In March 2015, my certified used 2008 Passat began to stall, but was able to restart. After several occurrences, it stalled, check engine and emissions lights came on and it could not be restarted. Towed to the dealer and was told it was the fuel pump. I had it fixed, but they refused to honor my warranty and it cost me $1800 (5 year warranty and had it for less time than that). About 3 months later, the check engine light came on again so I had it towed to the dealer again. It took them 3 weeks to figure out what the problem was. They claimed one of the valves had bad carbon build-up causing it to burn and fail and, of course, they claimed it had nothing to due with the fuel pump failure, so they refused to honor the 1 year repair warranty. I had the repairs done for $2600 and when the car was returned, though the check engine was no longer lit, the engine sounded loud and terrible. I drove the car for 6 more months and the check engine light came on again so I took it right back to the dealer, foolishly expecting them to honor the repair warranty this time (you guessed it, they didn't). When the techs took it out for a diagnostic test drive, the car stopped and could not be restarted. After about a week, I was told the car had thrown a rod and the engine would need to be replaced, but they claimed they did not know why this happened (of, they again claimed it had nothing to do with the prior repairs or problem). After several contacts with VW corporate, the dealer did an assessment and diagnosis of the problems again. This time I was told that the valve cam had failed which caused the rod to dislodge and be thrown into the engine. Yes, once again, neither the dealer nor VW corporate would admit that this had anything to do with the prior problems. They did offer me $2000-$3000 to resolve the issue, but only if I spent it on another VW. As it I would after all of this lying and BS by both the dealer and VW corporate.
Now , I see that other owners of this same make, model and year had the same or similar problems. Has anyone considered some sort of class-action to address this?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
In March 2015, my certified used 2008 Passat began to stall, but was able to restart. After several occurrences, it stalled, check engine and emissions lights came on and it could not be restarted. Towed to the dealer and was told it was the fuel pump. I had it fixed, but they refused to honor my warranty and it cost me $1800 (5 year warranty and had it for less time than that). About 3 months later, the check engine light came on again so I had it towed to the dealer again. It took them 3 weeks to figure out what the problem was. They claimed one of the valves had bad carbon build-up causing it to burn and fail and, of course, they claimed it had nothing to due with the fuel pump failure, so they refused to honor the 1 year repair warranty. I had the repairs done for $2600 and when the car was returned, though the check engine was no longer lit, the engine sounded loud and terrible. I drove the car for 6 more months and the check engine light came on again so I took it right back to the dealer, foolishly expecting them to honor the repair warranty this time (you guessed it, they didn't). When the techs took it out for a diagnostic test drive, the car stopped and could not be restarted. After about a week, I was told the car had thrown a rod and the engine would need to be replaced, but they claimed they did not know why this happened (of, they again claimed it had nothing to do with the prior repairs or problem). After several contacts with VW corporate, the dealer did an assessment and diagnosis of the problems again. This time I was told that the valve cam had failed which caused the rod to dislodge and be thrown into the engine. Yes, once again, neither the dealer nor VW corporate would admit that this had anything to do with the prior problems. They did offer me $2000-$3000 to resolve the issue, but only if I spent it on another VW. As it I would after all of this lying and BS by both the dealer and VW corporate.
Now , I see that other owners of this same make, model and year had the same or similar problems. Has anyone considered some sort of class-action to address this?
- Candace M., Reading, PA, US