Four problems related to engine shut off without warning 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.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. On two separate occasions, once while driving 50 mph, the contact made a sudden stop and the engine shut off. On the second occasion, while driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled. On both occasions the vehicle immediately restarted. The dealer informed the contact that the failure would have to repeat itself in order for them to diagnose the vehicle. She was advised not to restart the vehicle and have it towed to the dealer. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 80,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 65 mph or attempting to stop, the vehicle loses power and shuts off without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and the speed sensor was replaced. However, the vehicle continues to shut off. The contact stated that the brake lights also malfunction and the electrical switch was replaced. The vehicle is currently at the dealer and they are unable to determine the cause of failure. The vehicle's warranty has been charged for each replacement. The current mileage was 57,006 and failure mileage was 47,000.
Problems with engine shut down on 2003 Volkswagen Passat. There was a problem with the odometer reading. The ecp light would constantly come on, the engine would go out intermittently, and there was rough idling.
I purchased a new 2003 Volkswagen Passat from smith Volkswagen of wilmington, DE. From the beginning the car would intermittently experience total engine shutdown at mid-rpm while under full acceleration. This made any kind of merging into traffic maneuver a hazardous undertaking. The car was returned to the dealer several times for repair but with no success. This caused us for the entire time we owned the vehicle to completely modify the way we drove - never knowing when the engine would die out. Now after struggling with this for 3 years I receive recall notice "safety recall m7", one month after we traded in the Volkswagen on another car. This notice describes our problem but underplays the havoc the problem can actually cause when it occurs to your car. These vehicles are a danger to their drivers and to all the cars around them on the road. They should be removed from the highway until they are fixed now that Volkswagen has finally admitted something is wrong 3 years later.