2001 Volkswagen Passat Visibility Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10352219

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10286229

Incident

Oct 4, 2009

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING REAR VIEW MIRROR ON MY 2001 VW PASSAT. IT IS A DONNELLY MIRROR, PART 3BO857511E (ALSO HAS THE NUMBER 4231909 ON IT). THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUID SUDDENLY CREATED A BUBBLE AND LEAKED WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THESE MIRRORS WERE USED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF CARS AND HAVE ROUTINELY FAILED AND MAY CONTAIN MERCURY AND OTHER VERY TOXIC SUBSTANCES. THIS PRESENTS A DEFINITIVE SAFETY HAZARD AS ONE DOES NOT EXPECT THEIR REAR VIEW MIRROR TO FAIL, ABSENT BEING STRUCK AND BROKEN, AND TO POSSIBLY LEAK TOXIC PARTICLES/FLUID INTO THE CAR OR THE AIR OF THE CAR. ALSO, ONE CAN'T SAFELY DRIVE WITHOUT THE MIRROR AND THEY OFTEN COST HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE (MINE WAS $227.30) AND MUST BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY IF THE HEALTH HAZARDS ARE TO BE MINIMIZED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279383

Incident

Aug 3, 2009

Mileage

53,287 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT. THE HEADLIGHT LENSES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR HAVE CLOUDED SO MUCH THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BARELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER PASSAT OWNERS FROM THE SIMILAR YEARS AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHT LENSES, AND OFFER TO REPLACE THEM FOR FREE. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOT SEEING THE ROAD WELL AT NIGHT. THE DATE BELOW REFLECTS WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE CLOUDING IN THE LENSES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259576

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

HEATER CORE FAILED. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED REGULAR ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECS. THE COST IS $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE PART. IT FAILED ON A VERY COLD NIGHT TRAVELING THROUGH A WINTER STORM. TRY DRIVING A CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE WITH NO HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS. WRECKED DUE TO THE INABILITY TO SEE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211253

Incident

Dec 8, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 2 MPH, SCALDING HOT RADIATOR FLUID SUDDENLY SPEWED FROM THE VENTS AND ONTO THE CONTACT'S FEET. SHE IS PREGNANT AND STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN TO A DOCTOR TO CHECK IF THE RADIATOR FUMES HARMED THE UNBORN CHILD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPLETELY FAILED AS WELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE FAILED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VIN AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

NHTSA ID

10204355

Incident

Sep 13, 2007

Mileage

124,000 mi

HEATER CORE FAILED, CAUSING SUDDEN AND SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF VISIBILITY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. INTERIORS OF ALL WINDOWS WERE SEVERELY FOGGED WITH COOLANT MIST. I WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AWARE THAT VW HAS FREQUENTLY REPLACED THIS KNOWN DEFICIENT COMPONENT OUT OF WARRANTY, I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA THREE TIMES. I WAS CONSISTENTLY TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE NO HELP. COST OF HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT AT DEALERSHIP WAS $1600. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197318

Incident

Mar 13, 2007

Mileage

82,000 mi

INTERIOR LEFT FRONT FLOOR OF CAR FLOODED WITH WATER AFTER VERY HEAVY RAIN. THERE WAS AN INCH OF STANDING WATER SITTING ON THE VEHICLE'S CARPET. THIS IS THE 2ND INCIDENT IN 5 WEEKS. AFTER A SIMILAR HEAVY RAINFALL IN AUGUST THE INTERIOR LEFT FRONT AND REAR FLOOR WAS FLOODED. STANDING WATER WAS IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON-LINE THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN ROOF DRAINS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10169780

Incident

Sep 28, 2006

Mileage

68,698 mi

2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAS PARKED, LOCKED AND SEALED FOR PERIOD OF ONE WEEK. DURING THIS PERIOD, HEAVY RAINS FELL AND INTERIOR OF CAR WAS FLOODED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS ON 10/21. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DEFECTIVE SUNROOF FRAME AS SOURCE OF LEAK CAUSING DAMAGE TO "TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND AIRBAG MODULE." MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE AVOIDING AND OR CONCEALING INFORMATION ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MONETARY DAMAGES AND VEHICLE'S DEFECT. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS AIRBAG MODULE DAMAGE AND ANY OTHER COMPONENTS OF THIS SYSTEM THAT COULD BE DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE ALSO. PLEASE ADVISE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10142286

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

18,050 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS A 2001.5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS FOGGING. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND 50 DEGREES OR LESS. THE FOG WILL APPEAR ON THE WINDOW AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. SOMETIMES THE FOG WILL APPEAR AFTER THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. IT WILL OCCUR WITHER OR NOT THE HEATER OR FAN TURNED ON. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE LESS SEVERE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS HEATED . THE ONLY WAY THE FOG WILL GO AWAY IS IF THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON HIGH. SHE HAS ALREADY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, EACH TIME THEY DID A PRESSURE CHECK TO THE HEATER CORE , BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. SHE IS TAKING IT BACK AGAIN TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR LEAKING. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE FOG PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140719

Incident

Sep 1, 2005

Mileage

99,387 mi

BAD HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER 48,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE UNWILLING TO COVER REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116247

Incident

Mar 28, 2005

Mileage

48,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED OUTSIDE OF PENDELTON OREGON WHEN THE WIND BLEW MY SUN ROOF OFF OF MY CAR. THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED, AND THE CAR JUST ERUPTED AND THE ROOF WAS LITERALLY PEELED OFF THE TOP OF MY CAR. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEM, AND IT SEEMS VOLKSWAGEN IS USING A PLASTIC CALIPER SYSTEM TO CONNECT THE SUNROOF GLASS ASSEMBLY TO THE DRIVE MECHANICS ON THE MOTOR DRIVEN CARRAIGE. THE PLASTIC FATIGUED BECAUSE OF USE AND VOLKSWAGEN COULD CARE LESS. THE NEW ASSEMBLAGE IS $2200 AND THERE IS NO SECOND CHOICE, PURCHASE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY OR GO WITHOUT A SUNROOF..... AFTER CALLING VOLKSWAGEN AND GETTING NOWHERE I AM PROCEEDING TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT IN OREGON FOR PURSIUT OF MY MONEY BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10092980

Incident

Sep 14, 2004

Mileage

44,779 mi

SUNROOF AREA RATTLES / KLUNKS OCCASIONALLY OVER BUMPS. PAYED $69.95 FEE AND DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079097

Incident

Jun 9, 2004

Mileage

57,982 mi

FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6.5 MONTHS, THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON HAS SHATTERED. THE PREVIOUS TWO OCCURRENCES WERE REPORTED EARLIER. THIS TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND THE WINDOW WAS OPEN A FEW INCHES. UPON RETURNING TO MY CAR AFTER WORK AROUND NOON, I FOUND THE WINDOW SHATTERED AGAIN AND SHARDS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. AFTER THE PREVIOUS INCIDENT, THE VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A DEFECT IN THE CAR. HE FELT THAT OUTSIDE INFLUENCES CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THAT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ID

10072406

Incident

May 11, 2004

Mileage

27,500 mi

HEAT EXCHANGER (HEATER CORE) FAILURE AT 50004 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067844

Incident

Apr 21, 2004

Mileage

50,004 mi

REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE WITHIN A 5 MONTH PERIOD. THIS COMPLAINT IS FILED FOR THE MOST RECENT EVENT. THE FIRST EVENT OCCURRED ON 10/30/2003. THE FIRST TIME THE WINDOW SHATTERED IT WAS CLOSED. THE SECOND TIME IT SHATTERED,THE WINDOW WAS OPEN A FEW INCHES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10065586

Incident

Mar 26, 2004

Mileage

26,788 mi

HEATER CORE FAILED 2.5 YEARS OLD. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046937

Incident

Nov 7, 2003

Mileage

62,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR GLASS EXPLODED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF GLASS PIECES. THE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. MUCH OF THE GLASS FELL IN, CAUSING MINOR CUTS TO THE PASSENGER. SOME OF THE GLASS FELL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE DEFECTS IN THE WINDOW (CRACKS, STARS, ETC.) AND NOTHING IMPACTED THE WINDOW TO CAUSE IT TO BREAK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10020895

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

Mileage

25,500 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ON RAINY DAYS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. A LADY HIT MY CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE COLLAPSING THAT SIDE ALONG THE DOORS AND SOME OF THE REAR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I PUT MY FEET ON ACCELERATOR FOR SPEED AND THE CAR REFUSES TO RESPOND. THE MORE I ACCELERATE THE SLOWER THE CAR GOES. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10010846

Incident

Nov 18, 2002

Mileage

5,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS OUT, DEALER REPLACED A BAD BULB, ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SHINING LOW, DEALER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT OF RANGE.*JB

NHTSA ID

566807

Incident

Jan 5, 2001

ELECTRONIC MIRROR TURNS COMPLETLY BLACK FROM DUSK TO DAWN WHEN AUTOS ARE FOLLOWING WITH HEADLAMPS ON. CAN CAUSE ACCIDENT AS NO VISIBILITY FROM MIRROR. VW ADVISED TO PUT TAPE ON SENSOR - 2002 MODEL CORRECTED WITH A SWITCH. SAME PROBLEM W/2001 JETTA. PLEASE HELP!*AK

NHTSA ID

762322

WHEN FRONT/LEFT DOOR WAS CLOSED, GLASS FOR THE WINDOW OF RIGHT/REAR DOOR SHATTERED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALERSHIP. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.*JB

NHTSA ID

898910

Incident

Nov 7, 2001

I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS DEFECT AS A HAZARD. MY NEW 2001.5 PASSAT WAGON HAS A PERCEPTIBLE DISTORTION, OR RIPPLING EFFECT, IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD; E.G., WHEN SEEING POLES, TREES, OR BUILDING SIDINGS WHILE MAKING A TURN, OR WHEN VIEWING PARKWAY EXIT SIGNS WHILE PASSING THEM. THERE'S AN ACCORDION EFFECT; VERTICAL OBJECTS INCHWORM; LETTERS EXPAND AND CONTRACT. JUST MOVING MY HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE BY A FEW INCHES CAN PRODUCE THIS EFFECT. I CAN'T SAY YET THAT IT'S HAZARDOUS BUT IT'S CERTAINLY DISTRACTING. MEANWHILE, I CAN'T GET THE DEALER TO EVEN SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND TELL ME IT'S MY IMAGINATION. WHEN POSTED TO PASSAT USERS GROUP FOLLOWING MESSAGES RESULTED:  (1) I'VE SEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THIS. TIME TO GET A NEW DEALER. YOU SHOULD GET NEW GLASS UNDER WARRANTY. (2) MY '99 WAS 5000 MILES NEW WHEN I REALIZED THE WINDSHIELD HAD A DISTORTION AND RIPPLE EFFECT. THEY REPLACED IT NO CHARGE, BUT THE SECOND ONE IS AS BAD AS THE FIRST ONE. (3) HAS ANYONE WITH A '99 B5 NOTICED DISTORTIONS IN THE FRONT AND REAR GLASS? I'VE HAD MY WINDSHIELD AND REAR GLASS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE NEW GLASS IS ALSO DISTORTED - ALTHOUGH NOT QUITE AS BAD AS THE ORIGINAL. (4) WHEN I RECENTLY HAD A GENUINE NEW VW WINDSCREEN INSTALLED AFTER DAMAGE I NOTICED AN OPTICAL DISTORTION RIGHT OF MY STRAIGHT AHEAD VISION. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL QUALITY CONTROL FROM A MAJOR MOTOR MANUFACTURER AND THEIR AUTHORIZED REPAIR DEALER. (5) THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. A WAVY, VERTICAL LINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER LOOKED AT MINE AND FOUND IT RIGHT AWAY, HE ALSO TOLD ME IT WAS NOTED ON SEVERAL NEW 2000'S ON THE LOT, AND THAT ANOTHER CUSTOMER HAS A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH IT. CHECK THE WINDSHIELD BY LOOKING OUT AT A STRAIGHT LINE, THE SIDE OF A BUILDING OR A POLE, AND MOVING YOUR EYES UP AND DOWN AS WELL AS RIGHT AND LEFT. VW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IM NOT HAVING THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEIR MESS MADE ON A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

750874

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTED A BLURRED VISION ON RIGHT SIDE OF GLASS, MAKING EVERYTHING DISTORTED. HORIZONTAL LINES LOOK CHOPPY AND GUARD RAILS LOOK WOBBLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED WINDSHIELD ON JULY 5TH AND HAD SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD ALSO HAS STRESS FRACTURES THAT LOOK LIKE STRANDS OF A COBWEB, DEALER STATES THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *SLC

NHTSA ID

893168

Incident

Jun 25, 2001

PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW AND NOTICED DISTORTION ON FRONT WINDSHIELD LATER THAT DAY. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH ONE THAT HAS EVEN MORE DISTORTIONS. I STRESSED STRONGLY TO EXAMINE PRIOR TO PUTTING IN AND THEY DIDN'T. AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING TO VW OF AMERICA THEY AGREED TO PUT IN WINDSHIELD #3 BUT CAN NOT PROMISE IT WON'T HAVE BAD DISTORTIONS. THEY SAY PASSAT WINDSHIELD ARE JUST THAT WAY. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH POOR QAULITY GLASS IN ANY PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. I'M ALSO DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY DON'T CARE. I POSTED ON VW BOARD AND RECEIVED MANY RESPONSES FROM OTHER PASSAT OWNERS WHO ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE USA. AT THIS POINT DON'T WANT MY CAR TORN APART FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PIECE OF GLASS. I COULD GET A GENERIC WINDSHIELD (HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT YET) BUT PREFER A VW WINDSHIELD FOR WARRANTY AND LOOKS WITHOUT VERTICAL DISTORTIONS CAUSING THINGS TO APPEAR WAVY WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID

749068