2000 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY LEAVE THE ROADWAY, THE HOOD WAS RAISED AND FLAMES APPEARED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND REMAINED AT THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11230809

Incident

Jul 3, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND THE "EMISSIONS WORK" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED SOMETIMES DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11093885

Incident

Apr 18, 2018

Mileage

185,000 mi

IN APPROXIMATELY JULY OF 2014 MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STARTED EXPERIENCING ON AND OFF AGAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE FIRING. I HAD RECENTLY RETIRED AND WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR DAILY, AND SO I WAS UNABLE TO ASSOCIATE THE PROBLEM WITH ANY RECENT DRIVING EVENT. HOWEVER, ONE MORNING WHEN THE HESITATION WAS VERY PRONOUNCED I POPPED THE HOOD TO HAVE A LOOK. WATER WAS STANDING ALMOST LEVEL WITH THE TOP OF THE BATTERY IN THE AREA HOUSING THAT PART. I USED MY INDOOR/OUTDOOR VACUUM TO PUMP OUT AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I THOUGHT THE AREA WAS THOROUGHLY DRIED OUT I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. HE DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO DETERMINE THAT DRAINAGE HOLES ON BOTH SIDES UNDER THE HOOD WERE CLOGGED. HE WAS ABLE TO UNCLOG THE HOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE HOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS LOCATED BENEATH PARTS THAT HAVE TO BE MOVED FOR ACCESS. I RECALLED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS WHEN I WAS CERTAIN I WAS HEARING THE SOUND OF WATER SLOSHING AROUND UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD ASKED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AT TIME OF SERVICE FOR THE SOUND TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING: THERE WAS NOTHING TO EXPLAIN THE SOUND I WAS HEARING. I NOW BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS I'VE OWNED THE CAR, AND MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED MORE THAN JUST THE BATTERY AT ANY TIME. I THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN ONE REPORT OF THIS PROBLEM ON FILE.

NHTSA ID

10731607

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

ENGINE MOUNTS BROKE AND I REPLACED THEM ON MAY 10, 2014, THEN THEY BROKE AGAIN ON JULY 6, AND I AGAIN REPLACED THEM NOW THEY BROKE AGAIN TODAY AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE GAS STATION. WAS THERE ANY TYPE OF RECALL RELATIVE TO THE MOUNTS OF THE ENGINE IN THIS MODEL WHICH IS THE 200 PASSAT WAGON WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE WINDOWS ALSO KEEP STEAMING UP AND STRONG SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610494

Incident

May 10, 2012

Mileage

158,862 mi

I HAVE HAD MY 2000 VW PASSAT SINCE 2006 AND HAVE HAD ONLY REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR UNITL ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. I WAS DRIVING ON 95 IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FL MOVING AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND PUSHING BRAKES TOOK ALL I HAD TO TRY AND SAFELY STEER AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP CROSSING OVER 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE BREAK-DOWN LANE. ONCE I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. ASIDE FROM THE ENGINE, STEERING AND BRAKES ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS WERE OR AT LEAST SEEMED TO STILL BE WORKING (IE: DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, WINDOWS) THE VEHICLE DID THIS 4 MORE TIMES WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST EXIT AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. I TESTED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY ALL WERE IN WORKING ORDER AND THE NEXT SET OF SYMPTOMS OCCURRED A WEEK LATER. I WAS TRYING TO UNLOCK THE CAR WITH THE REMOTE AND THERE WAS NOT CONNECTION BEING MADE BETWEEN THE KEY AND THE CAR, I MANUALLY UNLOCKED THE DOORS AND PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE ENGINE DIDNT START OR EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WERE ON AS WELL AS THE RADIO, HOWEVER, I HAD LOST THE POWER WINDOWS, LOCKS, TRUNK, GAS LID AND ALL INTERIOR LIGHT FUNCTIONS. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE BEING LOOKED AT AND HOPE TO GIVE AN UPDATE WHEN I FIND OUT THE ISSUE. UPDATED 12/1/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10592205

Incident

May 4, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

A RAINY NIGHT, 10:30 PM., ON THE FREEWAY RETURNING HOME FROM A SYMPHONY CONCERT, THE ENGINE SIMPLY QUIT. I, HUSBAND/DRIVER, TRIED THREE TIME TO RESTART IT BEFORE YELLING TO MY WIFE TO TURN ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS WHICH SHE DID. AS WE SLOWED, I REMEMBER SEEING ALL ICONS ON DASH BLINKING. BOTH OF US WERE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND DO NOT REMEMBER BEING HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES SUSTAINED: A CONTUSION AND MINOR WHIPLASH BY HUSBAND; FRACTURED C-7 AND T-1 VERTEBRATES AND CONCUSSION BY MY WIFE. SHE HAS BEEN IN A NECK-TO-WAIST BRACE FROM NOV. 10, 2013 UNTIL PRESENT. WE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR PASSAT SCRUPULOUSLY ACCORDING TO VW STANDARDS AT THEIR SERVICE CENTERS BY THEIR TRAINED MECHANICS. ONE MONTH EARLIER WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT SOMEPLACE. TWICE HAD TO WAIT FOR AAA TOWING. AAA ABLE TO START IT RIGHT UP AS THOUGH NOTHING WAS WRONG. VW RAN "FAULT CODES" BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM.WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AT VW'S SUGGESTION. SOMETHING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG WITH OUR CAR INSPITE OF OUR RESPONSIBLE MAINTENANCE. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. WE WISH TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER CASES LIKE OURS. AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566419

Incident

Nov 9, 2013

Mileage

137,700 mi

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS 00 VW PASSAT . THIS CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT RUNNING AND DRIVING CAR. I BOUGHT IT IN FEB 10 2012 . ON SEPT 17 2012 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR TO MY SONS FOOTBALL GAME WITH MY MOTHER IN LAW. SHE WAS GOING ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN IT SHUTTERED AND SHUT OFF . SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED AND WHEN SHE OPENED THE CAR DOOR THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD SHE WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR AND HELPED HER MOTHER OUT OF THE CAR. THE FLAMES WERE SPREADING SO FAST THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THE CAR. BY THE THE TIME THEY GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AWAY FROM THE CAR THE WHOLE CAR WAS ON FIRE. AND WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT BUT SOME MELTED THINGS IN THE TRUNK. I AM JUST HAPPY THEY MADE IT OUT OK BUT WHAT WORRIES ME IS THAT IT HAPPENED SO FAST AND THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR .I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT A ISOLATED INCIDENT WITH THIS 00 PASSAT. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES AND VIDEO OF THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME RESULTS. SO RIGHT NOW I AM AT A TOTAL LOSS THIS BEING A SECOND CAR I ONLY HAD LIABILITY INSURANCE ALL I CAN DO IS HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO SOMEONE ELSE AND IT SHOULD BE VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND WHO OWNS THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM..... *TR

NHTSA ID

10475910

Incident

Sep 17, 2012

Mileage

152,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE TURNED ON. MY CAR STARTS TO LOSE POWER. THERE WAS A MISFIRE AT #2 CYLINDER ACCORDING TO THE AUTO MECHANIC.. IN A STOPPED POSITION OR WHEN I TURN CAR OFF, I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. HAD NEW COIL INSTALLED AND DID A ROAD TEST. THE CAR WAS STILL MISFIRING. CHECKED AGAIN, AND ALL IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN 01/2012, AGAIN, THERE WAS A MISFIRE AT THE #2 CYLINDER. THE BURNING SMELL RETURNED. I HAD THAT REPAIRED. IN 05/2012, AGAIN, THERE WAS A MISFIRE AT THE #3 CYLINDER. THE BURNING SMELL RETURNED. I HAD THAT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461394

Incident

Aug 20, 2010

Mileage

13,430 mi

WHEN ACCELERATION AND ENGAGING PASSING MODE, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN PEDAL RELEASED. VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL SPEED AND BRAKE. HAVE DONE INTERNET SEARCH ON PROBLEM AND FIND IT FAIRLY COMMON WITH VW PASSAT AND CERTAIN AUDI MODELS THAT USE SAME THROTTLE BODY. THIS DEVICE APPARENTLY REQUIRES REGULAR SERVICING TO AVOID STICKING PROBLEM. THERE IS NO DOUBT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND IN MY OWN INSTANCE, COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO A HIGHSPEED ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED BY ME AND WENT THROUGH MD MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION IN DECEMBER, 2011. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449953

Incident

Feb 25, 2012

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE HEATER CORE STARTED TO LEAK AND MY WINDOWS FOGGED UP WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR CRASH BECAUSE I LOST MY VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442436

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

171,000 mi

2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE THAT DIE UNEXPECTEDLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE MAKING TURNS ACROSS HIGHWAYS AND ENTERING FREEWAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE STALLING CONTINUED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10406376

Incident

Jan 27, 2006

IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS MY 2000 VW PASSAT HAS A BURNING SMELL LIKE A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AFTER DRIVING A BIT (I'VE NOTICED THIS PARTICULARLY WHEN THE HEATER IS ON), HAS HESITATED AND JUMPED WHEN I'VE TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS AND ACCELERATE, AND A WHILE AGO THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS GOING ON WHEN THIS HESITATION OCCURRED; ALTHOUGH THIS LIGHT HASN'T COME ON IN THE SAME SITUATION LATELY, AND THE HESITATION ITSELF DOESN'T SEEM TO BE OCCURRING AS MUCH AS BEFORE. AT ANY RATE, I STILL GET THE BURNING SMELL AND RECENTLY READ THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS VERY MAKE AND MODEL BY NHTSA FOR SAID PROBLEMS. MY MECHANIC HAS BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT PERHAPS HE DOESN'T KNOW OF THIS INVESTIGATION. WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10379741

Incident

Jun 2, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF (COMPUTER FAILURE?). MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS DRIVING, HAD TO USE BOTH FEET, PRESSING DOWN AS HARD AS HE COULD, TO STOP THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US AND WE WERE FAR ENOUGH BACK THAT WE DID NOT ACCELERATE INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE SOUND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER 15-30 SECONDS AND WE DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT BUT WE HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN ADDITION, THE ABS COMPUTER MODULE HAS ALSO FAILED, THOUGH WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY INCIDENTS RELATED TO THAT FAILURE AS THE BRAKES ARE OTHERWISE FINE.

NHTSA ID

10370158

Incident

Dec 5, 2010

Mileage

140,000 mi

2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353313

Incident

Aug 31, 2010

Mileage

100,300 mi

2000 PASSAT WAGON 1.8 CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED - ITS WAS NOT RUNNING AND WAS PARKED FOR 20 MIN THEN FIRE STARTED UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243059

Incident

Sep 9, 2008

Mileage

127,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 VW PASSAT WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO ENGINE. THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN TO HAVE SERIOUS SLUDGING ISSUES. THIS WAS UNKNOWN TO ME. TWO MONTHS AGO MY OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIT UP. I COULD NOT FIND ANY OIL PRESSURE ISSUES SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 45 MILES AWAY. THEY "INSPECTED" THE CAR AND INFORMED ME THE ENGINE WAS SLUDGED UP. APPARENTLY VW HAS A WARRANTY REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT ONLY IF YOU CAN PRODUCE EVERY RECEIPT OF EVERY OIL CHANGE THE VEHICLE HAS EVER HAD FROM THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED FROM VW. PROBLEM: I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I CAN NOT PRODUCE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM I PURCHASE MY OIL AND FILTERS BY THE CASE TO LAST ME SEVERAL YEARS. I DO NOT HAVE THOSE RECEIPTS OF THOSE PURCHASES ANYMORE. I CHANGED THE OIL ACCORDING VW SPECIFICATIONS LOCATED IN THE MANUAL. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE VW DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OWNERS MANUAL TO STATE THAT SYNTHETIC OIL MUST BE USED INSTEAD OF REGULAR MOTOR OIL, BUT DID NOT INFORM ME OF THIS. VW WILL/HAS CONTACTED ME AS THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR REGARDING RECALLS BUT WOULD NOT INFORM ME OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE CHANGE THAT COULD DESTROY MY ENGINE. NOW VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER $4,000 TO PUT A NEW "OIL SLUDGING KIT" ON MY CAR TO COMPENSATE FOR A KNOWN DEFECT SIMPLY BECAUSE I CAN NOT PRODUCE RECORDS TO SHOW THAT I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY THREE MONTHS AND THAT I USED SYNTHETIC OILS INSTEAD OF REGULAR OIL AS THE OWNER MANUAL STATES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233212

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

87,000 mi

2000 PASSAT -OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND A BIG STOP LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR ANYTHING WRONG. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WAITED ABOUT 1 HOUR THEN DROVE 1 MILE HOME. NEXT DAY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS TOLD BY VW MECHANIC HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL ME BUT MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS YEAR. WANTED $9500 TO REPLACE ENGINE (ONLY 52K MILES) I STILL OWED $7500 ON THE CAR. REPLACED ENGINE AT ANOTHER GARAGE FOR $5400 THEN HAD TO REPLACE TURBO FOR $2000. OIL IS NOW LEAKING AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CALLED VW. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IF I COULD PRODUCE EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT. THE GARAGE WHERE I GOT MY OIL CHANGED ONLY KEEPS RECORDS IN THE COMPUTER FOR 6 MONTHS THEN THEY ARE PUT IN BOXES IN STORAGE. VW BASICALLY SAID "TOO BAD". I HAVE HAD 2 JETTAS AND NOW THIS PASSAT. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTAS. IF THEY HAVE "KNOWN PROBLEMS" WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLS? VW COULD NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232790

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

52,000 mi

2000 PASSAT AUTO TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO CATCH ON FIRE NEAR ENGINE AND WHERE EXHAUST MEET. MY SON AND A FRIEND BOTH 20YRS OLD WERE DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I THANK GOD IT DID NOT END TRAGICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231920

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

104,413 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE FRONT END MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER SMELL AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 05/28/08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10225717

Incident

Apr 25, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

BOUGHT A VW PASSAT USED FROM PRIVATE DEALER~I OWNED THE CAR FOR EXACTLY 1 YEAR, TURBO FAILED ~ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE OWNING VEHICLE. CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE ISSUES FROM PREVIOUS OWNERS. JUST PAID FOR TURBO AND TWO OIL LINES TO BE REPLACED. VW OF AMERICA STATED THEY WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY ~ NEVER HEARD FROM THEM, I KEEP CALLING ~ CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE DAY ONE ~ NO ONE WANTS TO HELP ME ON THIS QUEST TO SEEK ACTION. I OWE 11,000.00 MORE ON THE VEHICLE CAR WAS SMOKING SEVERELY ~THOUGHT IT WAS AN UNDERCARRIAGE~BUT IT IS NEAR THE TURBO LINE SO IT COULD BE MISTAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204206

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

Mileage

78 mi

I HAVE HAD MY 2000 VW PASSAT FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT! I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS SINCE A MONTH OR SO AFTER I BOUGHT MY CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, TEST DROVE THE CAR, HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY A MECHANIC, AND I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR JUST BEFORE MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL THINKING I MADE A WONDERFUL CHOICE, AND I HAD TO REPLACE A NEW RIGHT SIDE BOOT JUST AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ABS/AIRBAG KEPT COMING ON AND BEEPING AT ME, AND I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE NEW BRAIN TO THE CAR OVER $1500. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT WAY BEFORE THE MILE WARRANTY, OIL LEAKS WHICH RUINED SOME WIRES, NEW SHOCKS/SHOCK ABSORBERS, NOW THE WINDOW WILL GO PART WAY DOWN, BUT WILL NO LONGER GO UP... AND MY HEADLIGHTS ARE FOGGED UP WHICH I HAVE NOTICED ON ALL OTHER 2000 PASSATS...! MANY THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I AM SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE CAR. I DO NOT RECOMMEND A VW TO ANYONE! I AM GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AND HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY SAVINGS ON THIS PIECE OF JUNK. I THINK AFTER FIXING A PART OF THE CAR THAT IT SHOULD RUN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. SINCE I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS CAR I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET A RELIABLE CAR. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH VW AND THE RECALLS! AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10198356

Incident

Jul 15, 2007

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE PURCHASING OF CAR ~ ELECTRA AUTO SALES WAS AWARE OF THIS AND NOTED THIS WAS THEIR RECORDS THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN ME THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY ENGINE SYSTEM. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO ALMOST BEING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE CAR STALLING AND ROUGH IDLIING ~ PAUL VARGAS OWNER OF ELECTRA AUTO SALES HAS NOT RETURNED ANY CALLED BACK . AK

NHTSA ID

10190269

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IT WAS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON, AND WHEN SHE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE AIR PUMP AND FUSE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE RISK INVOLVED SINCE THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,971 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75200. *AK

NHTSA ID

10188849

Incident

Jul 9, 2004

Mileage

51,971 mi

PURCHASED MY 2000 PASSAT IN 2003, HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING ON THE CAR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTROL ARMS, O2 SENSORS, TWICE, BELTS, STEREO DIDN'T TURN ON, ALL NEW HOSES RIGHT AWAY, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, AND NOW TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE ABS LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. MY HUSBAND HAS A 2000 AUDI A4, VIRTUALLY THE SAME CAR, AND HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE SAME THINGS. THE ABS SEEMED TO WORK FINE, BUT THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE $1800 TO FIX IT. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER, (BOSCH OR VOLKSWAGEN, SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE AUGUST 2006 BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX IT! I AM COLLEGE STUDENT. HELP!

NHTSA ID

10186383

Incident

Aug 10, 2006

Mileage

82,500 mi

TURBO STARTED SUCKING UP OIL, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185147

Incident

Feb 16, 2007