Alternator/generator/regulator problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat

My 2003 Passat with 46,000 miles and regular 5,000 miles service visits recently had two major problems. The alternator went bad and was producing nearly twice the voltage. There were no service bulletins or recalls on this item and was fixed at a significant cost to me. Next was the fuel tank. I first experienced an odor which turned out to be a leak in the gas tank. I am working with an excellent Volkswagen service business which is not a dealership. Vw America will only take the word of a licensed dealer. The defective tank is currently being replaced at a very significant cost to me. There are no service bulletins or recalls on my VIN. I understand that a local dealership has had to replace a few of these. This is a very nice car developing a bad reputation. I have safety concerns with this car and wonder what will happen next.

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The contact has had the vehicle repaired, however, several failures continue to recur. The failures include the instrument panel lights, cruise control, heated seats, the regulator pin in the passenger side rear window, the glove compartment, and the head lights. The failures were noticed while driving 40 mph. The current mileage is 109,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.

Vehicle battery goes dead if car sits for more than 3 days without being started. Alternator wiring harness has been replaced once. Battery has been replace 5 times in 6 months. Dealer can not find anything that is draining the battery and insists that "nothing is wrong with the car and that it is perfectly normal (except for a dead battery) for this to happen. "just start the car every 1-2 days" is their remedy. I have never heard of anything so lame in my life!!.

Started car and asrs light came on and remained on. Soon the mil lit up, followed by the air bag system light flickering and a clicking sound coming from the car. Dealership could not check car the next morning b/c fully booked so had alternate mechanic check it out. Mechanic realized it was not the battery running low (battery charge checked). The next morning alternator checked (alternator replace and tested and same problem continued). The mechanic finds a puddle of water on the floor of the passenger side that same morning which was not there day before. He states car had been parked at slight incline overnight with front of car higher than trunk. Mechanic recommended towing car to dealership. Currently at dealership to try and figure out problem.

Brake failure light appears even after multiple brake repairs. Driver?s side rear upper brake light replaced for 29th time in less than 2 yrs. Multiple coolant leaks still present even after repair and water pump replacement. Radio/amplifier not functioning even after replacement (radio was only used twice in vehicle?s lifetime). Diagnostics show airbag malfunction. Regulator pin on rear passenger side window keeps breaking (3rd replacement since 2003). Engine cover below car keeps falling off due to rusted bolts. Homelink system keeps malfunctioning. Fuses keep blowing out. Dashboard panel lights out (odometer, fuel gauge, etc. ). Ccm module keeps breaking down. Car needs to be jumpstarted when not in use for over 48 hrs. Climate control (a/c and heater) works only sporadically. All repairs performed by vw dealership, yet same issues keep reappearing just a few weeks after repairs. Repairs performed in past 2 years: ecu unit replaced, brake light switch replaced 3 times, a/c compressor unit replaced, abs module replaced, alternator replaced, brakes replaced 3 times.