FaultScore

2010 Volkswagen Passat transmission problems

34 of the 226 complaints about the 2010 Volkswagen Passat are about the transmission — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 62,000 miles.

B

34

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 29 85.3%
Automatic Transmission 4 11.8%
Clutch Assembly 1 2.9%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Volkswagen Passat year

1995 11 2.5%
1998 20 4.5%
1999 31 7.0%
2000 19 4.3%
2001 34 7.7%
2002 25 5.7%
2003 35 7.9%
2004 38 8.6%
2005 13 2.9%
2006 47 10.7%
2007 13 2.9%
2008 13 2.9%
2009 11 2.5%
2010 34 7.7%
2012 15 3.4%
2013 33 7.5%
2014 37 8.4%
2015 12 2.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 92,000 miles Floyds Knobs, IN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND GOING UPHILL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. AN AUDIBLE SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT WAS THEN UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF CLARKSVILLE (406 E LEWIS AND CLARK PKWY, CLARKSVILLE, IN 47129) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA complaint #11339307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 109,899 miles Charlotte, NC

POWER TRAIN

VW FOUND OUT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS DEFECTIVE IN THEIR VW CC 2.0 T ENGINE. THIS PART CAN GO OUT AT ANYTIME. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED YOU CAN BE FATALLY INJURED IF THIS TIMING CHAIN GOES OUT. IT HASN'T HAPPENED BUT I WAS WARNED. WITH THE SOLUTION OF A 3800.00 REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #11323419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 104,918 miles NEW Orleans, LA

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE IS DISPLAYING ERRATIC SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AS WELL AS SLIPPING WHILE IN GEAR IN BOTH DRIVE AND MANUAL DRIVE MODE. THE TRANSMISSION FUNCTION IS PUSHING THE GHG EMISSIONS PAST THE PER DETERMINED LIMIT. THE CALIBRATION SOFTWARE V1979 DOES NOT APPEAR COMPLIANT WITH ITS EMISSIONS CERTIFICATION PER CERTIFICATE NUMBERS AVWXV02.02UA-005 AND AVWXV02.03UA-006 AND I CANNOT FIND A RECALL OR TSB ADDRESSING SOFTWARE V1979. MODE9 : CALIBRATION IDENTIFICATION TYPE 02 - VIN : [XXX] (ADDRESS E8) TYPE 04 - CALIBRATION ID : 06J906026DA 6987 (ADDRESS E8) TYPE 04 - CALIBRATION ID : 02E300051P 1979 (ADDRESS E9) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11309950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 94,000 miles Charlotte, NC

POWER TRAIN

TIMING CHAIN BROKE RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND IS THE SUBJECT OF MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO PURCHASE A VW CC DO NOT DO IT. THESE VEHICLES ARE COMPLETE GARBAGE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED COMPLETELY BY THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #11292543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,000 miles Kennewick, WA

POWER TRAIN

DROVE CAR WITHOUT PROBLEMS. CAME BACK AN HOUR LATER AND IT STARTED, BUT ENGINE WAS SHAKING. MOVED IT ACROSS PARKING LOT AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. NEXT TIME I TRIED TO TURN IT ON, WOULD NOT START. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, SAID THAT TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND RUINED THE REST OF THE ENGINE. DID RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH VW ENGINES. FAULTY TIMING CHAINS ARE USED WHICH CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE LEAVING DRIVER AT RISK IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING. EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING, THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A COMMON OCCURRENCE FROM ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS FAILING AND RUINING THE REST OF THE CAR IS UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS AND VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BEYOND WARRANTY LIABILITIES FOR ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES THAT THIS HAPPENS TO. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUILD FAULTY ENGINES AND LEAVE CONSUMERS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THEIR SHODDY DESIGNS AND WORKMANSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #11288908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 197,000 miles Bethel, OH

POWER TRAIN

DSG TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES D GEAR SELECTOR INDICATOR. THIS MEANS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AND CANNOT BE REENGAGED INTO DRIVE. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION ON FREEWAY OR MAKING LEFT HAND TURN WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON ALWAYS CLEARS THE CONDITION HOWEVER VEHICLE MUST BE STOPPED AND IN P. FAULT OCCURS RANDOMLY SOMETIMES WITH 2500 MILES BETWEEN OCCURRENCES. HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES WITH 2500 MILES BETWEEN THE 4TH AND 5TH OCCURRENCE. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED PER VW REQUIRED INTERVALS.

NHTSA complaint #11287107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Bullard, TX

POWER TRAIN

DRIVING AND THE TRANSMISSION FALLS OUT OF GEAR. ALSO HAD IT TO WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR. I HAVE TO PULL OVER PUT VEHICLE IN PARK TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART. SOMETIMES IT WILL RUN FINE OTHERS HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER 3 OR 4 TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET BACK HOME. STARTED LOOKING ON INTERNET ON CARPROBLEMZOO.COM AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINT OF THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME STARTED WITH ONLY 20K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HIS A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR DRIVING 35 MPH OR FASTER.

NHTSA complaint #11269433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles Fillmore, CA

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR BERALY ONE MONTH. 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE 02 SENSORS WENT BAD. 1 WEEK LATER MY PCV VALVE WENT BAD. AND 2 DAYS AFTER THAT MY CAR STALLED ON ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN A CANYON AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THOUGH I WAS GOING TO KILL MYSELF. AFTER SITTING THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR THE CAR TURNED ON BUT WAS EXTREMELY SHAKY AND WOULD STALL THE MINUTE I SLOWED DOWN OR CAME TO A STOP. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP ONLY TO HAVE THE ENGINE DIE ON ME. THE CAR CANNOT BE TURNED ON OR MOVED. I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH IS A COMMON ISSUE IN THIS ENGINE. I'M BEING TOLD I NEED TO PRACTICALLY REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WILL COST MORE THAN WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. IF I TRY TO TURN THE CAR ON. IT HESITATES A LOT AND ONCE IT TURNS OVER IT IMMEDIATELY SHUTS OFF. I HAVE BERALY MADE 1 PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT ALREADY DIED ON ME. WAS EXCITED ABOUT SUCH A NICE LOOKING CAR ONLY TO HAVE FALL UNDER THE LEMON CAR CATEGORY IN MY OPINION. I AM NOW LEFT WITH A CAR PAYMENT. A HUGE REPAIR BILL AND NO MODE OF TRANSPORTATION ALL DUE TO VOLKSWAGENS FAULTY DESIGN.

NHTSA complaint #11266504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sioux Falls, SD

POWER TRAIN

SO WE JUST PAYED OFF OUR CAR AND THE PROBLEMS STARTED, FIRST THE CAR WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE IT ACTED AS IT WAS IN NEUTRAL THEN IT STARTED DOING IN WHEN DRIVING SO WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER THAT THE A/C STOPPED WORKING AND WE STARTED GETTING A LOUD TICKING NOISE SO WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS TIME THEY TELL US THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED , A SEAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING ALSO, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE IF THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS IT CAN SEIZE THE WHOLE MOTOR! I PAID ROUGHLY 22K FOR THE CAR IT HAS LESS THEN 70K MILES AND THEY WANT AROUND 9K FOR THE REPAIRS THERE HAS TO SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS THEY SHOULD NOT GET AWAY WITH RIPPING PEOPLE OFF

NHTSA complaint #11100084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,000 miles Goshen, IN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH GEARS. THE "DRIVE MODE" AND "REVERSE MODE" INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN EITHER OF THE TWO GEAR MODES WERE ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SWITCH FROM THE REVERSE GEAR TO THE DRIVE GEAR, NOR WOULD THE VEHICLE SWITCH FROM THE DRIVE GEAR TO THE REVERSE GEAR, WHEN PROMPTED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE IGNITION KEY AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT OVER A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. THE DEALER (VOLKSWAGEN IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, (260) 489-7900) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THE RECALL FOR THE FAILURE WAS VIN-SPECIFIC. VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 17-108-93-69. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

NHTSA complaint #11012068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,200 miles Falmouth, MA

POWER TRAIN

GEAR INDICATOR, PRNDS, WAS FLASHING AFTER COUPLE HOURS DRIVE ON A CITY STREET OR AFTER HIGHWAY, THEN CAR CANNOT REVERSE AND STAY IN THE SLOW SPEED, CANNOT SPEED UP WHEN HIT THE GAS, ONLY THE ENGINE RUNING FAST BUT NOT SPEED.

NHTSA complaint #10957146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69,850 miles Richmond, VA

POWER TRAIN

COMING FROM A STANDSTILL, MY 2010 VW PASSAT WITH 69,000 MILES HAS A MULTIPLE SECOND DELAY BEFORE GOING INTO D OR R. ONE DAY, I PUT IT IN R AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN N. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED

NHTSA complaint #10937712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,650 miles THE Villages, FL

POWER TRAIN

PROBLM WITH A SEPARATED REAR MAIN SEAL AT 100000MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT IF VW WOULD PROPERLY INSTALL THE SEALAT THE OF PRODUCTION, IT WOULD NEVER SEPARATE. COMPARING TO MY OLD VW THAT HAD 250000MILES AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM IS SEAM AS A DESIGN FLAW. VW HAS TO STEP UP AND PAY FOR THEIR OWN MISTAKE!

NHTSA complaint #10898693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45 miles Mankato, MN

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING HOME (APPROX 50 MILE TRIP) I HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPG. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE AND SMELLED BURNING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BAY. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF IT WAS LEAKING ANYTHING AND FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE OIL DRIPPING FROM THE CAR. I THEN NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL FROM BEFORE I STOPPED THE CAR. I LEFT THE CAR IN PLACE FOR A TOW TO NOT DAMAGE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE THAN IT ALREADY WAS. IT WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN TOWN WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PCV VALVE STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL AND BECOME COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THEY SAID THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT TO REPLACE THE SEAL AND IS GOING TO COST $1700. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF PROBLEMS BEFORE THE SCREECHING NOISE AND DID NOT HAVE ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON DURING THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES AND VW OF AMERICA DENIED TO HELP OUT IN ANYWAY WHEN CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE. ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH EXACT SAME ISSUE WAS FOUND WHEN I LOOKED AT OPEN CLAIMS ON NHTSA AND MANY OTHER CLAIMS ARE EASILY FOUND WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON TIME AND AT VW DEALERSHIPS AND WAS NEVER ADVISED TO GET THE PCV REPLACED AS NORMAL MAINTENANCE.

NHTSA complaint #10884170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Tucson, AZ

POWER TRAIN

JERKING AND LURCHING AT IDLE AND LOW SPEEDS. MATCHES DESCRIPTION OF MECHATRONICS FAILURE OF THE DSG TRANSMISSION. SIMILAR TO THE SAME FAILURE ON OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR, WITH VW EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YEAR /100,000 MILES. PASSAT NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EXTENSION DESPITE SAME FAILURE AND VW WILL NOT WARRANTY THE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10845581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 178,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

POWER TRAIN

PCV VALVE WENT OUT; AND IN TURN, THE REAR MAIN SEAL RUPTURED A MAJOR OIL LEAK BETWEEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP CONCLUDED THE PCV POSITION CRANK VALVE CAUSE BACK PRESSURE INTO THE CRANK RESULTING IN DAMAGING THE REAR MAIN SEAL. VW HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON PCV ON CERTAIN MODELS CAUSING THIS ISSUE, BUT THE TSI 2009 AND UP HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO ALL OIL LEAKING OUT OF CAR WHILE ON ROAD. THIS OCCURS WHEN PRESSURE BUILDS UP TO PCV FAILS WHEN CAR IS BEING OPERATED.

NHTSA complaint #10806633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Miami, FL

POWER TRAIN

CAR WAS PARKED. SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FROM P TO D OR R OR ANY GEAR WOULD RESULT IN THAT INDICATOR FLASHING AND ENGINE REVVING WHEN ACCELERATING. CAR BEHAVED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL THIS CAR HAS A DSG TRANSMISSION BUT THE VIN NUMBER DOESN'T FALL INTO THE ONES THAT VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED HAVE ISSUES AND HAVE EXTENDED REPAIR WARRANTY. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING CLEARED THE PROBLEM..THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON ANOTHER OCCASION. DSG WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND DOCUMENTED AT 40K MILES AS PER SERVICE MANUAL....UPDATED 10-20/15

NHTSA complaint #10734487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Bethany, CT

POWER TRAIN

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TOLL PLAZA I FELT THE CAR SHUTTER AND HEARD/FELT IT BANG. THAN THE CAR DROPPED INTO SECOND GEAR AND THE "D" INDICATOR OF THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FLASH. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (THROUGH A LOT OF TRAFFIC). ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. THE CAR WORKED FINE AFTER THAT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. IT WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST 2 TIMES BY THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10667263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles BEL AIR, MD

POWER TRAIN

DRIVING AND WENT TO PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR STARTED BLINKING AND CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. CAR HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET CAR TO SELECT GEAR AND MOVE AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER PUT ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN IMMINENT DANGER. I HAD A TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE AT 60,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS "BETTER", BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CROPPED UP OCCASIONALLY. NOW, AT 75,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM SEEMS OCCUR MORE OFTEN. AFTER RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE DSG UNIT IN THIS CAR, BUT VW HAS IGNORED IT ON PASSATS WHILE EXTENDING WARRANTY SERVICE ON OTHER CARS THAT USE THIS SAME TRANSMISSION. THE "MECHATRONIC" UNIT IS THE PROBLEM PART. SEE: VW RECALL NO. 37E3/S7 & AUDI RECALL NO. 37E5/J7, SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: TB-35-11-01 , SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: TB-30-14-01, SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: CSC-37E6/S8. A COPY OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT SEEMS TO COVER MOST CARS EXCEPT MINE CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.MYTURBODIESEL.COM/IMAGES/PDF/VW-DSG-RECALL-WARRANTY-EXTENSION.PDF.

NHTSA complaint #10638323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Jacksonville, FL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE MECHATRONIC BOX FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA complaint #10554805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,000 miles BEL AIR, MD

POWER TRAIN

CAR EQUIPPED WITH DSG TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC MANUAL) PRNDS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WAS STRANDED BLOCKING ROADWAY WITH ONCOMING CARS. TRIED SELECTING ANY GEAR, PUTTING INTO PARK, BACK INTO GEARS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. FINALLY WENT INTO DRIVE AND PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC BY DRIVING UP CURB. CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT TO 2ND. PULLED OUT OF TRAFFIC, TURNED OF CAR AND RESTARTED. PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. HAPPENED AGAIN 7 DAYS LATER, RESTART SOMEHOW FIXED PROBLEM. NOW FEARFUL THAT CAR MAY BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE OR FAIL TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AS OTHERS HAVE LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #10550765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Douglaston, NY

POWER TRAIN

PRNDS LIGHTS FLUSHING AND DSG SHIFTING PROBLEMS. CAR STOPPED ON RED LIGHT WITH DSG IN D POSITION. ON GREEN LIGHT, CAR MOVED AND ACCELERATED BUT, RPM RAISED ABOVE 4000 AND GEAR DOES NOT SHIFTED TO THE NEXT STAGE. SPEED CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT. ADDITIONALLY, CAR HAD A BLINKING SHIFTER "D" LIGHT. I STOPPED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE DSG TO S, N, P BUT, SHIFTER LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLINK. ONLY AFTER TURNING MY CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND RESTART, DSG MALFUNCTION HAD BEEN FIXED. FORTUNATELY, IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND DID NOT LEAD TO LOST OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #10548813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Kennesaw, GA

POWER TRAIN

DSG TRANSMISSION - FAILURE TO PROPERLY DOWNSHIFT FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS A FREQUENT, RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A COMPLETE STOP, FIRST GEAR DOES NOT AND WILL NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN STOPPED FOR A FEW SECONDS. IF I AM MOVING AT ANY SPEED OVER 4 MPH THE CAR WILL SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AND STAY. I HAVE HAD TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO GET THE CAR TO DOWN SHIFT BACK TO FIRST AT VERY LOW SINGLE DIGIT SPEEDS. THIS DELAY RESULTS IN UNCERTAIN ACCELERATION, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO MOVING TRAFFIC OR MERGE ONTO A ROADWAY. IN MANY INSTANCES, THE DELAY OF REENGAGEMENT OF FIRST GEAR IS VIOLENT ENOUGH SPIN THE FRONT TIRES, AND PUT THE DRIVER BACK AGAINST THE SEAT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON. THE DANGEROUS PART IS NOT KNOWING WHEN THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO ADDRESS THIS COMPLAINT AND HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. THE REGIONAL VW FIELD ENGINEER AND REP HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND HAVE FAILED TO MAKE THE CAR RIGHT BY THROWING PARTS AT WHAT THEY THINK THE PROBLEM IS, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND AN ACTUAL SOLUTION. THE CAR HS BEEN IN THE DEALER FOR ABOUT A MONTH'S WORTH OF TIME DURING MY 5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM IS SO BAD, THAT I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CAR COULD NOT GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY DUE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS REFUSAL TO DOWNSHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR FOR MORE POWER. ONCE IN 4TH AND ABOVE, THE CAR DRIVES JUST FINE AND DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT ISSUE. THE PROBLEM LIES PRIMARILY WITH 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD. IN ANOTHER 500 MILES THE CAR IS TO RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR THE CLUTCHPACK TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE 4TH REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE AND ANOTHER PART BEING THROWN AT THIS PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF FINDING OUT WHY THIS PROBLEM EXIST. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE CAR DRIVES LIKE THIS AS PER VW DESIGN.

NHTSA complaint #10532019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Rockwall, TX

POWER TRAIN

CAR'S TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. CAR HAS DSG TRANSMISSION THAT IS SAME AS THE RECALL TRANSMISSION FROM 2009 AND 2010. SINCE THEN CAR'S TRANSMISSION HAS DISENGAGED AND THEN REENGAGED AFTER RESTARTING IT A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES SOME AT LOW SPEEDS AND SOME AT HI. CAR ALWAYS HAD LURCH WHEN DRIVING. A GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS OVER 6000 COMPLAINTS AT LEAST REGARDING 2010 DSG TRANSMISSION FOR VW PASSAT.

NHTSA complaint #10503721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 500 miles Schaumburg, IL

POWER TRAIN

CAR SHUTTERS AND JERKS IN ITS ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING TO AND FROM FIRST GEAR. IF CAR IS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN STARTING IT WILL ROLL BEFORE IT IN GAUGES INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THIS ROLL OCCURS DURING THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED AND THE CAR IN GAUGES; MANY TIMES ROLLING OVER A FOOT BEFORE EITHER THE CAR'S WHEELS RESPOND TO THE ENGINE OR WE STEP ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE ROLLING. PARKING IS EXTREMELY HARD WHEN CAR JERKS AS YOU ARE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND OR WHILE YOU TRY TO ADJUST CARS POSITION IN PARKING SPACE. AT FIRST, WITH MUCH PRESSURE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CLUTCH PACK REPLACED; BUT SINCE THEN WE ARE TOLD WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE ARE DOING OUR BEST NOT TO REAR-END ANOTHER CAR BUT ARE TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10479429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,500 miles Parker, CO

POWER TRAIN

DSG TRANSMISSION - FAILURE TO PROPERLY ENGAGE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THIS IS A FREQUENT, RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A COMPLETE STOP, FIRST GEAR IS NOT/WILL NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN IN MOTION FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS DELAY RESULTS IN UNCERTAIN ACCELERATION, WHICH CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO MOVING TRAFFIC OR MERGE ONTO A ROADWAY. IN MANY INSTANCES, THE DELAYED ENGAGEMENT OF FIRST GEAR IS VIOLENT ENOUGH SPIN THE FRONT TIRES, SLAP THE DRIVERS HEAD BACK AGAINST THE HEAD REST AND ENGAGE THE TRACTION CONTROL. THE DANGER IS NEVER KNOWING WHEN THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR, HOW LONG THE DELAY WILL BE AND HOW HARSH THE ENGAGEMENT INTO FIRST GEAR WILL BE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS ON MULITPLE OCCASIONS TO ADDRESS THIS COMPLAINT AND HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED. VW NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION SINCE ITS FIRST OCCURENCE, AND HAS FAILED TO MAKE THE CAR RIGHT OR BUY IT BACK. THIS PROBLEM IS SO PREVALENT THAT ONE VW SERVICE MANAGER HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT HE IS RETURNING HIS PERSONAL CAR WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION BECAUSE HE FEARS FOR HIS CHILDREN'S SAFETY WHILE DRIVING WITH THEM IN IT.

NHTSA complaint #10464102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Fairport, NY

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR WAS IN ON MILD SLOPE (UP-HILL). I WAS HOLDING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS. I QUICKLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND AVOIDED THE COLLISION WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME IN THE LAST MOMENT. I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES ON THE MILD SLOPE.

NHTSA complaint #10453720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles Raleigh, NC

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE SWITCHED LANES AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE THROTTLE. AFTER 15 SECONDS OR MORE THE CAR FINALLY RESPONDED. UPON REACHING OUR DESTINATION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS PUT INTO PARK, WHEREUPON THE ENGINE RPM'S BEGAN TO CLIMB PAST 4000. THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT PUSHED DOWN. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE IS NOT RESPONDING TO THE DRIVER'S INPUT AND COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND WE ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE.

NHTSA complaint #10421405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,380 miles Duarte, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I PURCHASED 2010 VW PASSAT IN JUNE 2010. THE CAR STARTED TO JUMP ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP, AUTO HOLD BUTTON DID NOT WORK, AND CAR WAS ROLLING BACK ON MILD SLOPE. I TOOK CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD TO WAIT FOR 2 WEEKS SINCE THE PART WAS COMING FROM GERMANY. THEY REPLACED THE MECHATRONIC UNIT AND AUTOHOLD BUTTON. THE CAR IS NOT JUMPING NOW BUT I HAVE A FEELING THE PROBLEM IS COMING BACK SINCE IT DOES NOT GO SMOOTHLY FROM STOP TO DRIVE SOMETIMES. AUTOHOLD BUTTON IS WORKING. IF THE AUTOHOLD BUTTON IS NOT ON, A CAR IS STILL ROLLING BACK ON A MILD SLOPE SO YOU HAVE TO MOVE YOUR FOOT QUICKLY FROM BRAKE TO GAS AND PRAY THERE IS NO CAR BEHIND YOU. 2010 VW PASSAT PERFORMS VERY WELL AFTER YOU REACH 60 MILES AND OVER BUT BELOW THAT SPEED, IT TAKES TIMES TO PICK UP A SPEED. SOMETIMES, THE GAS PEDAL HITS THE FLOOR AND A CAR IS STILL NOT PICKING UP THE SPEED. DRIVING IN A SPORT MODE DOES NOT HELP, SINCE THE TRAFFIC IS ON STOP AND GO.

NHTSA complaint #10367861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 69 miles ST Louis, MO

POWER TRAIN

BOUGHT 2010 PASSAT NEW ON 05/25/10. ON 05/26 WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WOULD NOT GO PAST 1ST GEAR AFTER ACCELERATING FROM STOP SIGN. WAS CLOSE TO HOME SO DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK TRYING TO GET IT TO UPSHIFT. ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE AND WHEN GEAR SHIFTER WAS MOVED TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT MOVE FROM DRIVE. CALLED DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TOW IN. NEXT DAY I DROVE TO WORK AND HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE PROBLEM SINCE. IT DOES LEAP FORWARD WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM BRAKE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THERE IS MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT. KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE. WE'LL SEE.

NHTSA complaint #10365915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2010 Volkswagen Passat problems

← Full 2010 Volkswagen Passat report