23 of the 1,027 complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 59,000 miles.
23
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
VW has replaced the heater core twice on this car. Yet less than 1 year later the heat will not work on just the passenger side which then foggs the windows and eliminates visablility rendering the car useless.
NHTSA complaint #11565636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Plugged heater core. OBD code present P2457. Defroster was compromised. Confirmed by VW dealer. Advised by manufacturer to replace heater core and flush system per technical test and repair procedure.
NHTSA complaint #11441771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
NO HEAT COMING FROM BLOCKED HEATER CORE SO DEFROST SYSTEM INEFFECTIVE. RESULT IS OBSTRUCTED VISION BECAUSE THE DEFROST SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING EFFICIENTLY. KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART ON THIS MODEL CAR (INTERNET RESEARCH) BUT VW REFUSES TO RECALL. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES, STATIONARY AND MOVING. NO HEAT IN PASSENGER CABIN AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11397799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
VEHICLE HAS 49000 MILES AND IS A GASOLINE ENGINE. PASSENGER SIDE HEAT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR, WHICH PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD FROM DEFROSTING/DEICING IN WINTERTIME, AFFECTING VISIBILITY AND SAFETY. DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT AFFECTED. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE SIMILAR TO THAT FOUND WITH DIESEL VERSIONS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING WITH A VEHICLE ONLY HAVING 49000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #11270698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HEAT WAS NOT WORKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRUNSWICK AUTO MART (3031 CENTER RD, BRUNSWICK, OH 44212, (877) 815-7437) WHERE THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11181674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY CONCERN FIRST OCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2014, WHERE THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BE COVERED WITH MOISTURE AND VISION OBSCURED. WHEN I BROUGHT TO VW DEALER THE BLOWER HAD STARTED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS IT WAS NOW OPERATING AS INTENDED. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT IN 2015 TECH TIP WAS ISSUED CONCERNING SNOW OR MOISTURE ENTERING THE BLOWER COMPARTMENT WAS FOUND TO BE IMPAIRING THE BLOWER MOTOR. THEY ISSUED A REPAIR KIT DESIGNED TO SECURE FUTURE SNOW FROM ENTERING THIS AREA. FAST FORWARD TO FEBRUARY 2019, WHEN MY BLOWER AGAIN STOPPED WORKING. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO MY VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, HOPING IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND NOT A PART FAILURE. MY DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED INSTALLING THE TECH FIX UPGRADE NOTED TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. THIS COST ESTIMATE WAS $800.00. I MADE A CAL TO VW CUSTOMER CARE TO APPEAL FOR SOME REMEDIATION FOR THIS COST TO REPAIR A KNOW DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN MADE FOR THIS CONDITION AND MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF MILEAGE LIMITS AND AGE. THIS VEHICLE HAS 63000 MILES AND IS SIX MODEL YEARS OF AGE. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAD A KNOWN TECH FIX, IN 2015, WHEN MY FIRST CONCERN SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY ONLINE RESEARCH THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE, WHERE SNOW HAS MIGRATED INTO THE BLOWER BOX, CAUSING THE BLOWER MOTOR TO SEIZE OR BECOME INOPERABLE. THANK YOU FOR ANY UPDATE THIS MAY INSPIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11180057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVING WHILE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FOGGING UP AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT SUCH AS HEAVY RAIN ETC. AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT. FAST FORWARD TO SUB FREEZING TEMPERATURES IN A SNOWSTORM AND NOW NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD FROZEN AND WIPERS USELESS. START DIAGNOSTICS AND FIND COLD AIR BLOWING OUT AIR VENTS AND READ THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS ABOUT IT. THEY ACTUALLY HAD AN ENXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SOME NOT OTHERS TO COVER THIS ISSUE AND A SERVICE BULLETIN TO BANDAID THE FIX. THIS IS AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING THOUSANDS AND THE WORST THING ABOUT IT IS REPLACING THE HEATER CORE IS ONLY TEMPORARY AS IT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE AGAIN AS THEY HAVE NO PERMANENT FIX. I CAN DEAL WITH FOG ON THE WINDSHIELD BUT NOT A FROZEN WINDSHIELD ONLY TO HAVE NO MEANS OF GETTING HEAT TO THAW OUT. I READ ABOUT BMW HAVING ISSUES FOR BLOWER MOTOR RESISTORS WHY CAN VW BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A CLOGGED HEATER CORE.
NHTSA complaint #11173763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK ON INTERSTATE 85 (WHICH AS FOUR LANES) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A GUN SHOT/EXPLOSION SOUND THAT RATTLED MY CAR. I FROZE AND CLOSED MY EYES (THANK GOD I WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD & DID NOT YANK MY STEERING WHEEL), WHEN I OPENED I WAS COVERED IN GLASS. FOR SOME REASON, MY SUN ROOF EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT WAS NOT BELOW FREEZING OR EXTREME HEAT AND I HAD NOT BEEN UNDER AN OVERPASS. I HAD GLASS IN MY CLOTHES, MY MOUTH, MY HAIR, AND ALL IN MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11171424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THESE STEERING WHEEL COMPONENTS STOPPED WORKING: HORN, TURN SIGNALS, HIGH BEAMS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND CRUISE CONTROL. NOT SURE IF AIR BAG WILL IN CASE OF A CAR WRECK. INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: "BUTTON FOR DRIVER ASSISTANT SYSTEM DEFECTIVE". BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE PAST SINCE BUYING THE CAR 2013, ROUGHLY 5 YEARS AGO. VOLKSWAGENS TECHNICIANS REPAIRED THE ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES ON SEPERATE OCCASSIONS *WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANT.
NHTSA complaint #11097810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAD THE HEATING SYSTEM SERVICED AT THE VW DEALER. THE HEATER CORE HAS FAIL TWO TIMES, BOTH TIMES I HAD IT REPLACED AT A VW DEALER. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 12/21/2016, I CONTACTED VW AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE EMPLACEMENT COST. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON 01/24/2018, THE DEALER REPRESENTATIVE SAID VW WOULD COVER HALF OF THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I PAID FOR MY HAVE AND THEN CONTACTED VW TO SEE IF THEY COVER THE WHOLE COST. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT. THANK YOU. THAT IS TWO HEATER CORE REPLACEMENTS IN A 13 MONTH PERIOD. THAT MAKES ME THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER CORES.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11072146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
LEFT FRONT LOWBEAM WENT OUT, REPLACED BULB BUT STILL COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED VW AND MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL RECALL , HOWEVER MY VW DEALER HAS SAID HUNDREDS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL NOT COVERED UNDER ORIGINAL RECALL HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11063203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I WAS TOLD THAT MY AIRBAG ISSUE WAS DUE TO THE SENSOR GETTING WET AND I HAD TO PAY TO FIX IT, AND THEN I RECEIVE LETTER SAYING MY INFLATOR IS PART OF RECALL, THE FIRST RECALL ON MY CAR FOR THE DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHT STILL HAS NOT FIX, ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST THREE TIMES, ON TOP OF THAT YOU CAN MOVE THE GEARS IN MY CAR WITHOUT PRESSING ANYTHING OR BRAKING..
NHTSA complaint #11015092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE HEATER WILL NOT KEEP FRONT WINDOW DEFROSTED AND CLEAR. ON COLD DAYS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AND DRIVE CAR SAVE. DRIVING ON VERY COLD DAYS IS DANGEROUS AS WINDOWS WILL NOT STAY DEFROSTED. HAVE HAD NEAR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF REDUCED VISIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10949675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DEFROST IS ONLY WORKING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND IT ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF CAR. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD FROSTS UP WHILE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #10850833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE HEATER CORE IN MY CAR HAS BECOME CLOGGED AND IS NOW FAILING TO PRODUCE HEAT FOR INSIDE THE CAR AND IN TURN IS FAILING TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AND IT IS RAINING. I HAVE READ MANY CASES FROM ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE HEATER CORES IN THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING ALREADY.
NHTSA complaint #10837553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
NO HEAT COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THIS WAS FOUND OUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK ON A VERY COLD DAY AND NOT HAVING THE DEFROST WORKING VERY WELL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TAKING IT TO THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE HEATER CORE IS CLOGGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A MONTH AGO. I FOUND OUT THAT THE PARTS WERE BACK ORDERED AND THAT I WAS #502 IN LINE FOR A REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10825265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE HEATER CORE IN MY CAR HAS BECOME CLOGGED AND IS NOW FAILING TO PRODUCE HEAT FOR INSIDE THE CAR AND IN TURN IS FAILING TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS WHEN THEY BECOME FOGGED. I HAVE READ MANY CASES FROM ONLINE FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY ADVISED THEY CANNOT HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND THE HEATER CORES IN THESE CARS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING ALREADY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #10824060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2013 VW PASSAT TDI SEL.CAR STILL UNDER MANUFACTURE WARRANTY. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED YESTERDAY FOR NO REASON WHEN TEMPERATURE DROP. WINDSHIELD CRACK DUE TO STRUCTURAL DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10689515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I DRIVE A 2013 VW PASSAT TDI SE. YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED UPWARD/OUTWARD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE WEATHER WAS NOT EXTREMELY HOT OR COLD. WE WERE ON A "LONELY" STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 40 JUST EAST OF WINSLOW, AZ. THIS OCCURRED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON, NOT DURING THE HOT, MIDDLE OF THE DAY. NO OBJECTS STRUCK OUR CAR/SUNROOF, IT JUST BLEW UPWARD LEAVING A LARGE HOLE IN THE GLASS.
NHTSA complaint #10649618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE IN NICE WEATHER AND LOW TRAFFIC THE SUNROOF OF MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT EXPLODED OUTWARDS CREATING A LARGE HOLE 18" - 20". IT WAS A LOUD GUNSHOT TYPE NOISE AND SOME GLASS ENDED UP ON OUR FACES AND ARMS CREATING MINOR CUTS. MOST OF THE GLASS WAS BLOWN OUTSIDE THE CAR AND DAMAGED THE ROOF AND TRUNK. WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED AND THE SUNROOF WAS ALSO CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. WE WERE NOT UNDER ANY OVERPASSES OR NEAR BUILDINGS OR ROAD DEBRIS. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY SAYING IT IS AN OUTSIDE FORCE. VW CUSTOMER CARE WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH AND ALSO DENIED THE CLAIM AND I WILL HAVE TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM DUE TO EXTENT OF DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10643045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
HEATED SIDE MIRRORS WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS OVER 68 DEGREES. IN HOUSTON, IT'S OFTEN OVER 68 DEGREES, AND MIRRORS WILL FOG OVER. THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE USELESS WHEN THEY'RE FOGGED OVER, AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LACK OF VISIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10637396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SUNROOF OF MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT EXPLODED OUTWARDS, CREATING AN APPROXIMATELY 18" HOLE. SOME GLASS FELL INSIDE BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE GLASS EXITED THE CAR. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ~65 DEGREES, NO OTHER WINDOWS WERE OPEN AND THE SUNROOF WAS FULLY CLOSED; THE INTERIOR COVER OF THE SUNROOF WAS OPEN. NEITHER THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITION WERE ON. I WAS NOT ON MY CELL PHONE AND THE MUSIC VOLUME WAS ON LOW. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS CAR, HAVING TAKEN POSSESSION 87 DAYS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACCEPT CULPABILITY AND HAS STATED I WOULD HAVE TO PROVE A FACTORY DEFECT LED TO THE EXPLOSION OF THE SUNROOF. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THE EXPLODING SUNROOF IS NOT AN UNHEARD OF PROBLEM. WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH THE DEALER BUT AS OF THIS MOMENT, INDICATIONS ARE THEY WILL EXPECT OUR INSURANCE TO COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10556864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR I MADE A STOP FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I WAS RETURNING TO MY VEHICLE WHEN A NOTICED BLUE FLUID COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. AFTER THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY FOUND "HOSE CONNECTOR NEAR PUMP LEAKING WASHER FLUID". THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSE CONNECTOR. NOT LEAKING AT THIS TIME. I HAVE SINCE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER ISSUES I'M EXPERIENCING WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT WASN'T PRESENT DURING MY TEST DRIVE AND I AM FILING SEPARATE COMPLAINS FOR THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE IM BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT ONLY HAD 38 MILES. CURRENT MILEAGE 1900 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10551695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.