10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 59,226 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 DPF keeps causing the engine light to come on when there isn-??t anything wrong but it also makes the car use more fuel every time this happens
- San Antonio , TX, USA
Twice while driving, the fuel delivery system failed leaving the automobile disabled on the highway. On both occasions it was reported that metal was found in the fuel pump and all components of the fuel system were replaced. The two incidents happened within the first year of ownership after the car was taken out of storage for the exhaust/ emissions recall. The first occurrence was within 2 months and within 2000 miles. The second was shortly after the first 10,000 mile service and within 9 months from the first.
- Broaddus, TX, USA
Was driving fine one day and then the next week I drove it...started to see leaks under my car and I didn't have the ac on. It got hard to turn...felt stiff. Was noticing that I was starting to pay more in power steering fluid to keep my car going. Considering I only had it 3months since first time I noticed the problem.
- Conway, SC, USA
Car stopped in the middle of the interstate, was almost hit by semi-truck. Fuel pump sent metal shards in the fuel system. VW dealership quoted cost of $ 6000 to rebuild entire fuel injection system because of a defective fuel pump. What a way to start my family vacation stuck on the side of the interstate for 4 hours on a Sunday.
- Hattiesburg, MS, USA
My car caught on fire while I was driving and almost killed me and my daughter. The fire department came and put it out but it is a total loss. I think it could well be the starter as many 2011 build VW Passats were affected.
- Galena, OH, USA
The car began shaking once in a while and about a month later began to die when idle waiting at red lights or stop signs. I was told the vacuum seal needed replaced but to do so everything would need replaced as you can't just replace a vacuum seal. The electrical component of my car started to go haywire and every light, clock would go off if I tried to start the car. After that as fixed the batter which was tested and at 99% died and had to be replaced. These issues happened when I was on a city street driving and I was stuck in the middle of the road with people passing me and honking. I got the car fixed at steven's creek Volkswagen in sunnyvale, ca it was very expensive and I was out of a car for well over a week. None of these were issues caused by me. I have very low mileage and take good care of my car.
- Meridian, ID, USA
Fuell pump control computer module lost power. Vehicle stalled while turning in front of oncoming traffic! in the middle of intersections etc. Causing a extremely dangerous possibility of death situation. VW has had this item recalled for a long, long time! VW still has no fiix to date!
- Venice, FL, USA
I got a letter from volkswagon stating that a recall was going to be made on my car because the fuel pump could just stop working, or my car could just stop in motion while I'm driving or just not start all together. I got this letter back in October 2017 and haven't heard from them since.
- Roanoke, VA, USA
On my 2012 tdi when the weather gets cold ~ below 10 degrees Fahrenheit the engine feels like it is misfiring. It usually starts fine, but it stumbles/misfired for the first mile or so. The car does not want to get up to speed, nor will it shift into the next gear, the engine will rev to 3000 RPM and more when cold, which is very bad for the engine. I will manually shift into the next gear and then it chugs and misfires and struggles to get up to speed.
- East Bethel, MN, USA
Engine light is on and the fuel vapor leak detection pump improperly working can result in health issues.dueto the fact that it is not reducing atmospheric pollution due to hydrocarbon emissions,
- Pine Bluff, AR, USA
I have a 2012 VW Passat tdi vehicle with 78,000 miles as of October 124, 2016. It is effected by the tdi emissions issue and qualifies under the court settlement that has yet to be approved. The issue I have is that I took the car to the dealer about 1 month ago because the check engine light was on. I was told that the ad blue heater which scrubs nox (albeit not very well) from the exhaust needs to be replaced for $1,100. I did some research and came to find out that apparently this has happened hundreds of times to tdi owners especially 2012 models. It is my understanding the failure is a function of time not mileage and has been corrected in newer models. It is ironic that even after paying the $1,100 my car is still out of emissions compliance! I request that VW be forced to do a recall and reimburse owners regardless of the vehicles mileage for this repair.
- Bedminster, NJ, USA
Vehicle stumbles and hesitates during cold starts and clears up after approx 10 minutes. Consistently occurs daily essentially since vehicle was purchased. Issue was brought up a couple of times to dealer, but they indicated nothing was wrong and no errors seen in computer. There are several blogs online from hundreds of owners complaining of this issue and Volkswagen appears to not be resolving the issue. The concern is bucking, chocking and hesitation becomes a safety issue especially if you need to speed up to avoid a vehicle or crossing intersections when vehicle is cold...safety is a concern and has been....I did bring the vehicle to the dealer again and left with dealer for 1 week...they claimed the techn found no issue....when I picked vehicle up it immediately had hesitation, jerky bucking issue....not acceptable.
- Hinsdale, IL, USA
Mechanic found a code for a defective adblue level sensor after I took the vehicle in to check the reason for the engine light illumination. They removed the adblue tank and installed an update kit. Yes, update kit, which tells me Volkswagen knows there is a widespread problem with the original level sensor equipment. Final cost of the repair: $1053.51. This should be an extended warranty item, or recall.
- Tucson, AZ, USA
Ad blue reductant tank failed. Thus making the emissions system not work properly. Part # 561-198-970-a is defective. The same failure occurred on my 2013 Passat within less than a month. This is a known defect from VW. Here is a link to a thread on the extent of these failures. forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?T=438268
- Alexandria, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 25 mph, a squeaking noise was heard when the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, a strong odor of fuel was present inside the vehicle; however, there was no fuel visible on the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be located. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Stratford, CT, USA
Gas gauge was not reading full when taken to gas station, although gas dispenser clicked off as full. Happened many times at different gas stations. Took my car in to VW dealership. They stated that gas vent was not working not allowing my car to fill completely. They stated they had to replace gas tank, ~ $2000. Don't have the money to repair. They stated it was not a safety situation"?"
- Elk Grove, CA, USA
Vehicle developed a, " loss of power" issue at approximately 1.5 years ago around 50,000 miles. It usually occurs within the first 10- 15 minutes after cold start up and when vehicle is traveling between 10 and 40 mph. The vehicle will be operating normally, then instantly lose power and start shuddering. When merging onto a highway on numerous occasions since then, the sudden loss of power has nearly caused me to be struck by other vehicles. Along with loss of power, there has been a noticeable odor of diesel fuel which comes from the observed fuel pooling on the top of the engine. This is a fire hazard only waiting to happen. I will not let any other members of my family drive this vehicle for fear of their safety. Manufacturer dealer has been able to duplicate the issue but not resolve it. The manufacturer engineering and technical dept has been involved but still not able to solve after 1.5 years and numerous shop visits.
- Hull, MA, USA
Nox sensor malfunctioned out of range code. Was quoted 655 dollars to replace. Nox sensors are not required by federally mandated 80K emissions warranty so VW won't include voluntarily. One week after having this fixed, the check engine light turns on again with code P203B, redactant level range/performance. Speaking a few times with technicians at the dealership, this likely means the replacement of the ad blue heater unit and tank which is over 1000 dollars. Again, not covered under warranty.
- Dexter, MI, USA
The tdi high pressure fuel pump failed and as a result, also caused the gas line and fuel injectors to fail because metal was sent through the car. The car died in the middle of an intersection and will no longer turn on.
- Gilbert , AZ, USA
- Los Angeles, CA, USA