2001 Volkswagen Passat Problems

TOOK CAR TO VW DEALER TO HAVE TIMING BELT REPLACED AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OPEN RECALLS AND THEY OFFERED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL #08V156. MANUFACTURER #26E5. THEY INSTALLED THE HEAT SHIELD BUT COULD NOT PERFORM SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. NOW VW WANTS TO BUY THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. IT'S A 2001 VW PASSAT WITH 25K MILES IN SHOWROOM SHAPE. WAS NEVER DRIVEN IN SNOW AND GARAGED IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. THEY OFFERED ME $1500 OUT OF WHICH I OWE $1300 FOR THE TIMING BELT. THEY SAID IT MAY NEED A ECU BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM VW BUT REFUSE TO INSTALL A USED ONE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE VW DEALER SINCE 12/28/2020. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT RECALLS NEVER EXPIRE.

FAULTY CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND CAUSED SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE TO VALVES, PISTONS, CAMSHAFT, CAM TIMING CHAIN. I WAS STATIONARY WAITING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN I HEARD A SUDDEN LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SPUTTER. THE CAR LOST MOST OF ITS POWER AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS CLEAR TO SEE THAT THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER HAD SELF DESTRUCTED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL.

SO I GOT REAR ENDED AT THE OTHER PARTY'S FAULT AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND THEY NEGLECTED TO STOP PUSHING ME INTO AN INTERSECTION FULL OF TRAFFIC...NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED..AND SINCE MY HEATER DOESN'T WORK BUT PASSENGER SEAT HEAT BURNED MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS BUTT...ANYONE HELP? I JUST WANT HEAT FOR MY BABIES..BELOW ZERO HERE :( THANK YOU!! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AT APPROX. 78 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SAYS STOP! BRAKE FAILURE! SEE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE. IN MY RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE, I'VE FOUND THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST ALL 1998-2001 VW PASSATS AND AUDI A-4S. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

My fuses keep blowing, this is leading to replacing the Brake switch which I believe was recalled. If it was replaced,it's not working.

ABS LIGHT ON AND BREAK LIGHT FLASHING

TOOK CAR TO VW DEALER TO HAVE TIMING BELT REPLACED AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL OPEN RECALLS AND THEY OFFERED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL #08V156. MANUFACTURER #26E5. THEY INSTALLED THE HEAT SHIELD BUT COULD NOT PERFORM SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL. NOW VW WANTS TO BUY THE CAR BACK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIX IT. IT'S A 2001 VW PASSAT WITH 25K MILES IN SHOWROOM SHAPE. WAS NEVER DRIVEN IN SNOW AND GARAGED IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. THEY OFFERED ME $1500 OUT OF WHICH I OWE $1300 FOR THE TIMING BELT. THEY SAID IT MAY NEED A ECU BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM VW BUT REFUSE TO INSTALL A USED ONE. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE VW DEALER SINCE 12/28/2020. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT RECALLS NEVER EXPIRE.

STARTED SMELLING GAS AND MILEAGE STARTED DROPPI G BAD AROUND THE END OF NOVEMBER. WE SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE GAS TANK AND FUEL LINES FOR 01 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT FOR THIS VIN # WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY SONS CAR. NOW ITS AT THE SHOP BECAUSE ITS GAS MILEAGE WENT WAY DOWN AND AND SMELLS LIKE GAS AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS DRIVING A BOMB BASICALLY. IT COULD BE AROUND $1000 TO FIX IT. NONE OF US HAVE THAT KIND OF $ AND HES STILL HAS $800 LEFT OWEING ON IT. HELP

01 VW PASSAT HEATER CORE. IT DOESN'T PUT OUT ENOUGH HEAT TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING UP OR DEFROSTING IT EITHER. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM IN THE COLDER MONTHS. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE I'M DRIVING AT TIMES. THERE HAS BEEN OCCASION WHERE I'VE DRIVEN OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE CLEARLY. I HAD THE HEATER CORE CLEANED THOROUGHLY AND BACK FLUSHED. STILL THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

VW PASSAT WINDSHIELD SHATTERS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS SEEMS TO BE A TREND THAT I DISCOVERED WHILE TALKING WITH OTHER VW OWNERS AND SEARCHING THE WEB....THIS HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHILE DRIVING. TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN AND MONEY OUT OF PEOPLES POCKETS!! *TR

SENDING THIS E-MAIL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ABS MODULE ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THEY ARE NO REASON WHY IT SHOULD BE OUT , I BELIEVE ITS A DEFECTIVE PART, SHOULD LAST LONGER OTHER PEOPLE I TALK WITH SAY THEY HAVE BEEN THRU THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE VOLKSWAGEN NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ABS MODULE. *TR

SAME TURN SIGNAL ISSUE AS 04V584000 RECALL - TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS WORKED PERIODICALLY. NOW THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER.. NHTSA RECALL 04V584000 FOR OTHER VW MODELS OF THIS YEAR, BUT NOT PASSAT. IS COMMON FOR THIS YEAR OF VW PASSAT ALSO PER MY INTERNET RESEARCH. VW PASSAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THIS RECALL. *TR

The driver's side airbag of my 2001 VW Passat spontaneously deployed while I drove on Hwy 494 in Woodbury MN. Sometime within 24 hours before the airbag deployed, the airbag fault light turned on in the car's dashboard display. Within 15 minutes before the incident, the car's automatic locking locks unlocked twice while I was driving the car. After the second time, I tried to lock the car doors by pressing the lock button on the driver's door console but the doors would not locked. At that time I noticed that the two interior lights in the back seat area were turned on. All the doors of the car were properly shut. When the airbags deployed I was driving on the smooth 1 year old concrete section of Hwy 494. I did not hit anything on the highway. After the deployment, I parked on the shoulder, shut off the engine and opened the passenger door to air out the car. After about 5 minutes, I got back in the car and drove home. The automatic locks worked again. The interior lights automatically turned off. The drive home was uneventful.

MY CAR IS A 2001 MODEL, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF IT HAS TAKATA AIRBAGS IN IT, EVEN IF IT ISN'T COVERED BY THE RECALL. DEALER DOESN'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAGS ARE TAKATA OR NOT. CAN YOU GIVE ME THIS INFORMATION?? I HOPE SO, OTHERWISE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT. THANKS [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CREAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 02/11/11 *BF UPDATED 05/02/11

FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURE AT APPROX. 35,000 MILES. THEN A LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AT 95,000 MILES. OLD CONTROL ARM IS AVAILABLE. *TR

VWOFA HAVE NOT TAKEN STEPS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE THIS FIRE HAZARD RECALL!

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT THAT WAS OUT OF ORDER. THE DRIVER OF THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND I ASSUMED SHE WAS GOING TO SUBSEQUENTLY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR, SO I INSTINCTIVELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR TO EASE FORWARD. UNFORTUNATELY, I MISCALCULATED AS THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. AS A RESULT OF MY ACTIONS, I REAR-ENDED THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS GOING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH. MY CAR SUSTAINED ABOUT 90% OF THE DAMAGE. MY COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE DEPLOYMENT OR LACK THEREOF OF THE AIRBAGS. THEY NEVER DEPLOYED. MAYBE I WAS WRONG TO ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD DEPLOY ON SUCH A LOW SPEED. PLEASE ADVISE AS THE IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT WAS RATHER STRONG. *TR

FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURE AT APPROX. 35,000 MILES. THEN A LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AT 95,000 MILES. OLD CONTROL ARM IS AVAILABLE. *TR

DEC 12TH 2008 THE INTERIOR OF MY PASST WAS FLOODED WITH WATER, VW SERVICE REMOVED 10 + GALLONS OF WATER WHICH ENTERED FROM AIR PLENUM /POLLEN FILTER HOSING(CABIN AREA). SERVICE INFORMED ME OF THE P9 RECALL FOR THE PASSATS MANUFACTURED NOV '00 TO DEC '05. BUT, VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP ME THEY SAID MY VIN # IS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE COMPUTERS ARE ON THE FLOOR OF CAR. AIR BAG IS IN DEFAULT DAMAGE FROM ELECTRICAL DAMAGE FROM WATER DAMAGE.. MY TRANS MOD IS WRECKED FROM THE WATER DAMAGE, JUST THE PART ALONE WILL COST $1,300. I HAVE LOST WORK AND CAN NOT DRIVE. THE MAKE OF CAR & YEAR IS IN RECALL SO WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED?! SOMEONE PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

ABS LIGHT ON AND BREAK LIGHT FLASHING

ABS / TRACTION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE NOT COVERED BY BOSCH OR VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2001 VW PASSAT FOR 7 YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE ISSUES INCLUDING WARPED ROTORS (FRONT AND BACK), CRACKED CHASSE, ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS. BEFORE HAVING THIS CAR, I HAD A TOYOTA FOR 8 YEARS AND IN THE 8 YEARS I HAD THE TOYOTA, I ONLY HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS CAR IS DISAPPOINTING AND EVERYONE I TALK TO WHO HAS A SIMILAR MODEL/YEAR SAYS THE SAME THING. I THINK THE 2001 VW PASSAT IS A LEMON. *TR

2001 PASSAT WAGON GLX WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. PASSENGER'S SEAT FULLY RECLINED UPON IMPACT, COMING TO REST ON AN INFANT CAR SEAT THAT WAS PROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE BACK SEAT. PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR NECK AND BACK INJURIES. INFANT WAS UNHARMED. SINCE INCIDENT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT HAS SPONTANEOUSLY FULLY RECLINED ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS.*AK

THE PASSAT HAS BEEN A WELL MAINTAINED FAMILY WAGON. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND HAS MOSTLY EASY HIGHWAY MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH MY DAUGHTER ON A RAINY EVENING. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK TO THE LEFT PAST CENTERED. SHE STOPPED THE DISABLED CAR ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND CALLED ME AND THE TOW TRUCK. WHEN I ARRIVED I CONFIRMED HER ANALYSIS. THE TOW DRIVER HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE VW DEALER CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND INDICATED THAT THE STEERING RACK HAD FAILED. THEY ALSO REPLACED UPPER ARMS AND THE RIGHT AXLE. I SPENT $1950 FOR THE REPAIR AND ANOTHER $200 FOR THE RACK, IF NEEDED FOR ANALYSIS BY NHTSA OR OTHERS. IF THIS FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT A DIFFERENT PLACE OR AT HIGHER SPEED IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT A RELATIVELY LOW SPEED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIE RODS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DUE TO LOOSE STEERING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH TEN PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,747.

AS MY SON GOT ON THE HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING AND JERKING TO THEN CATCH BACK UP TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED I WAS GOING. WHEN HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD STRUGGLE TO GO, 5 SECONDS LATER IT WOULD GET UP TO SPEED BUT THEN SLOW BACK DOWN. AT A STOPLIGHT THE CAR WOULD SHAKE ROUGHLY AND IDLE REALLY HIGH, THEN HE SAW THE FRONT OF THE HOOD START TO SMOKE AND I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TEETH ON THE GEARS OF THE TRANSMISSION HAD FRACTURED AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 8/19/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR BUT, THE CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 9/30/2015*JS

I WAS JUST ENTERING I-90 AT HARLEM AVE WHEN WITHOUT WARNING MY 2 MONTH OLD TIRE WENT FLAT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE EXPRESSWAY THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED. I CHANGED THE TIRE WITH MY SPARE AND SINCE THE TIRE WAS A REPLACEMENT ON A SET FROM NTB I DECIDED THAT I WOULD COMPLETELY REPLACE THE WHOLE SET AS I WAS COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY CONFIDENCE WITH NTB. THE TIRE DID NOT LOOK LIKE IT HAD ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR THE DAMAGE DONE BY RUNNING FLAT. I REPLACED THE TIRES 8/9/08 AND UPON RETURNING HOME FROM THE TIRE STORE READ A CONSUMER'S REPORT ALERT THAT SOME CHINESE MADE VALVE STEMS ARE FAILING. WHILE AT THIS POINT I DO NOT HAVE THE STEM IN QUESTION THE TIRE WAS OF CHINESE MANUFACTURE AND ALL SYMPTOMS I ENCOUNTERED ARE CONSISTENT WITH STEM FAILURE. *TR

TIRES EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL SEPARATION AFTER LESS THAN HALF OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME. TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD THIS SEPARATION. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEATED SEATS ON, SHE BEGAN TO FEEL EXTREMELY HOT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, SHE NOTICED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $500.00 - $600.00 TO REPLACE THE SEAT . NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

AIR CONDITIONING ISSUE: IN THE SUMMER OF 2006 MY AIR CONDITIONING WAS GOING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE FAN AND IT APPEARED TO ALL WORK. THE SUMMER OF 2007, (NOW) MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN WITH AC PROBLEMS THAT CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND AN ERROR CODE. WHEN THE AIR WENT OUT, THE LCD READINGS ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM LOOKED LIKE SCRAMBLED DIGITS. DOESN'T WORK, AND THE SHOP CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY ABS FAILURE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUE TO FLASH AND ALARM ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT. I UNDERSTAND BAS FAILURE IS COMMON ON THE CAR. *TR

THE GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK UNDER THE FLOOR MAT ON OUR 2001.5 VW PASSAT - WHILE DRIVING - WHEN I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING BUT I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SPEED AND STOP THE CAR BY BRAKING. I WILL BE TRIMMING THE FLOOR MAT SO THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT ON THE CAR GOT STUCK (OR LOCKED). NO ACCIDENT OR MISUSE OF THE EQUIPMENT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS REINSTALLING MY CHILD SEAT. NOW, I AM UNABLE TO INSTALL THE CHILD SEAT. IT IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND I RECOMMEND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE THE MANUFACTURER FIX IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT THAT I COULD FIND WHEN SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET. NOT SURE IF THEY HAVE OFFICIALLY BEEN REPORTED TO THE GOVERNMENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION. *TR

BRAKES PROBLEMS - LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, IF DRIVE 40 MPH AND UP, AND IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE FOR A BRIEF SECOND BEFORE IT DECELERATES (VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS). FOUR YEARS OLD: ABS LIGHTS ON AND IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKING. REPORTED TO VOLKSWAGEN, BUT NO CARES HAS TAKEN. SEAT BELTS PROBLEMS: TWO AND HALF YEARS OLD: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOESN'T RECOIL. *NM