2006 Volkswagen Passat

ABOUT A YEAR AGO OUR NEW 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T STARTED TO HAVE VERY HARD SHIFT WHEN DOWNSHIFTING WHEN CAR SLOWING DOWN. THEN THE CAR ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE AND ACCELERATED BY ITSELF UNTIL CAL WAS UNDRIVABLE. DEALER FIXED THE CARD IN TWO WEEKS. TODAY A YEAR LATER THE CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE, HARD SHIFTING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND ENGINE HESITATION ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. CAR UNDRIVABLE. *TR

MY VEHICLE WENT INTO THE SHOP (STAR MOTOR) APRIL 1, 2008 FOR AN ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP AND CAM SHAFT WERE BAD. THEY WERE REPLACED AND I GOT MY CAR BACK ON APRIL 16, 2008. ON MAY 17, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE COILS (NOT SURE WHAT THESE ARE). ON MAY 18, 2008, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE COMPRESSION WAS NOT GOOD IN CYLINDER #'S 1 AND 3. THEY DECIDED TO FLUSH THE TURBO/INJECTOR SYSTEM AND TIME THE VEHICLE. I GOT THE CAR BACK (NOT SURE OF THE DATE). ON MAY 5, 2008, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK IN. WHEN PUT ON THE COMPUTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE LIGHT INDICATED AND READ A CAM SHAFT/MISFIRE 3. MONTHS EARLIER, WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT FIRST CAME ON, WE CALLED IN TO STAR MOTOR AND MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT "AS LONG AS THE LIGHT WASN'T FLASHING, IT WAS OKAY." I TOLD THIS TO STAR MOTOR ON MAY 18, 2008, AND GAIL TOLD ME THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD AT THE HOME OFFICE. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. AS SOON AS THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, WE CALLED AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE FLASHING WAS VERY INTERMITTENT (FLASHED MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY). MY CAR IS STILL NOT FIXED AND STAR MOTOR DOES NOT APPEAR TO KNOW WHAT THE TRUE PROBLEM IS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VOLKSWAGEN HOME OFFICE DISCUSSED MY CAR IN A CLASSROOM SETTING AND THEY ARE MERELY ABLE TO GUESS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS IS A HIGH END CAR; 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, AND THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING; FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT (TWICE), ETC. STAR IS TRYING TO WORK WITH US. THEY HAVE EVEN GIVEN US LOANERS TO DRIVE, BUT VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT WILLING TO HELP AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS ARE FAR REACHING AND NOT SIMPLY OURS. *TR

MY 2006 PASSAT 3.6 HAS PROBLEMS WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL.. VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A DELAY WHEN PUSHING PEDDLE.. YOU CAN PUSH PEDAL DOWN 1/4 WAY BEFORE VEHICLE EVEN JUMPS RPM'S.. VEHICLE WILL THEN JUST JUMP FORWARD.. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET INTO 3 OR 4 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I HAVE PULLED OUT AND CAR JUST SITS THERE THEN WILL JUST TAKE OFF.. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP AND HAD UPDATE DONE BUT THIS DIDN'T HELP MY PROBLEM.. UPDATE CAUSED ME TO NOW HAVE SAME PROBLEM BUT ALSO HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEM.. *JB

01/20/07 PASSAT 3.6 HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING HOME. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DISPLAY ADVISE LOW OIL PRESSURE AND TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE CAR. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE AT TIME OF FAILURE 13,357. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THEN LATER STATED THAT REPAIR COULD BE DONE. PARTIAL LIST OF REPAIRS IS AS FOLLOWS: REMOVE AND REPLACE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER AND SHEARED BOLT THAT CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. CHECK MAIN BEARINGS AND REPLACE REMOVE AND EXTRACT BROKEN.......? CANNOT MAKE OUT NOTES ON SERVICE TICKET. FLUSH ENGINE BLOCK VEHICLE RETURNED TO US WITHIN 1 WEEK AND HAS NEVER BEEN RIGHT. CONSTANT ISSUES WITH SHIFTING AND CONTINUED NOISE IN ENGINE. 09/10/07 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. LOW OIL PRESSURE MESSAGE AND STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY DISPLAYED ON READOUT. LOUD CLUNKING AND GRINDING NOISE IN ENGINE AGAIN. APPEARS THAT SAME FAILURE AS BEFORE HAS OPCCURED AGAIN. MILEAGE IS 22,161 DROPPED VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP ON 09/11/07 AND DEALER IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SENT WRONG AND WHY. I AM INSISTING ON NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT OR VWOA TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. *TR UPDATED 10/03/07. *JB

ISSUES WITH HESITATION WHEN A ROLLING STOP, AND WHEN COMPLETELY STOPPED. THERE IS A 2-3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE CAR RESPONDS TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT 3 TIMES NOW WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THAT 2-3 DELAY IN ACCELERATION COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS AN ISSUE KNOWN TO VW, THEY SAY THEY ARE WORKIG ON A FIX. WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR, SOMEONE TO GET KILLED! NUMEROUS V6 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES! ALSO SEOND ISSUE IS, WHEN I AM STOPPED IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND EXTREME HEAT MY CAR IDLES AT 1000RPMS. THIS IS CORRECTED BY ME PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, STEPPING ON THE GAS TILL 3000 RPM AND IT WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IN READY TO LUNGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. AGAIN WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO VW, SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS DISCUSS THIS VW HAS DON'T NOTHING. *TR

ENGINE IDLE SPEED INCREASES TO 900-1000 RPM AT STOPS IN WARM/HOT WEATHER. THIS CAUSES DRIVER TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON BRAKE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. THIS IDLE SPEED MAY HOLD FOR SEVERAL STOPS BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL 650-700 RPM. IF IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE HIGH IDLE WILL HOLD LONGER. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE HIGH IDLE IS IN RESPONSE TO THE WARM WEATHER CAUSING INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE BATTERY CABLE FROM THE BATTERY IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR (2006 VW PASSAT V6 ONLY) CAUSING A DROP IN VOLTAGE RECEIVED. THE ECM INCREASES ENGINE IDLE SPEED TO COMPENSATE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PUSH KEY BECOMES STUCK AND THE GEARS MUST BE SHIFTED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. ALSO, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY, AND THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR SMELLED LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. ON APRIL 9, 2007 THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS, 10,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.*AK

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VW PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON JANUARY 25, 2007 RE: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM. THE DEALER HONORED THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DIDN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FIVE DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE A FAMILY MEMBER WAS DRIVING 10 MPH. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T ENGAGE. THE BRAKES REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO TERMINATE THE LEASE AND ACCEPT A DIFFERENT VEHICLE OR AN ALLOWANCE FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT'S RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 200 MILES AND HE FELT THE VEHICLE WAS A LEMON. *AK

TL* - 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. *AK 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. *JB

I HAVE HAD RECURRENT ISSUES WITH MY 2006 PASSAT. I JUST GOT THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER AFTER BEING AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FOR 25 DAYS, AND I WAS TRYING TO BRAKE AT THE END OF MY STREET AND THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE. THE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD -- I COULD BARELY PUSH IT IN WITH TWO FEET. I ACTIVATED THE PARKING BRAKE, AND THE CAR STOPPED -- THANK GOD, I WAS ONLY GOING 10 MPH, BUT IF I ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING UP AND DOWN AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE FLICKERING OR SURGING AND GETTING BRIGHTER AND DIMMER AND BRIGHTER VERY RAPIDLY. I TURNED ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO BETTER VIEW MY DASH, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE SURGING/FLICKERING AS WELL. IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS VISITS FOR DEALER REPAIRS, THEY TOLD ME THEY PUT IN A BRAND NEW ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING AGAIN? THIS CAR IS BEYOND REPAIR. I BELIEVE I HAVE A LEMON AND IT IS DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING THIS CAR. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AFTER A 25-DAY STINT IN THE DEALER REPAIR CENTER IT'S STILL NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE LAST OF MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. INCIDENTALLY, WHILE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, I BOUGHT IT AFTER USING IT AS A LOANER WHEN MY 2006 JETTA TDI WAS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I DROVE IT DURING MY PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. THAT CAR HAD SOME ISSUES AS WELL, SO WHEN I LIKED THE PASSAT I DECIDED TO TRADE IT IN. I'VE ONLY DRIVEN THIS PASSAT FOR LESS THAN 5,000 MILES AND IT IS TERRIBLE. MY WIFE DRIVES A 2006 JETTA TDI (A DIFFERENT ONE) WHICH RUNS GREAT. HOW CAN ONLY ONE OF THREE CARS PURCHASED IN LESS THAN A SIX MONTH PERIOD FUNCTION PROPERLY. THIS IS SERIOUSLY IMPACTING MY VIEWS OF VW QUALITY. I HAVE TROUBLE WRITING VW AND THE WORD QUALITY IN THE SAME SENTENCE. THANK GOD I DIDN'T DIE TONIGHT. *NM