2002 Volkswagen Passat Powertrain (other) Problems

WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR GETS FLOODED CAUSING THE WHOLE WIRING SYSTEM THROUGH THE CAR TO GET DAMAGE. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AND DIE AS YOUR DRIVING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN. WHEN ON HIGHWAY MOST. THE CAR WILL NOT START OR CRANK. I'VE HAD TO VACUUM THE FLOOR BOARDS AND TRUNK, SEARCH FOR DAMAGED WIRES, CHANGE RELAYS AS WELL AS CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AND FUEL PUMP.AS WELL AS SENSORS. TRYING TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION JERKS VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO GO INTO REVERSE AND MOST OF THE TIME IN SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WITHIN1OR 2 SECONDS.

NHTSA ID

11180192

Incident

Dec 15, 2018

Mileage

200,000 mi

I STARTED MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE DOWN AROUND CITY STREETS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I WAS GOING SPEED LIMIT(25-30 MPH) DURING A COOL NIGHT(60*F). I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED(CAR WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURE PRIOR(190*F; ACCORDING TO GAUGE); THIS GAUGE SPIKE WAS FOLLOWED BY A BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY CUT OFF MY ENGINE. MY CAR BECAME IMMOBILE AND I LOST BRAKE AND STEERING FUNCTION. HOWEVER, MY RADIO AND CAR LIGHTS STILL WORKED! LUCKILY THERE WAS NO SURROUNDING CARS AND MY PARKING BRAKE WAS FUNCTIONAL. I THEN TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OVER THE ENGINE ONCE MORE. IT DID START HOWEVER I AM WORRIED THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER LESS FORGIVING CIRCUMSTANCES.

NHTSA ID

10825523

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

116,470 mi

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE ABS MODULE IS BAD. 02 SENSORS ARE BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449964

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE REAR AXLE BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS COULD BE MADE UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID

10354159

Incident

Sep 4, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS A LEMON WHEN SHE PURCHASED IT IN 2002. WATER ENTERS THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUN ROOF WHENEVER IT RAINS. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN FIFTEEN TIMES, BUT IT HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 MILES. UPDATED 8/24/09 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE WATER LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE AFTER MARKET SPEAKER. THE HEADLIGHT TAIL LIGHT AND FOG LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE COOLANT BOTTLE HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK. THE HEAT IN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE HAD A BLOCKAGE. THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. BOTH OUTER CV BOOTS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A LARGE EVAP LEAK AT THE PURGE VALVE WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON. THE RIGHT SIDE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/26/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10278698

Incident

Jul 26, 2002

Mileage

500 mi

3 1/2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2002 VW PASSAT, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WENT MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A GRINDING NOISE AND THE COMPUTER ADVISED ME TO SHUT DOWN MY ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. I THOUGH MY OIL WAS LOW SINCE I MISSED MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND WAS PLANNING ON GETTING ONE DONE THAT WEEKEND AND ADDED MORE OIL TO MY CAR. THE PROBLEM NEVER WENT AWAY AND I HAD TO TOW MY CAR TO THE VW DEALER (HERITAGE VW). I WAS CHARGED $1178 FOR A DESLUDGE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS NO GOOD SINCE MY OIL CHANGED WAS OVERDUE. AFTER THE DESLUDGE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY TIMING WAS OFF AND WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PAY ANOTHER $1100 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I REMOVED MY CAR FROM THEIR SHOP BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR, THEIR ERROR. I WOULD LIKE VW TO PAY FOR THEIR FAULTY ENGINEERING OR POOR WORKMANSHIP, SINCE THE SLUDGE BUILDUP SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT AND NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE HAS THEY CLAIM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220859

Incident

Mar 4, 2008

Mileage

101,630 mi

HAD TO REPLACE BOTH CV BOOTS WITH LESS THAN 55,000 MILES ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199088

Incident

May 23, 2006

Mileage

52,000 mi

TOOK CAR (2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT) TO LOCAL DEALER FOR 65,000 MILE SERVICE AT WHICH TIME THEY FOUND A DETERIORATING AXLE PROBLEM. INFORMED BY DEALER THAT USUALLY THIS ISSUE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A DESIGN FLAW. CAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. IN TURN CONTACTED VOLKSWAGAN CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE CARE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I IN TURN WROTE A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF VOLKSWAGEN AND RECEIVED A PHONE CALL (I AM SURE HE DID NOT SEE IT)REINFORCING WHAT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME. IF THIS IN FACT IS A DESIGN ISSUE I DO NOT FEEL YOU SHOULD BE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AXLE'S @ 65,000 MILES SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 5,000 MILES PER MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. MILEAGE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173046

Incident

Oct 10, 2006

Mileage

65,253 mi

I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HE SAID THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH COMBI VALVE, VACUUM HOSE AND SECONDARY AIR PUMP WHICH COSTS A TOTAL OF >1200$ IN TOTAL. LUCKILY, I HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I HAVE TO PAY 700$. THE CAR IS 2002 VW PASSAT GLS (1.8) AND HAVE ONLY 40K ON IT. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR REPAIR AND THE PREVIOUS ONE WAS SOME KIND OF CV JOINT ISSUE. ALL THIS PROBLEMS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL PASSAT OWNERS AND I WONDER WHY THERE IS NOT EVEN A RECALL FOR THIS. MAY BE THEY KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND WANT PEOPLE TO GO AND PAY MONEY. ONE THING IS SURE. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND LAST VW. I DON'T RECOMMEND ANY ONE TO BUY VW, BUT BETTER BUY CHEAP JAPANESE CARS LIKE MITSUBHISHI WHICH RUNS FOR YEARS AND YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10168627

Incident

Sep 19, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SINCE SEPTEMBER, I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. TWICE, I'VE ALSO HAD "BRAKE FAULT" WARNINGS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT'S BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOUR TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 3 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CV JOINT WAS REPLACED YESTERDAY, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FIRST THING THIS MORNING, THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. I HAVE A FIFTH SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH BACHMAN VOLKSWAGEN ON MONDAY. I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT QUITE A FEW ABS PROBLEMS ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS, SO I DON'T SEEM TO BE ALONE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141110

Incident

Oct 3, 2005

Mileage

44,000 mi

FAILED OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER CV BOOTS.

NHTSA ID

10121245

Incident

Feb 6, 2005

Mileage

41,854 mi

MY 2002 PASSAT HAS HAD THE TURBO REPLACED TWICE, THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TWICE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER RECALLS. THURSDAY, 10/7/04 MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DROVE HOME (8 MILES, LOW SPEED). THE NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO A MEETING I NOTICED A STRONG PETROLEUM SMELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. SUNDAY 10/10/04 I NOTICED SPOTS ON THE SIDE OF MY CAR, AND AFTER CRAWLING UNDER IT I NOTICED THAT MY CV JOINT BOOT HAD SPLIT. THIS IS AFTER 67000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY PREMATURE AND THINK THAT VW SHOULD ABSORB THE COST FOR REPAIR. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH VW FOR THIS CORRECTION.

NHTSA ID

10095588

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

Mileage

66,810 mi

MY 2002 PASSAT HAS HAD THE TURBO REPLACED TWICE, THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TWICE, AND NUMEROUS OTHER RECALLS. THURSDAY, 10/7/04 MY CAR WAS AT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE FOR THE SECOND TIME. I DROVE HOME (8 MILES, LOW SPEED). THE NEXT MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO A MEETING I NOTICED A STRONG PETROLEUM SMELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRUCK AHEAD OF ME. SUNDAY 10/10/04 I NOTICED SPOTS ON THE SIDE OF MY CAR, AND AFTER CRAWLING UNDER IT I NOTICED THAT MY CV JOINT BOOT HAD SPLIT. THIS IS AFTER 67000 MILES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY PREMATURE AND THINK THAT VW SHOULD ABSORB THE COST FOR REPAIR. I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH VW FOR THIS CORRECTION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10095587

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

Mileage

66,810 mi

THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE PRIMARILY BETWEEN 40-45 MPH. THE OWNERS BACKROUND IS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND HAS MEASURED THE PROBLEM AND IDENTIFIED ISSUE TO BE DRIVELINE INBALANCE. DEALERS FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE WHILE DRIVING WITH OWNER THEN CLAIM "NON-VERIFIABILITY" TO A CONDITION WHICH OCCURS 100% OF THE TIME. OWNER HAS MEASURED SIMILAR VEHICLES FROM DEALER LOT AND HAS VERIFIED THAT THE CONDITION IS NOT INHERANT TO ALL LIKE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10007900

Incident

Oct 9, 2001

Mileage

1 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID

10002233

Incident

Dec 28, 2002

LACK OF INFORMATION PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS ON SPECIAL NATURE OF 4 MOTION PASSAT DRIVING DURING A SKID IN WINTER CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

758369

Incident

Jan 19, 2002

THIS WAS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED RIGHT IN MY PASSAT. WITH LESS THAN 800 MILES ON MY CAR, I DROVE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. WITHIN AN HOUR THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CV JOINT WAS "BAD". WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THERE NONCHALANCE. NO OFFER OF A LOANER CAR (THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE RENTAL OF A MUCH CHEAPER CAR), NO ATTEMPT TO RUSH DELIVERY ON THE NEEDED PART (AT THE EARLIEST, IT WILL ARRIVE 4 DAYS AFTER IT WAS ORDERED), NOT EVEN THE SIMPLIEST APOLOGY.

NHTSA ID

752891

Incident

Sep 29, 2001