10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 2
- Average Mileage:
- 45,279 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Pulling out of driveway epc light comes on. Total loss of power and engine speed set to 1800rpm in "safe mode" no one knows exactly what is wrong. Mechanics cannot ttell me what is wrong. Dealership VW has no idea and want to start replacing items in descriminately and I don't have that kind of money to throw around and besides. The people that built the car can't figure it out. This is a huge safety issue. Computer faults and shuts down the power at hiway speeds and sometimes car stalls out. This is very dangerous and happening to hundreds maybe thousands of people I'm reading online and talking with other owners.
- Lenexa, KS, USA
Car would make whirling sounds intermittently, difficulty going up hill, rough idle sometimes, car shut off while driving, car shut off while idling at a light, car had difficulty starting or would start then shake and let out loud and hard bursts of gas from exhaust and cut off, car will start up then lose power, sometimes will start back up. One time it took 3 tries and would not start. Had at VW dealer multiple times since jam 2017 till now. Happened again today after I got gas, shut off then took a while to gain power and epc and check engine light were on then disappeared. Every other time the wngine light would disappear. The last time in March they had the car 10 or so day. Two days later it idled rough. They were busy to check the car now this. Jan 2017 check engine light they said fault P0106/P2188- did software update and advises faults may come back. Feb 2017 engine light they said same faults and manifold pressure sensor failed. Got replaced. March 2017 car stalled in traffic multiple times. They cleaned throttle body. March 2017 in idle car shaking and shut off rpms up and down replaced camshaft position sensor. May 2017 shut off in traffic- replaced N80 valve. 05/05/18 got spark plugs changed. March 7 car shut off three times after getting gas. They had it till March 19 said charcoal canister need replacing then upon pick up said N205 valve cam adjuster solenoid clicking loudly. March 29 noticed hearing whirling sounds and rough idle. Called ealer no one available over weekend. Busy. Today 04/08 car shut off after 2nd gas fill up. Started back slowly epc and engine light steady then it gained power and lights off. VW corporare advised in 2017 I am out of warranty and have high mileage. Opened claim again today they said same thing but will see if the corporate would be willing to offer assistance. All work has been done via VW dealers
- Atlanta, GA, USA
High-pressure fuel pump failure, car stopped working while driving on freeway in another state. Car has not run in over a year due to this problem and the cost to fix it. They model your new were with the exact same engine and part is covered under warranty but this car is not at a 71,250 miles
- Bloomington, CA, USA
Engine light pops up and epc code. Hard to pick up speed
- Hamilton, NJ, USA
Stalling, sputtering erratically. It sputters, bumps and may stall. When it stalls it is necessary to turn ignition completely off and start again in park.
- Bethesda, MD, USA
I own a 2013 VW Passat diesel which has a bad nitrogen oxide sensor at 47,300 miles. I have learned that this part is not covered under emissions warranty and many other VW car owners have experienced failures with this same sensor. With all the current existing diesel emission problems and fines, you would think that this critical sensor would be part of the emissions warranty. My local VW dealer and the VW corporation wants me to pay over $800 to fix a critical emission problem which is an ongoing issue with many VW owners. This is a defective part for which they have been fined in the past (2005). All vehicles with this defective nitrogen oxide sensor are increasing the world pollution. Why is this sensor not part of a recall, not part of an extended emissions warranty, and why am I and many other owners stuck paying for defective parts" under the emissions settlement program, Volkswagen has agreed to "promote zero emissions vehicle technology". so, why is there not a recall or warranty on the nitrogen oxide sensor"
- Dagsboro, DE, USA
Car overheated on drive home. Once engine cooled I inspected the coolant and noticed that it was orange or rust colored and milky/not clear. It should be pink and clear. After reading about VW's heater core warranty extension on certain years and VIN's I determined to have the same issues listed. My heater core was not fully blocked but I did have differences in temperatures from the drivers side and passengers side. VW is not replacing my heater core under warranty because my VIN wasn't listed as having a problem. But this problem should be expanded to cover more VIN's as the problem is still out there. My car has 100,600 miles on it and there is not a flush or coolant change scheduled for the tdi's.
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
2013 VW Passat 89000 miles fuel pump broke sending metal through system $6500 to fix. I see this happens a lot on internet. This is covered for veh up to 2012. If this is still happening why don't they cover 2013 or change fuel pumps. Being a 100% disabled vet. I don't have the $6500 to fix it. Surely you have heard of this before. Driving on city street stopped at stop sign.
- North Little Rock, AR, USA
Driving down the expressway at 70mph, when suddenly the vehicle lost power and turned off. The car stopped functioning. It was a dangerous situation. Had to suddenly pulled over on a very busy highway. When the vehicle came to a stop, I tried to restart the vehicle with no success. Car was towed to the dealership. I was informed that it was a failure of the high pressure fuel pump (hpfp). Was told the entire fuel system would have to be replaced. Approximate cost to repair: $5826.09. I know they extended the warranty on the hpfp for the 2012 Passat. What about the 2013?
- Mcallen, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While driving, the contact smelled smoke inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000.
- South Lyon, MI, USA
I am having problems starting my 2013 VW passsat. At first I thought it was the cold in the morning but the starting problem happens randomly thoughout the day. For example when I stop at the gas station, after putting gas when I go to start the car I have to crank it 3,4,5 time before it starts. Sometimes I need to pump the gas. The second problem is the "engine" light coming on. The first time this happened I went to the VW dealer and they said maybe it was an emissions problem and that they will take a look at it when I bring it in for my next oil change. I brought the car in for the oil change. They reset the engine light so it wasn't showing. The guy also said it was probably not closing the gas cap tight enough. After this initial reset I drove around for a few weeks then the 'engine light came back on. It was reset a second time, but, the light has come back on again. I will be taking it back to my dealer again for a 3rd time. The starting problem is very worrying. I have about 75,000 miles on the Passat. Obviously the vehicle is stationary when I begin to start it; but the "engine" light comes on whenever, I just notice that it is on, so I would say it comes on when I am driving or when the car is running.
- Olympia, WA, USA
VW Passat tdi 2013: Currently has a tad under 64,000 miles. Driving the car and the car makes awful noise and shuts off. The car gets towed to the VW dealership and I am informed that it is the high pressure fuel pump and the repair is between $5000-$6000. The dealership checked the fuel and verified that I had appropriate diesel in the car and mentioned that VW has had problems with the diesel fuel "sold in the us" and it is causing the problem. The car is just over the 60,000 mile warranty and it is one of the cars in the buyback settlement. When I inquired, they said my buyback fee would be significantly reduced if I do not pay for the repair as they will take it out of the settlement offer. Investigating a bit further, this is a problem that they had with previous year models, and is also something that appears to be happening with other owners of 2013 tdi's. I am left with a car that does not work to due manufacture defect. I am left with a car that they claim they will pay less for at the buyback because the car is not running, even though it is due to their defect. In short, I have a car that does not work, that is part of a major us government lawsuit settlement, and that requires $6,000 to repair because a part they placed on the car sent metal shards through the fuel system. As a consumer, I am left helpless. I bought a car believing the company to be honest, they were not. Now they will not even stand behind their faulty manufacturing defects.
- Orange, CA, USA
Turbo charger failed in 2013 tdi Passat 2nd time. Occured while driving down a 45 mph road. Did not lose full power but did lose ability to maintain speed and glow plug light began flashing. First one failed and replaced at 79,000 miles and 2nd turbo failing at 145,000 miles roughly 60,000 miles on this turbo. These are flawed parts that are very expensive and should work for the life of the vehicle. No support from VW for a part that is a major safety issue.
- Shorewood, IL, USA
Cel came on, code for for failing reductant level sensor P203B implausable signal. Car has 66,000 miles, cared for to the letter. VW wants over a $1000 to repair. This is an extreamly common failure not possible ofr the owner to induce...
- Santa Clarita, CA, 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 2012 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
Adblue heater failure. Code P202B
- Charleston, WV, USA
Turbo failed in 2013 VW Passat tdi
- Katy, TX, USA
The turbocharger blew up while I was driving on the interstate. Prior to the turbocharger blowing up, there were no indications from the car's performance or indicator lights that there was a problem. When the turbo seized up the pre-glow indicator light came on shortly followed by the engine malfunction indicator light. I pulled the car off to the shoulder and was towed to the dealership. The dealership immediately accused me of not maintaining the vehicle and asked me if I purchased an extended warranty. The dealership drained the oil from the engine and sent it to their lab and had a VW rep come out to validate their claim that the car was not maintained. At no point in time did the dealership tell me that VW had extended the warranty to 10 years or 120K miles. My Passat has 75K miles and has been maintained, including the most recent oil change at 63K miles. The dealership told me that the turbocharger was not covered by the warranty based on their assessment that the vehicle was not maintained so I had to pay for the repairs to the tune of $2.3K. My perception from the very beginning of my relationship with the VW dealership was they were building a case. I called VW of America and confirmed that my vehicle is covered by the extended warranty. I filed a claim with VW of America to recoup the entire $2.3K charged to my credit card and disputed the charge with amex. The burden of proof for denying the extended warranty coverage for the turbocharged is on VW. This is known issued that VW has acknowledged and underwritten with the extended warranty coverage. The fact that there no indications of failure only makes the situation worse. Fortunately, there was no accident caused by car's sudden deceleration. I will hear back VW today with regard to compensation. That said, I expect ntsb to apply pressure on VW to stand behind their warranty coverage.
- Clarksville, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
- Islip Terrace, NY, USA
- Ocala, FL, USA