1997 Volkswagen Passat Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ERUPTED SPONTANEOUSLY INSIDE THE DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE WIRES TO MELT AND THE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA WHERE THE IGNITION WAS LOCATED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 6/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF THE IGNITION AND LOCKING COMPONENTS WERE SERVICE, REPLACED AND REMOVED 15 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION.

NHTSA ID

10457713

Incident

May 5, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OR HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10240603

Incident

Jul 21, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

VEHICLE VOLKSWAGEN 1997 PASSAT GLX - V6 ENGINE. FULL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, DIGITAL CLOCK... EVERYTHING ON IT, DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 50 DEGREES. CAR MUST BE DRIVEN FOR 10MIN., OR ABOUT 8-12 MILES, BEFORE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RETURNS TO NORMAL FUCTION. CAR IS BEING DRIVEN WITHOUT FUNCTIONING SPEEDOMETER, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE MY SPEED AND DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, EXCEPT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD MAKE A BUZZING NOISE WHEN CAR STARTED AND TRIP MILEAGE WOULD RESET. THIS STARTED A FEW MONTHS BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE BEGAN. THIS PROBLEM GETS WORSE AS TIME PASSES, AS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM OCCURS IN WARMER WEATHER NOW. PROBLEM USED TO OCCUR WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 35 DEGREES. NOW HAPPENS AT 50 DEGREES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203187

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

VARIOUS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING--WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LIGHTS, DEFROST MOTOR--ON A VERY DARK, RAINY MORNING, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND A NEAR-ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER PREVIOUSLY WARNED OF 'IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE', BUT WOULD ONLY REPAIR AFTER FAILURE AND BEFORE 10 YRS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 100,600 MILES. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO BEAR THE REPAIR COST FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171239

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

100,600 mi

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL. SAME CONDITION WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL ON 1996 VW PASSAT MODELS, MANUFACTURER IS NOT OFFERING COVERAGE ON SAME BODY STYLE UNDER 1997 AND 1995 DESIGNATION. IMPACTED VEHICLE IS A 1997 VW PASSAT WAGON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10165563

Incident

Aug 13, 2006

Mileage

85,100 mi

1997 VW PASSAT TDI. THE CAR HAD A "TV-12" RECALL, IN WHICH THE ECM AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS, THE ECM WENT OUT AGAIN, AND VW "REFUSES" TO LIVE UP TO THE WARRANTY. 2) FAILURE OF THIS, DOES NOT DIMINISH IT'S "CRUSING" CAPACITY DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO POWER TO PASS SAFELY, AND MUCH LOSS OF POWER, WHEN ENTERING THE 'EXITS'. CONSEQUENTLY, A VERY POSSIBLE SITUATION RESULTS TO HAVE A TERRIBLE CRASH. VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND ONLY FIXES IT WHEN "THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS". 3) THE ORIGINAL INTAKE WAS REPLACED, AND ECM. HOWEVER, VW WILL NOT PUT A 'NEW' ECM IN, RATHER, THEY PUT IN A "REBUILT" ONE. THIS IS PRONE TO HUMAN ERROR, AND THAT'S WHY MINE FAILED WITHIN FIVE (5) TO SIX (6) MONTHS. IT 'GOES OUT' CONSTANTLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135753

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

1,000 mi

1. IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. 2. CAUSED LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND TEMPORARY ENGINE FAILURE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DAMAGE. 3. REPLACED ELECTRICAL PORTION OF IGNITION SWITCH, HEADLIGHT RELAY.

NHTSA ID

10119417

Incident

May 2, 2005

Mileage

295,950 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT IGNITION SWITCH AND HEADLIGHTS PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ON A WINDING ROAD THE HEADLIGHTS JUST TURNED OFF, AND CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WIGGLE THE IGNITION TO GET THE LIGHTS TO TURN BACK ON. CURRENTLY, MANUFACTURER WAS RECALLING VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE HAD AN EXCESS OF 125,000 MILES IT WAS 25,000 MILES PAST THE CUT OFF POINT. *AK ALSO, HEADLIGHTS WILL SOMETIMES GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A DEFINITIVE RECALL WITHOUT MILEAGE LIMITATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103729

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

125,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VR6 AT CHECKERED FLAG BMW IN JUNE 2004, AND SINCE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS HORRIBLE. FIRST, THE AIR CONDITIONER( A/C) QUIT WORKING, THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE AC STARTED WORKING FOR A DAY, THEN BLEW A CHEMICAL CLOUD INTO THE VEHICLE, WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. MY EYES WERE BURNING (AS WELL AS MY FACE) FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. FINALLY, I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, AND THERE'S A SLOW COOLANT LEAK. MAY I SUGGEST THAT WE REMOVE ALL VW'S FROM AMERICA'S STREETS? THEY ARE A TOTAL MENACE TO ANYONE WHO OWNS THEM! I WENT TO CHECKERED FLAG VW, TO HAVE IT SERVICED, AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE 89 DOLLARS A PROBLEM, JUST TO LOOK, THEN THEY SAID I COULD TRADE IT FOR A NEW ONE. WHY WOULD I WANT A NEW ONE? I DON'T NEED TO TRADE AN OLD PROBLEM FOR A NEW, MORE EXPENSIVE ONE, I JUST WANT A RELIABLE WORK VEHICLE, AND I WISH I HAD STUCK TO MY GUNS AND BOUGHT ANOTHER PRELUDE. THIS THING WILL SEE THE CRUSHER WHEN I'M DONE PAYING IT OFF! FOUR PROBLEMS IN NOT SO MANY MONTHS. ONLY ANOTHER VW OWNER WOULD KNOW THAT KIND OF FRUSTRATION!*AK

NHTSA ID

10093585

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

NUMEROUS OCASSIONS MY PASSAT WILL "SHUT DOWN" WHILE DRIVING. LOSE ALL POWER, A/C, HEADLIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER POWER RELATED ITEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE BEING HIT, OR HITTING SOMEONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10072811

Incident

May 7, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AIR CONDITIONER AND HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER STAED THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDS REPLACING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10073359

Incident

May 10, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

SEAT BELTS NEVER RAVAL ALL THE WAY (MINOR ISSUE), AIR CONDITIONER GETS COLD ONLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE (ONCE AGAIN MINOR), AND NOW IT MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 5 AND 6. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH O2 SENSORS, THE COIL PACK (3 TIMES), IGNITION WIRES (TWICE), SPARK PLUGS (TWICE IN 4,000 MILES), AND THE ECU. STILL MISFIRES AFTER 3 SHOPS AND THE DEALER HAVING IT TWICE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT (KEN GARFF OREM VW/AUDI DEALERSHIP). THEY TOLD ME "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO", VW AMERICA SAID "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, THOSE DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENT FROM US". THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, BROKE SOME ENGINE COVERINGS, THAT I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TO HAVE THEM DECIDE TO REPLACE. THE NEXT ROUND I GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE HOOD WAS POPED A LITTLE BIT BUT CLOSED (I LIVE 2 MILES FROM THE DEALER). SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AND NOT TO MY SUPRISE, THEY LEFT A FEW ENGINE COMPONENTS UNBOLTED AND SITTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEY ALSO LEFT THEIR TOOLS AND THE BOLTS IN SMALL CASIM PARTS OF THE SHEET METAL. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS LOOKED AT AND THEY CONVIENIENTLY LEFT THE WIRES CUT BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. VW AMERICA ALL THROUGH THIS SAID ONLY THAT I CAN COMPLAIN AND THAT THEY WILL "NOTE THIS IN MY RECORD, BUT THATS ALL WE CAN DO." THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OFFERED TO HELP ME FIND A NEW DEALER OR TELL ME A TYPICAL WAY TO FIX A MISFIRE.

NHTSA ID

10070187

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

STALLING WITHOUT REASON. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10069159

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

LIGHTS, WIPERS AND HEATER FAN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE, FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION SWITCH PART NUMBER AS LISTED ON THE INVOICE (6NO-905-865) IS SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, TO PART NUMBER 357-905-865 THAT FAILS IN THE 1996 VW PASSAT & JETTA, A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME SYMPTOMS

NHTSA ID

10019185

Incident

Nov 20, 2002

Mileage

42,003 mi

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENLY NOT START. DLR DETERMINED THE IGNITION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. TS

NHTSA ID

8021547

Incident

May 1, 2002

1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 40,000 EXSPEIENCED SUDDEN ALTERNATOR FAILURE. NEW BATTERY PREVIOUSLY INSTALLED. NO EXPLANATION REGARDING FAILURE. REPLACEMENT COST EXCEEDED $700.*AK

NHTSA ID

762092

Incident

May 15, 2002

STARTED WITH AIRBAG LIGHT TURNING ON. A WEEK OR SO LATER THE PARKING BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TURNED ON BUT ONLY FOR THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING. WHILE THESE WERE ON, THE AC FAN, WIPERS, AND HEADLIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE. THESE LIGHTS NOW STAY ON MOST OF THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

750374

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

IGNITION SWITCH WORE OUT PREMATURELY. WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PORTIONS HAD TURNED OFF, AFFECTING CONSUMER VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

869601

Incident

Aug 31, 2000