2002 Volkswagen Passat Visibility Problems

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 CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO BEING TOLD THE RECALL TO REPAIR THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT ON HER VEHICLE WAS TO OUTDATED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AT HER EXPENSE.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

NHTSA ID

10638946

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

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

NHTSA ID

10447359

Incident

Feb 8, 2005

Mileage

68,000 mi

2002 VW PASSAT PLASTIC LENS COVER OVER THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE SO FILMY, CLOUDY CAN HARDLY SEE AT NIGHT..THE LENS COVERS HAVE BEEN CLOUDY FOR YEARS, I NOTICE LOTS OF CARS WITH CLOUDY LENS COVER NOT JUST VW...SHOULD BE SAFETY RECALL..... DO WE WAIT LIKE WE DID ON NO DOC LOANS UNTIL WE ADMIT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.........NO EXACT INCIDENT BUT I'M SURE THEY HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410358

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON MY PASSAT HAVE BECOME "CLOUDED" OVER TIME RESULTING IN REDUCED BRIGHTNESS FROM THE HEADLAMPS AND CREATING AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AT NIGHT. IN DISCUSSING THE ISSUE WITH OTHER PASSAT OWNERS, IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE REDUCED BRIGHTNESS HAS BECOME A TRUE SAFETY HAZARD OVER TIME AS VISIBILITY AT NIGHT IS SEVERELY AFFECTED. THE LENS IS ACTUALLY OPAQUE AT THIS POINT. VOLKSWAGEN DENIES RESPONSIBILITY AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358541

Incident

Jun 5, 2007

Mileage

55,000 mi

WATER LEAKAGE FROM SUNROOF TO FLOOR BOARDS. THE SUNROOF HAS DRAINAGE TUBES, THAT CAN AND WILL BECOME CLOGGED. WATER ON FLOORBOARD CAN LEAD TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. TUBES HAD TO BE UNCLOGGED, LOCATED ON FRONT DOOR FRAMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300174

Incident

Jul 28, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. FRAGMENTS OF GLASS FELL ALL OVER OF THE VEHICLE. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10296711

Incident

Dec 21, 2009

Mileage

95,000 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

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS GONE OUT ON MY 2002 VW PASSAT 4MOTION GLX. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE DRIVERS WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED DUE TO A CORRODED CABLE IN THE ASSEMBLY. THE MOST RECENT JUST HAPPENED TO THE REAR PASSENGER REGULATOR, BUT THIS TIME THE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY THAT HOLDS THE GLASS WINDOW BROKE AND AND THE WINDOW FELL DOWN IN TRAFFIC. I AM VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED AND HAVE FIXED BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ON MY OWN TIME, AT MY OWN EXPENSE. JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE IS EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMATIC ISSUES. THANK YOU, DARIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221375

Incident

Mar 10, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DEFECTIVE SUNROOF. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK AND WHEN SHE STARTED DRIVING IT, THERE WAS A SLOSHING NOISE. SHE NOTICED THE ENTIRE REAR FLOORBOARD WAS FLOODED WITH WATER. *KB THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PROBLEM WAS INHERENT AND THERE WAS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF DESIGN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10217188

Incident

Dec 1, 2006

Mileage

52,107 mi

SUN ROOF CYCLES ON ITS OWN TO RAISE AND LOWER AFTTER END (IN THE MOON ROOF MODE). *JB

NHTSA ID

10199102

Incident

Sep 21, 2006

Mileage

48,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE SUNROOF THAT WENT UNDER THE FLOOR MAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AFFECTING THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLLED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED A NEW COMPUTER WAS NEEDED.

NHTSA ID

10172519

Incident

Sep 20, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD FLOODED. THEN WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH, NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE SUNROOF DRAINS HAD CLOGGED, CAUSING THE FLOODING AND A SHORT IN A MODULE IN THE WIRING SYSTEM. THE DEBRIS IN THE DRAINS WAS BLOWN OUT. UPDATED 6/19/2006 - THIS HAS CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10159087

Incident

Jun 6, 2006

Mileage

55,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A TERRIBLE SMELL WAS PRESENT AND WHITE GASES STARTED COMING FROM THE VENTS. IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. 04/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153345

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

57,700 mi

CAR IS 3 1/2 YEARS OLD. 52,500 MILES. (2500 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY) ENGINE COOLANT FLUSHED/REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES AS REQUIRED. HEATER CORE JUST FAILED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, BLOWING VAPOR INTO THE CABIN AND STEAMING UP THE WINDOWS TO THE POINT THE CAR WAS BARELY DRIVABLE. VW AMERICA WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR CITING THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I GUESS VW CONSIDERS A CAR THAT'S LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS. REPAIR COST IS CLOSE TO $1300. I WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN, AND I HAVE ALREADY DISSUADED A COLLEAGUE AT WORK FROM BUYING ONE AS HE WAS IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151654

Incident

Feb 26, 2006

Mileage

52,250 mi

THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FILTER AND CARPET ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WAS REPLACED. THE MLP LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW VACUUM HOSE. THE RADIO DID NOT WORK, STANDING WATER WAS FOUND IN THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT, THE POLLEN FILTER WAS CLOGGED AND THE AIR POLLEN FILTER WAS CRACKED DUE TO THE FACTORY, THE BACK DOOR LOCKS REFUSED TO OPEN AND COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT, A BUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE REVVED, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED AT RAPID SPEED ALL WHILE THE BRAKES WERE PUMPED WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB DOING OVER 50 MPH ALL WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKES UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED 20-30 YARDS INTO A FIELD DAMAGING TIRES, RIMS AND THE BUMPER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10105199

Incident

Mar 5, 2002

THERE IS A CRACK IN WINDSHIELD STARTING IN FRONT OF DRIVER BELOW WIPER BLADE, UP 5 INCHES AND OVER 3 FEET. THE CRACK APPEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN DIRECT SUN ON A HOT DAY IN A PARKING LOT POINTED AWAY FROM OTHER MOVING VEHICLES. THERE IS ONLY ONE SHARED OF GLASS MISSING FROM BEHIND THE WIPER THAT IS PERHAPS 1/4 INCH LONG AND 1/8 INCH DEEP. VW MAINTAINS THIS IS AN IMPACT POINT AS DETERMINED BY RUNNING A BALLPOINT PEN ALONG THE CRACK. MY POSITION IS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. THE HEAT AND EXPANSION CAUSED THE CRACK. IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE IMPACT RELATED, A TINY STONE WOULD HAVE TO HIT BEHIND THE WIPER FROM DIRECTLY OVERHEAD. THE LAWS OF PHYSICS RULES OUT THAT AN OBJECT WITH SO LITTLE MASS COULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH ENERGY TO CAUSE THIS MUCH DAMAGE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10065612

Incident

Jul 12, 2002

Mileage

4,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AND IMPLODED FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE WINDOW AS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE SERVICE DEALER SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10064252

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

AUTOMOBILE REQUIRES SPECIAL WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH DEALERS. THESE ARE CURRENTLY ON "NATIONAL BACKORDER" WITH NO TIME TO FULFILL. WIPERS ARE GENERALLY OF POOR QUALITY ANYWAY AND THUS THE NEED TO REPLACE TO MAINTAIN VISIBILITY IS IMPERATIVE. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054441

Incident

Jan 18, 2004

Mileage

5,000 mi

FOUR IGNITION COILS DEFECTIVE - REPLACED DEFECTIVE IGNITION - KEY STUCK IN CAR FOR OVER NINE DAYS DEFECTIVE STEREO - REPLACED TWICE TO DATE DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL - WINDOWS AND LOCKS GO UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING, GAS CAP POPS OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY COMPUTER PROBLEM - COMPUTER BLACKS OUT AT TIMES DEFECTIVE WHEEL BEARING - REPLACED AT 17,952 MILES DEFECTIVE MOTOR BLOWER - REPLACED DEFECTIVE REAR WHEEL LINING - REPLACED

NHTSA ID

10070843

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

17,952 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS "BOUNCE"/"STUTTERS" ACROSS THE WIND SHIELD IN LIGHT TO MILD RAIN CAUSING UNSAFE VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WARRANTS WIPERS FOR PERIOD OF 12,000 MILES, DEALER WAS TOLD ABOUT THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT DOCUMENT MY COMPLAINT. THEY ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE OK. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045680

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

AUTOMATIC LOCK AND POWER WINDOW ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ARE INOPERATIVE. DEALER TOOK TWO ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. ON THE FIRST, THEY APPLIED SOME ELECTROLYTIC GREASE IN THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE ENOUGH. THE NEXT TIME THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR AND LOCK UNIT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10043660

Incident

Sep 5, 2003

Mileage

13,000 mi

WHENEVER YOU USE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER, SOME OF THE FLUID GETS INTO THE VENT AND YOU CAN SMELL IT IN THE CABIN AND EVEN SOMETIMES TASTE IT AS YOU ARE DRIVING. I BELIEVE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID IS TOXIC. I HAVE TWO LATE MODEL VOLKSWAGENS, THEY BOTH DO THIS EVERYTIME. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH ANY OTHER CAR I'VE DRIVEN BEFORE.

NHTSA ID

10013900

Incident

Apr 3, 2003

NAR 3-10-03 WITH THE CONSUMER VEHICLE HAVING LESS THAN 7000 MILES, MANY PROBLEMS OCCURRED, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS FROZE FROM THE INSIDE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT FLOODED WHEN IT RAINED OR SNOWED, ALSO THE CARPETS AND POLLEN FILTER WERE DAMAGED DUE TO THE FLOOD. THE CONSUMERS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND SUGGESTED THAT A FULL REFUND BE GIVEN OR HAVE VOLVO TO GIVE THEM A NEW 2003 PASSAT, EQUALLY EQUIPPED AS THE 2002 AT THE SAME PURCHASE PRICE. *CB *JB

NHTSA ID

10011776

Incident

Dec 1, 2002

Mileage

7,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DEALER INDICATED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE WEATHER.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009260

Incident

Feb 22, 2003

Mileage

13,475 mi

CONSUMER STATED WHEN DEFROSTING FRONT WINDSHIELD, THE DEFROSTER WAS BLOWING AIR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10003800

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

Mileage

4,000 mi