This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
2006 Volkswagen Passat. Attorney representing consumer writes in regards to emergency/ signal lights malfunction, sunroof problems and other vehicle issues. The consumer stated the vehicle intermittently fails to recognize the electronic key when attempting to start the vehicle. The blinker/turn signals fail to turn off when prompted. The consumer was advised that the signals would not turn off unless the steering wheel was turned completely straight. The sunroof opens unprompted. The dealer and manufacturer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was rotted underneath. The emergency brake lights flashed incessantly.
There are severe toxic odor's (voc's) coming from the bottom of the carpet insulation of the interior if the car. It is so potent that I have sore throats, headaches and feel light headed during and after I drive the 2006 Volkswagen Passat. This odor/voc has almost caused me to faint due to the severe allergic reaction I have to it. I have to have all windows open to even drive the automobile. After searching the internet under "Volkswagen crayon smell" there are hundreds are similar complaints about Volkswagen cars where they have found the interior sound insulation mat under the carper floor to be the cause. I need my car and I can't drive it like this as it is unsafe for my health and I fear this "crayon odor" could cause me to have a car accident. I have tried to enlist VW America and they state they are not aware of the issue, however, there are hundreds, if not thousand complaints that they have received from this toxic odor that is coming into the passenger cabin of their cars especially the 2006 Passat. This toxic crayon odor is present at all times, it is not dependent on the car running (being on) what so ever.. please help!!!
The distance between the acceleration pedal and the brake pedal seems much shorter than in other cars (ie, my Toyota Camry)...I will not drive our Passat 2006 2.0T because there have been instances when my tennis shoe has hit both pedals in the attempt to apply the brakes. This must be a continuation of the audi5000 "sudden acceleration" problems of the early 1980's?,,,,,,
- the contact stated that while driving a 2006 Volkswagen Passat it stalled in a turn. He had been driving along steadily for 2 hours with out incident prior to the vehicle losing power. The contact took the vehicle to be serviced, and was informed that they could not find the cause of the problem. The passenger side headlight was inoperable, the work was completed, however 2 hours later the headlight failed again. The vehicle exhibits a one to three second lag in the accelerator, most noticeable when the consumer is truing to accelerator. There was a rattle coming from the headliner/sunroof assembly. There was a rubbing noise coming from the brakes. There was a rattling noise coming from the rear view mirror trim pieces. The windshield wipers were inoperative. The fog lights were inoperative. Updated 01/31/07.
On 7/13/06 I purchased a new 2006 VW Passat from bert smith VW in St. Petersburg, Florida. I took delivery at 5pm on Friday 7/14/2006. I have 4 major problems. Bert smith VW service person (noel aponte and his service manager michael) and they say that they have never heard of the below issues. First issue: I have extreme idle shaking of the engine. This is constant - meaning you would have to turn off the ignition to stop it. I can shift the transmission into neutral and still feel the shaking. I can put the gear in park or in drive and it is still shaking. Sometimes the shaking is mild (like the shaking while braking) other times it is severe...so severe you can see the entire car shake. Second major issue: I drive my car of a parked position (or after coming to a rolling stop at a light) and the car feels like it is trying to pull or lunge forward while my foot was previously on the brake. At this time I have to put extreme pressure on the brakes to keep it from moving forward. The light turns green and I am off. I come to another light, the same thing happens. Regarding these 2 issues, here is a threaded discussion on the website vwvortex.com. forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread"id=2619540 all of these owners have the same problem. All feel VW is giving them the run around. I am not happy about this. Is there a tsb on this problem" these issues are on-going the moment I left the bert smith dealership on Friday 7/14/06. Third issue: The car seems to have severe throttle lag while driving and at a stand still. I am at a light, I press the gas pedal and there's significant lag time between the time the car begins to roll. Fourth issue: The front end squeaking really bad. It became progressively worse and bert smith replaced the front passenger side strut bearing on Thursday 7/21. It's happening again. The 2nd front bearing has to be replaced, and maybe the one that was already replaced has to be fixed again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bridgeport, CT, USA