2006 Volkswagen Passat

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION CORD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TR

I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT REPAIRED. BOTH HAD STOPPED WORKING OVER THE WEEKEND DUE TO THE INSULATION BECOMING BRITTLE AND BREAKING OFF OF BOTH WIRES TO THE PLUG THAT HOLDS THE LIGHT BULB. THE WIRES WERE SHORTING OUT PREVENTING THE HEADLIGHTS FROM WORKING. I MADE A TEMPORARY FIX BY APPLYING ELECTRICAL TAPE TO THE WIRES THAT ALLOWED THE LIGHTS TO WORK. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 120000 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT WEST HOUSTON VW, [XXX], INDICATED THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $ 800. I SEE THIS AS A DEFECT WITH THE WIRES USED FOR THE ASSEMBLY. I CHECKED ON-LINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 2006 PASSAT HEADLIGHTS FAILING. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THE MILEAGE. THEY ALSO INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR SERVICE ALERT ON THE PROBLEM. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE THE STAFF AT WEST HOUSTON VW KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONCE WE DESCRIBED IT TO THEM. IT SEEMED TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FAILING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BOTH FROM THE LACK OF LIGHTS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. I HAVE WORKED FOR A WIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE INSULATION DOES NOT JUST BECOME BRITTLE AND FALL OFF OF THE WIRE. THERE IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE. VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAULT; WAS DRIVING ON JANUARY 18,2014. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THIS EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING YELLOW. ALSO THERE WAS A RED BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS FLASHING AND BEEPING THREE TIMES. SHE GOT THE CAR UNDER CONTROL MIND YOU SHE IS ONLY 17 AND SHE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM CAMPUS AUTO HERE IN FORT DODGE, IA ON THE 10TH AND HE TOLD HER NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. EVERYTHING HAS WENT WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT CAN GO WRONG. SHE PULLED OVER AND READ IN HER MANUAL THAT WITH THE BEEPING 3 TIMES AND THE RED LIGHT INDICATOR SAID THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSE TO GET IT TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC RIGHT AWAY. SO SHE DID THE SMART THING AND CALLED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. BUT WHAT IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. SHE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THIS CAR ON A HIGHWAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE PASSAT. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THEM. WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BAD IN THE REAR. FUEL PUMP WENT BAD. COILS BURN. THESE ARE ALL DANGEROUS THINGS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE MAINE TURNPIKE AT 55-60 MPH DUE TO SOME BLACK ICE IN AREAS. TEMP WAS 35, CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, VISIBILITY GOOD. AFTER PASSING EXIT 75, WITHOUT WARNING MY VW PASSAT ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGING, CAUSING MY BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, SWERVING SIDE TO SIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS. DURING THIS TIME, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AS WELL AS A PARKING BRAKE FAULT MESSAGE ON THE DASH WAS DISPLAYED. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, REFERRED TO MY MANUAL, WHICH WAS NO HELP. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED AROUND IT AND THEN CALLED A FEW PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND I SAW NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF ERROR. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE BUTTON ON THE DASH. I BELIEVE ITS ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN VEHICLES NEAR MINE, WE WOULD OF COLLIDED. I HAD MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WE WERE ALL VERY SCARED DURING THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT. AFTER 10 MIN OF SHUT OFF, I RESTARTED, THE DASH STILL DISPLAY PARKING BRAKE FAULT. I WAS ABLE TO MANUALLY DISENGAGE THE BRAKING BRAKE. BUT THE "FAULT" ERROR ON DASH WOULD NOT GO AWAY. I THEN OPERATED THE VEHICLE AT 30-35 MPH WITH HAZARDS ON TO EXIT GRAY. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 30 MINUTES. WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE "FAULT" LIGHT HAD GONE OFF AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING OK. BUT I WAS UNSURE IF I SHOULD VENTURE FURTHER AND TOOK ROUTE 100 BACK TO MY HOME IN LEW. THE NEXT DAY I DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE AND CALLED VW ON MON AFTER NOTING NUMEROUS VW FORUMS WITH COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. CASE #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN CAR STARTED IN 2006 VW PASSAT. I CALLED THE DEALER SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG, THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY FIXED MY AIRBAG A FEW APPOINTMENTS BACK AND IT WOULDN'T BE A PART OF THIS RECALL. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WOULD HAVE A RECALL DUE TO IT BEING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, VOLKSWAGEN ADVISED ME THAT I CAN PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. MY CAR IS "TOO OLD FOR A WARRANTY EXTENSION". THIS BOTHERS ME SINCE I HAVE 9 AIRBAGS IN WHICH NONE WILL DEPLOY AND THEY REFUSE TO SERVICE THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR FREE. UPON GOOGLING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH NOT ONLY THE PASSAT BUT THE JETTA'S MADE THE SAME YEAR. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND HAD REPAIRS DONE INCLUDING OIL CHANGE, AFTER A DAY OF DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, RETURNED TO DEALER, MORE REPAIRS WERE DONE, PAID AROUND $3,000 IN REPAIRS TO TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, GUIDE PULLEYS, AND WATER PUMP. AFTER THAT REPAIR, THE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON AND RETURNED TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT METAL WAS FOUND IN OIL FILTER HOUSING AND ENGINE WILL NEED REPLACED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN. COULD NOT AFFORD AT THAT TIME AND WAS NOT INFORMED IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF AND WERE TOLD THAT UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP THE METALS WOULD SCRAPE. CAR WAS STILL OPERABLE, C/E LIGHT WAS OFF AND NEEDED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND AFTER 3 TRIPS TO AND FROM REPAIR SHOP (3 RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN) AND ALL OF THE MONEY ALREADY SPENT ON REPAIRS TO "FIX" THE SAME ISSUE LEADING UP TO THIS, I WAS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT AT THE TIME, AS WELL AS BEING SKEPTICAL OF PAYING $9K MORE! WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE OIL PUMP BOLT FAILED COMPLETELY AND CAUSED ENGINE TO CEASE. LATER LEARNED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE ON THE 2006 VW PASSAT 2.0T ENGINES AND THAT IT CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, THAT VW WAS AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW AND HAS MANUFACTURED A REPLACEMENT BOLT BUT HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL AND DOES NOT INFORM OWNERS OF THESE CARS THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR THIS ENGINE FAILURE. HTTP://WWW.FAQS.ORG/CAR/VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-2006/ENGINE/#IXZZ2MCKGQSG2 I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HAD TO GET A TOW HOME. THIS IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN FOR MANY LIKE MYSELF WHO WERE NEVER TOLD THE ENGINE MAY CEASE AND COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING INJURED OR KILLED. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS AS THERE ARE MANY OTHERS HAVING THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THIS CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 05V540000 (STEERING) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE FAULT -- IT IS NOW THE 3RD TIME MY ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE HAS FAILED (UNABLE TO DISENGAGE/RELEASE). THE SECOND TIME WAS LAST JUNE OF 2012 THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE, CALIPER, HOUSING, WIRING TO THE TUNE OF $1800. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHERE THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH WAS FLASHING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ALSO THE RED BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR IN DISPLAY WAS ALSO FLASHING HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED AND WONDERING WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. IT APPEARS THERE IS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THIS ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE DESIGN. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS WITH THE MANUFACTURER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR BUT AT THE SAME TIME HAVE A CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY. *TR