Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
MY SON WAS DRIVING (IN MOTION) ON HWY 17 IN MILLER COUNTY MO WITH SEAT HEATER ON SATURDAY NOV. 28, 2020. SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAD NOTICED WHEN I HAD SEAT HEATER ON PREVIOUSLY IT BECAME SO HOT AS TO BURN LEGS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. IT COULD HAVE BURNED MY CAR COMPLETELY. VERY DANGEROUS.
05/01/2019 CAR HAD A DEAD BATTERY---CHARGE OVER NIGHT STILL WOULD NOT START---HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AUTO SHOP--UPON ARRIVAL WITH KEY ON APPROX. 15 MIN DRIVE--SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING---DISCONNECTED BATTERY---DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER COMPLETELY MELTED--MECHANIC SAYS UNIT PULLING 30 AMPS--THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL--NOT SURE IF TOTALLY CORRECTED--DONOT WANT TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY--PLEASE ADVISE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BECOME OPERABLE EVEN WHEN THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED AN INTERIOR WATER LEAK AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT PROPERLY LATCH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE, AND VARIOUS OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SOFTWARE FAILURE, AND THE IGNITION COIL SPRINGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACE HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
WE WERE JUST LEAVING OUR FRIENDS HOUSE IT WAS APPROX. 6AM IN MORNING LITTLE COLD OUT SO I TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMERS WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE TOUCH TO WARM YOU UP ON THOSE COLD MORNINGS, ANYHOW ABOUT 4-5MINUTES AFTER SEAT WARMERS WERE TURNED ON PASSENGER SIDE WHERE I WAS SITTING GOT RATHER WARM AND THEN HOT AND THEN ACTUALLY START SMOKING AND FLAMES CAME OUT THERE WAS FIRE RIGHT UNDER MY BOTTOM. I FREAKED OUT JUMPED OUT OF SEAT ..I WAS YELLING FIRE FIRE FIRE YOU COULD SMELL PLASTIC BURNING AS IT WAS SMOKING AND BURNING.MY BOYFRIEND POURED WATER ON AND SMOTHERED OUT THE FIRE WITH HIS JACKET I'M A BIT LEARY OF THE CAR BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL ITS SAFE. I HAD MY BOYFRIEND UNPLUG HARNESS UNDER SEAT AND NOW MY AIR BAG WARNING DEFAULT LIGHT AND BELL STAY ON. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THAT VW PEOPLE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED THIS. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP.VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE.
ON SEPT 20 2013 MY WIFE SHOWED ME A SPRING THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT . IRONICALLY THE NEXT DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WONT GO OFF . ABOUT A MONTH LATER A 2ND SPRING APPEARED IN THE FLOORBOARD .CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION . VW REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS . *TR
WHEN I TURN MY HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE PAST LEVEL 1, THERE IS ONE SPOT ON THE SEAT THAT GETS PAINFULLY HOT. I USUALLY TURN THE HEAT OFF AT THAT POINT. TODAY I WAS SO COLD THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO TURN THE SEAT OFF, SO I PUT MY HAND BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY LEG. WHEN I TOOK MY HAND OUT, IT SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL ON THESE SEATS. I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT MAKE A CONCESSION SINCE IT IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. *TR
HEATED SEAT COILS OVERHEATED AND BURNT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE. 1 YEAR AFTER RECALL WAS DONE BY [XXX] VW BROCKTON MA, THEY TOLD ME THE HEATERS IN THE SEAT ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND TOLD ME TO CALL VW USA WITH MY PROBLEM, INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON WITH CLOTH HEATED SEATS. WHILE USING HEATED SEAT OPTION, FELT BURNING ON RIGHT LEG. FOUND SEAT HEATER HAD MELTED RIGHT BOLSTER OF SEAT CUSHION. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER IN MY 2003 VW PASSAT IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CIGARETTE BURN ON THE LEFT SEAT BOLSTER (I DO NOT SMOKE). THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IN THE CABIN. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS A SECOND BURN HOLE ABOUT A HALF INCH FROM THE FIRST HOLE. I HAVE STOPPED USING THE HEATER, BUT IT IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SUDDENLY FLEW OPEN. THE CONTACT INJURED HIS LEG WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 146,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE WAS ACTIVATED. A HIGH VOLTAGE OF HEAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AND SMOKE SUDDENLY APPEARED. THE DRIVER DEACTIVATED THE HEATED SEAT CONTROL MODULE. HE BURNED HIS FINGER ON THE SEAT. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN M2 WAS REFERENCED. THE FREE REMEDY CONSISTED OF INSTALLING A REPAIR KIT FOR THE HEATED SEAT. THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2005; HOWEVER, IT WAS INSUFFICIENT AND DID NOT PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVERS SEAT SLID ALL THE WAY FORWARD IN ITS TRACKS AND THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY FLAT. SEAT INTEGRITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED IN THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *TR
WHILE OPENING MY TRUNK LID, THE PASSENGER SIDE HINGE BROKE. THE LID, DROPPED, DOWN AND I CAUGHT IT, WITH OUT HARM. BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HURT MY HAND OR HEAD. I CALLED THE DEALER TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART, HE INDICATED IT WAS VERY POPULAR. *TR
BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT APPEARS EVEN AFTER MULTIPLE BRAKE REPAIRS. DRIVER?S SIDE REAR UPPER BRAKE LIGHT REPLACED FOR 29TH TIME IN LESS THAN 2 YRS. MULTIPLE COOLANT LEAKS STILL PRESENT EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT. RADIO/AMPLIFIER NOT FUNCTIONING EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT (RADIO WAS ONLY USED TWICE IN VEHICLE?S LIFETIME). DIAGNOSTICS SHOW AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. REGULATOR PIN ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW KEEPS BREAKING (3RD REPLACEMENT SINCE 2003). ENGINE COVER BELOW CAR KEEPS FALLING OFF DUE TO RUSTED BOLTS. HOMELINK SYSTEM KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING. FUSES KEEP BLOWING OUT. DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS OUT (ODOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.). CCM MODULE KEEPS BREAKING DOWN. CAR NEEDS TO BE JUMPSTARTED WHEN NOT IN USE FOR OVER 48 HRS. CLIMATE CONTROL (A/C AND HEATER) WORKS ONLY SPORADICALLY. ALL REPAIRS PERFORMED BY VW DEALERSHIP, YET SAME ISSUES KEEP REAPPEARING JUST A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPAIRS. REPAIRS PERFORMED IN PAST 2 YEARS: ECU UNIT REPLACED, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED 3 TIMES, A/C COMPRESSOR UNIT REPLACED, ABS MODULE REPLACED, ALTERNATOR REPLACED, BRAKES REPLACED 3 TIMES. *TR
TURNED ON DRIVER SIDE HEATER TO LEVEL 3. FELT A BURNING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR APROX 30 SECONDS AFTER STARTING CAR. STOPPED CAR AND FOUND A SMALL HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT ON THE LEFT REAR SIDE. M2 RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN CHECKED AT THE DEALER. *TR
THE CAR SEAT HEATER (DRIVER'S SIDE) BURNED THROUGH THE FABRIC, LEAVING 1 INCH HOLE IN THE SEAT. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THIS HAPPENED WITH NORMAL USE OF THE HEATER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND FELT A TINGLING FEELING ON HER BACK. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMALL HOLES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT SENT THE RECEIPT FOR HER DAMAGED FUR COAT AND BLUE JEANS TO THE MANUFACTURER, BUT SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REIMBURSEMENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,949.
I'VE SPENT OVER $8000 TOWARDS VW DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE HORN, RADIO, HOMELINK, CLIMATE CONTROL (A/C AND HEAT) REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, HEATED SEATS, DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS, AND DEFROSTER FLAP. VW REPLACED ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT MODULE, BUT ONLY FIXED THE HORN. VW STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE EVEN AFTER I PAID FOR THEM TO FIX THE ABOVE PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE STILL UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS. I REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM VOLKSWAGEN FOR THE REPAIR ATTEMPTS AND RELATED EXPENSES. CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE: 127,000. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FAILS PROPER FUNCTION. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. SEAT BELTS AND SUN ROOF DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. ENGINE REPLACED; STEERING WHEELS - CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVERYTIME AN ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AND THEY CALIBRATED THE WHEELS. - PROBLEM CONTINUED - THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE TIRES TO BE DESTROYED IN A FEW KMS - LESS 20 000; WATER INFILTRATION - FOR NOW IT IS FIXED; TRUNK WAS HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE - PROBLEM FIXED. FRONT DOORS VIBRATED - THE RUBBER OF THE DOORS ARE BEING EXHIBITING SIGNS OF DAMAGE; THE FRONT GLASS ( WINDSCREEN ) ISN'T FROM THE SAME YEAR OF ALL THE OTHERS. *JB
DT: CONSUMER OWNED VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2003. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GO FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REACH SEAT CONTROLS, BUT LATER SHE FOUND THAT THEY WOULD NOT WORK ANYWAY. THE SEAT MOTORS WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE LAST TIME WAS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO. ON JULY 29, 2005 CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SEAT PUSHED CONSUMER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE. THEN VEHICLE STRUCK SOMETHING ON THE SIDE OF VEHICLE AND CAME TO A STOP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY MOVE SEAT BACKWARDS. CONSUMER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT PROBLEM. CONSUMER SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES, AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO WALK WITH CANE BECAUSE OF NECK INJURY. SUFFERED PAIN IN HEAD AND SHOULDERS.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *MR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ODOMETER READING. THE ECP LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY COME ON, THE ENGINE WOULD GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS ROUGH IDLING. *SC *JB
THIS IS PORTIONS OF A LETTER SENT TO THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT SECTION OF THE WWW.VW.COM WEBSITE ON JUNE 22, 2003. I AM WRITING TO REPORT A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PASSENGER SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS IN THE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLX ON A RAINY AFTERNOON, MY SIX YEAR OLD SON AND I GOT INTO THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. I PUT HIM INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND HE SECURED HIMSELF WITH THE SEAT BELT. I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND ENTERED, PUTTING THE UMBRELLA INTO THE FOOT WELL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WITH THE HANDLE RESTING ON THE FRONT SEAT EDGE. AS I STARTED THE CAR, WITHOUT MY NOTICING, THE UMBRELLA HANDLE FELL BETWEEN THE SEAT AND INSIDE DOOR, ACTIVATING THE LEVER TO RECLINE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK. MY SON YELLED SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEAT AND I TURNED TO SEE THE SEAT BACK LOWERING TOWARD HIS LEGS. HE COULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY FIND A WAY TO STOP THE SEAT FROM RECLINING FURTHER. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND PULLED THE KEY OUT, BUT THE SEAT CONTINUED DOWNWARD ONTO HIS LEGS. AT THE LAST SECOND I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND PULLED THE UMBRELLA HANDLE OFF THE SEAT LEVER AS THE SEAT BACK LOWERED ONTO MY SONS KNEES, PINNING HIM INTO THE REAR SEAT. AFTER I RAISED THE SEAT, MY SON COMPLAINED OF PAIN IN BOTH OF HIS KNEES. IN CHECKING OUT THE SEAT LATER, I FOUND THAT THE FRONT SEAT BACK HAS NO STOP, RATCHET OR RELEASE TO PREVENT IT FROM LOWERING FORCIBLY INTO THE REAR SEAT CUSHION. THE SEAT CONTINUES DOWNWARD INTO THE CUSHION UNTIL THE MOTOR STRAINS TO A STOP. * NLM
I RECENTLY LEASED A VW PASSATT STATION WAGON AND THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH IT EVEN BEFORE THE CAR HAD 300 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS SPENT SOME 10 DAYS AT THE REPAIR SHOP. DEFECTS HAVE INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD DISENGAGE, HEATED SEATS THAT WOULD NOT TURN OFF, A/C AND SIDE MIRRORS THAT WOULD NOT WORK, A MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE CAR HAD TO BE ALIGNED, THE FRONT SPOILER FELL OFF, A SPEAKER HAD TO BE REPLACED, PART OF THE TRIM ON THE BACK WAS FALLING OFF, THE MEMORY SETTINGS ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE NOT WORKING, AND THE SUN ROOF WAS RATTLING. THE SALES DEPARTMENT HAS RESPONDED TO ALL MY CALLS BY SAYING THAT I NEED TO TALK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OR TO VW CORPORATE DIRECTLY. I HAVE DONE BOTH, WHEN I CALLED VW CORPORATE THEY RESPONDED THAT AS LONG AS THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE THEY WOULD COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CAR. THEY OFFERED ME A LUBE JOB AS A SETTLEMENT!
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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