Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Oct 15, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 576 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 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.
Owner reports naming driver-assistance
The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE. I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND STARTED TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED AND HIT A STAIRCASE RAIL BEHIND ME. I THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE TO AVOID REVERSING INTO ANYONE. I APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR AND ONCE AGAIN IT ACCELERATED FORWARD AT FULL SPEED, THIS TIME HITTING A CONCRETE COLUMN WHICH DISABLED THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
11140332
Incident
Oct 12, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 1, 2018
THE ENGINE LOST IT'S POWER, GAS CONSUPTION IS SO HIGH, ENGINE IS SHAKING AND NOISY AND WLECTRICAL CONTROLE IS DOWN RANDOMLY. AM SCARED OF DRIVING IT.
NHTSA ID
11132419
Incident
Sep 21, 2018
Mileage
133,012 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed May 15, 2018
FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE CAUSES CONSISTENT STALLING AT STARTUP. RECALL STATES COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA ID
11093967
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 9, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2017 MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT ON I-75 N. IN MACON, GEORGIA. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2006 VW PASSAT, 3.6 L. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. THE ACCELERATOR QUICKLY, AND WITHOUT NOTICE, ENGAGED BY ITSELF. THIS RESULTED IN HER CRASHING INTO THE GUARDRAIL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE, IN MACON, GA. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND SURVIVED. SHE SUFFERED LACERATIONS, BRUISES, NECK AND ARM INJURY, AND SOME IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS WHEN SHE HIT HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VOLKSWAGEN SAID THEY WOULD COME TO EXAMINE THE ACCELERATOR TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT.
NHTSA ID
11032572
Incident
Sep 25, 2017
Mileage
170,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 6, 2017
WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN AND WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE SHOP THEY TELL ME IT HAS A BLOW HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA ID
11003526
Incident
Jun 22, 2017
Mileage
146,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Apr 10, 2017
ABS SYSTEM IS FAILING. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK WELL, DASHBOARD ABS SIGNALS ARE CONSTANTLY ON. PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES. JUST CALLED VW USA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V-913) BUT THE RECALL COVERS MODEL YEARS 2009 AND 2010. MY CAR IS A 2006, BUT HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES. VOLKSWAGON WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTICS SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. PERHAPS THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES AFFECTED IS LARGER THAN THE RECALL POINTS OUT?
NHTSA ID
10971718
Incident
Jan 9, 2017
Mileage
128,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND JERKED AS THE RPMS REVVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FORCE WAS CONSTANTLY APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ID
10882019
Incident
Feb 10, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE UNINTENDED ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE WAS OCCURRING, THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED BEING DEPRESSED WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.
NHTSA ID
10808440
Incident
Dec 5, 2006
Mileage
29,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 2, 2015
HAS I WAS DRIVEN THE CAR WILL CAME UP WITH NEED SERVICES SOON AND WILL SHOW BRAKE LIGHT ON AND DEAD SYSTEMS FAILED CHECK PARKING BRAKE AND IF YOU PRESS THE PARKING BRAKE BUTTON ON AND OFF THE CAR WILL NEARLY SUCH GEARS OR NEARLY MOVE AT ALL WHERE IF YOU SHOUT IT OF THE CAR AND THEN WAIT FOR 5_10 MIN AND TURN IT BACK ON IT WILL GO LIKE NOTHING WRONG AT ALL . TRANSMISSION HAS OIL AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10691397
Incident
Feb 11, 2014
Mileage
130,537 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 14, 2014
MY CAR WAS SIMPLY IDLING IN PARK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THE IDLE REV UP AND THE TACHOMETER WENT UP A FEW 100 RPM'S. I THOUGHT, HMM THAT'S STRANGE. THEN IT STARTED AFFECTING THE WAS MY CAR SHIFTS AND MAKES IT HARD TO STOP. WHILE AT A STOP IN DRIVE I CAN FEEL THE IDLE IS ROUGH. I REPLACED MY MAF SENSOR, WHICH WAS REALLY EXPENSIVE, HOPING IT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEN WHILE RESEARCHING RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, I CAME ACROSS THIS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I NEVER GOT A NOTIFICATION OF ANY RECALL. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANT AND I HAVE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS TIME. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE VERY MUCH, APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10655143
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 2, 2014
I PURCHASED A 2006 PASSAT 3.6 ON FEBRUARY 20TH,2014 AND MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. TWO WEEKS LATER I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE IDLE WAS UP AND DOWN. THEY CHARGED ME $700 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS AS IS. ONCE I GOT THE CAR BACK I STARTER SEEING THE EPC LIGHT WHICH IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND NOW THE CAR WONT GO OVER 40MPH , TWO WEEKS AGO I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I CANT LOCATE ANY TYPE OF LEAK. HERE A LINK OF OTHER PASSAT OWNER WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND AS OF NOW THERE'S NO RECALL ON IT, I AM BEGGING FOR YOU GUYS HELP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/PASSAT/2006/DRIVETRAIN/POWER_TRAIN.SHTML. *TR
NHTSA ID
10595517
Incident
May 24, 2014
Mileage
119,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 4, 2014
ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAULT; WAS DRIVING ON JANUARY 18,2014. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THIS EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING YELLOW. ALSO THERE WAS A RED BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS FLASHING AND BEEPING THREE TIMES. SHE GOT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL MIND YOU SHE IS ONLY 17 AND SHE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM CAMPUS AUTO HERE IN FORT DODGE, IA ON THE 10TH AND HE TOLD HER NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. EVERYTHING HAS WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT CAN GO WRONG. SHE PULLED OVER AND READ IN HER MANUAL THAT WITH THE BEEPING 3 TIMES AND THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR SAID THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSE TO GET IT TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY. SO SHE DID THE SMART THING AND CALLED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. BUT WHAT IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. SHE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THIS CAR ON A HIGHWAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE PASSAT. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THEM. WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD IN THE REAR. FUEL PUMP WENT BAD. COILS BURN. THESE ARE ALL DANGEROUS THINGS. PLEASE HELP. *TR
NHTSA ID
10562979
Incident
Jan 18, 2014
Mileage
145,990 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system+3 more
Filed Aug 4, 2011
CHECK ENGINE (MIL) LIGHT TURNED ON, CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN IDLES AT A HIGHER RPM WHILE WE WERE DRIVING!!! VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP. CAR IS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS! DEALERSHIP RAN DIAGNOSTIC, CAME UP WITH: CODE P0123 (THROTTLE HIGH INPUT), P0299 (TURBO UNDER BOOST), P0456 (EVAP LEAK), P1098 (INTAKE TURNING VALVE SHORT TO B+), CODE P2004 (INTAKE RUNNER STUCK), CODE P3237 (INTAKE RUNNER BASIC SETTINGS). DEALER RECOMMENDED INTAKE RUNNER MOTOR REPLACEMENT & REPLACEMENT OF TURBO & N80 VALVE, ALSO CV BOOT NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS OVER $1200!!! WE ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF OUR VEHICLES AND HAVE THEM SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD DEFECTIVE INTERIOR PARTS. INTERIOR TRIM (ALL SWITCHES - LOCK, WINDOW & RADIO ARE BUBBLING AND CHIPPING). DOOR PANEL TRIM (RUBBER IS PEELING). SHIFT KNOB - METALLIC PIECE ON SHIFT KNOB, PEELED AND DUG INTO SKIN AND CAUSED INJURY. CARBON FIBER DASH IS PEELING APART. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA, PER THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. CAR IS A 2006 - 67,000 MILES. LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A VOLKSWAGEN HAD I KNOWN THEY WERE NOT RELIABLE VEHICLES. UNKNOWLEDGABLE SALES REPS, OR JUST AFTER CUSTOMERS TO MAKE A BUCK. SELLING PEOPLE UNRELIABLE VEHICLES AND VOLKSWAGEN CLEARLY DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS NOR DO THEY CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER LOYALTY OR SAFETY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10417114
Incident
Jul 20, 2011
Mileage
67,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 10, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR IDLING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE ABNORMALLY AND THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN RPMS. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO MAINTAIN PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA ID
10389700
Incident
May 9, 2010
Mileage
92,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 11, 2011
BOUGHT THE 2006 VW PASSAT IN FEB OF 2009 @ 11,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS STARTED @ 22,900 BATTERY CABLE (HARNESS) NEEDED REPLACEMENT; @ 25,012 STEERING COLUMN AND CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED, SYSTEM WOULD LOCK THE WHEEL; @ 26,096 COULDN'T OPEN GAS DOOR, GAS ACTUATOR FAULTY AND REPLACED; @ 32,390 CAT CONVERTER INTERNALLY BROKEN, REPLACED; BUT THE SCARIEST WAS @ 37,280 TRACTION LIGHT AND EPC LIGHT POPS ON AND VEHICLE LOSES POWER, INTERNAL FAULT IN THROTTLE BODY, REPLACED BUT NOT REPAIRED AS OF TODAY 37,438 LIGHTS HAVE REAPPEARED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10381647
Incident
Feb 4, 2011
Mileage
37,280 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 4, 2010
06 VW PASSAT, I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT, THE EPC AND ANOTHER LIGHT CAME ON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 15 MPH AND 20 RPM. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND THIS HAPPENS, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. CAR HAS 44, 960 MILES AND NOT SURE IF IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW. *TR
NHTSA ID
10359174
Incident
Oct 4, 2010
Mileage
44,960 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 6, 2010
WHEN AIR IIS ON AND WE ARE DRIVING FOR ONLY 10 MINUTES THE CAR RACES WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT AND FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL ACCELERATE BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. VERY SCARY AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10347776
Incident
Aug 5, 2010
Mileage
20,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 14, 2010
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY SOMETIMES WHEN I PUSHING ON THE GAS, IT WILL JUST DIE, I HAVE TO EITHER FLOOR IT TO GET IT BACK AND GOING OR RELEASE THE GAS ALL TOGETHER AND THEN PUSH ON IT AGAIN FOR THE CAR TO PICK UP SPEED. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY AND I CANT AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO GET FIXED. I AM ALSO GETTING THE AIR BAG FAULT AND I HAD GOTTEN IT FIXED ONCE BEFORE FOR ABOUT $300 AND THEN A WEEK LATER IT CAME BACK ON. THE WAY IT CAME BACK ON IS AFTER I REPROGRAMMED MY KEY BECAUSE THAT WASN'T WORKING EITHER... *TR
NHTSA ID
10343115
Incident
Jul 9, 2010
Mileage
68,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2010
ON HOT DAY (90 DEGREE +/-) THE 3.6 ENGINE WILL SUDDENLY BEGIN TO IDLE AT 1000 RPM AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. IN MY LATEST EPISODE, I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO CITY TRAFFIC FOR 30-45 MINUTES WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RACE. THE FIRST NOTICE IS WHEN YOU ARE STOPPING OR STOPPED. WHEN STOPPED IT TAKES EXTRA BRAKE. PRESSURE AND CONCENTRATION TO KEEP THE CAR BRAKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT, I ONLY RECENTLY LINKED THE CAR'S BEHAVIOR WITH THE HIGH AIR TEMPS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DID NOT DETECT ANY ERROR CODES WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10340312
Incident
Jun 13, 2010
Mileage
58,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jun 13, 2010
SYMPTOM #1) CAR WILL NOT START OR IF IT DOES START IT WILL IMMEDIATELY STALL AND STEERING COLUMN WILL LOCK. AFTER MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH REPEATEDLY, REOPENING THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE PUSH IGNITION 5-10 TIMES IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AND RUN. SYMPTOM #2) MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS DEFECT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL IMMEDIATELY, THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE LOSS OF ALL POWER CONTROLS AT SPEEDS AT LEAST UP TO 70 MPH. THERE IS NO WARNING FROM THE CAR ITSELF. THERE IS NO STUTTERING OR NOISE. SUDDENLY THE CAR IS JUST DEAD AND ROLLING ALONG AT EXTREME SPEEDS. THE FIX IS TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART BY REMOVING AND REINSERTING THE KEY UNTIL IT STARTS AGAIN. THE DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP "STEERING COLUMN DEFECT" AND PROMPT A WARNING LIGHT FOR THE STEERING COLUMN AS IF IT WERE LOCKED FROM A CAR ALARM PROMPT. OCCASIONALLY, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION AND HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS DONE WITHOUT THE AID OF POWER STEERING AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEEDS AS THERE IS NO WAY OF "KNOWING" WHEN THE DEFECT WILL OCCUR. THIS DEFECT IS OCCURRING DAILY. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS TOLD IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN REQUIRING A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. ESTIMATED COST TO MYSELF WAS $1,000-2,000. CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY (58,000 MILES). I BELIEVE THIS DEFECT IS NOT A RESULT OF ANY HABIT OF MYSELF AS THE DRIVER BUT RATHER A DEFECT IN THE WORKMANSHIP OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL. A SEARCH ON GOOGLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE REVEALED THOUSANDS OF OTHER DRIVERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, DIFFICULTY STARTING AND RESTARTING, POSSIBLE STRANDING OF THE DRIVER). I URGE A RECALL TO MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY! *TR
NHTSA ID
10336075
Incident
Jun 12, 2010
Mileage
58,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Mar 9, 2010
BRAND NEW VEHICLE, 06 VW PASSAT, DROVE IT FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS--THEN, CAR STARTING DYING SUDDENLY AFTER BEING STOPPED (AT A RED LIGHT) THEN ACCELERATING ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WOULDN'T SPUTTER OR CHOKE--JUST DIE. TOOK IT TO VW TO CHECK INTO IT--THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS PUTTING INTO MY CAR--BUT IT WASN'T. FINALLY, AFTER 34 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN THE SHOP, THE DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I TALKED WITH VW HEADQUARTERS. THEY OFFERED ME $300. I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS DYING--COMPLETELY QUITTING ON ME--IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS--AND HOW MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS I HAD AVOIDED--SO $300 WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT--BUT VW CLAIMED IT WAS NOT A "SAFETY ISSUE". I EXPLAINED FURTHER THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS INTERMITTENTLY DOING THIS, I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING, ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE--STILL, VW WOULD NOT ADMIT TO THERE BEING AN ISSUE. OUT OF SHEER PANIC, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND CONVINCED THEM TO GET ME A NEW CAR. I BELIEVE THE DEALERSHIP RE-SOLD MY OLD CAR, THE ONE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX. A YEAR LATER, A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAPPEN WITH HER 92 JETTA. HER MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE IGNITION COILS AND REPLACED THEM. NOW, A YEAR LATER, VW SENT A NOTICE TO ME IN THE MAIL SAYING IT IS "NOT A RECALL" BUT THEY WANTED US TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS "ONLY IF A CERTAIN LIGHT INDICATOR" GOES ON IN THE CAR. I NEVER HAD SUCH A LIGHT GO ON IN MY OLD CAR, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS AND TOOK MY CURRENT VW VEHICLE IN TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS ANYWAY. THANKFULLY, THE DEALERSHIP DID IT FOR ME, BECAUSE THEY KNEW MY HISTORY. THE NOTICE FROM VW CLEARLY STATES THAT THEY ONLY WANT YOU TO REPLACE THEM IF THE LIGHT GOES ON IN YOUR CAR AND YOU ONLY HAD UNTIL A CERTAIN DATE (FEB. 28TH) TO DO IT. STILL SEEMS TO BE NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM VW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AT HAND. *TR
NHTSA ID
10318007
Incident
Dec 20, 2008
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Dec 14, 2009
'07/19/2006: PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT '04/13/2007: RADIO WILL NOT EJECT CD- THE STEREO SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY RADIO '12/06/2007: CAR WILL NOT START ' CALLED TOW COMPANY, UPON ARRIVAL CHECKED BATTERY AND IT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM; TOW COMPANY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START; CAR WAS TOWED TO LASHER VOLKSWAGEN '12/14/2007: CAR WILL NOT START AGAIN, SAME ISSUE AS BEFORE ON 12/06/2007; CALLED THE TOW COMPANY AND HAD IT TOWED TO LASHER DEALERSHIP; AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS BACK AND FORTH, VW DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM NOR HAVE THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE YET '01/12/08: PICKED UP THE VEHICLE FROM LASHER VW ' SEEMED TO WORK OKAY '01/14/08: WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO UNLOCK AND LOCK BY THEMSELVES AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY; ALSO, SUDDENLY LIGHT INDICATORS (BLINKERS) DID NOT WORK, HIGH BEAMS DID NOT WORK, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, STEERING WHEEL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON; THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION '01/17/08: WHILE DRIVING TO BERKELEY, ON THE FREEWAY, THE BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, AND COULD NOT GET THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK; LOCKS BEGAN TO LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING; TELEPHONE CALL AGAIN, TO LASHER VW TO EXPRESS GREAT CONCERN AND WORRIED ABOUT BEING STRANDED; WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN ON FRIDAY 01/1/08 AT 7:30 AM; ONCE WE ARRIVED IN BERKELEY, WE PARKED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION ' THE RADIO WAS STILL ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT SHUT OFF; WE STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED; WHEN LOCKING THE CAR WITH THE ALARM, THE DOORS LOCKED BUT THE ALARM DID NOT TURN ON; LIGHTS REMAINED ON FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, FEARING THAT THE BATTERY WOULD RUN LOW AND WE WOULD BE STRANDED '08/05/09: TOOK THE CAR TO ELK GROVE VW AND TOLD THAT WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS '10/24/09-12/14/09: THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SINCE 10/23/09 AND SITTING IN OUR GARAGE & NOW AT NEILLO VW. *TR
NHTSA ID
10295694
Incident
Apr 13, 2007
Mileage
17,815 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 10, 2007
THERE IS AN UNSAFE THROTTLE LAG ON THE 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 3.6 LITER. APPROX 4 SEC DELAY WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE CAR COMES TO A STAND STILL OR IN THE EVENT OF AN EVASIVE MANEUVER, MERGING, PASSING AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU'VE DEPRESSED THE PEDAL APPROX. 3/4 TO AN INCH OF PEDAL TRAVEL, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR LURCHES AND ACCELERATES AT WHAT FEELS LIKE HALF TO FULL THROTTLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10208587
Incident
Oct 24, 2007
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 7, 2007
THE VEHICLE HAS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FROM A STOP. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND TO OTHERS WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND OTHERWISE. THE DELAY IN THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IS TROUBLING ON NEW VEHICLES IN PROPER OPERATING CONDITION. *TR
NHTSA ID
10208205
Incident
Nov 6, 2007
Mileage
28,380 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 22, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE INCREASED TO 900 RPMS OR MORE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 20 MPH AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THE RPM'S WERE NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.M UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
NHTSA ID
10206535
Incident
Jul 1, 2006
Mileage
14,000 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
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