2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking an unknown fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump, oil pan, and the gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 193,211.

Mileage: 193,211

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 76 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND EXHAUST FLUID WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR OVER A YEAR. AN ERROR CODE STATED VEHICLE SHUT-OFF AT 200 MILES WAS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHUT-OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OVERTURF VOLKSWAGEN KIA (1016 WEST COLUMBIA DRIVE, KENNEWICK, WA 99336, (509-586-3185) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

Mileage: 76,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL LOOSE DRIVING POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AS WELL AS EPC LIGHT. WHEN TAKEN TO A MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE WHOLE THROTKE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THIS WAS A DEALER ONLY PART, WHEN THE MECHANIC SHOP CALLED TO ORDER THE PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND THAT IT COULD BE 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR BEFORE A PART WAS AVALIABLE. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP A WEEK LATER THE PART WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD OVER 200 ON A LIST WAITING FOR THIS PART, AND TO KEEP CALLING BACK TO ASK ABOUT THE STATUS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE SINCE JULY 2020, AND AS OF TODAY 10/22/2020, ACCORDINF TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE IS STILL NO ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME THAT THIS PART EILL BE AVAILABLE. I FELL THAT IF THERE IS THAT MANY THAT IF THEY DO IN FACT HAVE OVER 200 WAITING FOR THE PART THEN THERE MUST BE SOMTHING DEFECTIVE WITH THE CURRENT PART THAT IS ON THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 59,400

TWICE WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED LEAVING THE AUTOMOBILE DISABLED ON THE HIGHWAY. ON BOTH OCCASIONS IT WAS REPORTED THAT METAL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL PUMP AND ALL COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WERE REPLACED. THE TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AFTER THE CAR WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE FOR THE EXHAUST/ EMISSIONS RECALL. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND WITHIN 2000 MILES. THE SECOND WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST 10,000 MILE SERVICE AND WITHIN 9 MONTHS FROM THE FIRST.

Mileage: 30,325

HEATER COR CLOGGED. THE VEHICLE HAS 78XXX MILES. ON THE VOLKSWAGEN FORMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE ALSO IN OTHER YEARS. IT IS THE SAME PART USED

Mileage: 78,000

MY 2012 VW PASSAT WILL RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHILE PARKED & WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHTS WITHOUT ANY WARNING.USUALLY THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, BUT ONCE IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED TO MOVE WHEN THE STOP LIGHT TURNED TO GREEN.

Mileage: 93,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL (EPC) INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TEDDY VOLKSWAGEN (718-920-1400, LOCATED AT 3743 BOSTON RD, BRONX, NY 10466) WHERE THE EPC INDICATOR WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HEADED BACK TO THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND, WHEN RESTARTED, THE EPC INDICATOR TURNED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR. THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR CALLED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNLESS THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,500.

Mileage: 90,500

THE CAR BEGAN SHAKING ONCE IN A WHILE AND ABOUT A MONTH LATER BEGAN TO DIE WHEN IDLE WAITING AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. I WAS TOLD THE VACUUM SEAL NEEDED REPLACED BUT TO DO SO EVERYTHING WOULD NEED REPLACED AS YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE A VACUUM SEAL. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF MY CAR STARTED TO GO HAYWIRE AND EVERY LIGHT, CLOCK WOULD GO OFF IF I TRIED TO START THE CAR. AFTER THAT AS FIXED THE BATTER WHICH WAS TESTED AND AT 99% DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THESE ISSUES HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON A CITY STREET DRIVING AND I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH PEOPLE PASSING ME AND HONKING. I GOT THE CAR FIXED AT STEVEN'S CREEK VOLKSWAGEN IN SUNNYVALE, CA IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I WAS OUT OF A CAR FOR WELL OVER A WEEK. NONE OF THESE WERE ISSUES CAUSED BY ME. I HAVE VERY LOW MILEAGE AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR.

Mileage: 39,000

ON MY 2012 TDI WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD ~ BELOW 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS MISFIRING. IT USUALLY STARTS FINE, BUT IT STUMBLES/MISFIRED FOR THE FIRST MILE OR SO. THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GET UP TO SPEED, NOR WILL IT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR, THE ENGINE WILL REV TO 3000 RPM AND MORE WHEN COLD, WHICH IS VERY BAD FOR THE ENGINE. I WILL MANUALLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR AND THEN IT CHUGS AND MISFIRES AND STRUGGLES TO GET UP TO SPEED.

Mileage: 80,000

SUDDEN ENGINE HIGH VIBRATION WHILES DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE AND BATTERY FAILURE AT THE SAME TIME AND DAY. VW TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED PIECES OF METAL FROM ENGINE IN OIL FILTER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ELSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. NOTE: CAR IS TAKEN CARE OF WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE USING VW SERVICE

Mileage: 100,000

CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, DIESEL FUEL ALL INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY, DEALERSHIP SAID A BOLT ON THE ENGINE HAD A STRESS FRACTURE AND BROKE. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

ENGINE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERCOOLER

Mileage: 77,000

VEHICLE STUMBLES AND HESITATES DURING COLD STARTS AND CLEARS UP AFTER APPROX 10 MINUTES. CONSISTENTLY OCCURS DAILY ESSENTIALLY SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF TIMES TO DEALER, BUT THEY INDICATED NOTHING WAS WRONG AND NO ERRORS SEEN IN COMPUTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ONLINE FROM HUNDREDS OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN APPEARS TO NOT BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE. THE CONCERN IS BUCKING, CHOCKING AND HESITATION BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF YOU NEED TO SPEED UP TO AVOID A VEHICLE OR CROSSING INTERSECTIONS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD...SAFETY IS A CONCERN AND HAS BEEN....I DID BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND LEFT WITH DEALER FOR 1 WEEK...THEY CLAIMED THE TECHN FOUND NO ISSUE....WHEN I PICKED VEHICLE UP IT IMMEDIATELY HAD HESITATION, JERKY BUCKING ISSUE....NOT ACCEPTABLE.

FIRST THE GLOW PLUGS WERE BAD. WITHIN THE SAME YEAR I HAD AN ISSUE WITH DIESEL PARTICULATES AND NOW THE ADBLUE HEATING ELEMENT!!! ALL ISSUES OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, LITERALLY FELT MY LIFE WAS IN JEOPARDY. HOWEVER AFTER HAVING TO COME OUT THE POCKET WITH NOW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS I FEEL LIKE THE COMPANY IS RAPING ME!!!

Mileage: 65,000

AFTER THE NOX SENSOR WENT IN THIS CAR EXACTLY A MONTH TO THE DAY LATER THE ADBLUE HEATER IS SHOT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE MIL LIGHT CAME ON. A SCAN SHOWED IT IS THE ADBLUE HEATER. THIS IS THE 2ND EMISSIONS RELATED PART TO GO IN THIS CAR SINCE THE DIESEL SCANDAL BROKE AND THE 2ND ISSUE IN A MONTH.

Mileage: 93,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A 200 MI. COUNTDOWN BEGAN INDICATING THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. WE WERE OVER 500 MILES FROM HOME ON THE WEEKEND. WE HAD TO DRIVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR HOME 10 HOURS TO NEAREST DEALER WITH THE THREAT OF STALLING IN TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. WE COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF, NOR STALL IT AS THE CAR INDICATED IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WAS THE NOX SENSOR. I PAID $625 PLUS TAX TO FIX PART OF THE FRAUDULENT EMISSIONS SYSTEM.

Mileage: 91,000

AD BLUE REDUCTANT TANK FAILED. THUS MAKING THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM NOT WORK PROPERLY. PART # 561-198-970-A IS DEFECTIVE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON MY 2013 PASSAT WITHIN LESS THAN A MONTH. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FROM VW. HERE IS A LINK TO A THREAD ON THE EXTENT OF THESE FAILURES. HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=438268

Mileage: 454,031

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 7/14/16. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON 7/15/16 AND LEARNED THAT THE CAR'S ADBLUE HEATER HAD GONE AND WILL COST JUST OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE. THE ADBLUE HEATER HEATS THE ADBLUE TO REMOVE NO2 FOR EMISSIONS, HOWEVER VOLKSWAGEN IS CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THE ADBLUE SYSTEM HAS NOT OTHER PURPOSE THAN FOR EMISSIONS AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL WARRANTY, AS THE EMISSIONS WOULD FALL OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS WITHOUT THIS COMPONENT. PROPER EMISSIONS HELP TO KEEP OUR ENTIRE POPULATION SAFE AND HEALTHY FROM THE HARMFUL POLLUTANTS GENERATED BY VEHICLES. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF THIS FALSE EMISSION SENSOR READING.

Mileage: 103,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY. THE TURBOCHARGER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. RATHER THAN OFFER TO REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS WITH THE UPDATED PART THEY REDESIGNED BEFORE THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS CONTAMINATED WITH METAL FILINGS THEY ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO ATTEMP TO DESTROY THEIR ENGINES FIRST. IF MY CAR COULD NOT SURVIVE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE TURBO NO CAR LIKE THIS WILL SURVIVE. AFTER RECEIVING THE WARRANTY EXTENSION I WAS RELIEVED THAT I HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING BY ALWAYS CHANGING THE OIL AT ONE HALF THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL AND ALWAYS DRIVING LIGHT FOOTED FOR OPTIMAL MILEAGE. I SUPPOSED THAT SINCE I HAD TAKEN PERFECT CARE I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR THIS TRAGIC FAILURE. I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE AND HAD TO BE FLATBEDDED TO MY HOME AND THEN FURTHER TO THE DEALER, WHO KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS AND CHARGED 5000 TO TRY TO UNDO THE DAMAGE DONE BY THIS TURBOCHARGER SELF DESTRUCTING UNDER MY FEET. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF REPEATED OIL FLUSHES AND ALL NEW OIL SYSTEM PARTS WILL BE ENOUGH TO SECURE MY CAR'S MECHANICAL FUTURE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMOVE THE TURBOCHARGER BEFORE THE CATASTROPHIC END OCCURS YOU WILL PAY OUT OF POCKET. ONLY AFTER YOUR CAR IS RUINED WILL THEY STEP IN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU WILL BE STRANDED AS PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CLEARLY STATES YOU MUST PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SHUT OFF THE CAR WHEN THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BLINKS. THIS WILL OCCUR WITH NO PRIOR NOTICE FROM THE CAR. MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND INJURED AFTER PULLING OVER IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HAVING DONE THE CORRECT THING IMMEDIATELY DID NOT LESSEN THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. THE LIGHT ONLY COMES ON AFTER THE DAMAGE IS DONE!

Mileage: 82,000

I OWN A 2012 VW PASSAT TDI (DIESEL). CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE FIX APPARETLY IS OVER 1000.00 AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MANY 2012 VW PASSAT TDI VEHICLES WHICH ARE RIGHT OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FIX IS A KIT FOR THE ADBLU EMISSIONS SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FREE OF CHARGE FROM VW. CODE P203B REDUCTANT LEVEL SENSOR CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE

Mileage: 59,200

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A ," LOSS OF POWER" ISSUE AT APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS AGO AROUND 50,000 MILES. IT USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST 10- 15 MINUTES AFTER COLD START UP AND WHEN VEHICLE IS TRAVELING BETWEEN 10 AND 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL BE OPERATING NORMALLY, THEN INSTANTLY LOSE POWER AND START SHUDDERING. WHEN MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE THEN, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES. ALONG WITH LOSS OF POWER, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE ODOR OF DIESEL FUEL WHICH COMES FROM THE OBSERVED FUEL POOLING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD ONLY WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WILL NOT LET ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF THEIR SAFETY. MANUFACTURER DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE BUT NOT RESOLVE IT. THE MANUFACTURER ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL DEPT HAS BEEN INVOLVED BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO SOLVE AFTER 1.5 YEARS AND NUMEROUS SHOP VISITS.

Mileage: 50,000

TURBO FAILURE, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURBO FAILURE. WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD SAFELY.

Mileage: 78,994

DESPITE PERFORMING THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED (VERY EXPENSIVE) MAINTENANCE FOR THIS VEHICLE, WE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH OUR 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THIS CAR WAS A COMMUTER VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVEN 110 MILES/5 DAYS PER WEEK AT 55-65 MPH. WE THOUGHT THAT WITH PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE THIS CAR WITH ITS DIESEL ENGINE WOULD LAST MORE THAN 111,000 MILES... WE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED AND FRANKLY IRATE. WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY. OUR ISSUES WERE: AT NUMEROUS MILEAGES, OUR HEAD, TAIL AND RUNNING LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $50/INSTANCE. AT 104,738 MILES, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE WINDOW PIN WAS REPLACED FOR $184.05. AT 101,019 MILES, THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,260.76. AT 111,166 MILES, OUR 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI BEGAN TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND LOUD ON TRIP. WE MADE IT HOME AND MY HUSBAND BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE VOLKSWAGEN SHOP WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT BEARINGS BROKE OFF AND DESTROYED THE INTERIOR OF OUR ENGINE. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT A WHOPPING $6,865.76. AT 127,115 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT START. WE TOWED IT TO THE DEALER WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE STARTER HAD GONE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE SOLD THE PASSAT ON THE SPOT TO THE DEALER BEFORE FIXING THIS ISSUE. WE COULD NOT BEAR TO SELL THIS CAR TO A PRIVATE PARTY.

Mileage: 112,000

WAS ON RAMP ENTERING I-5 SOUTH OFF CLAIREMONT (SAN DIEGO) WHEN ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED WITH NO WARNING LIGHT OR PREVIOUS SIGNS. STEERING AND BRAKES STOPPED BUT I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE. THE CAR DID NOT START RIGHT UP RIGHT AWAY. MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND I HAD JUST STOPPED TO GET GAS; SHE GOT OUT OF CAR TO CHECK GAS CAP. IT WAS ON TIGHTLY. SHE GOT BACK INSIDE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED AGAIN. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, DOORS UNLOCKED ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO DEALER 8.21.2015 AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND NOTHING RECORDED IN THE CAR'S SYSTEM. THEY KNOW I AM VERY CONCERNED AND THIS IS VERY DISTURBING.

Mileage: 27,811

THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL THEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. ALSO A WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING WHICH DID NOT ACCELERATE VERY WELL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED A TURBO WHICH WAS JUST REPLACED 20,000 MILES AGO, MECHATRONIC UNIT ,, AD BLUE HESTER KIT ,PARTICULATE FILTER PART . THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD I PUT ABOUT 35K MILES ON A YEAR. I SERVICE THE CAR RELIGIOUSLY NEVER HAVE MISSED REQUIRED SERVICE. OVER $6,000 DOLLAR REPAIR

Mileage: 1,284,000

2012 VW PASSAT WITH NO PREVIOUS SIGNS OF PROBLEMS BEGINS SPUTTERING/FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT. CAR WAS DRIVEN APX. 1/4 MILE BACK HOME, WHERE IT BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE. ENTIRE ENGINE BURNT OUT. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NHTSA INVESTIGATED PASSAT'S FAULTY IGNITION COILS YET DID NOT ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUE...BUT IF THE ENGINE CATCHES ON FIRE...WITH ALL THE COMBUSTIBLES IN A CAR...ONE WOULD THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE UNSAFE. GLAD MY 4 YEAR OLD WAS NOT WITH ME. *TR

Mileage: 27,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN...UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF UPDATED 6/18/2015*JS

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND HEARD A LOUD POP LIKE A TIRE BLEW OR BELT BROKE OR SOMETHING, THEN I SAW A LOT OF SMOKE, SO I PULLED IN A PARTY STORE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES BURNT THE ENTIRE ENGINE UP TO A CRISP. I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES OF THIS TRAUMATIC EVENT. SO PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I NEED ANOTHER CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANKS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO VYLETEL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

ON JULY 16, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 PM, MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI SEL PREMIUM LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE FAILED AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTH AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY SURROUNDED BY CARS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65 MPH. THE ENGINE FAILURE PUT MY LIFE, MY COLLEAGUE'S LIFE AND MY FETUS'' LIFE IN DANGER AND COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS FOR OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES AS WELL. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FOUND A BROKEN BOLT. THIS BOLT HELD THE FUEL RAIL AND FUEL INJECTORS IN PLACE AND WHEN IT BROKE, CAUSED THE INJECTORS TO POP OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. THE INSTALLED BOLT WAS PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT REPAIR THAT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, CLOSER TO MY HOME, PERFORMED BACK IN APRIL 2014. I''VE HAD THREE MAJOR INCIDENTS WITH MY VW NOW, ALL WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND IT SEEMS TO BE STEMMING FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT. WHEN THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, THE SERVICE CENTER BLAMED IT ON A "BAD BATCH OF DIESEL FUEL" FROM A LOCAL GAS STATION. THEY SAID THAT WITHIN 3 WEEKS, THEY'VE HAD AROUND 25 CARS COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 44,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. BECAUSE OF THESE INCIDENTS, THE LAST ONE OF WHICH PUT MY LIFE AS WELL AS 2 OTHER LIVES IN GRAVE DANGER, I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT, IN CASE IT IS A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. *JS

Mileage: 44,800

WHINING SOUND WHEN DRIVING FORWARD NOT WHEN IT'S COASTING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SLIPPING. CAUGHT BEFORE COMPLETE TURBO FAILURE. CAUSE REPORTED BY DEALER: VERIFIED, FOUND METALLIC WHINE NOISE UNDER BOOS. RAN GFF AN FOUND P02900 - TURBO UNDER BOOST. *TR

Mileage: 14,609

HEARD A WHISTLE SOUND FOLLOWED BY SOME SORT OF PUFF AND LOSS OF POWER. TON OF WHITE SMOKE, THOUGHT CAR ON FIRE, PULLED OVER. PEOPLE PASSING BY CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. AFTER CAR SMELLED LIKE BURNED OIL, EXHAUST PIPE COVERED IN OIL, AND OIL DROPS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP NEW TURBOCHARGER IS NEEDED. *TR

Mileage: 32,000

I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED SURGING AND REVVING HIGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EPC LIGHT CAME ON. ITS DRIVABLE BUT NOT SAFELY AND NEEDS FIXED ASAP. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

I LEFT MY HOME AND DRIVE MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES AT SPEEDS AT OR UNDER 25 MPH. I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN BEFORE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. WHEN I ACCELERATED THE CAR HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND I COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO GO APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. LATER THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PREMATURE TURBO FAILURE. IF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I MAY HAVE BEEN IN DANGER OR ENDANGERED OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BEING MORE FREQUENTLY REPORTED ON INTERNET FORUMS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING TURBO FAILURES AT LOW MILES. *TR

Mileage: 38,200

I WAS IN VERY SLOW BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE AND NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. LIGHTS, RADIO AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS DID NOT SEEM TO BE IMPACTED. AFTER A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 3 MONTHS. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

I DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I GOT A FLASHING LIGHT ON MY DASH, QUICKLY THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FEEL SHAKY AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET BUT THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST VW DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT DAY I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TELLING ME IT WAS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE (HPFP) THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE AND THAT BECAUSE A PART HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THE WORK REQUIRED WAS EXTENSIVE, IT WOULD TAKE THEM ABOUT A WEEK. I DID GET MY CAR IN ABOUT 5 DAYS AND ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER HOW MUCH THE JOB WOULD HAVE COST WITHOUT WARRANTY AND HE SAID IT WAS ABOUT A $5,700 JOB! IT APPALLED ME THAT HE HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY THE HPFP FAILED SO EARLY INTO THE CAR'S LIFE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THERE IS A SENSE OF UNEASINESS THAT I HAVE NOW WONDERING IF THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 26,412

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 67 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED ONCE, NO OTHER WARNING OTHER LIGHTS FLASHED AND THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS WARNING LIGHTS TO FLASH. SUDDENLY THE CAR HESITATED AND THEN MY SPEED DROPPED TO 0 IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. LUCKILY, THE TRANSPORT TRUCKS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION AND ACTUALLY BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD GET THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SAFELY ROLL ONTO THE SHOULDER. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE; I WAS LUCKY. WHAT GOOD IS IT TO HAVE A CAR THAT YOU NOW FEEL IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE! VW SHOULD HAVE TO BUY THIS CAR BACK. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

IF I AM DRIVING WITH NO ACCELERATION (COASTING) AND STEP ON THE GAS TO ENTER TRAFFIC THERE IS NO POWER; NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BOTH IN TOWN WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO CUT IN BETWEEN CARS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE LOTS OF ROOM BETWEEN CARS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE I AM NOT USED TO DRIVING A CAR WITH A DIGITAL THROTTLE. *TR

Mileage: 11,000

VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT FOUR TIMES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASTIONS WHEN I COME TO A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND VW REPORTS CAR CHECKS OUT FINE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

Mileage: 14,000

IN THE MORNING, I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO MY 2012 VW PASSAT S. I NOTICED A POOL OF FLUID THAT SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE ON THE ASPHALT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I ENTERED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND TURNED THE KEY FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO ON, A SOUND OF DRAINING FLUID COULD BE HEARD AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, AND IT DOES TURN OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. I DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN, AFRAID THAT THE IGNITION WOULD START A FIRE. SINCE THIS OCCURRED ON A SUNDAY MORNING, ALL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT VW DEALERSHIPS ARE CLOSED. ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER, I UNLOCKED THE PASSAT AND OPENED THE DOOR TO GET SOME ITEMS FROM THE CAR. AGAIN, THE SOUND OF DRAINING FLUID COULD BE HEARD AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AGAIN, AND A FRESH POOL OF GASOLINE HAS FORMED. THE GAS IS DRIPPING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE REAR WHEEL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, AS THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 1,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 1,052