2005 Volkswagen Passat 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!

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.

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.

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE THAT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS ACTIVATED WHEN A HIGH VOLTAGE OF HEAT PENETRATED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT CUSHION UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM A BURN TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 7/25/14*CN

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!

OVER HEATED AND TIMING BELT

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!

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.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER IGNITED A FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD DISCUSS THE REPAIRS WITH THE DEALER AND GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL ON THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,500.

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!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ

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.

I WAS TURNING ONTO A LOCAL BUSY STREET WHEN MY ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND QUICKLY SHOT UP NEAR 50MPH. I HAD TO QUICKLY WEAVE THROUGH TRAFFIC TO NOT HIT ANYONE WHILE IT STAYED IN A HIGH SPEED. WHEN I'D PRESS THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN BUT STILL BE GOING. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT QUICKLY SHOT BACK UP TO 50MPH. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET MAYBE 1 MINUTE LATER AND AVOIDED HITTING ANYONE ELSE. I AM BEYOND SURPRISED THAT I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ANYONE WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THE PEDAL ONLY CAME UP WHEN I PUT MY FOOT UNDER IT (GOING SLOWER/BRAKING ON THE SIDE STREET). IT WAS NORMAL AFTER THAT. EXTREMELY SCARY EXPERIENCE WITH AN OTHERWISE FLAWLESS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE OWNED FOR GOING ON 4 YEARS. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA TIRES 8VID IN VIGOR 205/55/16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE POPPED AND HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE SHOP WHERE THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,269.

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.

VW PASSAT WAS INVOLVED ON HEAD-ON COLLISION (35MPH), WITH MOST OF THE DAMAGE OBSERVED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED BY THE SEATBELT. *TR

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN RAINY WEATHER, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WEATHER STRIPPING ALONG THE SUNROOF AND LEAKED ONTO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THE DRAIN LINE ALONG THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS AND NEEDED TO BE CLEANED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

I HAVE NOTED WHEN REPLACING FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS THAT THE PLASTIC COVERING THE HEADLIGHT WIRING WAS DETERIORATING ON ALL THE WIRES TO THE POINT THAT THE WIRING WAS COMING IN CONTACT WITH OTHER DETERIORATED WIRING CAUSING A SHORT AND FAILURE OF THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A FAILURE INVOLVING A TYPE OF PLASTIC COVERING THE INTERNAL HEADLIGHT WIRES THAT ATTACH TO THE BULBS THAT MAY BE, OR LIKELY BE FAILING DUE TO HEAT CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT WIRES, THE HEADLIGHT BULBS AND BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT FUSES DUE TO THE SHORTING OUT OF THE HEADLIGHT WIRES. *TR

BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ON WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE, AND REMAINED ON AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION. I INVESTIGATED PRIOR RECALLS AND SAW: REPORT RECEIPT DATE: FEB 20, 2007 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V063000 COMPONENT(S): EXTERIOR LIGHTING I WENT TO LOCAL VW FOR RECALL REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT BRAKE LIGHT REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED IN 2004, SO THIS REPAIR WAS NO LONGER COVERED. ( I AM SECOND OWNER, SO COULD NOT CONFIRM.) A 2004 REPAIR ON A 2005 MODEL YEAR CAR FOR A RECALL ISSUED IN 2007? THE BRAKE SWITCH REPLACEMENT COST $176. IS THIS NOT THE SAME RECALL FAILURE AGAIN? I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A SINGLE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAIL, EXCEPT FOR THIS VW, WHICH AS OF TODAY HAS HAD THREE! (ORIGINAL, 2004 REPLACEMENT AND NOW 2013 REPLACEMENT.) IS THE RECALL STILL IN EFFECT? SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART REPLACEMENT? *TR

I CURRENTLY LEASE A 2005 VW PASSAT. WARRANTY OFFERED: 5 YR/ 50,000 MILE. APPROX. NOV 7, 2008 VEHICLE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO REGISTER "STOP OIL PRESS LOW". IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO CLOSEST GAS STATION AND PURCHASED A SYNTHETIC OIL FOR VW THINKING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON NOV 17, 2008 DASHBOARD LIT UP AGAIN WITH SAME MESSAGE AND IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT VEHICLE INTO VISTA VW, POMPANO BCH, FLORIDA. WAS INSTRUCTED THAT ISSUE WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO FAULTY OIL PRESSURE DIP STICK CYLINDER AND NEED OF OIL CHANGE. (CYLINDER REPLACED AND OIL CHANGE COMPLETED) PRIOR OIL CHANGE WAS COMPLETED AT VISTA VW POMPANO BEACH. VW MECHANIC PLACED A CLEAR OIL CHANGE MAINT. STICKER WITH INCORRECT MILEAGE DUE AT NEXT OIL CHANGE. OIL CHANGE SHOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT 38,000 MILES VS. 45,000. VISTA VW STATED I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO BE COMPLETED (APPROX $166.00) AS WELL AS AN HOURLY CHARGE FOR LABOR (APPROX. $110 P/HR) NOT INCLUDING ANY AND ALL REPAIR TO BE PAID FOR UPON COMPLETION. THIS DUE TO WARRANTY EXPIRED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN AT 792 MILES OVER 50,000. DUE TO THE EXPENSE THAT I WOULD HAVE INCURRED IT WAS NOT FEASIBLE FOR ME TO GO AHEAD AND PERFORM THIS DIAGNOSTIC TEST HENCE CAUSING ME TO LEAVE NO FURTHER CHOICE BUT TO DECLINE SERVICE. I ATTEMPTED TO TRADE MY PASSAT IN EARLY AND RELEASE A NEW VEHICLE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN DOING SO. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER I WAS AT GUNTHER VW COCONUT CREEK AND INFORMED FINANCE MGR THAT I NOW HAVE AN ENGINE LIGHT ON. I WAS TOLD TO TRY AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME AND SEE IF THE LIGHT GOES OUT. THAT MAYBE IT'S A FAULTY SENSOR. UPON ARRIVAL AT MY RESIDENCE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND ENGINE FAILED. THE FOLLOWING DAY I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE APPROX. COST FOR REPAIR WOULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN $8,000 - $10,000. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE IS A LAWSUIT FROM THE CONSUMERS OF VW PASSATS IN REGARD TO THIS EXACT SAME MECHANICAL ISSUE & VW WILL NOT COMPLY WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

OVER 2 YEARS SINCE NEW, CAR HESITATES WITH SOFT THROTTLE ACCELERATION LIKELY BETWEEN 1 AND 2 GEAR, NO THROTTLE RESPONSE FOR UP TO 5 SECONDS, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS ACROSS TRAFFIC OR JOINING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. 2005 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT TDI MOST RECENT DATE GIVEN, HUNDREDS OF INCIDENTS OF SAME. VW DEALER SAYS NORMAL, HE EXPERIENCES IN MOVING CARS AROUND HIS LOT. I SAY NEEDS FIXING AND VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

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

THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY PASSAT ARE DEFECTIVE. THE DRIVERS BELT HAS BEEN 'LAZY' IN RETRACTING FROM TIME TO TIME BUT IT'S 'NORMAL' NOW. HOWEVER, MY LEFT REAR SEAT BELT HAS BEEN LAYING DETRACTED ON MY SEAT FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW SIMPLY BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SITS BACK THERE AND I'M ALWAYS DRIVING THIS CAR FOR WORK. BY READING MESSAGE BOARD SUCH AS WWW.TDICLUB.COM THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THE 2004 AND 2005 VW PASSAT. TOMORROW MORNING I AM GOING TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL VW FOR EVERY SEAT BELT IN THIS CAR TO BE REPLACED. IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! *NM

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!

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

2005 PASSAT AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE, BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT IT BLOWS COLD AIR INTERMITTENTLY THEN WILL STOP FOR NO REASON AND BLOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AIR. **NAR**KB THE DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS WITHIN THE AC UNIT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE AC FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR THE WIRING HARNESS. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED TWO TIRES DUE TO EXTREME CUPPING. *TR

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