Sudden failure of steering wheel. Display shows "steering wheel lock". this could be serious issue if it happened during driving. Unable to start the car or to get the car in neutral gear. Had to tow the car to the VW service where it was diagnosed with steering control module failure.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

Driving home while stopped at a traffic light my car felt like it jerked forward though my foot was on the brake. I stopped my car briefly to get dinner, took a phone call and decided to leave. I put my car in drive and it would not travel forward. I put it in reverse and it would not respond. I looked at the display which indicated I should depress the brake pedal, I did. The message disappeared but the car would still not travel. I checked the parking brake button, it was on. I depressed that but it would not turn off. Everytime I put the car in drive the same depress the brake message. I called the dealership. It was suggested I keep trying to disengage the parking brake. "the car thinks the parking brake is on" I have never used the parking brake on this car. It came out of the showroom. Finally the brake disengaged. My second stop resulted into the same scenario. My fear is that this happen while I am driving. I am taking my car into the dealership in a few hours if it will move in. This car has been ideal up to this event.

- Allen, TX, USA

Here is problem that I am having with my 2007 Volkswagen Passat. While I am driving the car shuts down completely. This has happened to me about three times this year. It has almost caused me to be in 3 accidents and to have to quickly pull off the road. I had the car towed 3 times to the dealer because the car locks down and I cant put the car in neutral to tow it. It takes an experience tow truck driver to get in on a flat bed with the wheels locked. The dealer is telling me they cant figure out what is wrong with it and they can not get the car to replicate the issue, from the forums I have been reading VW tells everyone the same thing. I have already paid 2000 to get this car fix and VW still has not fixed the problem, but from what I am reading it sounds like it the steering wheel lock issue. VW needs to recall this, it not my fault that this car has this issue. There needs to be a class action law suit. Everyone driving this car life could be at risk, this car should not shut off at 70 miles hour with traffic behind you... this could cause a fatal accident and it would be VW fault!

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

Electrical problems from day one - constantly a new light on that never stayed on. Driver's airbag issue that VW says is an electrical problem under the driver's seat - a few hundred dollars to fix a few months ago, the check engine light came on and VW charged us to run a diagnostic test that came back with 12 failure codes, the two most severe being intake runner motor and high pressure pump. Then, not long after, the car literally shut down on the highway and we could hardly get to the side of the road (mind you no prior warning lights were present). The only one that came on for a split second was the epc (electronic power control) light before the car shut off. The vehicle had to be towed to VW dealer who after investigating the problem, said that the engine was shot. And, I almost forgot to mention that the air hasn't worked for 2 summers. VW claims that this is because a bad compressor was put in the Passats. $1800 to fix. These issues are completely unacceptable and we don't think any of the above problems should be our responsibility to pay. VW needs to step up and take responsibility for their faulty engineering.

- Godfrey, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the key fob failed and became stuck in the ignition. The steering column defective light has illuminated on the instrumental panel after trying to insert the key. The failure occurred on an intermittent basis. The contact was able to remove the key from the ignition after several attempts. The vehicle would not start and was not inspected by a dealer nor was it repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

- Callahan, FL, USA

In below freezing weather, I was trying to leave my child's daycare. When the key is inserted properly into the ignition, the car beeps and presents a warning "steering column lock defective!" it would not start for 45 minutes - just kept turning over and immediately dieing (lost spark, presumably, as part of the immobilization system). Took it to the dealership and they immediately recognized the problem and joking sarcastically implying that this happens all the time - the stalling at startup is a direct result of the steering column lock problem. The entire steering column has to be replaced along with a new control module (around $200 in parts) along with 4 hours of labor (quoted around $375 for me). This problem is widely reported on Passat message boards with initial costs being as high as $1,900 until VW of America recently discovered a more cost effective way to fix the issue. Also, VW of ireland has acknowledged this as a software defect (see irish times article from 11/4/2009 entitled "staring problems with a VW Passat"). there are reports that VW of Canada are repairing this for free on out of warrantied vehicles as well. How many have to fail in America before it's a recall" wouldn't a computer fault keeping a car from starting be a safety issue? what happens if the module fails while driving - either the car determining the key isn't correct would stop the engine, or if the steering column does lock while driving at highway speeds"

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

2007 VW Passat "steering column defected". my key "fob" to the ignition gets stuck inside the ignition slot. Car will not start. Sometimes it will start but then immediately die. I have to very slowly push the fob back and forth to finally get the car to start eventually. Problem is, there are thousands other 2006-2007 VW Passats and jettas that have this issue. It is unsafe. The VW dealer is charging on average $1,400 to replace the defective parts.

- Denton, TX, USA

A nice summer day transporting my family, including two small children to a baseball game. Temp was 80 F, no wind, mostly sunny. Came to a stop at a red light. When the light changed to green, pushed on accelerator. Vehicle hesitated, than accelerated slower than expected in a halting, herky-jerky way. Check engine light came on and the vehicle started to slow. I was able to move the vehicle off to the side of the road, where I contact road side assistance and the vehicle was towed to the dealership. The dealer reported replacing the coil on plug ignition.

- Omaha, NE, USA

The 2007 VW Passat wagon 2.0T has been riddled with electronic failures which continue to escalate. We have honestly lost count of the amount of days this vehicle has been in for service - at least 9 incidents, twice towed. Initially the problems were benign, such as the horn going off at random intervals in the middle of the night. There were two incidents of the car not being able to start after sitting for only two or three days, which was diagnosed as a faulty battery. Problem escalated to inoperable window and door mechanisms, delays upon acceleration, air conditioner malfunction, and most recently complete engine shutdown while driving 55 mph on the highway. Upon having vehicle towed in to service department, we were told "the car started right up and tested fine on the computer" and that there really isn't anything more the mechanic could do without a better computer diagnosis. Attempts to speak with managers have gone ignored and unanswered. I am currently waiting to hear from Volkswagen group of America in response to an email I sent to their online customer care.

- Sterling, VA, USA

Electronic parking brake will not set or will not release. Problem is intermittent, but progressive, beginning with failure to set and culminating with failure to release, in one instance triggering master brake failure warning. Failure to set makes car illegal to drive and dangerous when parked as there is no back up system to set parking brake. Failure to release strands driver in possibly dangerous situations. VW says in this instance only solution is to call for tow. Failures may at times be cleared by restarting engine, but progressively less successful. Car has been to dealer three times since problem arose. 3 days in June, 2 days in early July, and most recently 35 days and counting (since July 22). Dealer has replaced multiple modules multiple times, overlaid wiring, etc. Without solution. Despite a senior mechanic being placed on the job, no source of fault has been identified and by all appearance logical diagnostic work has ceased and haphazard parts replacement has begun, I.e., "hope" is the only remaining corrective strategy. Dealer is sympathetic but of no benefit. VW customer care contacted but promised follow up by them has not been made. As car can still be operated when electronic brake fails to set, this creates a possibly widespread public safety issue since car cannot be properly parked and must rely solely on transmission holding car.

- Nashville, TN, USA

My vehicle's gauge cluster has random lights that come on and cause the doors to lock and not open and it resets itself after 1-2 hours and it continues to do it.

- Madison, AL, USA

I started my vehicle, and within 30 seconds I smelled burning. I shut down engine and noticed smoke bellowing out from under hood. I lifted hood and found an electrical harness on top of engine was on fire and melting. I was able to borrow pliers from someone and disconnected battery cable. I had vehicle towed to dealership, and they called me this morning stating that the coil had an internal short. I asked them how I can be assured that this wouldn't happen again when parts are replaced and there reply was " this is very rare". I have a baby less than 2 years old and it scares me to death to think what may of happened if my wife was driving with my child.

- Stewartstown, PA, USA