My Passat is a 2005, but it is the "old" or early body style 2005, so essentially a 2004, with the sludge-prone 1.8T engine with the faulty oil pickup and tube. Because the class action suit did not recognize the 2005 model year (because VW changed body and engine style in 2005, even though the early models like mine were identical to the 2004) I was not granted a fix by the suit and had to pay the entire amount myself at 79K miles, despite having an aftermarket 100K mile extended warranty, because the warranty would not recognize this as a legit repair because VW had admitted fault and the warranty company claimed VW should pay. Talk about a catch 22!!

This car had full synthetic oil and 5K oil changes religiously. There was no reason the engine should have sludged up at 79K other than manufacturer fault, but I had to bear the burden of the VW design flaw and having been caught in the middle of the suit not covering my manufacture run out of a technicality.

The dealer (SHEPPARD MOTORS, Eugene, OR) performed the pan drop and cleaned the sump and tube but would not replace the sump with the improved part that the suit-covered cars were getting to help prevent sludge from clogging the screen of the sump in the future / post-repair.

So much for German engineering. I recently purchased a 2017 Subaru Outback and that 2005 Passat will be my last VW after having 2 Passats in the past. I didn't even drive a VW when looking to purchase a new car.

Volkswagon, you just lost another customer. I took FANTASTIC care of my 2005 Passat GLS: thousands and thousands in preventative maintenance (all at the dealer) and synthetic oil changes at all the right times. Just went through the whole "oil pressure light/your vehicle has sludge" routine with the dealer and now I've got a worthless hunk of metal on my hands. I have owned countless cars throughout my life, and not one of them has checked out with 134K on the odometer. Shame on you Volkswagen, and from all angles. Built in design flaws, complete disregard at the dealer level, and a really short-sighted approach to customer service. Here's a little advice: when you have a customer who has owned four of your cars, dating back to the 1970s, and has spent all of his maintenance dollars in your dealerships, you should probably figure out a way to make good on YOUR poor engineering. Disgusted.

I bought a 2005 Passat in 2010 that had 49,797 miles. While coming home from the store the Check engine light came on and buzzer's started buzzing telling me to immediately stop the car. I had to drive 3 miles to get home. We had the car towed to the repair shop and have been told it's an oil sludge problem (he thinks at this point) OR it could be we need a NEW oil pump! How can ANY auto manufacturer even think that oil sludge and/or oil pumps are to be ignored!! Has ANYONE here EVER heard of an oil pump going out on a car that has only 89,000 miles on it!?

My husband is 55, I am 54 and I don't drive like a 20 yr. old. We have NEVER heard of ANY vehicle needing an oil pump or having "sludge" problems. Anyone know where we can join a class action lawsuit with this piece of junk?? The oil was changed always before 3,000 miles. I think we should all get together and go after these people.....please email me at ram1976@tds.net if you have any information or want to join a suit. Also, where else can we register complaints?

I purchase my 2005 Volkswagen Passat from The Dean Team Brentwood. Not even a month after buying this car I started having problems. Their so called mechanic, called himself fixing the issue, but, he never did. The Dean Team called themselves solving the problem.

Now, I am faced with this oil sludge issue, I change my oil the way that I was advised too, which was every 5000 miles using synthetic oil 5w/30 motor oil. I was driving my car on 12/18/2013, when the warning light STOP, ENGINE Oil Pressure low. Now I had just gotten an oil change a few days before, and yes they used the right oil. So, when I took the car into the shop at The Dean Team, they advised me that my oil pump went out due to the oil sludge. They have had my car since the end of December, and today they called to advise me that my car is ready, but, yet they are charging me for the repair.

I am a lady who is disabled and I don't have $2014.24 to pay. I contact Volkswagen and they advise me that my car mileage is outside of their so called extended warranty. I believe that there should be something that I can do, this is crazy!

I have a 2005 Volkswagen Passat. The oil light came on then a buzzer. The buzzer went off. The engine stopped running. I am finding out the hard way about the oil sludge problem the hard way. Prior to this happening I added a 1/2 quart of mobile 1 full synthetic oil to the motor. I suspect this caused sludge in the motor to drop out restricting the oil pick up. The rest is history. Is there any discussion on legal action or recall directed at Volkswagen due to the many problems of this nature to similar years of this make and model?

Cawater@pacbell.net

The most ridiculous thing in the world. VW/Audi knows there is a huge problem with engine sludge even in their 2005 model year and yet they act as if they know nothing. I will be speaking with a VW rep soon and will most definitely make him aware of my aggravation. Oil was changed more often than VW suggests and with synthetic every time. I am being told by the dealer that they may cover some of the expense but they aren't sure how much. How many people need to go through this before they accept the fact that there is a problem? I think it's time for everyone to band together on this one.

I' purchased my Passat a a pre-owned certified car from the dealer a little over 2 years ago. It had 39k on it when I bought it and now has 93K as I have a long commute to work each day. A couple of weeks back the "STOP" Low Oil Pressure light came on while driving and then the the car started bogging down and knocking while on the way home. Pulled into the parking lot 3 miles from my VW dealer and had to have it towed ($58) for fear it would do more damage. Called the VW service center on the way over and they said, "Yeah, I bet it's the sludge issue. We have had a lot of trouble with the 1.8 Turbos having that problem." I arrived at the dealer a few minutes later and dropped off my car. They stated they could not look at it until the following week. I informed them that all oil change services had been completed at the dealer except 3 in the time I had owned the car. The service rep informed me he "would see what he could do if I could get copies of the receipts / invoices from the other 3 oil changes". I tracked these receipts down and sent them to him. He contacted VW Customer Care which told him the 1999 - 2004 1.8 Turbos were covered but not the 2005.

Now I am stuck having to pay $500 for the dealer just to tare the motor down and determine how bad the damage is. If I am "lucky" they will only have to replace the oil pump and lines ($2500). If I am not "lucky" the entire motor will need to be replaced ($5000 - $7000) according to the dealer. I've looked online and there are numerous other 2005 Passat owners with the 1.8 Turbo Motor which are having the same issues. It would appear to me that VW should extend their recall to cover 2005 models as they apparently did not correct the issue after 04'.

What can we as a group do to get this issue resolved by VW? Has anyone else had any success dealing with them? It goes without saying that I am extremely frustrated right now and will never by another VW or Audi again.

Ever since we bought the car, the check engine light was on, but the dealership said nothing was wrong, it was a light malfunction, since we were covered under warranty. And now that the warranty has run out, they said something is defenitely wrong with the car, but we have to pay out of pocket. Now the car has began beeping and the Stop Check oil Pressure light came on. We just recently had the oil changed and we double checked the oil, and it was full. Whenever we pressed the gas, the car accelerated slowly and chugged. The motor was clacking very loudly and smelt like burned oil, so we took it in. They are saying its an oil sludge build up and it costs $1,000 to clean it out and fix it. I have heard so many complaints about Volkswagen and sludge problems, but yet they charge a phuckload of money to fix it. They suck and I will never be buying a Volkswagen again.

I purchased a pre owned 2005 Volkswagen Passat in April of 2008 from South Shore Volkswagen in Hanover, MA. I just found out that my engine needs to be replaced after owning the vehicle less than 2 years do to an oil sludge issue. Volkswagen has a warranty campaign out for previous model years for this issue, but because my model year is outside of that range my engine is not under warranty even though it is the exact same issue. Volkswagen has declined to take responsibility for the issue which has been identified in other model years solely because not enough people have complained about it. In order to have my engine replaced it is going to cost me upwards of $5,500 for a vehicle I paid $14,000 for less than 2 years ago.

Thank you,

In April of 2007 my oil pressure light came on. I brought it to Mitchell Volkswagon in Canton, CT who told me the problem occurred because of engine sludge. they recommended I change my oil in a couple thousand miles and return if the light comes back on. I followed their advice and now have engine damage. I need a new engine for $6500 which they will not fix under warranty unless I come up with 9 oil change receipts. I still owe $17,000 on the car and am paying a car payment of $450 a month on a car I can't drive.