10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 75,154 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.
The automatic transmission does not want to downshift. Per the manufacturer instructions/owner manual when the vehicle was new, the oil change for the automatic transmission was not recommended in contrary. That change in few years in VW books but the consumers where never informed about it. The issue started when the vehicle had about 74000 miles but it was past the number of years for the power-train warranty (probably 8 or more). The issue happens when a brisk acceleration or going uphill and maintaining speed is required. When accelerating the transmission should down shift two gears from sixth to fourth for example, the transmission bogs down and the whole car shakes violently and losses speed. I've tried to fix the issue by changing the transmission oil at the dealer and that was when I found out that they revers course on changing fluid for the automatic, however that did not fix the issue and VW did not want to fix it or take responsibility for the issue.
- Happy Valley, OR, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. Upon inspection, the contact discovered oil on top of the engine. Camel back Volkswagen (1499 E. camel back rd, phoenix, AZ) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 56,000.
- Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Transmission does not shift into gears smoothly or sometimes not at all. Car has trouble shifting into gear going into reverse, while driving normally going 40 miles an hour in traffic, after a stop at a stop light or after putting on breaks to slow down behind car that has put on breaks. While pressing the accelerator nothing happens, car just revs as if it was in neutral and will not move, then will finally jerk/shift usually hard into gear.
- Columbia, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. On several occasions, while driving various speeds, the contact attempted to shift gears and heard an abnormal noise coming from the transmission. The engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to diriro brothers walnut creek Volkswagen (2020 N main St, walnut creek, ca 94596 (925) 934-8224) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
- Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
The contact owned a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the doors would not be secured unless the vehicle was in park. The failure occurred randomly. Also, the gears randomly shifted out of park without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. While parked and unattended, the vehicle randomly rolled in reverse at a high rate of speed and crashed into a house down the street. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact was uncertain if the vehicle would be inspected by the insurance company and the manufacturer. The contact was waiting on information from a repair shop or the manufacturer. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 07/27/16
- Gloucester, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle stalled and independently rolled backwards without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.
- Birmingham, AL, USA
I was driving southbound on Connecticut rte 15 at about 60 mph on the afternoon of April 8, 2014, when my engine suddenly raced and I lost power to the drive (front) wheels. I could not maintain speed or accelerate; I could only coast. I was in the left lane of the two-lane roadway. I had to coast between vehicles in the right lane, over to the breakdown lane. This was very dangerous, and my vehicle could have been struck. Once I came to a stop in the breakdown lane, the car would not move at all. I had it towed to a repair shop, where I learned that the left axle had popped out of the transmission, and that both axles had to be replaced. Note that there was no impact of any kind that precipitated the axle's popping out. Also note that I had always had all scheduled maintenance done in a timely fashion.
- Brooklyn, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate from a complete stop. The failure recurred intermittently over a period of seven years. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who could not diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
- Bellaire, TX, USA
Put keyfob in the ignition and it would not start. The lights in the dash illuminated but engine would not turn. Also steering lock warning lock keeps blinking. Car is stuck in park, made several attempts to have it towed, before finally having an experienced tow truck driver drag it on to a flat bed because of car being stuck in park, key fob locked in the ignition switch, has been towed to 3 different shops who have yet to pinpoint the exact problem with the car. One shop claimed it was an electrical problem and that it had something to do with the ignition switch however were unable to fix it. Has spent xxx amount of money having it towed to several shops and still not fixed. Frustrated!!!!!!
- Clarksville, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start and the key was unable to be removed from the ignition. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle failed to shift from park to neutral. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 75,000.
- Royal Oak , MI, USA
My 2007 Passat 2.0T wagon car has developed a symptom when the RPM goes over 3000 specially when I need acceleration and it cuts of the power (fuel or something else I don't know, there is a tsb regarding to cam shaft lobe wear this is the exact symptom I have) the mil comes on with a code 2293. I went to the dealer and they say Y vehicle is over warranty mileage and they will not cover it. I noticed many people are having the exact same issue on the internet and when driving on the highway this is a serious safety issue since the engine power cuts off. By the definition of the tsb this is apparently a manufacturing defect they even release an updated part and advise the dealers to use the updated part. I like many others are forced to pay a hefty repair sum just after couple thousand miles over warranty period. In my opinion VW needs to issue a recall on this issue.
- Streamwood, IL, USA
- Pepperell, MA, USA