1996 Volkswagen Passat Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1996 VW PASSAT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHICH SHUT DOWN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V256000 I WAS INFORMED BY VW CUSTOMER SERVICE THIS RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY VIN#, DESPITE IT BEING A 1996 PASSAT. I THINK IT SHOULD. *TR

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.

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

HEATERCORE FAILED FOGED UP ALL MY WINDOWS,SOAKED CARPET AND FILLED CABIN WITH TOXIC ANTIFREEZE VAPOR ON MY WAY HOME FROM MY UNCLES FUNERAL. *CN

HEATER CORE FAILURE. VENTING OF NOXIOUS FUMES INTO PASSANGER COMPARTMENT. *NM

THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TEND NOT TO OPERATE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP AND, RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER. *AK *NM

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.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 1996 VW PASSAT AT 65 MPH AND THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED WITH WATER AND ANTI FREEZE STEAM AND VAPOR. IT WAS QUICKLY AND WITH OUT WARNING IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

HEATER CORE FAILED WHILE DRIVING, BLOWING HOT STEAM OUT OF THE VENTS, DUMPING HOT COOLANT ONTO MY FEET AND FOGGING UP THE WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY. *TR

DOOR HANDLE PROBLEM. HANDLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ON DIFFERENT DOORS. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK

TRUNK LOCKING MECHANISM AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURE. RESULTS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN THE TRUNK WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND NOT CLOSE AND LOCK. MAY CAUSE A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT WHEN THE TRUNK POPS UP, COMPLETELY BLOCKING DRIVER REAR VIEW CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DT

1996 CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FAILED ON THE 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PART WAS POORLY DESIGNED.*JB

TRANSMISSION BROKEN AT 60,000 MILES, ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIS UNABLE TO FIX PROPERLY, THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT UNDER THERI WARANTEE WITHIN 12,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION LASTED 8 MONTH WITH SHAKEY SHIFTING THEN WENT AGAIN. NOW 4TH TRANMISSION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY . *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AT NIGHT, THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V256000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AT THE COST OF $250. HE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

WHILE DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. SPEEDOMETER IS NOT SHOW ACCURATE SPEED, NEITHER THE GASOLINE GAUGE AND OTHER PANEL INSTRUMENTS. POR FAVOR ENVIE EL CUESTIONARIO. TS

FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEEDLE WILL NOT SET AT ZERO EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FOR OVER TWO HOURS VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, REVVING UP WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STALLED. *AK

THE PASSENGER DOOR POWER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME - TRUNK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY, CRUISE CONTROL ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES.*AK

THE LATCH FAILED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT. WHILE BRAKING, THE LATCHING DEVICE ABOVE DRIVER'S LEFT SHOULDER FAILED CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS IN TURN CAUSED REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SPIRAL SPRING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM - THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO ACTIVATE ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS.

THE LATCH FAILED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT. WHILE BRAKING, THE LATCHING DEVICE ABOVE DRIVER'S LEFT SHOULDER FAILED CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS IN TURN CAUSED REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SPIRAL SPRING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM - THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO ACTIVATE ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS.

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

FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEEDLE WILL NOT SET AT ZERO EVEN WHEN IGNITION IS OFF. *AK

RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING IS BROKEN IN ONE SECTION, CAUSING FREQUENT CREAKING NOISE. VW SERVICE KEEPS TELLING MY AUTO REPAIR GUY THAT THEY ARE ORDERING IT. THEY NOW SAY THEY CANNOT LOCATE THE PART; PUT OUT NATIONWIDE SEARCH!I'M WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY.ORIGINAL. *AK

WHEEL BEARING FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL.

THE LATCH FAILED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT. WHILE BRAKING, THE LATCHING DEVICE ABOVE DRIVER'S LEFT SHOULDER FAILED CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS IN TURN CAUSED REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SPIRAL SPRING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM - THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO ACTIVATE ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS.

THE LATCH FAILED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SAFETY BELT. WHILE BRAKING, THE LATCHING DEVICE ABOVE DRIVER'S LEFT SHOULDER FAILED CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE TOP OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS IN TURN CAUSED REPEATED FAILURE OF THE SPIRAL SPRING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM - THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO ACTIVATE ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS.

FRONT RIGHT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING (DOTAN7JT451179 - BF GOODRICH 185-6514). NLM