2013 Volkswagen Passat Driver assistance Problems

Timing chain issues, motor oil circulation problems, that Volkswagen has recalls out for 2.0 cc turbo 2013.

NHTSA ID

11673096

Incident

Feb 5, 2024

I was on top of Beech Mountain NC working at a customer's house when it started to snow. I was at the bottom of their driveway and when I attempted to drive out, the traction control light would turn on, indicating I was losing traction. When this happened, I was unable to accelerate any more and the car started sliding backwards. So sitting in the car in the snow, I pulled up YouTube to figure out the "procedure" to disable traction control so I could get more speed. Turn the car off, ignition on, activate the flashers, push the brake pedal multiple times, then start the car. Traction control disabled, so "simple"! The only problem is once the car starts moving traction control gets enabled again and I'm sliding backwards again! Extremely dangerous on a mountain! Eventually I was able to clear the snow enough and just hold down the accelerator to power out. So now my GPS is telling me I have to drive up a hill to get off the mountain. Same problem: I start up the hill, traction control kicks on and I lose ALL power and begin to slide backwards! Luckily I am a good driver because I was able to control the slide and do a 180 in the middle of the road. So my GPS tries to reroute me and sends me up a different hill! Same exact result! I eventually had to just ignore my GPS entirely and just manually look for a road that was heading down hill. I thought for sure I was either going to wreck because of the traction control or be stuck up there in a snow storm! Not having the option to disable traction control and leave it off so that I could get uphill us very unsafe! The worst part is I didn't even realize my car didn't have the option to disable traction control until I was already stuck! If I'd known that, I would have taken my truck.

NHTSA ID

11648878

Incident

Jan 19, 2025

Stalling? Have to put in DRIVE in order to forward in order to get car to back up? Air bags Clock wheel has more connection to what wrong/Air bags connections is Connected to HORN (which stopped working) DRIVE? all the refuses are working fine. horn not work; Dangerous driving in CALIIFORNIA without a HORN** I just want ALL is for them to REPLACE the PARTS OF MY VW 2013 PASSAT WITHOUT ANY CHARGE Whatsoever; even an UNNECESSARY FEE** I am driving a car with DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS, TIRES HEADLIGHTS, Suspension, SEATBELTS PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSIONS PRBLEMS, steering, electrical, system THAT CAN EXPLODE LEADING TO A LETHAL SITUATION FOR MYSELF And/or my DISABLED SON NOT TO SAY SOMETIMES I HAVE MY GRANDKIDS here have been a lot of complaints other than for what these recalled products are allowed on this vehicle. I am not the only one dealing with this stalling issue/go forward. DANGEROUS what does SOMEONE have do suddenly put it in reverse to get out of another vehicle or another harmful?? Because these issues are really serious!! Especially when dealership like AUTO PLUS IN INDIO. CA. use car DEALERSHIP in vehicles like this and promising. people things about the vehicle and not true!!

NHTSA ID

11572469

Incident

Aug 9, 2023

* Driver air bag, horn, all controls in steering wheel. * Not having a horn or working air bag * Yes, defective clock switch has been confirmed-this was a recall, was replaced and failed again * No- dealer/recall repair center only * No, air bag light came on and that was it. At that moment nothing worked This occurred in March 2022. I was told it would take 1-2 months to get the part. The part is still unavailable. Called VM Customer Care-they instructed me to call the dealer. The dealer has no control over parts coming from VW. Now driving 8 months without an airbag or horn. All controls in the steering wheel are inoperable. Most are convenience items. Air bag and horn are safety issues.

NHTSA ID

11492519

Incident

Mar 22, 2022

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EPC LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON DURING ACCELERATION AROUND 40MPH. ACCELERATION DROPPED AND IDLE IS ROUGH. CHECK ENGINE AND EPC LIGHT AND ROUGH IDLE WITH NO ACCELERATION OCCURS EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED. OBDII CODES SHOW MISFIRE. ONLINE FORUMS SHOW SIMILAR CASES WITH NO CONSISTENT REASON OR FIX BETWEEN 30K AND 70K MILES.

NHTSA ID

11373584

Incident

Oct 25, 2020

Mileage

60,925 mi

HELLO I PURCHASE MY PASSAT 2013 LAST YEAR IN DECEMBER IT NEVER GAVE ME A PROBLEM BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AN IT WOULDN GO OFF THAN THE ALL KIND OF DIFFERENT SYMBOLS CAME ACROSS MY DASHBOARD SO I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC THEY SAY I NEED NEW GLOW PIPES SO I GOT NEW GLOW PIPES AFTER THEY GOT REPLACED MY CAR STILL WOULDN'T WORK SO THEY SAYED I NEEDED A TURBO ACTUATOR BROUGHT THE TURBO ACTUATOR AN THE MECHANIC CHANGE IT MY CAR STILL WOULDN'T WORK IT WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED OR NOTHING THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN RESTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES STILL WOULDN'T GO AWAY SO I CALL A ANOTHER MECHANIC TO GET A SECOND OPINION AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS A ELECTRIC PROBLEM THAT MY CAR WAS HOLDING TO MUCH HEAT AFTER CHANGING EVERYTHING MY CAR BEEN PARKED FOR 3MONTHS AN I'M SO SAD I LOVE MY CAR BUT I SEE THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THE PROBLEM I'M EXPERIENCING SO BASICALLY ALL THE MONEY I SPEND TRYING TO GET IT FIXED WAS A WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME BUT IM GRATEFUL I'M OK AND MY CAR DIDN'T BLOW UP WHILE ME AND MY BABIES WERE IN IT CROSSING THE BRIDGE IT WAS SMOKING SO BAD FROM THE BACK THAN IT STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AFTER AGAIN EVERYTHING WAS FIX AN REPLACED THAT WHEN WE LEARN IT WAS A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE ANYMORE ALSO I TRY TO CHECK THE BOX FOR THE ELECTRICAL, AN ENGINE AS WELL SORRY ABOUT MY COMPLAINT I TRULY LOVE MY VW PASSAT I HAVE A VW TOURGE ALSO VW OR MY FAVORITE CARS LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO SOMEONE SOON

NHTSA ID

11365860

Incident

Aug 1, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

MY 2013 VW PASSAT 3.6 SEL LACKS A ELEC STABILITY CONTROL SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE TRACTION IS TERRIBLE ON THIS VEHICLE IN RAIN, SNOW, AND SLEET. THE ENGINE HAS A KNOCKING NOISE, EVEN THOUGH I SERVICE THE VEHICLE AT VW EVERY 10,000 MILES AS REQUIRED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS VEHICLE HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATING, AND I LOSE TENSION IN MY DRIVER SEAT BELT. THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY FLAW FOR THIS $40,000 VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11162787

Incident

Dec 14, 2018

PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY EPC LIGHT COMES ON. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE SPEED SET TO 1800RPM IN "SAFE MODE" NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG. MECHANICS CANNOT TTELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. DEALERSHIP VW HAS NO IDEA AND WANT TO START REPLACING ITEMS IN DESCRIMINATELY AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO THROW AROUND AND BESIDES. THE PEOPLE THAT BUILT THE CAR CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. COMPUTER FAULTS AND SHUTS DOWN THE POWER AT HIWAY SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES CAR STALLS OUT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS MAYBE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE I'M READING ONLINE AND TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

11115689

Incident

Jul 30, 2018

Mileage

20,000 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL ON CLOCKSPRING, AND THE REPAIR WAS A CLOCKSPRING COVER THAT WAS REPAIRED ON MY VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2016. JULY 2018 MY CLOCKSPRING HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED COSTING $650. THERE WAS ALSO AN AIRBAG RECALL THAT CAUSED MY HORN TO STOP WORKING, AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON, AT THE SAME EXACT TIME THE CLOCKSPRING STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP 2 DAYS AGO TO HAVE THE CLOCKSPRING LOOKED AT AND THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAG REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW CLOCKSPRING BECAUSE ONLY THE COVER WAS CONSIDERED A RECALL, HOWEVER OBVIOIUSLY THIS WAS NOT A SUFFICIENT CLOCKSPRING REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11110227

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

83,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS A PART OF THE VEHICLES THAT HAD THE CLOCKSPRING RECALL. I TOOK IT TO A VW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL FIXED AND EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER THEY 'FIXED' THE CLOCKSPRING, IT CEASED TO WORK AGAIN. NOW THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, AND NEITHER DO ANY OF THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. VW REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE WITHOUT A CHARGE OF UPWARDS OF $500, STATING THAT BECAUSE IT IS NOT APART OF THE INITIAL RECALL IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA ID

11102488

Incident

Apr 13, 2018

Mileage

40,961 mi

THE REPAIRED CLOCK SPRING FAILED AGAIN PER DEALER. SO THE AIR BAG DOESN'T WORK AND NEITHER DOES THE HORN OR ANY OTHER STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. SHE WAS DRIVING AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND HEARD A POP !

NHTSA ID

11005301

Incident

Jul 5, 2017

Mileage

51,500 mi

THE WIRE HARNESS BURNED THROUGH INSTALLATION REACHING TO COMPRESSOR

NHTSA ID

10969427

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

Mileage

42,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE PROCEEDING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SCRAP METAL PASSED THROUGH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE HAND AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIB. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000. ....UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT CONSUMER STATED AIRBAG RECALL REPLACEMENT COULD NOT BE COMPLETED-PART NOT AVAILABLE- DEALER INSTALLED "CLOCK SPRING" AS TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL NEW AIRBAG AVAILABLE- RECALL SPRING OF 2016- PART NEVER MADE AVAILABLE. VW ENGINEERS WOULD EXAMINE THE CAR AT THE SALVAGE SITE, ENGINEERS DETERMINED CONSUMER FOOT WAS ON THE GAS, NOT BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WERE NO TEARS IN THE AIRBAG AND THEREFORE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES OR PERSONAL INJURIES. CONSUMER STATED FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOT GAS PEDAL. UPDATED 66/22/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10916621

Incident

Sep 24, 2016

Mileage

27,000 mi

BOUGHT CAR FROM ATLANTA LUXURY MOTORS OF UNION CITY GEORGIA AND THEY SAY THEY CAN SELL CAR WITH RECALLS IF THERE IS NO FIX STATUS.THE AIR BAGS SOUND AS IF THEY WANT TO JUMP OUT.

NHTSA ID

10871007

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

THIS IS MY THIRD COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. DURING THE AUGUST FLOODING, WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND PASSING THROUGH SOME WATER PILES MY CAR LOST THE BOTTOM ENGINE COVER, LOWER GRILL BROKE, GOT THEM REPLACED NO PROBLEM. WINTER COMES AND WHEN IT GETS COLD FRONT DOOR FREEZES SHUT, REMOTE START BARELY WORKS ONLY WHEN IT WANTS TOO. ALSO NO PROBLEM. WE GOT OUT FIRST WINTER STORM THANK GOD I HAD PUT NEW TIRES BEFORE THIS. HOWEVER DRIVING HOME SOME AREAS HAD A BIT OF SNOW FIRST I GET STUCK AND CANT TURN OFF TRACTION CONTROL. THEN MY LOWER GRILL BREAKS AGAIN. IS THE GRILL MADE OUT OF WATER BOTTLE PLASTIC. IF EVERY TIME THERE IS A STORM I NEED TO SPEND 250 DOLLARS ON A LOWER GRILL THAT IS JUST A WONDERFUL CAR EXPENSE. YOU TRY AND TRADE IN THE CAR AND THE VALUE JUST DROPPED. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST VW. HORRIBLE QUALITY THAT A BUMPER CAN'T WITH STAND SOME ACCUMULATION OF SNOW. I WILL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH VW AS WELL, LETS HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLUS THEY STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE NAVIGATION AND BLUETOOTH ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680589

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

43,000 mi

I FEEL THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THERE IS KNOW WAY TO BYPASS THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION CONTROL. EVERY OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED INCLUDING MY 2005 PASSAT HAS A BUTTON THAT ALLOW YOU TO BYPASS THE TRACTION CONTROL. THE PASSAT IS DESIGNED TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WHEN THE TIRES BEGIN TO SPIN. THIS MAY HELP A NOVICE DRIVER OR BE HELPFUL IN THE RAIN, BUT WHEN YOUR IN THE SNOW OR ICE AND ON A HILL OR INCLINE IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND LEAVE YOU STOPPED. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TRACTION ON A HILL OR TO GET ANY MOMENTUM WHEN THE CAR SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN WHEN THE TIRES SPIN. THIS LEAVES YOU AT A STAND STILL AND VULNERABLE TO CARS OR TRUCKS BEHIND YOU. THE PASSAT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO BYPASS THE TRACTION CONTROL UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,SO YOU CAN SPIN THE TIRES TO GET MOMENTUM, SO YOU CAN AT LEAST MOVE OFF THE ROADWAY. IT IS NECESSARY TO SPIN THE TIRES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SO AT LEAST YOU CAN MOVE THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE GET HURT BECAUSE THE PASSAT BECOMES IMMOBILE WHEN THE TIRES SPIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10663409

Incident

Dec 10, 2014

Mileage

35,000 mi

CAR WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGINE REVVED UP , CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF AND LOSS OF POWER TO THE MOTOR. TRIED TO RESET CRUISE CONTROL TO A LESSER SPEED AND WOULD NOT SET. CAR FELT LIKE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS (ACTED LIKE IT WAS A MANUAL DRIVE BEING WOUND TO TIGHT). DROVE FOR SEVERAL MILES THEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON (GLOWPLUG INDICATOR). PARKED IN A SAFE LOCATION AND STOPPED CAR. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND NO WARNING FLASHED SO I BEGAN TO DRIVE CAR...WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WARNING LIGHT CAME BACK ON. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP GOT REPAIRED (REPLACED TURBO CHARGER ALONG WITH OIL FEED AND RETURN LINES). PICKED CAR UP ON 11/26/14 DROVE FOR LESS THAN 30 MILES AND GOT A ENGINE OIL LIGHT AND WARNING MESSAGE: ENGINE OFF MANUAL. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY TALKED WITH MANUFACTURER AND THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE ME A NEW TURBOCHARGER AND NEW ENGINE. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP AND REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661954

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

41,176 mi

I WAS PULLING SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED AND HIT A PARKING METER POLE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN SIX AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, AGAIN AT VERY LOW SPEED. THIS TIME THE CAR HIT THE WALL OF THE PARKING RAMP, AND THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IN BOTH CASES, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THAT MORNING, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT THREE MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629071

Incident

Jun 20, 2014

Mileage

12,153 mi

THE BACKUP CAMERA IN THIS VEHICLE FREQUENTLY FAILS TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN REVERSE. VW OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE, IN A WRITTEN RESPONSE, A DELAY TIME OF ONE (1) TO TWO (2) MINUTES BEFORE THE CAMERA WILL ACTIVATE. IT IS AN UNREASONABLE EXPECTATION, FROM A CONSUMER / DRIVER STANDPOINT, TO WAIT 1 TO 2 MINUTES FOR A CAMERA TO ACTIVATE FOR A DRIVER TO DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO BACKUP. VW CONTINUES TO IGNORE THIS DEFICIENCY DESPITE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES EACH YEAR CAUSED BY BACKUP ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610603

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECCURED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OCCURRENCES WERE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WAY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10598831

Incident

Sep 1, 2013

Mileage

10,000 mi

THIS INCIDENT HAD TO HAPPEN TWICE FOR THE DEALER TO SEE THE ISSUE. ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT A LIGHT WHEN I REACHED 3000 RPM THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON PROBLEM WAS GONE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY ISSUE. COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN BUT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CAR OFF OR EVEN SHIFTING OUT OF D. I DROVE THE CAR WITH THAT CONDITION DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER AND INSTRUCTED ONE OF THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO GET IN THE CAR AND TAKE A RIDE WITH ME. HE SAW THE ISSUE AND THIS TIME BELIEVED ME AND THEY INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. MY SEAT FRAME WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY TWICE. MY NAVIGATION UNIT REPLACED TWICE AND VW STILL IGNORING THE LAG AND FREEZING OF THE UNIT. WHY PAY 5000 MORE FOR A NAVIGATION AND CAMERA FOR THEM NOT TO FUNCTION RIGHT. A SECTION OF MY MUFFLER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AS WELL. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE KEY FOB. I FOUND OUT IT IS EFFECTED VERY EASILY BY INTERFERENCE AND WHEN YOUR KEY FOB IS IN THE CAR IT CAN SAY KEY FOB NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS VEHICLE, I THOUGHT VW HAD BETTER QUALITY STANDARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596425

Incident

May 22, 2014

Mileage

32,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS I WAS TURNING AND STILL IN THE INTERSECTION, THE CAR STALLED. I LUCKILY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND CLEAR OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TAKE THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS EVEN AFTER BEING SEEN BY THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578417

Incident

Mar 29, 2014

Mileage

32,300 mi

DRIVING FROM ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH SUDDENLY LOST ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND POWER STARTED DROPPING RAPIDLY AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED FLASHING. IT PUT ME IMMEDIATELY INTO A VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER IN RAPIDLY-MOVING, HEAVY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND CALL THE DEALER'S VW SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO SERVICE. I WAS STRANDED JUST OFF THE FREEWAY IN THE NEXT TOWN, AND AFTER SEVERAL HOURS WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TURBO WAS BAD (THIS PART HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE, ABOUT 100 OR SO MILES EARLIER). HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY VW PROPERLY, AND WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR IT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY THIS TIME I WAS NOT AT HIGH SPEED, AND WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION. THIS SITUATION WITH THE TURBO COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS OR EVEN DEADLY IF AT HIGH SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577296

Incident

Feb 4, 2014

Mileage

9,500 mi

BACKUP CAMERA IS SLOW TO START. MAY TAKE FROM 5 TO 20 SECONDS TO BECOME OPERATIONAL AFTER START UP. THIS IS HAZARD WITH RESPECT TO RELIANCE ON BACKUP CAMERAS BY DRIVERS TO SEE OBSTRUCTIONS BEHIND THE CAR. FAILURE OF CAMERA TO START UP QUICKLY RESULTS IN REDUCED SAFETY BECAUSE DRIVERS WILL BACK UP WITHOUT CAMERA OPERATIONAL. I CAN START MY CAR AND BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND REACH THE CORNER OF MY BLOCK BEFORE THE CAMERA STARTS UP AND SHOWS ME THE ROAD DISAPPEARING BEHIND ME. A CAMERA DOES NOT REPLACE DRIVER OBLIGATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT OBSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT BEHIND THEIR CAR, BUT THE CAMERA IS ALSO THERE TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE AND IT IS NOT RELIABLE AS A SAFETY FEATURE DO TO ITS EXTREMELY SLOW START UP. INDIVIDUALS DO NOT LIKE TO WAIT 30 SECONDS AT A STOP LIGHT MUCH LESS 20 JUST TO BACK OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED TO ENSURE THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA IS A RELIABLE SAFETY FEATURE AS IT WAS INTENDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575997

Incident

Jul 31, 2012

Mileage

200 mi

WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP SIGN, VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE LOW POWER. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE, BUT VERY SLOWLY. A FEW MILES LATER, I HAD TO STOP FOR ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD STOPPED TO TURN LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AFTER THAT CAR HAD TURNED, I HAD NO POWER (VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING). I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT A VEHICLE COMING UP FROM BEHIND ME HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY TO AVOID HITTING MY CAR FROM BEHIND. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHICH CONFIRMED A FAILURE OF THE TURBOCHARGER SYSTEM AND THEN REPLACED THE TURBOCHARGER UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT OF TURBOCHARGER APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574104

Incident

Mar 19, 2014

Mileage

16,267 mi