2005 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

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

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

OVER HEATED AND TIMING BELT

NHTSA ID

11092000

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

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

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 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

WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STOP DRIVING LIGHT, LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND A BUZZER WENT OFF. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS NO OIL PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WITH THIS MANY MILES SHOULD NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH NO OIL PRESSURE. THE MECHANIC TELLS US THAT IT MIGHT BE "SLUDGE" OR THE OIL PUMP IS SHOT. EITHER OF WHICH SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON ANY VEHICLE ESPECIALLY SINCE IT HAS ONLY 89000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS TYPICAL WITH THIS MOTOR AND WAS RECALLED UP TO THE MODEL YEARS 2004. THE 1.8 L TURBO MOTOR IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE MOTOR FOR THIS AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. ONE ONLY HAS TO SEARCH ON LINE TO SEE THAT THEIR IS AND HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM. VW OF AMERICA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL AND THEIR CULPABILITY UP TO 2004, IN AN EMAIL TO ME, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR NEWER VIN HAS DENIED COVERAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555191

Incident

Dec 26, 2012

Mileage

89,000 mi

ENGINE OIL PUMP DRIVE FAILURE (TDI ENGINE), CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE OPERATION INCLUDING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF POWER BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549724

Incident

Oct 24, 2013

Mileage

117,500 mi

ON 3/23/13, WHEN TURNING LEFT IN TRAFFIC, THE "SEALED FOR LIFE" 5-SPD AUTO TRANSMISSION MADE AN INCREDIBLY HARD SHIFT, BEGAN SLIPPING BADLY, AND QUICKLY LOST 3 FWD SPEEDS, "LIMPING" IN FOR SERVICE. NORMALLY, A TRANS FAILURE AT 143K WOULD NOT PROMPT AN NHTSA COMPLAINT. IT IS NOT THE CAR, BUT RATHER VWOA AND ITS DEALER NETWORK, THAT ARE THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK AUTO TRANS FLUID LEVEL, AND WOULD ONLY GRUDGINGLY DO A FLUID CHANGE IF I WANTED, FOR AN EXTORTIONATE $700, STEADFASTLY MAINTAINING THAT NEITHER WAS NECESSARY. VWOA TODAY 4/5/13, IRONICALLY, CRITICIZED ME FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDATION OF CHECKING FLUID EVERY 40K MILES. LOCAL DEALER WANTED OVER $4400 + MISC FEES & TAX TO REPLACE THE TRANS. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY INDICATED MY NEW TIRES WITH 500 MILES ON THEM WERE IN A MARGINAL TREAD WEAR CONDITION. DITTO THE RECENTLY RENEWED (AT THE SAME DEALER!) REAR BRAKES. BTW, THE TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURER, ZF, RECOMMENDS COMMUNICATING TO CUSTOMERS THE BENEFITS OF FLUID CHANGES AT 50K MILE INTERVALS. VW WON'T LISTEN TO EITHER CUSTOMER OR TRANS MFR. TRANS WAS REBUILT AT QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT SHOP. THERE WAS ALSO AN EARLIER RECALL (THANKS, NHTSA!) OF CERAMIC GLOW PLUGS THAT WOULD FALL INTO CYLINDERS AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD THE REPAIR DONE INDEPENDENTLY, AS THIS CONDITION WAS KNOWN FOR AT LEAST 2 YRS BEFORE VW'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE. VW DID COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS, BUT I WONDER HOW MANY $9K ENGINES WERE DESTROYED WHILE VW CONTEMPLATED ITS COLLECTIVE NAVEL. BTW, AFTER THE OFFICIAL VW FIX (DONE AT DEALER), THE CAR STARTS IN WINTER LIKE A 1980 RABBIT DIESEL. I FITTED A ZEROSTART AS CORRECTIVE MEASURE. VW ALSO REFUSES TO DISCUSS THE BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN DRIVE ISSUE WITH ME. A TICKING TIME BOMB AT 143K. THEY KNOW IT. I KNOW IT. NHTSA, PLEASE TAKE VWOA TO TASK! AS FOR ME, I'M NOW SHOPPING COMPETITORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507306

Incident

Mar 23, 2013

Mileage

143,000 mi

THE INTERIOR HEATER DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW MECHANIC OASIS AUTO CENTER IN REDDING, CA. HE SAID HE CLEARED THE COIL BUT THAT A VALVE MAY ALSO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER 2011. SINCE WE LIVE IN N. CALIFORNIA IT HAS NOT BEEN A BIG ISSUE SINCE IT IS WARM MOST OF THE YEAR. I DID HOWEVER SEE THIS IS A RECALL ITEM. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF WE CAN STILL GET THIS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492881

Incident

Jan 14, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10457776

Incident

May 8, 2012

Mileage

125,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN THE ALARM MESSAGE "OIL PRESSURE LOW: STOP ENGINE" CAME ON. I GOT OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. BENT VALVES, BROKEN PISTON SHAFT, ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. I'VE SEEN THIS SO MANY TIMES ON THE INTERNET AS I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO MY OPTIONS SINCE THEN. VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP NOR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THEY OFFERED ME $1000 TOWARD A NEW VOLKSWAGEN. SERIOUSLY? I HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE. THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IT IS CRIMINAL TO SELL THESE WITHOUT RECALLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF I WASN'T ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO, MY PASSENGER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN SMASHED WITH COUNTLESS OTHER INJURIES. I DIDN'T STOP THE CAR ONCE I GOT OFF THE ROAD, IT STOPPED ITSELF. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. *KB

NHTSA ID

10452405

Incident

Mar 6, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

2.0L VW PASSAT TDI HAD A RATTLING, VIBRATING CHAIN NOISE FROM THE OIL PUMP BALANCE SHAFT MODULE IN THE OIL PAN. THE OIL PUMP CHAINS/SPROCKETS/TENSIONERS WERE WORN AND CAUSED NOTICEABLE VIBRATION AND RATTLING NOISE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES; HOWEVER, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. WE HAD THE ENTIRE OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY A VW DEALERSHIP AT APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES WITH OEM GEAR DRIVEN PUMP WHICH INCLUDES THE BALANCE SHAFTS AND OIL PUMP. IT WAS A $3700 REPAIR TO EXCHANGE THE ORIGINAL OIL PUMP WITH THE GEAR DRIVEN PUMP. NOT A CHEAP SERVICE. THE SOUND BEFORE AND AFTER THE MODULE CHANGE WAS MUCH IMPROVED BECAUSE THE GEARS ARE QUIETER. THE REPLACEMENT GEAR DRIVEN OIL PUMP/BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY USES A SIMILAR BALANCE SHAFT BUT WITH A DIFFERENT OIL PUMP AND GEAR DRIVE. THE GEAR DRIVE SMOOTHES OUT STRESS ON THE OIL PUMP HEX SHAFT SO RUNS MUCH BETTER. IN SUMMARY, I AM NOT HAPPY WITH HAVING TO DO SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR DUE TO A POOR DESIGN AT THE LOW MILEAGE OF 120,000 FOR A DIESEL THAT SHOULD LAST TO AT LEAST 400,000 MILES. THIS IS A RECURRING EXPENSIVE PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY VW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10451066

Incident

Feb 6, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE TDI (DIESEL) ENGINE IN THE '04 & '05 NORTH AMERICAN VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WAS EQUIPPED WITH A CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP/BALANCE SHAFT MODULE. THE CHAIN TENSIONER FAILS CAUSING THE CHAIN TO SEPARATE WHICH STOPS THE OIL PUMP AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. IF A PERSON IS LUCKY, LIKE I WAS, AND HEARS THE CHAIN NOISE BEFORE IT FAILS, THE ENGINE CAN BE SAVED. THE FIX INVOLVES INSTALLING A NEW GEAR DRIVEN BALANCE SHAFT MODULE WHICH CONTAINS A NEW OIL PUMP. THE REPAIRS COSTS ~ $2,500 PARTS AND LABOR. VOLKSWAGEN HAS IGNORED THIS FAULT IN THE US (AND CANADA), DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS, EVEN THOUGH HUNDREDS OF CASES OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. IN FACT, THE NEW DESIGN MODULES ARE CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER AT THE VW PARTS FACTORY. THE OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE PROBLEM IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A DEFECT. THE FACT THAT VW RE-ENGINEERED AND REPLACED THE ORIGINAL OIL PUMP DRIVE ASSEMBLY IS AN ADMISSION THAT THE DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. REFERENCE VW'S TECHNICAL PRODUCT INFORMATION NO. 2016429/2 DATED 29-JAN-2008. I SEE THIS AS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE OF THESE CHAINS FAILED, ON THE HIGHWAY DURING FREEWAY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DESTROY ITSELF AND SPILL OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449751

Incident

Jun 21, 2011

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLATTERING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE CHAIN DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE OIL PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,500.

NHTSA ID

10449443

Incident

Feb 16, 2012

Mileage

96,500 mi

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, A NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PUMP CHAIN WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000. KMJ

NHTSA ID

10441520

Incident

Nov 28, 2011

Mileage

108,500 mi

I'VE HAD TO GET MY 2005 PASSAT FIXED 3 TIMES FOR ENGINE SLUDGE ISSUES AND IT'S HAPPENING TO IT AGAIN. IT HAS COST ME NEARLY $4000 AND COUNTING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418352

Incident

Aug 6, 2011

Mileage

73,885 mi

OIL PUMP FAILURE LEADING TO ENGINE FALUE. REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT.*TR

NHTSA ID

10383006

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

Mileage

168,000 mi

EXCESSIVE AND INCREASED RATTLING NOISE NOTICED ON MY 2005 PASSAT TDI. EVALUATION REVEALED THAT THE CHAIN AND TENSIONER DRIVING THE BALANCE SHAFTS AND OIL PUMP WAS FAILING AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND VW HAS ISSUED A GEAR DRIVE TO REPLACE THE CHAIN, HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB THEREFORE THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. OVER $2000 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372009

Incident

Jan 4, 2010

Mileage

141,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD HEAR A CHAIN NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. AFTER A YEAR, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BALANCE CHAIN WOULD BREAK SOON. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF UPDATED 04/14/11

NHTSA ID

10368304

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

AT 60,025 MILES AND TRAVELING AT 65MPH MY 2005 VW PASSAT LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SPUTTER. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $500+. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347986

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

60,025 mi

OIL SLUDGE, OIL PUMP FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE, NOW MY 2005 VW PASSAT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE , THIS IS A VW MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 4 CYLINDER 1.8 TURBO ENGINE BECAUSE THE TURBOCHARGER GETS TO HOT AND CAUSE THE EXPENSIVE SYNTHETIC OIL BREAKDOWN AND IT SITS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN UNTIL IT GETS SUCKED UP BY THE OIL PUMP AND THIS CAUSES YOUR ENGINE TO FAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310709

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

66,300 mi

I HAVE A 2005 VW PASSAT GLS WITH APPROX 135,000 MILES. I TOOK IT IN TO GET "WINTERIZED", OIL CHANGE AND CLEAR THE ENGINE LIGHT (WHATEVER THE MISFIRE WAS FOR), AND A FACTORY RECALL ON THE ENGINE COILS. GOT ALL THAT DONE (PLUS SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT SHOULD BE OK, IF IT COMES BACK ON...TO LET THEM KNOW ASAP. A DAY AND 1/2 LATER, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON, AND THIS TIME, THERE WAS BARELY ANY HEAT ON IN THE CAR. TOOK IT BACK...THEY STATED THAT THE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AGAIN) AND THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK GOING INTO THE COILS & THE FUEL INJECTORS, AND THAT THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE COILS AND THE 2 "FAULTY" INJECTORS REPLACED. I GOT FRUSTRATED WITH THIS DEALER AND WENT TO ANOTHER VW DEAL, FOR THEIR EVALUATION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW I COULD'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS BAD, WHEN THERE WAS SO MANY OTHER THINGS WRONG BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT TO THE HEATER CORE!! AND THEY GAVE ME 3 OPTIONS: EITHER PAY FOR EACH SERVICE SEPARATELY, GET A NEW/USED ENGINE OR SEE WHAT I CAN GET FOR THIS CAR AND TRADE IT IN (NOT HAPPY @ ALL). I CALLED VW OF A TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEATER CORE, SINCE IT WAS CAUSING MORE DAMAGE THAT ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, BUT THEY NICELY "DOCUMENTED" IT AND SENT ME A LOYALTY VOUCHER IF I WERE TO GET ANOTHER VW. I AM PISSED. I KNOW I HAVE ALOT OF MILEAGE, BUT THIS IS MAJOR, MAJOR DAMAGE AND EXPENSES TO BE PUT OUT FOR THIS CAR!!! VW NEEDS TO GET IT TOGETHER. I LOVED MY PASSAT UNTIL THIS POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298315

Incident

Dec 17, 2009

Mileage

134,500 mi