptom my car has, and for the same make model and year as my car but my VIN is not listed in the recall"?" hope something is done to fix this situation soon so that I can remain a loyal volkwagen customer!

- Bridgeport, CT, USA

I have received several recall notices but they are not available and I am afraid my kids could have a fatal accident

- Mission, TX, USA

When starting the car this morning the engine cranked hard before starting. The battery is low. When trying to drive it this morning the car told me I needed to depress my clutch peddle. The car is an automatic, there is no clutch. The car is unusable. I was in my driveway at the time.

- Clinton, OH, USA

Have been getting steering lock malfunctions when trying to start the car for about two weeks. Today, the steering wheel locked while driving. Unable to steer the vehicle at all. Was able to stop and turn the vehicle off. Seems this is/ was a common problem for this model Volkswagen and a voluntary recall was available until 2013. Unfortunately, the previous owners of the car never did any recalls or even remembers ever being notified of any recalls. This problem is one of many for this model. I called Volkswagen and they were no help. This is a major safety issue. My 17 year old son drives this car. I cant allow him to drive it now after this. How can Volkswagen allow this" they basically dont care if we crashed and hurt others because of this issue. A voluntary recall for a steering issue?? does that sound safe?"

- Wallkill, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the valves inside the transmission was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 119,000.

- Auburn, ME, USA

Check engine light was on and car would rattle loudly. One day the car just starts driving slow and shuts off. I took it to mechanic and after several tests, it was noted that the engine coils and turbo cap was broken. Hefty price to get it fix. After two days, the check engine light is back on. I research and talked with mechanic, it seems to be a growing problem with VW cars.

- Drexel Hill, PA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 65 mph, the transmission stopped shifting into first gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they were not able to duplicate the failure. The failure occurred every day during the summer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Converse, TX, USA

Turbo charger is faulty. I still owe $12,00 on this car. It is appearing thru the forums online that the diesel engine is not the only engine affected by the recent emmision failure of volkswagon car. Please investigate and recall for 2006...not just 2009 thru 2014 cars. This is not fair. Car is smoling so badly you cant see the car behind you and mechanic said that even tho I only have 60,000 miles my turbo charger is toast.

- Johnstown, PA, USA

Has I was driven the car will came up with need services soon and will show brake light on and dead systems failed check parking brake and if you press the parking brake button on and off the car will nearly such gears or nearly move at all where if you shout it of the car and then wait for 5_10 min and turn it back on it will go like nothing wrong at all. Transmission has oil and I don't know what it is.

- Holiday, FL, USA

I'm having concerns with open road Volkswagen of bridgewater NJ in reference to what I believe was negligence on the part of the service department. My car was serviced in June 2014 and then again in October 2014. On October 13th, I received a call from them stating my transmission was gone and would cost $10,000 to replace. This price is extremely high! after that news, we were told that my car had transmission issues in June when it was serviced, but the open road Volkswagen of bridgewater did not tell us "because they knew I wouldn't pay." So, instead of telling me in June 2014 when I could have resolved the issue for less than $10,000, they tell me in October when the cost is high. Not to mention I could have had an accident and injured my family or another vehicle. I believe they were negligent in this matter. I wrote a letter to the general manager, [xxx]. and would like you to assist him with resolving this matter. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Middlesex, NJ, USA

I purchased a 2006 Passat 3.6 on February 20th,2014 and making payments on it. Two weeks later I had to take it back to the dealer because the idle was up and down. They charged me $700 because the car was as is. Once I got the car back I starter seeing the epc light which is a common issue with Volkswagen and now the car wont go over 40mph, two weeks ago I saw smoke coming from under the hood and oil was all over the place and I cant locate any type of leak. Here a link of other Passat owner with the same issue and as of now there's no recall on it, I am begging for you guys help www.carcomplaints.com/Volkswagen/Passat/2006/drivetrain/power_train.shtml.

- Pompano Beach, FM, USA

Started driving on the highway, at 55mph suddenly the car lost power and check engine light came on car wouldn't start after I pulled over, loud noise and vibrating came from engine also cra indicated low oil pressure.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

I was getting onto the highway in my 2006 3.6 Passat. The car lost power, check engine light & epc light came on in the car. The car would not allow me to go over 40mph, so I exited the highway & drove car to the mechanic. They removed the transmission to find the issue of the bolt holding the oil pump was partially removed. The car detected a timing issue & was the reason that it would not allow me to go over 40 mph. When the mechanic removed the bolt to replace it, it came off in two pieces. He stated that the bolt was not the appropriate bolt & the new guidelines required a different bolt with additional torque. This was an engineered manufacturer defect with Volkswagen & should be required to be recalled.

- Centennial, CO, USA

Oil pump bolt broken as in the other VW Passats from 2006 & 7 and reported on this site. Damaged timing chain cover, timing chain and a number of other parts. Car was serviced and inspected 5,000 miles previously. All service up to this point completed per owners manual at VW dealer. This problem is covered extensively at forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4321376-**official-24V-3.6L-engine-%28oil-pump-bolt%29-failure-thread** as well as www.passatworld.com/forums/74-Volkswagen-Passat-B6-discussion/327507-3-6-oil-bolt-failure-reference-material.html. not only is this a potentially dangerous and known problem involving failure of mechanical systems, but extremely expensive to repair. I received a quote for $6300 for a car with 78,000 miles. This is a known problem on 3.6L V6S that is being ignored by VW of America who refused to help even cover replacement parts.

- Happy Valley, OR, USA