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.
2013 Passat tdi. 136000 miles. Vehicle was driving at highway speeds and the glow plug light started to flash, no other indicator lights or car performance issues were noted at this time. Car was pulled over safety to a town within 5 miles, the car was shut down. Just to see if it was a glitch car was restarted briefly and the check engine light remained on. Car was immediately turned off. While on the phone relaying my information to family, bystanders advised me that the car was on fire below the engine bay. The fire was quickly put out with water. The damage seems to be in the same area as has been noted by recalls 17V309000 and 16V171000, both of these recalls were complied with prior to this event. Documentation of this is maintained with the owner. All scheduled maintenance and repairs have been completed at Volkswagen dealerships since purchase, all records maintained.
The car has coolant issues, had power steering system replaced, now there's a gas leak, replaced gas cap loss of power suspension is horrible now everytime I refuel the car struggles to turn on.
2013 Passat tdi sel. Emission modification at 28,514 miles. Now 29,200 miles on odometer. Bought the car less than a month ago. Vehicle is equipped with diesel misfueling guard. Stopped at grocery store and also filled up diesel from sam's club. Drove 4 miles down the road around 40 mph and about to enter highway when glow plug indicator started flashing and check engine light illuminated. Heard some rattling and the engine shut down without warning. Coasted over to shoulder. Would not start. Abandoned the car for the night. Next day I had the car towed to VW. They tested the fuel and it tested fine. Diagnosed as a failed high pressure fuel pump. It exploded and sent shrapnel through the fuel lines and forward into the engine and exhaust system. Also sent shrapnel backwards into fuel filter, fuel tank, and low pressure fuel pump. $5500-$7500 repair quoted if not under warranty.
- Rutledge, TN, USA
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My 2013 VW Passat tdi has been to the dealership 3 times for a crank but no start condition.first time when the tow truck driver dropped it off it started right up, so we picked it up and went on our way. The second time it had a bad fuel lift pump that they replaced the third time a complete hpfp failure that at 151,000 miles they will not take care of. After looking into the problem I find out that the faulty lift pump may have contributed to the failure and in California this seems to be a very common problem. Can you help in any way? thank you ron
Since I bought the car I've always had issues with the oil consumption. I was told it was 'normal' to loose up to 8 courts of oil in-between my oil changes. The dealership told me this!! the car has been very well taken care of, I get oil changes every couple thousand miles instead of every 10,000 like VW recommends. If I did this my engine would quiet literally blow up. I've been told repeatedly by multiple foreign repair shops (non VW dealership) that this is a common issue with this motor but for whatever reason the 2013 cc models were not recalled. By the sounds of it's a repair that VW refuses to acknowledge or fix. I'm upside down on the loan & have been told I basically need a whole new engine. Now, every time I refuel I have to add a quart of oil otherwise my check engine light comes on or I receive a 'check oil pressure. Engine off' message. I might be a female but I'm not that stupid to know that this isn't normal! this is a constant issue!
My vehicle for some reason is not under the recall for all other models with same defect. I have a intake manifold malfunction that was recalled on all cc's of my year and prior but for some reason my model wasn't covered and should be.
Check engine light and epc light turned on. Sometimes my car will not start, but then other time it with start with one turn. Also while I am driving, it looses power sometimes. One time the car shut off completely while I was in drive. I took it to the mechanic and he did a diagnostic computer code check. The code was reading camshaft position sensor malfunction. The mechanic replaced the sensor but noticed that the metal on the sensor is shearing significantly.
Engine shuts off unexplainably. This has occurred while the vehicle was stationary on a city street and in motion on the highway. The component part/system that is causing the safety risk is unknown to me as well as the Volkswagen dealership and foreign auto mechanic that I have taken the vehicle to, to have it serviced.
After you guys installed the new emission program my car now has problems with the electrical system and the sensor for the oil light. It has been doing this since April 8 and before that we never had this problem.
While driving on the beltway at 60 miles an hour, the car suddenly lost all electrical power and the engine shut down. I was not able to steer or brake or accelerate. I coasted to the side of the highway, put the car in park and restarted it and drove it home without incident. Dealer could not find an error code. Twice since then, the electrical and system have shut down without warning while the car was running while idling at a traffic light.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the engine was faulty and the vehicle could shut off at any moment. Also, the check engine indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to shearer Volkswagen (2287 berlin state hwy, barre, vt 05641) where it was diagnosed and repaired. The diagnosis information was not provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 103,000.
My car is a 2013 Passat purchased by me in 2014, I have always taken my car to be serviced with all required service maintenances since purchase date (services done all at Volkswagen dealerships). The next service was not due. I have this all documented by the dealerships. My car has approx. 94,000 miles on it. The check engine light started to come on intermittently. Today Volkswagen dealer (following diagnostic testing) told me the head gasket needs to be replaced but that this is a risky repair as the primary problem is the engine. The Volkswagen dealership is telling me the engine needs to be replaced. The Volkswagen dealer is telling me today that this is not a usual problem with this vehicle. I called Volkswagen to ask for financial assistance or buy back plan for this and was told there is nothing that can be done.
My 2013 VW Passat 3.6 sel major issues with the transmission, burning excessive engine oil, and substandard suspension. The transmission slips in 3rd gear, and struggles to search for a gear. VW engineered my Passat for castrol oil 5W40 synthetic oil, 6-7 quarts every oil change (every 10,000 miles). I have to add 3 quarts of oil every 4,000 miles. This is a clear indication the oil weight is insufficient for this vehicle, engineering issues with the oil pump, and/or valve seals. The Passat does not handle well, and feels unsafe in rain, snow, and sleet, because there is no traction control button on the instrument panel. It's quite obvious that the executives at Volkswagen ag are not interested in safety and quality. They are only interested in sacrificing a dollar for safety and quality.
Volkswagen of America engineered less-than-safe headlamps on my 2013 VW Passat 3.6 sel. My headlamps are substandard, and do not shine bright a night as the xenon headlamps on the competitors of Volkswagen. For a $40,000 vehicle, it's an expectation to have xenon headlamps, which are much safer than the existing headlamps on the VW Passat. Volkswagen has been installing 280 hp V6 engines in its Passat since the 2006 model while their competitors have been installing 330hp and up in their V6 models. The VW Passat should have at least 350hp/380 torque with all wheel drive, with a longitudinal engine. It's quite obvious that the executives at Volkswagen of America, and Volkswagen ag are interested in sacrificing quality and safety to save a dollar.
My 2013 VW Passat 3.6 sel lacks a elec stability control switch on the vehicle. As a result, the traction is terrible on this vehicle in rain, snow, and sleet. The engine has a knocking noise, even though I service the vehicle at VW every 10,000 miles as required in the owner's manual. This vehicle has major electrical problems, such as the seat belt light illuminating, and I lose tension in my driver seat belt. That is a huge safety flaw for this $40,000 vehicle.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Louisville, KY, USA