My 2001 "new" Passat gls V6 has been flooding every time there is rain and it soaks the driver footwell as well as the same side's rear passenger foot well. It's created a moldy unpleasant odor in the car that I'm concerned will sicken my family and me.

- Arlington , MA, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Passat. In rainy weather conditions, water enters the floor on the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that water entered through the ducts that distribute heat. The cause of the failure was unknown. The failure mileage was 75,000 and current mileage was 99,000.

- Astoria, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Passat. The contact noticed that the floor carpet behind the driver's seat became damp during rainy conditions. She took the vehicle to the dealer for another recall issue and they repaired the water leakage for free. However, the failure still occurred and the dealer charged $196 for the second repair. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current mileage was 89,210 and failure mileage was 88,647.

- Burke, VA, USA

Dec 12th 2008 the interior of my passt was flooded with water, VW service removed 10 + gallons of water which entered from air plenum /pollen filter hosing(cabin area). Service informed me of the P9 recall for the Passats manufactured Nov '00 to Dec '05. But, VW of America will not help me they said my VIN # is not in the recall. The computers are on the floor of car. Air bag is in default damage from electrical damage from water damage.. my trans mod is wrecked from the water damage, just the part alone will cost $1,300. I have lost work and can not drive. The make of car & year is in recall so why is my VIN not included?! someone please, please help me.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

My 2001.5 Passat has flooded three times, twice through the pollen filter and once through the sun roof. My insurance company paid $6000 for the last repair. The electrical in the passenger compartment was destroyed twice. For the last three years the sun roof opens on its own when the car is parked, engine off. Rain would again destroy the electrical were this to happen during a storm. I check on the car every night to be certain that the roof is closed. VW will take no responsibility for this. The very worst happening was when I had had the car for one week and attended a very tragic funeral. The horn started beeping as if at a wedding. I drove out of the procession and to a safe place where I called for towing. This car is a lemon and I want VW to honor their responsibilities to their consumers. They want me to pay for a diagnosis which could cost $1000, and they would then decide what to do. I had VW pick up the car and fix the side air bag strip that had fallen and hung over the passenger side's window. They claim they never serviced this. They are not truthful in their service to me. How foolish it would be to have them diagnose a problem they would charge me to fix...like giving a thief keys to the house.

- Healdsburg, CA, USA

1. front and rear brakes inadequate for vehicle--had to have brake work at ~20,000 miles and again at just under 42,000 miles (this has never been a problem with any other car). Brakes repaired/parts replaced twice. Car should be recalled by manufacturer for brakes 2. sunroof +/- windshield drain(s) became blocked and leaked and flooded passenger footwells, with risk of damage to transmission. This is a manufacturing defect with this make and model and has been widely reported on the web. VW needs to recall cars for the problem with blocked drains/leakage and damage to vehicles. Cost to vacuum water out of footwells below the carpet > $600 with no guarantee that problem will not recur 3. VW Passat has a known problem with sludge build up in engine and consequent engine failure--I have not (?yet) had the problem but feel that VW guarantee to repair problem only if owner can prove oil changes every 3000 miles in an unreasonable abnegation of duty. This is a design flaw and the company should have to recall all cars with the problem and repair at no charge without being able to shift blame to consumer. Now having to use expensive synthetic oil for oil changes on a very frequent basis.

- Winchester, MA, USA

Interior left front floor of car flooded with water after very heavy rain. There was an inch of standing water sitting on the vehicle's carpet. This is the 2nd incident in 5 weeks. After a similar heavy rainfall in August the interior left front and rear floor was flooded. Standing water was in the front and rear of the car. After doing research on-line this appears to be a problem with the sun roof drains.

- Vienna, VA, USA

: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the vehicle lurched forward without warning. The vehicle was inspected by an independent repair shop who determined the rainwater drainage tubes under the carpeted floorboard area leaked onto the electrical wiring which caused the automatic transmission control module to malfunction. The mechanic determined the wiring to the transmission control module needed replaced. The dealership and the manufacturer were alerted updated 10/17/2006 - the manufacturer refused to offer any assistance.

- New Milford, CT, USA

Hi, I have a VW Passat 2001.5 sedan. I recently have notcied that water enters into the rear passenger floor when it rains. I hear that the problem is noticed by a number of fellow Passat owners on various forums. I have learnt that water can damage previous electronics and can be very expensive to fix. I feel that there is a design problem here with the VW Passat that allows water into the car when it should be kept out. I strongly hope VW would recall the vehicle to fix this problem. -- aravind.

- Woburn, MA, USA

2001 VW Passat V6. A defective pollen filter seal allowed water to pull on the passenger side floor. This occurred after 24 hours of rain. The water has damaged the transmission control module. Those repairs and the repair of the water damage to the carpet and resulting mold is estimated at over $2,000. The dealer reports that this is an long-standing defect. There are hundreds of reports of the same exact problem with VW and Audi.

- Brockton, MA, USA

For the 2nd time in 14 months the system that drains rain water out of my car has become clogged. The result is that water collects under the floor board on the front passenger side of the vehicle, where computers are located inside an unsealed plastic box. The first time this happened, in Dec 2004, I was told the failure was due to an unusually strong rain storm and the resulting water damage effected the break system. At that time the car was still under warranty. This time it's happening off warranty and I'm being told that one of the computers has to be replaced and there could be further damage which will only be detected after a new computer is installed. In both instances, the seats and carpeting had to be removed and the carpeting and wiring system had to be fan dried. This time around I spoke with a VW mechanic at the dealership where the repairs are being done and he said this is not an infrequent occurrence after a rain storm. Now, it seems to me that locating a computer system in a flat, low lying area of the car where water can collect is a huge design flaw, but that being the case, had I been made aware of the fact that regular flushing of the drainage system could have probably prevented a now costly and time consuming repair, I would have gladly taken my car in for such a service. Records will show that I followed vws scheduled maintenance program, having the service done at an authorized VW dealership on time. Surprisingly, flushing the drainage system is not part of vws routine maintenance program even though they are aware that the potential for this problem exists. It seems to me that flushing the drainage system is far more important than, say, filling the windshield wiper fluid, but then I guess VW stands to benefit far more from repairing a water damaged computer system as opposed to replacing a windshield wiper blade.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

This failure is documented well by dozens of consumers: www.theautobahn.com/forum/showthread.php?T=12789&page=1. ak this complaint is against Volkswagen for Passat year gls 2001.5 (1) heavy rain (2) gallons of water collected in rear passenger footwell (3) pollen filter replaced (twice so far)

- Stratford, CT, USA