10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 40,394 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
Twice I have had to replace the headlights.
- Selma, TX, USA
1. the lighting recall I have had my car serviced at least 4xs for light.. the light is still not fixed, every time the hood is open and closed the light goes out. 2. I was sent recall letter about airbag, I went to have it fixed and was told that the sensor got wet and its my responsibility and was charged alomost 1K to fix it.3. my car while driving says settings are not accessible, this is constant and its not as though im trying to change the settings, while driving. Also the last time I took my car in for service I paid for my ac filter to be changed and it wasn't they said my tires were ok they were not. I have been kicked out of one dealership because the service manager was clearly a racist. I have had so many problems and when I call VW of America im put on hold, just to be told that there is nothing they can do. Now they are calling me over, and over to extend my warranty, I paid for my car in full.. I cant get one person to take my issues seriously, I can barely see the road when driving, the cars settings constantly change. Last but not least I paid for cosmetic issues and had a new battery put in all while under warranty. Because the service manager kicked me out of dealership.
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
I have had on and off trouble with my left low beam headlight for the last year. I looked to see if my vehicle was covered under the recall 94G8/7V and I was told it is not covered. I had the bulbs replaced and still have the problem. The low beam consistently goes on and off especially in the colder months. I took it to the VW place to have them check it and they told me I just need a new light. I had just had them both replaced so I don't think this is the problem. I believe the recall should be opened up to more 2013 vehicles.
- Alexis, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While the vehicle was stationary, the passenger side low beam headlight malfunctioned. The contact stated that the headlight would not illuminate when prompted. It was diagnosed that the harness connector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 102,000.
- Middleboro, MA, USA
Headlamp assembly connectors on driver side are causing the low beam headlight to disconnect and not turn on bulb. Have replaced numerous headlamps, none were burnt out. After having the vehicle looked at several times, it was determined the headlight assembly may become loose and lose electrical contact. Called VW and they refused to fix because my VIN was not listed on the recall # 94G8/7V, NHTSA campaign number 14V125000. VW stated my car was tested (although they couldn't say when, I have never had it inspected) and the issue was not present in my vehicle, although it is now. The problem expressed on the recall is exactly what is happening with the car causing a safety concern because the headlight does not come on. Request the investigation is broadened to include more vehicles that may be presenting the problem after initial inspection. The problem occurs intermittently whether it is in motion or parked in a garage overnight.
- Sparta, WI, USA
My vehicle is experiencing the same issue as detailed in NHTSA campaign number: 14V125000. The issue appeared the day after recieving service at the dealership (hood was opened and closed). The dealer states the recall does not apply to my vehicle, but the headlights installed in my vehicle are of the type indicated in the tsb as being defective. As of now, I have been unable to locate a replacement part and have only one functioning headlight. (I'm assuming because no one will sell it since it's known to be defective). Please see the attached photo of the headlight installed in my vehicle (generation "20S"). also attached is the tsb that shows any unit less than generation "24S" needs replaced (see page 13 as numbered in the footer).
- Land O Lakes, FL, USA
NHTSA 14V125000 / VW recall 94G8/7V - headlamp holder failure(s) I have had the car experience the "apparent" headlamp failure & replaced the headlamps (low beam - driver and passenger side) only to have the lamps fail again. The headlamps do not use a traditional socket & wire combination, but rather the bulb is inserted in a bulb holder & then screwed into a socket with a rubber cover placed behind to prevent water damage. The second time this occurred at night. As I pulled the rubber cover off, the light came back on (like a shorted wire). I replaced the bulb & twisted into place & the car worked normally for a month. Since then, multiple lamp resets have been required (both drivers & passenger side). The "fixes" have gone from weeks to only days in duration & require me to stop & reset the lamps at all hours of the day & night to avoid vision & potential legal problems for "faulty equipment." In the last day, despite placing new dielectric grease on the driver's side socket, every time I get in the car I'm required to reset the bulb & socket. This is both annoying & dangerous (the side of the highway at 4am). Luckily, I've gotten so good at this I can do it in the dark. I called VW customer care & was informed that my VIN wasn't in the recall range, but that they would look at it & determine if they could assist. This "out of VIN range" situation may be more common than is thought as a quick google turned up a startling similar NHTSA complaint: I can do the socket replacement if sent the revised parts. The design is clever & when I replaced the first bulb, I thought it a great design that eliminates wires that can otherwise pull loose from a traditional style socket. Obviously, the initial design works itself loose over time. Out of pocket cost to date - $75
- Chesapeake, VA, USA
Exterior lightening: No low beam to front passenger side headlight. Bulb is loose and has lost electrical contact. I had this issue checked at an VW dealership in milwaukee, wi months ago and was informed that this was the problem. (this issue is under recall). Unfortunately, I was told that it does not apply for my series vehicle. What is the process to get my vehicle covered for replacement?
- Milwaukee, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 65 mph, the headlights shut off and failed to illuminate. The contact replaced both headlight bulbs independently; however, the remedy failed to repair the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing the failure listed in NHTSA campaign number: 14V125000 (exterior lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.
- Torrante, CA, USA
I was pulling slowly into a parking space, and the car suddenly surged and hit a parking meter pole. The same thing happened again six and a half weeks later, again at very low speed. This time the car hit the wall of the parking ramp, and the driver's airbag deployed. In both cases, it was the first time the car had been driven that morning, a distance of about three miles.
- Iowa City, IA, USA
We are driving a loaner 2013 VW Passat that we are in the process of purchasing. We drove it for the first time at night and encountered a serious problem with the headlights. We exited the highway and while going around the bend of the off ramp I was unable to see the side of the road at all. At first I thought my vision blurred but as we examined it further we learned that there is a very serious dark area on both front corners of the car. When re -entered the highway we also found ourselves distracted by the dark spots even while going in a strait line. We proceeded to dim all instrumentation to see if that was adding distraction but the problem was still prevalent. As we drove home we reviewed the headlight dispersion of other cars and all of them projected adequate light in the front corners of the car. If there were a bicyclist or person walking on the side of the road there is a high probability we would have hit them or go off into a ditch from the inability to see the side of the road.
- Mint Hill, NC, USA
Steering: Vehicle pulls to an excessive amount potentially leading to injury or death. It does not track straight at all, no matter if it's on the left lane of the road, center crown of the road or in the right lane (no curves. I took the vehicle in to the dealership over 4 times thinking it may be an alignment problem. I was told the second time that it pulls hard to the right as a "safety measure", to lead the car to the right shoulder to get off the road on to the shoulder. Asked the service advisor to show me where VW had disclosed this as a "safety" measure. There was no such documentation. I took it in to another VW dealership in my same city. They did what they said was the 'best they could do without exceeding VW's specifications. This is a dangerous defect and the second dealership admitted to me that VW was having some problems with this issue. Lights/electrical: The low beam light went out on the drivers side of the vehicle. I took it to one of the dealerships in my city. I thought it went out too soon but suspect it was an issue. It turned out to be more then a simple burnt out bulb. The whole light assembly had to be replaced because of what the service advisor told me was indeed a problem VW was having with the electrical connection making continuous contact (like a plug & receptacle). He stated that they had changed the design in the 2014 models because of this defect in the 2013 models. I requested that since it was a known issue, I would like them to retrofit or change out the passenger side light. He stated to me he was not authorized to change the defective unit until it actually fails. This is potentially dangerous as it can happen at night when lights are really needed, and during the day if lights need to be on for safety where it is required on some of the more dangerous roads. Get it in writing what is wrong-no glossing over.
- Gilbert, AZ, USA
- Ronda, NC, USA