1996 Volkswagen Passat Interior & seats Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR TO WIND THE WINDOW DOWN TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10681805

Incident

Dec 5, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

REAR DOOR LATCH FAILED AND DOOR FLEW OPEN AND 10 YEAR OLD CHILD FELL OUT OF THE CAR. THE DOOR APPEARS TO CLOSE NORMALLY BUT IT IS NOT LATCHED. AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR MULTIPLE TIMES , IT DOES CATCH BUT IT IS NOT OBVIOUS WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. LUCKILY, THERE MINOR INJURIES DUE TO THE LOW SPEED OF THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118453

Incident

Apr 24, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THREE OF THE FOUR DOOR LOCKS BROKE. DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING. CONSUMER PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT COVER THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080328

Incident

Jun 24, 2004

Mileage

68,000 mi

DOOR HANDLES WORE OUT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TWO VEHICLES THAT HAD DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLES. NOT LONG AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. *AK DEALER FOUND THE WORN DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN OUTSIDE MIRROR SWITCH REPLACED. TRUNK LOCK WAS LOOSE. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

10044276

Incident

Oct 3, 2003

Mileage

10,028 mi

THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. IT STARTED WITH THE LEFT REAR DOOR WHICH I TRIED TO REPAIR MYSELF. THEN IT WAS THE DRIVER DOOR. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT A HIGH COST. NOW IT IS THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE THE OBJECT OF A RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10043636

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

Mileage

25,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD AND ELECTRICAL WIRES HAVE BURNT. CONSUMER STATES' NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING AND BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8023644

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET IN OR OUT OF VEHICLE BECAUSE DOOR WAS BOLTED SHUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014457

Incident

Jun 29, 2002

THE DAYTIME AND NORMAL HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES I WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT AND THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON. ANOTHER TIME, I JUST TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND LET THE CAR SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR A FEW DAYS. THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON WHEN I START IT. AT OTHER TIMES, IN ADDITION TO THE HEADLIGHT NOT COMING ON, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE IGNITION IS STARTED. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY PASSAT, WHICH I HAVE FIXED AND REPORTED HERE. NAMELY, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID

760037

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER. DOOR OPENS BUT UNABLE TO CLOSE. DOOR MUST BE HELD CLOSED WITH CORD OR HELD CLOSED BY DRIVER, CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

743491

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

THE DOORS DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. YOU MUST SLAM THEM AT TIMES TO MAKE THEM CLOSE, THEN THEY WILL WORK OK AT OTHER TIMES. THE TRUNK LOCK DOES NOT WORK WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. IT MUST BE OPENED FROM INSIDE WITH THE RELEASE BUTTON. *AK

NHTSA ID

740391

WHEN AT FREEZING TEMP, PASSENGER'S DOOR LATCH PARTIALLY FROZE OPEN CAUSING DOOR TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER DOOR LATCH FROZE PREVENTING DOOR TO BE CLOSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

738705

Incident

Dec 31, 2000

SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES WENT CRAZY. WITH ENGINE OFF SPEEDOMETER READS 80 MPH AND TACHOMETER READS 4000 RPM. THIS OCCURRED AFTER A COLD START-UP AND IS KNOWN TO BE AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. IT APPEARS TO BE SPECIFIC TO 1996 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX MODELS AND IS REPORTED TO BE A $600. OR MORE DEALER REPAIR WITH A NEED TO SPECIAL ORDER THE REPLACEMENT GAUGE/CLUSTER ASSEMBLY FROM GERMANY REQUIRING 4-6 WEEKS FOR PARTS DELIVERY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ! PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS ARE NOT WEAR ITEMS AND SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL OPERATION. I AM NOT ABOUT TO PAY VW $600. OR MORE TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE TO USE THE VIN NUMBERS TO DETERMINE IF THIS DEFECT IS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN PRODUCTION TIME PERIOD. PERHAPS THE VENDOR SUPPLIER TO VW HAD SOME PRODUCTION PROBLEMS THAT WERE DISCOVERED AND CORRECTED. OWNER'S OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT THAT RESULTS FROM NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

738314

Incident

Nov 5, 2000

DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY OR LOCKS ARE NOT SECURING PROPERTY. DOOR OCCASIONALLY WOULD FLY OPEN. CONSUMER HAS TO USE A BUNGY CORD & SEAT BELT TO KEEP SHUT. MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM. VEHICLE CAN'T BE SECURED TO KEEP OTHERS FROM GETTING IN. CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

868065

Incident

Aug 2, 2000

NOT ABLE OT OPEN DOOR. HANDLE MECHANISM BROKEN. FIRST HANDLE MECHANISM BROKEN IN DEC 1999. BECAUSE CHILD LOCK WAS ON, MAJOR SERVICE WAS NEED TO GET INTO DOOR. JUNE 2000 THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE MECHISM BROKE, BUT CAN GET INTO THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR . THE LEFT REAR DOOR HANDLE APPEARS LOOSE AND READY TO BREAK. *AK

NHTSA ID

724570

Incident

Dec 1, 1999

INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE. LIGHT HAS BEEN ON/OFF ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC INDICATOR. TOWED TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL: CLUSTER MODULE HAD A SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ID

863518

Incident

Jun 9, 2000

DESIGN FLAW? ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES HAVE FAILED (CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD) AND CAR CANNOT BE LOCKED WHEN THEY FAIL.

NHTSA ID

722663

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

THE INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE HAS FAILED TWICE. BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES HAVE FAILED. REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT ALL. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. PASSENGERS IN THE REAR CAN NOT OPEN THE REAR CAR DOORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

721366

Incident

Mar 6, 2000

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY: DIGITAL DISPLAYS FLASHED ON AND OFF SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER GAUGES MOVING CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER-CLOCKWISE OUT OF CONTROL, THIS PATTERN CONTINUED WHEN VEHICLE IGNITION TURNED OFF. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND CURRENT PROBLEM. SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS BATTERY OK, NEEDS NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. JAN.06 VEHICLE FAIL TO START, CHECKED BATTERY, BATTERY BURNED UP,CELLS DRY. REPLACED WITH NEW BATTERY, INSIDE OF 2 WEEK PERIOD FAILURE TO START AND NO POWERCONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 6 WEEKS. DEALER INSTALLS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, GO TO PICK UP CAR AND IT FAILS TO START. CAR REMAINS AT DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID

720898

Incident

Jan 6, 2000

ELECTICAL CLUSTER FOR INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

551095

Incident

Jan 21, 2000

INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS CONSUMER'S CAR BECAUSE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

856474

Incident

Jan 21, 2000

WHENEVER THE WEATHER IS COLD, THE DOORS FAIL TO CLOSE PROPERLY. THE LOCKS FAIL TO WORK ALSO. THE DOORS WOULD POP OPEN AFTER BEING CLOSED. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & INFORMED BY MECHANIC EVERYTHINGS WORKS FINE. WAS INFORMED LUBRICATION WAS PROBLEM FIRST 2 TIMES. THE THIRD TIME TOLD LOCKS WERE THE PROBLEM. HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID

855297

Incident

Dec 23, 1997

DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN AT ALL FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER HAS SEEN AND GREASED THE DOORS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

851352

Incident

Apr 1, 1999

NONE OF THE DOORS BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME, IN ORDER TO GET INTO MY CAR I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE AND OPEN THE DOOR OR DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE, ANYONE COULD JUMP INTO MY CAR FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE AT THIS TIME. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WE WERE QUOTED AN EXTREMELY HIGH AMOUNT BY THE DEALER WHICH I THINK ISNT RIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS FAULTY CRAFTMANSHIP NOT FAULTY OWNERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ID

713558

Incident

Oct 1, 1999

LOCKING MECHANISMS ON VEHICLE IS BAD. ALL FOUR DOORS GET STUCK. CONSUMER HAS HAD TO GET A MECHANIC TO GET THE DOORS OPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

835778

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, CAUSING THE SPEED OR FUEL NOT TO REGISTER, AND OTHER FUNCTIONS BECAME INOPERABLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

835534