Seven problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat based on all problems reported for the 2003 Passat.
I have a 2003 Volkswagen Passat and for a little while now it has been saying this: stop,oil pressure,stop motor,service manual. This is now happened 3 times. The first time it happened I took it to the dealer(which is not where I purchased my car) and they changed the oil filter which cost me $160. My car worked for about 2 months and it happened again,and the dealer then said it was the oil pump and wanted $965 to fix it. I,however took somewhere else got the problem fixed for $720. It has just recently happened again. I went to change the oil and transmission fluid was accidentally drained. The dealer fixed the problem and now says there is something wrong with the transmission,the car is drivable but now for long. This the second time something has gone wrong with the transmission.
My 2003 Volkswagen Passat is holding 6inches or more of water on the passenger side in the floor board and has shorted out the computer underneath, in servicing the car the technician advised he found 3 other Volkswagen Passats of the same year to have the same defect. I have also been advised that a serious crash could have resulted because the computer underneath regulates the transmission.
1. Driving car transmission shifted erratically when pulling out of house. Also hit another car as transmission shifted without doing anything. 2. Always when rains. 3. Sunroof drain/air plenum area dealer said was blocked and water went down b pillar. Shorted out transmission computer in passenger foot well. Water passed over junction connections in b pillar also shorted out airbag sensor and other electrical. Vw now issues service action 66c8/p9 to cover this which was not listed as maintenance. Dealer said he was not doing this. Very poor design. If drains for sun roof and plenum clog then water goes inside and shorts critical electronics. Transmission computer in passenger footwheel which filled with water costs $2000 and could of been my life. In general this car has had many recalls and is unsafe. I have had it for 5 years and only 38k miles and every recall has surface as problem in this car from seat heaters staying on, brake lights shorting, head leaking, front suspension assembly vibrating loose almost causing accident.
Car makes jump when slowing down looks like trouble with the transmission. After four times I took the car for check up in northeast wv outlet in philadelphia,PA problem is still there. They replaced the battery, ignition coils reset computer and so and so but looks like they can't solve that problem. My wife drives this car ,and this scares her, she gets nervous and can cause an accident.
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.
After making a stop and returning to normal traveling 55 mph or at higher speed vehicle started jerking. Dealership serviced vehicle and noticed that transmission needed to be replaced.
Consumer states while driving the vehicle jumps in and out of gears, took to mechanic, and they stated tha ttransmission needed replacing.