19 of the
348 complaints about the 2004 Volkswagen Passat are about the
lighting — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
35,880 miles.
2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN, STATING A SERIES OF ISSUES SUCH AS OIL SLUDGE, ENGINE MALFUNCTION ISSUES, ANTI-FREEZE AND COOLANT ISSUES AND IGNITION COIL ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGENS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE LEARNED THERE WAS A SPECIFIC TYPE OF COOLANT THAT ONLY BE USED FOR HER MODEL VEHICLE. SHE STATED EACH SUMMER SHE DROVE AROUND WITH 2 CONTAINERS OF ANTI-FREEZE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSUME SO MUCH ANTI-FREEZE. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10383827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlanta, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW-BEAM PORTION OF MY HEADLIGHT BULBS ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE SEEM TO LAST ONLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS. I'VE BECOME AN EXPERT AT REPLACING THEM. I DRIVE THREE MILES TO WORK, SO THE LIGHTS ARE NOT LIT AN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF HOURS/MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10352457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesLAS Vegas, NV
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2004 VW PASSAT TDI. VW HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THE SWITCH CONTINUES TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE CIRCUIT AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR MODELS( JETTA, PASSAT BOTH GAS AND DIESEL). THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONNEL ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH ONLY IF YOUR HAVE ALL YOUR MAINTENANCE DONE AT A AUTHORIZED VW DEALER. SO IF YOU DON"T HAVE ALL YOUR OIL CHANGES AND REPAIRS DONE BY A AUTHORIZED V W DEALER THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THIS IS A COST OF $300.00 TO THE CONSUMER. THIS SURE IS SAFETY RELATED AND NEED TO BE RECALLED ASAP. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED FIRES UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
NHTSA complaint #10289030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,050 milesShrewbury, NJ
INTERIOR LIGHTING
2004 VW PASSAT 4 SEDAN REAR CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND ASH TRAY ARE NOT SAFELY AND FUNCTIONAL INSTALLED WELL. HAVE THE TENDENCY TO KEEP COMING APART ENTIRELY EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRES LEADING TO BURN AND ELECTRICAL SHOCK OR POPPING OR BURNING OF WIRES. HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY DEALER AS WELL AS BY MYSELF TO FURTHER PREVENT THE MISHAP SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CHILDREN BUMP THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND IT CAUSED SPARKS AND BURNING SMELL. I WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE ENCLOSURE AGAIN FOR THE 13TH OR SO TIME AND SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY IT'S NOT COVERED. CHILDREN SIT IN THE REAR MORE THAN ADULTS BUT THERE HAS BEEN TIME WHERE THE ADULTS HAVE CAUSD THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S THAT MY 9 YR OLD SON TRY TO REPAIR OR PUT BACK IN WHERE THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURE FELL OUT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10285722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,000 milesFlowery Branch, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OUR 2004 PASSAT'S BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT RECENTLY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR OTHER PROCESS THAT TOLD US THE LIGHTS WERE OUT. WE WERE ALMOST IN A CAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND US DIDN'T SEE OUR BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT VW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IN 2007...BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED SUCH NOTICE. I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC.
NHTSA complaint #10256267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,999 milesEL Paso, TX
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION = 2004 VW PASSAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORT SEVERAL FUEL CONSUMPTIONS PROBLEMS AT HOY FOX VW AND GAS ENDED UP LEAKING OUT OF FUEL TANK AND CAUSE A SPILL IN MY GARAGE AND DRIVE. HAZARD WAS INHALATION GAS IN A CLOSED IN AREA CAUSED HEAD ACHES/ NAUSEA/DIZZINESS/ FOR MY FAMILY AND I I HAVE HAD MUTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE THEN HAS BROKE DOWN ON ME TWICE IN LESS THAN 1 DAY'S TIME. ON 01 SEP 08 MY WIFE NOTICED AND OIL SPOT IN DRIVEWAY AFTER I LEFT TO GO OUT OF TOWN GRANTED WE HAVE BRAND NEW HOME AND THE VW WAS ONLY VEHICLE PARKED IN THAT SPOT SHE COULD REACH ME BECAUSE NO SERVICE WITH MY CELL PHONE BUT I ENDED UP BROKE DOWN OUTSIDE BIG SPRING ,TX THE CARE WAS SLUGGISH AND LEAKING OIL THIS TIME AND ON 03 SEP08 IN /TEXARKANA AFTER BEING IN SHOP ALLDAY 2SEP08 IT BROKE DOWN FOR A PREVIOUS CONDITION WITH IGNITION COILS. HOY FOXVW NOT ADMITTING THAT MAY HAVE PUT THE NEW OIL FILTER TO TIGHT TO CAUSE TO BREAKDOWN AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGE ON 28AUG08/29AUG08 FOR OTHER NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER I'M SURE IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE THEY TRYING TO ASSUME BECAUSE IT JUST HAD WENT OUT WARRANTY. THE ENGINE OIL COOLER WAS DAMAGED AND BURSTED WHEN PUT ON AT HOY-FOX VW BY A VW TECHNICIAN AFTER PUTTING THE OIL FILTER ON ENTIRELY TO TIGHT. LEAKED IN YARD AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AND THE SPILLED OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE VEHICLE (OVERHEATED) WHICH MAKE IT HARD FOR ME STOP WHILE DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SLICKNESS OF MIXTURE BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND OIL. ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BUT ENDED UP SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND LETTING COAST OVER TO MEDIAN.
NHTSA complaint #10244587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,000 milesLongmont, CO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CAR PARKED FRONT FACING WEST APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FOG OVER ON THE INSIDE. DEALER SOLD ME A KIT FOR APPROXIMATELY $15 AND I WAS TOLD TO APPLY TO THE OUTSIDE. THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS ON THE INSIDE AND NOT THE OUTSIDE. I AM RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME AND NOW THE DEALER WANTS $250 PER HEADLIGHT PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10225754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,000 milesRedwood City, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
1. NEW 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, V6 SEDAN. RETURNED CAR SEVERAL TIMES UNDER WARRANTY FOR MANY TYPES OF REPAIRS. VOLKSWAGEN UNABLE TO REPAIR CAR. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WERE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. 2. SEVERAL FAILURES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, FAILURE TO START, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CONSTANTLY ON, BRAKING PROBLEMS, CLIMATE CONTROL PROBLEMS, AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING FAILED BRAKE LIGHTS. 3. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY VOLKSWAGEN HAS FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS ADEQUATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10216738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cobden, IL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MY 2004 VW PASSAT (REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH). I HAD MY REPAIRS COMPLETED AT AN AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE CENTER IN OCTOBER 2007 AND SENT MY FORM TO VW FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I RECEIVED A CALL ON 1/10/08 INFORMING ME THAT THE DEADLINE FOR THE REPAIR WAS 9/23/07. THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED WAS DATED SEPTEMBER 2007 AND DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A DEADLINE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10214432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesGlendale, AZCrash
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
KNOWN ISSUE "VIBRATING HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY", DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AT DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO VIBRATE CAUSING REPEATED HEADLAMP BULB FAILURE. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10208480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,570 milesOntario, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
6/30 I DROVE MY 2004 VW PASSAT WAGON. I HAD USED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN, I ATTEMPTED TO RE-ACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TRIED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND IT WORKED. 7/3, I PARKED MY CAR FOR AN HOUR APPT. I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. I TURNED THE CAR ON, TAPPED THE BRAKES AND TURNED IT OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON. I HAD TO LEAVE TOWN FOR A FEW DAYS AND UPON RETURNING, CALLED MY DEALER, ONTARIO VW. 7/9 I MADE AN APPT TO SERVICE THE CAR. SYLVIA IN SERVICE MADE THE APPT. SHE MENTIONED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. AFTER MAKING THE APPT, I RESEARCHED THE RECALL. I FOUND THE NHTSA SITE. NHTSA HAD A CAMPAIGN ID # 07V063000 FOR 6 MAKES OF VOLKSWAGEN, VARYING YEARS, ALL FOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION. THE DESCRIPTION MATCHED MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. LATER ON THE 9TH, I WENT TO DROP OFF MY CAR FOR REPAIR. I WAS CHECKED IN AND TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. JOSE MEZA, SENIOR SERVICE ADVISOR, TOLD ME MY VIN # HAD NO RECALL. I EXPLAINED ABOUT THE INFO I FOUND AND HE SAID I WAS INCORRECT. HE DID NOT OFFER TO RESEARCH ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL BE REPAIRED. MY ISSUE IS WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION AND THE LACK OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF ONTARIO VW AND VW CORP, WHOM I CALLED TO COMPLAIN AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY VIN # DID NOT REFLECT A RECALL. IF 5 OTHER VW MAKES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE UNDER RECALL, WHY AM I BEING CHALLENGED ABOUT INCLUDING MY CAR IN THE RECALL? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN BECOME INOPERABLE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. VEHICLE SAFETY SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY FOR ALL MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERSHIPS AND I AM SHOCKED AT THE LACK OF INTEREST I AM RECEIVING FROM ALL I CONTACT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. INCLUDING THE NHTSA THAT TOLD ME I COULD FILE A GENERAL COMPLAINT AND POSSIBLY BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE RECALL BUT COULD NOT OFFER SPECIFIC HELP WITH ANYTHING ELSE.
NHTSA complaint #10195977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,000 milesChagrin Falls, OH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON OCCASION THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ALSO STAY ON WITH NO FOOT PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10195183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,688 milesFrankfort, KY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED INTERMITTENTLY OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. WHENEVER THE SWITCH WAS OPERATING POORLY IT KICKED OUT THE CRUISE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10190321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,880 milesKent, WACrash1 injured
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
1. WHEN CAR IN FRONT OF THE PASSAT SLOWED, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS LIGHT AND ASR LIGHTS CAME ON BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE PASSAT WAS NOT GOING QUICKLY AND HAD SAFE STOPPING DISTANCE SO THE CAR HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP. THE PASSAT DID NOT STOP, HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF IT. 2. THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE PASSAT TO REAR-END THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR SUSTAINED WHIPLASH INJURIES AND 600 USD TO HIS CAR. HE IS IN TREATMENT WITH THE COST OF TREATMENT UNDETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE PASSAT SUSTAINED 3000 USD IN DAMAGE. THE DRIVER OF THE PASSAT WAS NOT INJURED, WAS TICKETED, LOST HALF A DAY'S WAGES IN COURT, AND DOES NOT TRUST HIS VEHICLE. 3. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DETERMINED TO BE ELECTRICALLY FAULTY. MALFUNCTIONS WERE STORED IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH GAVE AN IMPLAUSIBLE SIGNAL, SPORADIC. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. THE FAULT MEMORY OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS ERASED AND RESET. THE DRIVER OF THE PASSAT CONTACTED VW ASKING ABOUT THE FAULT(S) AND EXPRESSING HIS DOUBT IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OF THE PASSAT FELT VW'S DEFECTIVE PARTS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT AND VW SHOULD COVER THE COST. VW'S ANSWER IS THAT THE DEFECTIVE PARTS COULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. TONIGHT'S PAPER HAS ISSUED INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL OF THIS PART HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT PASSATS IN THIS RECALL. PASSATS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, TOO. WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION OR WE WOULD HAVE CONTACTED YOU MONTHS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10183592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,875 milesCanton, GA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KEEPS FAILING. IT CAUSES THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TO BE DISABLED AND KEEPS THE STOP LIGHTS ON, EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. I'VE HAD THE BRAKE LIKE SWITCH REPLACED 6 TIMES NOW OVER THE PAST 2.5 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10171622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 61,000 milesOviedo, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
CRUISE CONTROL AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE ON 2004 VW PASSAT.
NHTSA complaint #10169587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesLittleton, CO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MY COMPLAIN IS REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2004 VW PASSAT. I HAVE OWN THIS CAR SINCE NOV 04 AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DIM HEADLIGHTS ARE INADEQUATE ON THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE DIM MAY SHINE OUT APPOX 25 FEET AND THEN JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS A TESTING LOCATION, WHERE I COULD TAKE THE CAR TO SEE IF THE LIGHTS EVEN MEET YOUR SAFETY REGULATIONS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10112523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesFernley, NV
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
IN SIX MONTHS MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING TWICE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRKE LIGHT SWITH ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10105750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alpharetta, GA
INTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE TEST DRIVING A VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX SEDAN, TOUCHING THE WINDOW CONTROL CAUSED THE ABS BRAKING MECHANISM TO ENGAGE. THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE QUICKLY APPLIED AND ABS FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS AND TONES WENT OFF IN THE CAR. THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FLICKERED AS WELL. THE WARNINGS SHUT OFF IN A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS IN THE SPAN OF 10 MINUTES BOTH TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON A LEVEL ROAD AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME. THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED BRAKING AND THE STARTLING EFFECT OF THE WARNINGS OCCURING SIMULTANIOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10086787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.