general problems of the 2004 Volkswagen Passat

Had to replace the comfort control module along with untold amount of wires due to water damage. After being parked and turned off the windows roll. Down the alarm is disabled, the doors unlock. While driving lights go. On and off doors lock and unlock emergency flashers go off and alarm will go off. Can't unlock car without setting alarm off.

I start the car up and it started making funny noise my check engine ligh came on the engine shaking act like it's going to cut off.

I was driving my car to have dinner with my daughter and the car started losing power. It was only a 4 minute trip and by the time I got to my daughter's driveway, the engine was smoking. After using a hose to cool off the hood, the hood was popped and there was a fire on the passenger side of the engine. After we got the fire out, lot of hoses and the wire assembly were burned badly.

The seat warmer on the driver's side started a fire that burnt through the seat and onto my leg. I had to pull over on the highway and turn off the car for it to stop burning.

I had been driving my car for fewer than 15 minutes with the seat heating element on. I noticed an acute burning heat near my upper left leg, and shortly thereafter noticed a hot/burning/melting smell. I immediately turned off the driver's side seat and pulled into a parking spot. After being turned off for 10 minutes, the burning smell was still hanging in the car and my seat was still extremely hot to the touch. The gray leather near the outer left edge of the seating surface is emblazoned with a singed, brownish burn mark, and a hole was burned completely through the leather. I have not turned on the seat heating element since this incident, but am quite concerned about the failure and fire hazard.

2004 vw Passat, VIN wvwpe63b74e341663 July 2010 - sunroof drains failed to drain; water entered cockpit; water destroyed convenience module under driver's seat. Repaired $769 July 2011 - sunroof drains, although open, could not handle flow of water, and again convenience module was destroyed. Will be repaired soon. This current failure now has a 'airbag fault' warning on the dash. Will not allow my wife to drive car.

On August 22 about 2:45 I was returning home from taking my daughter to work about3-miles away and I noticed smoke coming from my car I get out to look under the hood and I notice flames coming from the front right end under the hood. I panicked grabbed my belongings and called 911 the fire dept arrived and put the fire out.

Our 2004 Passat's brake lights went out recently. There was no warning light or other process that told us the lights were out. We were almost in a car accident because the driver behind us didn't see our brake lights. After doing research I found that vw issued a recall for the brake light switch in 2007. . . But we never received such notice. I think this is a serious safety issue that should be communicated to the public.

I own a Volkswagen Passat 2004 model. On November the 11th 2008 after working the night shift at mbusi in vance, alabama, I got in my car to go home. I turned on the heated seat just as I have done for the past 4 years only this time I got more heat than I wanted. My heated seat caught fire and burned my leg. In attempt to extinguish the fire, I wrenched my back by stomping out the fire with my foot. I did not have anything close to me to use with my hands so they would not get burned. I could not believe how fast my car filled with worst smelling smoke I have ever smelt. The seat was on fire before I even left the parking lot. If I would have waited two minutes to turn on my seat, I would have been on interstate 20/59 driving at 70 mph and I can only imagine what would have happened. This is one of the worst experiences of my life. Volkswagen has offered to replace the cover on the car, replace my pants and pay my medical bills, but what about the seat I will continue to sit on, and my confidence that this will not happen again. I am horrified to think about the potential for recurrence and I cannot overcome my ordeal I am devastated and have lost my confidence in the processes that are supposed to protect the consumer.

2004 vw Passat 4 sedan rear cigarette lighter and ash tray are not safely and functional installed well. Have the tendency to keep coming apart entirely exposing electrical wires leading to burn and electrical shock or popping or burning of wires. Have had the problem repaired on multiple occasions by dealer as well as by myself to further prevent the mishap since out of warranty. My children bump the cigarette lighter and it caused sparks and burning smell. I was able to repair the enclosure again for the 13th or so time and since it's not under warranty it's not covered. Children sit in the rear more than adults but there has been time where the adults have causd the same issue. It's that my 9 yr old son try to repair or put back in where the entire enclosure fell out again.

I have a 2004 vw Passat 4motion 1. 8 turbo. I have just recently (within the last month) replaced the #2 coil. Now today either another coil is gone or the same one. I haven't gotten it to my mechanic yet to determine which one is bad. But after talking to him he related to me that he has replaced several # 2 coils this year on this make of vehicle. . So I am just guessing that this is the problem this time around. My vehicle has 52,000 miles on it. It wasn't the #2 coil it was the #1 coil. I am getting really disgusted with this car as far as reliability is concerned. I am planning on a trip to florida in the fall and am wondering if I should take a case of coils with me. I was at the dealers the first time this happened & asked about recalls on this item. They said they didn't have any. . I thought it a bit odd because my mechanic told me he has had several come through this year with bad coils.

1. New 2004 Volkswagen Passat, v6 sedan. Returned car several times under warranty for many types of repairs. Volkswagen unable to repair car. Both the dealer and Volkswagen of America were made aware of the problems. 2. Several failures including but not limited excessive oil consumption, loss of power and acceleration, transmission problems, failure to start, malfunction indicator lamp constantly on, braking problems, climate control problems, and several electrical problems including failed brake lights. 3. Several attempts by Volkswagen has failed to fix the problems. They are unwilling to resolve the problems adequately.