*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Structure › Body
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…
Jun 21, 2022Engine
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!
Aug 9, 2022Fuel/propulsion system
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…
Jun 1, 2021Fuel/propulsion system
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…
Sep 4, 2019 · 128,892 milesFuel/propulsion system
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.
Jul 1, 2019 · 71,000 milesFuel/propulsion system
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.…
Apr 22, 2019 · 140,000 milesEngine
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.
Feb 6, 2019 · 85,000 milesSeat belts
INERTIA REEL WILL NOT PAYOUT WEBBING. CAR WAS IN A SCHOOL PARKING LOT, CAR WAS LEVEL
Jan 11, 2019 · 219,500 miles
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
