2002 Volkswagen Passat Problems

WHILE DRIVING AT 75MPH OR IN CITY TRAFFIC I GET AN ALARM WARNING THAT MY DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPEN. TO SHUT THE LOUD WARNING OFF, I MUST OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR WHILE GOING 75MPH OR IN TRAFFIC. EITHER I OPEN THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING OR PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC, I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS!!! THIS HAPPENS DAILY THIS IS MY SECOND VW PASSAT THAT THE DOOR LATCH HAS FAILED AND WAS TOLD THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGENS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS OF HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO RESET THE LATCH ELECTRICAL SWITCHES THAT ARE DEFECTIVE!!!

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO INCIDENT TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED . I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY . I DROVE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT . I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM NO ENGINE CODES WHERE PRESENT . I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND THIS SAME SCENARIO PLAYED OUT AGAIN I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR ANY FURTHER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE AGAIN I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND AGAIN ALSO GOT REAR ENDED . HAD IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND THEY TO WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ENGINE CODES OR PROBLEMS . I HAD MY BOYFRIEND DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND IT STALLED ON HIM AT A RED LIGHT . CAR WOULDN'T RESTART SO HE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD . WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN FOR 2 HOURS IT RESTARTED AND DROVE FINE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODES PRESENT .. AFTER A MONTH OF HEADACHES WITH THE CAR WE DISCOVERS IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE SPEED SENSOR THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PART TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING THE CAR POWERLESS IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY I IMAGINE. *TR

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.

LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOW ENGINE MAKES A TICKING NOISE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T GET FIXED. FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAD A LAW SUIT.

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING RED. THE ABS MODULE SEEMS TO BE BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS THESE LIGHTS WHEN ITS MOVING AND STATIONARY

THE ABS BRAKES ARE FAULTY....THEY WORK RANDOMLY. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCH THIS PARTICULAR MODULAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FACTORY RECALL.....

To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this letter as a formal complaint regarding an authorized automobile dealer’s refusal to perform an open safety recall on my vehicle. Vehicle information: * Year/Make/Model: 2002 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T GLS * VIN: [XXX] I contacted Platinum Volkswagen, of Hicksville, New York, an authorized Volkswagen dealer, on January 7, 2026, to schedule a repair for an open safety recall applicable to my vehicle. I was advised by the service manager that the owner of the dealership refused to perform the recall repair solely based on the age of the vehicle. He advised me to request service at another authorized dealership. The service manager confirmed that the parts for the recall were available or could have been ordered and that the decision was based solely on the individual VW franchise owner's discretion not to service older vehicles. My understanding of federal motor vehicle safety law is that open safety recalls do not expire due to vehicle age, and that manufacturers and their authorized dealers are required to remedy such recalls at no cost to the owner. The dealer did not cite recall closure, lack of available parts, or any condition that would make the repair unsafe or infeasible. I am requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review this matter and determine whether the dealer’s refusal is consistent with federal safety recall requirements. Please let me know if additional documentation or information is required. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was letting my car run for a couple of minutes for the AC to cool down the car and I went into my house. When I came out about 2 minutes later, there was a large puddle of gas under the car in front of the right rear wheel and gas was running down the driveway all the way to the street. I immediately turned off the car and the gas stopped pouring out from under the car. I was lucky the car, my house or I did not go up in flames.

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.

WHILE DRIVING AT 75MPH OR IN CITY TRAFFIC I GET AN ALARM WARNING THAT MY DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPEN. TO SHUT THE LOUD WARNING OFF, I MUST OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR WHILE GOING 75MPH OR IN TRAFFIC. EITHER I OPEN THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING OR PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC, I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS!!! THIS HAPPENS DAILY THIS IS MY SECOND VW PASSAT THAT THE DOOR LATCH HAS FAILED AND WAS TOLD THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGENS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS OF HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO RESET THE LATCH ELECTRICAL SWITCHES THAT ARE DEFECTIVE!!!

HEADLIGHT PIGTAILS HAVE MELTED ,FUEL PUMP HAS GONE ,AND THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR PEICE FROM MY COOLANT PUMP HAS MELTED OFF DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM BAR HAS MALFUNCTIONED

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND PULLED OVER BECAUSE MY CAR HAD NO OPERATING TAIL LIGHTS (THE HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER FRONT LIGHTS WERE WORKING PROPERLY). TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON SOLVED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT FURTHER TESTING WHEN I RETURNED HOME REVEALED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ALWAYS TURNING ON WITH THE REST OF THE LIGHTS. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS AND THAT A FAILED HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS THE CULPRIT. REPLACING THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *TR

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BEING TOLD THE RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON HER VEHICLE WAS TO OUTDATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AT HER EXPENSE. *TGW THE CONSUMER REFERENCED PLENUM DRAIN SUNROOF DRAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER DAMAGED THE HEADLINER AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COLLECTS 1-2 INCHES OF WATER, EVERY TIME IT RAINED OR WHEN SHE WASHED THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CANNOT SEE WHEN I PUT THE HEATER ON. THE WINDSHIELD BECOMES COMPLETELY COVERED WITH STEAM. I HAVE ALMOST CRASHED 5 TIMES ALREADY. HELP! *TR

ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING BRAKES LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WITH NOISE

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO INCIDENT TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND MY CAR SHUTS OFF AND I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED . I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY . I DROVE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT . I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM NO ENGINE CODES WHERE PRESENT . I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND THIS SAME SCENARIO PLAYED OUT AGAIN I WASN'T DRIVING THE CAR ANY FURTHER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE AGAIN I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND AGAIN ALSO GOT REAR ENDED . HAD IT TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC AND THEY TO WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ENGINE CODES OR PROBLEMS . I HAD MY BOYFRIEND DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND IT STALLED ON HIM AT A RED LIGHT . CAR WOULDN'T RESTART SO HE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD . WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN FOR 2 HOURS IT RESTARTED AND DROVE FINE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODES PRESENT .. AFTER A MONTH OF HEADACHES WITH THE CAR WE DISCOVERS IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE SPEED SENSOR THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PART TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING THE CAR POWERLESS IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY I IMAGINE. *TR

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.

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.

HEADLIGHT PIGTAILS HAVE MELTED ,FUEL PUMP HAS GONE ,AND THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR PEICE FROM MY COOLANT PUMP HAS MELTED OFF DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM BAR HAS MALFUNCTIONED

BROKEN LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING - SPONTANEOUSLY BROKEN - CAR LEFT UNDRIVEN IN CLOSED PRIVATE GARAGE FOR ~2 WEEKS, FOUND AFTER ~2 WEEKS LISTING AT LEFT FRONT CORNER WITH LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKEN.

I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON, WHEN I FELT THE SEAT GET EXTREMELY HOT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT HEATER TO ZERO AND JUST LIFTED MY LEFT LEG OFF THE SEAT A LITTLE BIT UNTIL IT COOLED DOWN. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I FIRST SAW A BURN MARK ON THE LEFT, BACK SIDE OF MY COAT AND THEN A LINE OF BURN MARKS AND HOLES ON MY PASSENGER SEAT. I INVESTIGATED A LITTLE FURTHER, AND IT APPEARS THE SEAT HEATER BEGAN TO ALSO OVERHEAT/MELT THE BACK PART OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT ALONG THE SAME LINE THAT BURNED MY COAT AND LEG IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. *TR

2002 VW PASSAT DRIVERS SEAT WARMERS BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED MY LEG. *TR

DRIVERSIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. BURNT 2 SMALL HOLES THROUGH SEAT AND THE POCKET OF MY WIFE'S PANTS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 VW PASSAT WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON WHEN I NOTICED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY THIGH WAS VERY WARM. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY SEAT AND THERE WAS A BURN HOLE ON THE UPHOLSTERED SEAT. I HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES - ON LEVEL 3 (OR 4 MAX). I HAVE NOT TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER SINCE AND HAVE NOT ALLOWED A PASSENGER TO TURN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER. LUCKILY, I INCURRED NO INJURY AND MY CLOTHING WAS NOT BURNED, BUT I AM CONCERNED WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF SOMEONE HAD NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, HAD NOT BEEN WEARING THIN CLOTHING AT THE TIME, OR IF A CHILD HAD BEEN SITTING ON A MALFUNCTIONING SEAT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER WHO SAID BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATERS NEED TO BE REPLACED (THEY SAID THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO ON ITS WAY TO BURNING- ALTHOUGH IT HAD NOT COME THROUGH THE CLOTH YET). I HAVE NOT YET REACHED ANY RESOLUTION WITH VOLKWAGEN, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY A RECALL. *TR

HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN 2006, TOOK CAR TO RECOMMEND INSURANCE SHOP. THEY REPLACE 3 TIRES, A WEEK LATER A BUBBLE POP UP ON THE OTHER TIRE. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE OTHER TIRE. YEAR LATER , LESS THAN 10,000 MILES, THE TIRE OUTSIDE WALL HAD SMALL CRACK AND GOT LARGER OVER TIME. I REPLACE THE TWO TIRES. WHILE REMOVING THE TIRES TO THE REAR. THE OTHER TIRE HAD A LARGE CRACK ON THE INSIDE UNKNOWN TO ME IF I DIDN'T REMOVED IT. DIDN'T CHECK THE OTHER TIRE AS OF YET. THE 3 TIRES ARE ROAD HUGGERS RADIAL GT. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON 8-5-06 THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY. UPON INSPECTING THE TIRE, THE CONTACT NOTICED HOLES ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP ROTATED THE TIRES WHICH SEEMED TO HELP FOR A WHILE, BUT EVENTUALLY THE STEERING CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V154000 REGARDING THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

WHILE DRIVING INTO THE MALL PARKING LOT AT SPEED OF 20 MPH ALL AIRBAGS EXPLODED EXCEPT THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG AND MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED FROM ARM AND AIR INJURIES

AIR BAG FAULT MESSAGE WHEN STARTING MY CAR EVERYTIME.

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BEING TOLD THE RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON HER VEHICLE WAS TO OUTDATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AT HER EXPENSE. *TGW THE CONSUMER REFERENCED PLENUM DRAIN SUNROOF DRAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER DAMAGED THE HEADLINER AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE COLLECTS 1-2 INCHES OF WATER, EVERY TIME IT RAINED OR WHEN SHE WASHED THE VEHICLE. *JB

2002 VW PASSAT CAR JACK (OEM) FAILED UNDER NORMAL LIFTING OPERATION TO REMOVE TIRE. JACK ASSEMBLY TWISTED AND BENT DURING LIFTING PROCESS. IT THEN BECAME NECESSARY TO USE AN ALTERNATE JACK TO LIFT THE VEHICLE TO REMOVE THIS OEM JACK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. OWNER CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO ALERT MANUFACTURER OF THE SAFETY CONCERN AND TO REQUEST A REPLACEMENT JACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO I WAS CAUGHT IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM WITH MY 2002 PASSAT 1.8T. WATER FLOODED THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT DUE TO DRAINAGE HOLE LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY CLOGGED WITH LEAF DEBRIS. ALL POWER (STEERING, BRAKES, ETC.) WAS LOST AND CAR STALLED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. NOW THE CAR'S BRAKES ARE MALFUNCTIONING IN FREEZING WEATHER. THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR AT TIMES; OTHER TIMES THE PEDAL IS VERY HARD AND MUST BE STOMPED ON TO STOP THE CAR. I CANNOT USE THE CAR UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AS IT IS TOO DANGEROUS. VW DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM AS RESULTING FROM FREEZING WATER IN BRAKE BOOSTER. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO VW CUSTOMER CARE. THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE DEALER'S $1600 FEE TO REPLACE THE BOOSTER, BOOSTER LINES AND VACUUM PUMP. WHY HASN'T NHTSA FORCED VW TO ISSUE A RECALL AS I'VE DISCOVERED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS? VW'S STANCE ON THIS WAS THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD BE NOTICED IN THE DRIVEWAY OR AT LOW SPEEDS AND THEREFORE DOESN'T POSE A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AS TEMPERATURES CAN CHANGE QUICKLY DURING A JOURNEY. WHY HAS NHTSA BACKED DOWN IN THE FACE OF SUCH A LAME RESPONSE? I WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER VW CAR SINCE THEIR VAULTED SAFETY REPUTATION IS NOT DESERVED AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE STINKS. *TW

MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT ON IT'S OWN , RPM'S WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO INCREASE WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, AND THEN SUDDENLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP THE CAR WILL NOT REACT AT ALL FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN RAPIDLY SURGES FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS ALL IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CONTINUED COMPLAINT OF A BURNING SMELL FROM MY CENTRAL DASHBOARD VENT. ( THIS BURNING WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REMEDIED BY A RECENT RECALL. THE MECHANIC AND SERVICE ADVISOR WERE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS , BUT IT WAS DEEMED NORMAL AND WITHOUT DUPLICATION BY THE HEAD MECHANIC. THE SERVICE MANAGER LATER INVESTIGATED THIS AND DECIDED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY REMEDY THE SITUATION. THIS HAS NOT HELPED AND THE CAR CONTINUES TO REACT INCONSISTENTLY WITH SUDDEN DOWNSHIFTING WHILE ACCELERATING AND THEN SUDDEN RAPID ACCELERATION SURGES FORWARD WHICH SEEM VERY UNSAFE WHEN NEGOTIATING BUSY CITY STREETS. MY CAR HAS ONLY 49,000 MILES ON IT! *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE. HAD TO BUY A NEW SEATBELT FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN OUR 2002 VW PASSAT V6 WITH 70,040 MILES. OUR REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY THAT RECEIVES THE BUCKLE WAS NOT REGISTERING THE BUCKLE BEING FASTENED. WE REPLACED THE PART #B0858471KFCN TO RESTORE THE AIRBAG TO OPERATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT INFLATE WHILE DRIVING WITH THIS DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE NOTIFIED VOLKSWAGEN OF THE PROBLEM AND ASKED THEM TO COVER THE $356.35 REPAIR COST. *TR

THERE IS A MILD TO SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8 TURBO 4 DOOR SEDAN. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICAL AT THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES AND THEY HAVE YET TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE IS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FROM VOLKSWAGEN AT THEIR FACILITY ON AT LEAST TWO OCCATIONS AND HAVE PERFORMED A NUMBER OF TEST AND ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDING A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND DRAINING THE POWER STEARING FLUID AND REFILLING IT. TO THIS DAY THEY ARE STILL UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE IS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON THIS MATTER AND HAVE ASKED VOLKSWAGEN TO TAKE OVER. VOLKSWAGEN HAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AT LEAST MARCH 2003. HOWEVER THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE THEN EITHER.