2003 Volkswagen Passat Transmission Problems

POWER TRAIN LACK OF POWER WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. THIS WAS DUE TO WATER LEAK IN POLLEN FILTER BOX (CRACKED) WHICH AFFECTED THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID, AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT MILEAGE OF 121,000 MILES. NORMALLY GARAGED AND MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. AFTER RAIN, FOUND AN INCH OF WATER IN REAR PASSENGER FLOOR. TRANSMISSION NON-FUNCTIONAL, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS ON. DEALER SAID THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL WAS NO GOOD AND THAT WATER LEAKED IN AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE FLOOR BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE READ MANY ACCOUNTS ON THE INTERNET FROM MANY ANGRY OWNERS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHERE LEAKS FROM THIS SEAL HAVE CAUSED CATASTROPHIC REPAIRS. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT CHECKING THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IS NOT PART OF ANY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THAT IN ORDER TO CHECK IT, YOU'D NEED TO DISASSEMBLE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW AN OWNER COULD POSSIBLY KNOW IF THE SEAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND HE REPLIED "YOU FOUND OUT HOW". I AM CLEARLY NOT ALONE IN HAVING EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM A PART THAT IS NOT IN ANY WAY MAINTAINABLE (THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL) AND THAT HAS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I FEEL THIS IS A CONSUMER ISSUE AND THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE PASSAT THAT VW SHOULD COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR. THERE IS NO WAY FOR AN OWNER TO BE ABLE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION -- IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE. IT GOT TO DO WITH THE PASSAT LEAKING WATER AND THE LOCATION OF AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE COMPONENT IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR, THE AREA WHERE ANY WATER THAT LEAKS MIGRATES TO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING, I MIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION SPENT ANOTHER 2000$ AND ITS NOT EVEN THIS THE PROBLEM!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10389796

Incident

Jan 8, 2011

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW IT HAS BEEN SAYING THIS: STOP,OIL PRESSURE,STOP MOTOR,SERVICE MANUAL. THIS IS NOW HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER(WHICH IS NOT WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR) AND THEY CHANGED THE OIL FILTER WHICH COST ME $160. MY CAR WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN,AND THE DEALER THEN SAID IT WAS THE OIL PUMP AND WANTED $965 TO FIX IT. I,HOWEVER TOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE GOT THE PROBLEM FIXED FOR $720. IT HAS JUST RECENTLY HAPPENED AGAIN. I WENT TO CHANGE THE OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ACCIDENTALLY DRAINED. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM AND NOW SAYS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION,THE CAR IS DRIVABLE BUT NOW FOR LONG. THIS THE SECOND TIME SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268497

Incident

Oct 5, 2008

Mileage

86,000 mi

PURCHASE CAR IN FL, NOW LIVE IN IOWA DUE TO JOB TRANSFER. A/C UNIT CONTINUES TO NOT BLOW COLD AIR IN A DEPENDABLE METHOD. HAVE TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART TO SOMETIMES GET IT STARTED AGAIN. NOW TORQUE CONVERTER LIGHT CAME ON JUST AFTER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED 1 MONTH OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. GOT IN CONTACT WITH VW OF AMERICA. WOULD NOT ASIST, BUT INSTEAD SENT $2,000 GOOD FAITH VOUCHER TOWARDS TO PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO HELP ME WITH THE PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263558

Incident

Feb 3, 2006

Mileage

26,411 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10256502

Incident

Aug 2, 2003

Mileage

2,300 mi

1. DRIVING CAR TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ERRATICALLY WHEN PULLING OUT OF HOUSE. ALSO HIT ANOTHER CAR AS TRANSMISSION SHIFTED WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING. 2. ALWAYS WHEN RAINS. 3. SUNROOF DRAIN/AIR PLENUM AREA DEALER SAID WAS BLOCKED AND WATER WENT DOWN B PILLAR. SHORTED OUT TRANSMISSION COMPUTER IN PASSENGER FOOT WELL. WATER PASSED OVER JUNCTION CONNECTIONS IN B PILLAR ALSO SHORTED OUT AIRBAG SENSOR AND OTHER ELECTRICAL. VW NOW ISSUES SERVICE ACTION 66C8/P9 TO COVER THIS WHICH WAS NOT LISTED AS MAINTENANCE. DEALER SAID HE WAS NOT DOING THIS. VERY POOR DESIGN. IF DRAINS FOR SUN ROOF AND PLENUM CLOG THEN WATER GOES INSIDE AND SHORTS CRITICAL ELECTRONICS. TRANSMISSION COMPUTER IN PASSENGER FOOTWHEEL WHICH FILLED WITH WATER COSTS $2000 AND COULD OF BEEN MY LIFE. IN GENERAL THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY RECALLS AND IS UNSAFE. I HAVE HAD IT FOR 5 YEARS AND ONLY 38K MILES AND EVERY RECALL HAS SURFACE AS PROBLEM IN THIS CAR FROM SEAT HEATERS STAYING ON, BRAKE LIGHTS SHORTING, HEAD LEAKING, FRONT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY VIBRATING LOOSE ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236914

Incident

Apr 5, 2008

Mileage

38,000 mi

MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IS HOLDING 6INCHES OR MORE OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE FLOOR BOARD AND HAS SHORTED OUT THE COMPUTER UNDERNEATH, IN SERVICING THE CAR THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HE FOUND 3 OTHER VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS OF THE SAME YEAR TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN ADVISED THAT A SERIOUS CRASH COULD HAVE RESULTED BECAUSE THE COMPUTER UNDERNEATH REGULATES THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232663

Incident

Jun 20, 2008

Mileage

81,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 PASSAT 4-MOTION. I PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER IN JULY OF 2005 WHEN IT HAD 42,000 MILES ON IT. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED TWO THINGS ABOUT THE CAR: FIRST, IT SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND THEN WHEN IT DOES FINALLY TAKE OFF, IT "LEAPS" FORWARD. SECOND, WHEN SHIFTING DOWN SOMETIMES, IT DOES NOT DO SO NORMALLY BUT WILL ACTUALLY JERK THE CAR BADLY AND MAKE A "CLUNKY" SOUND, LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRY AND ACCELERATE AGAIN, LIKE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS JUST A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE CAR AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. OVERALL I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228522

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

42,000 mi

MY 2003 VW PASSAT HAS SHOWN CASES OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOLLOWING A RECENT RAIN STORM. THE REAR PASSENGER FOOTWELL COLLECTED WATER AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT NORMALLY. THE CAR WOULD NOT UPSHIFT AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR FROM PARK. I'M NOW UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OUT OF NEUTRAL AND CAN'T REMOVE THE KEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216213

Incident

Jan 26, 2008

Mileage

49,000 mi

CAR MAKES JUMP WHEN SLOWING DOWN LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER FOUR TIMES I TOOK THE CAR FOR CHECK UP IN NORTHEAST WV OUTLET IN PHILADELPHIA,PA PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY, IGNITION COILS RESET COMPUTER AND SO AND SO BUT LOOKS LIKE THEY CAN'T SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR ,AND THIS SCARES HER, SHE GETS NERVOUS AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212711

Incident

Dec 14, 2007

Mileage

54,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10211082

Incident

Nov 17, 2006

Mileage

7,000 mi

2003 VW PASSAT WITH A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THROUGH A LEAK IN THE SUNROOF. DEALER ALSO STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *KB THE DEALER STATED THAT A CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAIN HAD CAUSED WATER TO OVERFLOW DOWN THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDSHIELD. A PILLAR CAUSING CORROSION IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HARNESS WHICH WAS LOCATED AT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL. THE DEALER STATED THE LEAK WAS CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AND THAT'S WHY IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER APPROVED THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER AS HE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DEALERS LOT, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE CONSUMER AND INFORMED HIM, THIS TIME THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN WITH THE TCM THE ENTIRE TIME.*JB

NHTSA ID

10204897

Incident

Jun 27, 2007

WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR LURCHED INTO REVERSE AND THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR CAUSING DRASTICALLY SLOW SPEEDS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. ANY SPEED ABOVE 15 MPH WOULD REDLINE THE TAC AND THE ENGINE. THE VW DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A BAD COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10203603

Incident

Apr 5, 2007

Mileage

93,000 mi

I HAVE AN '03 VW PASSAT . ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED IT HAD STARTED HESITATING WHEN TRYING TO BACK UPHILL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PUT TRANSMISSION FLUID IN IT. IT WAS OK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND IT STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK. THEY SCANNED IT AND SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS BUT THEY PUT IN MORE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THAT LASTED 1 1/2 WEEKS. THEY ARE NOW ORDERING A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE SLIPPING DID IT WHEN THE SERVICE PEOPLE DROVE IT. THEY HAD NOT TEST DRIVEN IT THE PREVIOUS TIMES UNTIL AFTER THEY PUT IN FLUID. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201032

Incident

Apr 16, 2007

I AM INVESTIGATING AND GATHERING INCIDENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLOODING PROBLEMS THAT VOLKSWAGENS, ESPECIALLY THE PASSAT, EXHIBIT FROM MODEL YEARS 1998 TO THE PRESENT. THERE IS A CHANCE OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR WHICH THIS INFORMATION IS BEING GATHERED. IF INTERESTED, PLEASE RESPOND TO [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174641

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

36,458 mi

1. HEAVY RAIN STORMS 2. WATER ENTERED THE CAR VIA EITHER THE POLLEN FILTER OR BACKED UP FROM THE BATTERY WELL. THIS WATER CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) TO FAIL. 3. I PAID FOR THE POLLEN FILTER TO BE REPLACED, THE TCM TO BE REPLACED, THE COWL DRAIN HOLES TO BE CLEARED, AND THE WATER TO BE REMOVED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10162236

Incident

Jul 6, 2006

Mileage

26,400 mi

CAR HAD TROUBLE STARTING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LURCHING WHILE DRIVING AND ULTIMATELY TRANSMISSION AND AIR BAG FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154566

Incident

Dec 5, 2005

Mileage

44,500 mi

THIS IS A 2003 VW PASSAT WITH 27,000 MILES. IT IS KEPT OUTSIDE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN RAINS HERE RECENTLY, EXPECTED THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE REAR FOOTWELL WAS FOUND TO HAVE WATER IN IT RECENTLY. NEITHER THE SUNROOF NOR WINDOWS HAD BEEN LEFT OPEN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY VW DEALERS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, THE BOTTOM OF THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBE WAS CLOGGED, BACKING WATER UP. THE RESULTING DAMAGE INCLUDED CARPET, DAMPENED TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, WIRING HARNESS AND A SAFETY RELAY AMOUNTING TO OVER $3,000 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE DAMAGED PARTS AND UNCLOGGING THE DRAIN TUBE. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT

NHTSA ID

10152412

Incident

Mar 8, 2006

Mileage

26,960 mi

DT: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SLIPPING OUT OF PARK AND IT WOULD A NOT GO INTO PARK. THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS STARTED ON OCTOBER 4, 2005. THE DEALERSHIP WAS WILLING TO FIX IT, BUT, A VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY WERE GOING GOING TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10139622

Incident

Oct 4, 2005

AFTER MAKING A STOP AND RETURNING TO NORMAL TRAVELING 55 MPH OR AT HIGHER SPEED VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055417

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS, TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THA TTRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026280

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!

NHTSA ID

10000612

Incident

Sep 19, 2002

Mileage

3,000 mi