2005 Volkswagen Passat Owner Complaints

Electronic control module, electronic body module starts going out, it will not let you open the doors from the outside without rolling the windows down and sometimes won't even let you open them with the inside door handles. This is a major safety issue in a wreck or fire especially if you cannot get out of the car. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. For a vehicle that everyone complains about with this, and as expensive as it is to fix, are you going to wait until someone dies to make them fix it? When people complain if someone would just Google these issues you would find out just because not everyone knows about NHTSA, that these are extremely common issues that need to be fixed by Volkswagon!

NHTSA ID

11479970

Incident

Jun 21, 2022

It just died and I lost brakes, power steering, and only know what else stopped working. Come to find out the splines wear off of the oil pump shift after the counter balance and chain goes out. This is so common a problem that when you Google what happened there are numerous videos and complaints about this issue, with ways to stop it from happening. Korea has already recalled them and Europe has recalled them, why are we so far behind on this. Not only is it expensive, but also a major safety issue because this stops the brakes from working and the car does not have stopping power with the motor dead. NOT EVERYONE KNOWS TO REPORT TO NHTSA!

NHTSA ID

11479966

Incident

Aug 9, 2022

Approximately back in June 2021, I noticed the smell of diesel fuel coming from the rear of the vehicle, noticed hours and days after the vehicle was parked. The smell is partially present from the interior in the trunk area, but mostly evident when standing near the vicinity of the fuel tank when outside of the vehicle. After driving the vehicle, I occasionally notice small puddles of diesel fuel (as evidenced by the oily texture and smell) coming from below the fuel tank. On occasion, I can also spot actual drops of diesel fuel on the lower car frame from underneath the vicinity of the fuel pump. These puddles usually evaporate or dissipate within an hour or two after appearing. Given that these puddles only appear after driving, and not after extended periods of the vehicle sitting in my driveway, I suspect that there is a leak in the fuel pump. A more recent VCDS scan of the ECU on 29 October 2021 results in a Gateway and Dashboard fault code in the fuel pump, which may or may not be related to the fuel pump leak. The fault code is 00476, relating to the fuel pump control module, indicating "no communication"; the code is marked as "static". This fault code may not be related to the underlying fuel leak, but since it relates to the fuel pump, I thought it would be worth mentioning. Last but not least, a recall notice was issued on the diesel fuel pump assembly that impacted the make and model of my vehicle, issued in December 2004, just a couple months before the manufacture date of my vehicle (February 2005). As a result of this cut-off date, my vehicle's VIN number was not included in the official recall notice (NHTSA # 04V586000); see: https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/Volkswagen/PASSAT/2005/fuel%20system,%20diesel/recall/04V586000. Due to the commonality of my vehicle's components with the 2004 Volkswagen Passat TDI and close temporal proximity to the recall notice, I highly suspect that my vehicle's fuel pump is impacted by this latent recall.

NHTSA ID

11440781

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

2005 VW PASSAT WAGON, 4 MOTION, 128,000 MILES, W/ INTENSE ODOR OF GAS IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR; AFTER DRIVING 15 MILES TO WORK, I DEVELOPED A HEADACHE AND ILLNESS SYMPTOMS WHICH LASTED FOR 2 -3 DAYS. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL VW DEALER. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, WHO AGREED TO DIAGNOSTICS. LARGE FUEL TANK FRACTURE CONFIRMED. AFTER MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT VW OF AMERICA, THEY REFUSED TO COVER REPAIRS, THOUGH THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THIS FAILURE WAS THE SAME FAILURE WHICH HAD LED TO A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN OF THE FUEL TANK/SYSTEM, BUT SINCE MY CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED (2015) W/ A SUPERSEDED PART AND IT WAS PAST THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD, I DID NOT QUALIFY, NOR WOULD THEY OFFER GOODWILL SERVICE. THEY DID ACKNOWLEDGE, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I VERBALIZED IN MANY CONVERSATIONS THE SAFETY CONCERN THIS POSED NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY BUT FOR OTHERS WHO HAD THE POTENTIAL TO FACE THE SAME SITUATION. I ASKED WHAT PROCESS VW HAD FOR DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING THESE CONSUMER SAFETY CONCERNS OF SUCH A SERIOUS NATURE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS REPORTED INTERNALLY BUT THERE WAS NO ONE I COULD SPEAK WITH TO DISCUSS FURTHER ANY ASPECT OF THE CASE, NOR WOULD VW REPORT THIS TO NHTSA, AS IT HAD BEEN REPORTED UNDER THE PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS REPEATED FAILURE SHOULD BE REPORTED AND THEREFORE AM DOCUMENTING HERE. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY D/T THE FUMES BEING AT A TOXIC LEVEL WHEN THE CAR IS IN THE CLOSED GARAGE. THE CABIN OF THE CAR ALSO REMAINS WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF GAS FUMES. I HAVE ASKED FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION FROM VW OF AMERICA RELATED TO MY CASE, BUT AS OF YET HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED WITH SUCH.

NHTSA ID

11258665

Incident

Sep 4, 2019

Mileage

128,892 mi

MY 2005 PASSAT HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE TANK. MY VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE NEW AND ONLY HAS 72000 MILES ON IT. THIS LEAK/SMELL OCCURS AFTER WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME AND I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING THIS EXACT SCENARIO. WHY IS VW NOT FORCED TO RECALL AND INSPECT FOR THIS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11231766

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

71,000 mi

I COMPLETELY FILLED THE FUEL TANK OF MY CAR IN THE MORNING ON 4/22/2019. I THEN DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY (SO IT WAS STATIONARY AT THIS TIME). THAT AFTERNOON I SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND SAW A PUDDLE ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE I OVERFILLED THE FUEL TANK SO I WAITED TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WOULD GO AWAY AFTER I DROVE A BIT. ON 4/23/2019 I STILL SMELLED GASOLINE AND SAW A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR AFTER PARKING. I DETERMINED THE FUEL WAS ONLY LEAKING WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS A LARGER ISSUE. ON 4/24/2019 I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. THE MECHANIC COULD SMELL GAS AND FOUND FUEL RESIDUE, BUT NOTHING FRESH. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I FILL THE FUEL TANK AND RETURN TO SEE IF A LEAK COULD BE FOUND. SO ON 4/26/2019 I COMPLETELY FILLED THE FUEL TANK AND RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC. AND THEY FOUND THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK.

NHTSA ID

11203992

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND DRAIN THE COOLANT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY REPLACE THE COOLANT OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

11180103

Incident

Feb 6, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

INERTIA REEL WILL NOT PAYOUT WEBBING. CAR WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, CAR WAS LEVEL

NHTSA ID

11170184

Incident

Jan 11, 2019

Mileage

219,500 mi

OVER HEATED AND TIMING BELT

NHTSA ID

11092000

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE OR DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND ANTI-SLIP REGULATOR WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED MOMENTUM VOLKSWAGEN OF CLEAR LAKE AT (844) 894-5461 (15100 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77034) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,628.

NHTSA ID

11088378

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

Mileage

91,628 mi

I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OIL MYSELF IN MY CAR, SINCE I WANTED TO SAVE MONEY AND I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING. INSTEAD OF DRAINING THE OIL, I ACCIDENTALLY DRAINED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I DIDN'T FIGURE OUT THAT IT WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE OIL! SO, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER; I DROVE HOME (NOT KNOWING THERE WAS NO TRANNY FLUID IN IT) AND I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WANTED TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. IT KEPT DOING TIS TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES WHEN IT BECAME STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. I MANAGED TO SAFELY GET HOME, AND FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW!!! THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAIN HOLE IS WHERE THE ENGINE OIL DRAIN HOLE SHOULD BE! LUCKILY, AFTER I PUT FRESH TRANNY FLUID IN IT, THE CAR WAS FINE. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE THIS HAPPENED TO.

NHTSA ID

10871277

Incident

May 22, 2016

Mileage

155,000 mi

CAR HAD INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. ENGINE CRANKS BUT DOES NOT TURN OVER. WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART ANYWHERE FROM 15MIN - 5 HRS LATER. LENGTH SEEMS TO BE DEPENDENT ON HOW LONG WAS DRIVEN BEFORE TURNING OFF. CODE SAID THE CPS WAS FAULTY. REPLACED IT. BUT STILL HAVING RANDOM PROBLEMS AND CODE STILL SAYS CPS IS FAULTY. CANNOT GET IT FIXED BECAUSE CAN'T RECREATE PROBLEM AT MECHANICS. CAR DOES NOT DIE WHEN DRIVING. THERE DOES SEEM TO BE FLUCTUATIONS IN SPEED WHILE DRIVING. AND DOES SEEM TO BE WORSE IN RAINY WEATHER. CAR DOESN'T RUN HOT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THE SAME PROBS? HOW DID YOU FIX?

NHTSA ID

10862284

Incident

Apr 29, 2016

Mileage

185,000 mi

CAR WAS STARTED AT 9:30AM AT HOME- LAST DRIVEN NIGHT BEFORE LOCALLY. CAR WAS DRIVEN @ 1 MILE, PARKED, ENGINE TURNED OFF, DOORS LOCKED AND LEFT IN PARKING LOT. AT 9:49 THE LOCAL POLICE CALLED ME TO ALERT ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THERE IS FOOTAGE OF THE FIRE ON YOUTUBE. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=IQBNDFDJPAG THE ENGINE IGNITED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. THIS CAR IN UN-REPAIRABLE, THERE IS NO INSURANCE CLAIM. RECEIPTS FOR WORK PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE AND RECENT REPAIR DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE. CAR PURCHASE BILL OF SALE, RECEIPT FOR TITLE AND REGISTRATION AND COST FOR INSURING THIS VEHICLE SINCE TIME OF PURCHASE ARE ALL AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10839433

Incident

Feb 26, 2016

Mileage

95,900 mi

THIS IS THE 4 TH TIME I HAVE HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON ALONG WITH MISFIRE ISSUES. EACH TIME COSTING ME AT LEAST 2000.00 TO CORRECT ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. HAVE CHANGED OIL PUMP, PLUGS, INJECTORS JUST TO NAME A FEW. I LOVE MY CAR BUT THIS HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT FROM DAY ONE. VW NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ISSUES. OIL SLUDGE, IS A BIG PROBLEM TOO. I JUST HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED WITH INJECTORS AND A NEW GASKET SET UP AND RAN GOOD FOR TWO MONTHS AND NOW I'M BACK IN THE SAME POSITION OF NEEDING THE SAME REPAIRS ONCE AGAIN. CAR WAS DRIVING BEGAN TO SHUTTER TRYING TO STALL. HELP!

NHTSA ID

10817201

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

Mileage

143,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER'S COAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 03/30/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10811662

Incident

Dec 19, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND SMELL GAS COMEING FROM VENT INSIDE CAB NEXT DAY DROVE IT AGAIN AND STILL SMELL GAS EVEN ON OUTSIDE OF DRIVERSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705983

Incident

Apr 13, 2015

Mileage

114,909 mi

VEHICLE ENGINE MADE UNUSUAL NOISE AND STOPPED RUNNING. STEERING AND BRAKES BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE AND HEARD LOUD BANGING FROM ENGINE WHEN STARTER WAS TURNING ENGINE. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE PUSHED OUT OF ROADWAY. INSPECTION OF ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641279

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

142,000 mi

OUR PASSAT IS THE TDI (DIESEL) MODEL. WE PURCHASED IT USED AND AT AROUND 185,000-190,000 (LOW MILES BY DIESEL ENGINE STANDARDS), THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. DIAGNOSTICS REVEALED THAT THE CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CHAIN BROKE AND GOT ALL UP IN THE ENGINE AND OIL WAS NO LONGER BEING PUMPED INTO THE ENGINE SO THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REPAIR. ABOUT 16,000 MILES LATER, I WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED AN INTERNAL TECHNICAL BULLETIN TELLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FIX IS CHANGING OUT THE CHAIN DRIVEN ASSEMBLY WITH A GEAR DRIVEN ONE. THEY ALSO NEVER MADE ANOTHER MODEL WITH A CHAIN DRIVEN ASSEMBLY AFTER THAT MODEL YEAR. SO THEY BASICALLY ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A FAULTY SYSTEM YET WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. CHANGING OUT THE ASSEMBLY IS $1500 FOR THE PART ALONE AND IF YOU'RE CHANGING OUT THAT PART, THE CHANCES ARE GOOD IT'S BECAUSE IT FAILED AND YOU NOW HAVE A DESTROYED ENGINE AS WELL WHICH IS A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR JOB EVEN FOR A USED ENGINE. THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN IT'S GOING TO FAIL AND IT'S NOT PART OF ANY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM TO ISSUE A RECALL AND YET IT'S A COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM TO HAVE TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL BULLETIN ABOUT IT. I FIND IT ABOMINABLE THAT THEY KNOW THIS HAS AND IS HAPPENING WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THEY ARE NOT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. EVEN IF THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT TO BE FIXED, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB. SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED IF THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON THEM WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS ON A HIGHWAY. NO POWER STEERING. NO BRAKES. IT'S COMPLETELY UNETHICAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638209

Incident

Apr 24, 2013

Mileage

187,000 mi

LOW OIL PRESSURE DO TO SLUDGE BUILD UP. BOUGHT THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT AROUND 60K AND AT 100K I AM BEING TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637575

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

101,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR STATE INSPECTION AND NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRESENT AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 32 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

NHTSA ID

10637530

Incident

Sep 19, 2005

Mileage

189,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ACROSS CONNECTICUT ON FRIDAY JUNE 27 2014 ON I-84 (DANBURY TO MASS PIKE), TRAVELING FROM PHILADELPHIA TO BOSTON. AFTER PASSING THROUGH HARTFORD THE ROAD EXPANDS FROM 2 -3 LANES TO 8, I WAS IN LANE 4. THE ROAD WAS GOING TO SPLIT GOING 84 EAST AND 383 SE. 84 WAS STILL 8 LANES WHEN MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED - NO GAS WAS GETTING TO THE ENGINE. I HAD SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER VERY CLOSE BEHIND ME, THE TIME WAS 5:30 - RUSH HOUR, EVERYONE WAS SPEEDING, AND I WAS SHUT DOWN IN LANE 4. AT THIS POINT, THANKFULLY AND MIRACULOUSLY, THE 2 HIGHWAYS SPLIT AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO BUT FALL INTO THE NEWLY CREATED BREAKDOWN LANE; OTHERWISE I DON'T SEE HOW I COULD HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO, NONE, NO WARNING THAT THE CAR WAS GOING TO DIE, NO LIGHTS, NO SHAKING, NO ALARM. I CALLED THE STATE POLICE TO GET ME OFF THE HIGHWAY. AS IT WAS FRIDAY EVENING, AAA COULD ONLY TOW ME TO A PEP BOYS AND AS IT WAS 7 PM BY THIS TIME, I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN A RESIDENCE 6 IN MANCHESTER CN. PEP BOYS LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND DETERMINED THAT NO FUEL WAS GETTING TO THE ENGINE; I WOULD NEED A NEW FUEL PUMP. ALSO, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAT IT WAS INTERESTING, APPARENTLY A 2004 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE PUMP HAD BEEN PUT ON MY (NEW) 2005 FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAR. I AM TOLD THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL. THEY EVENTUALLY FOUND A PUMP AND INSTALLED IT, I LEFT FOR MAINE AROUND 1 PM THAT DAY. I HAD MY CAR IN MY LOCAL SHOP BEFORE LEAVING ON THIS TRIP, AS IS ALWAYS DONE, AND WAS DEEMED SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE SINCE CALL VW AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NO REAL EXPLANATION FOR THE PUMP DYING OTHER THAN THIS HAPPENS. I APPRECIATE THAT EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND CAR PARTS MAINTAINED. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT NOT TO HAVE PROVISION TO GIVE WARNING TO YOUR CAR ABOUT TO GO INTO COMPLETE FAILURE IS ACCEPTABLE BY ANYONE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PUT IN DANGER BEFORE THIS CHANGES? *TR

NHTSA ID

10610054

Incident

Jul 26, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

THAT THE CONNECTION AT THE FUEL TANK IS DAMAGED CAUSES THE FUEL LEAK. THIS IS RELATED TO THE OLD RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER :08V156000 *TR

NHTSA ID

10605918

Incident

Jun 25, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS ENGINE OIL SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

10597138

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

143,000 mi

I STARTED THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED ON MY DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT. WITHIN 2 MINS, SMOKE STARTED APPEARING ON MY LEFT SIDE. I REALIZED MY SEAT WAS STARTING TO CATCH FIRE, SO I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY, MY CLOTHES DID NOT CATCH FIRE. HOWEVER, MY HEATED SEAT BURNED A HOLE COMPLETE THROUGH THE LEATHER. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597025

Incident

Mar 2, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-70 EAST 25 MILES EAST OF DENVER AT MILE MARKER 133, WITH THREE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HEARD A NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND BRAKE WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, SPINNING ME OUT TO THE LEFT ACROSS BOTH TRAFFIC LANES, TOOK ME IN A 360 DEGREE CIRCLE AND THEN INTO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS ONLY AN INSTANT FROM FIRST NOISE TO BEING SPUN OUT OF CONTROL - NO WARNING. BECAUSE I WAS SPUN OUT TO THE LEFT, I WAS NOT HIT BY THE SEMI DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RAN AHEAD OF MY CAR FROM THE POINT WHERE I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT REPORT: COLORADO STATE PATROL #[XXX]. OFFICER ON SCENE EXAMINED TIRE AND SAID IT WAS AN "INSTANTANEOUS SEPARATION" OF TREAD FROM SIDEWALL AND POSSIBLY FAULTY TIRE MANUFACTURE. HE ALSO SAID WE SHOULD HAVE ROLLED BUT MY CAR'S LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY SAVED US. WE WERE UNHURT BUT TRAUMATIZED. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED 1-30-14, 3-1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND WAS IN LIKE-NEW CONDITION. PURCHASED FROM DISCOUNT TIRES ON LAKE MEAD IN LAS VEGAS, MANUFACTURED BY GT RADIAL, GITI TIRE (USA) LTD., 10404 SIXTH STREET, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730-5831, PHONE (909) 980-0968. CAR HAD BEEN COMPLETELY GONE OVER TWO DAYS BEFORE WHEN I DEPARTED ON TRIP, TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE, AND A VISUAL CHECK WAS DONE BEFORE I GOT ON THE ROAD THAT DAY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED OR UNDERINFLATED IN ANY WAY. I BELIEVE UTTERLY THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND AM CONSIDERING A LAWSUIT DESPITE FACT THAT WE WERE UNINJURED. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT AND ONE WHICH COULD HAVE TAKEN THE LIVES OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE AND MFGRS ARE USING OLD "DRY" RUBBER AND/OR INEFFECTIVE ADHESIVE. I TRUST YOU WILL PURSUE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10593955

Incident

May 15, 2014

Mileage

71,000 mi