Table 1 shows one common equipment related problems of the 2010 Volkswagen Passat.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Equipment problems |
I purchased a used vehicle but have found out the oxygen sensor is feeding false error codes to the main obc causing leaks into driver compartment causing engine to stall while auto in motion and most importantly causing steering wheel to lock, have spoken with vwoa but they have no direct influence with vw or dealerships even if a warranty issue because all parties are independent contractors and all they are able to do is try and help. My name has not been transferred to registration because of smog requirements so you may call me [xxx] my telephone number is [xxx] my case# with vwoa is [xxx], I myself have learned to deal with defects but should this matter be more widespread which I cannot find out because the last case regarding the sensors was sealed in an agreement made by the California arb, epa and vw and Audi through a settlement signed in December 2021. Once again my hands are tied from taking much more action but I believe your department whether is able to enforce this matter or not should at least investigate and issue warnings to advise people of what can happen so if they can even at own cost seek appropriate repairs before more damages accrued. Also if this sensor is effecting more models and manufacturers an appropriate temporary fix should be seeker since no long term solutions are available at this time information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Faulty timing chain tensioner caused catastrophic engine failure. Resulting in ~$4000. 00 repair cost. I have read about alot of other Volkswagens having this same issue. Vw has redesigned this part several times, I did not recive a TSB stating there was an issue with an internal component of my engine even though vw knows this issue will result in engine failure.
Purchased the car at 62k engine timing chain went out at 72k I'm very frustrated they are not communicating with me on anything and nobody is helping.
Vehicle lost power and shut off while driving on the street at approximately 20 mph. I had driven about 1 block on this street after having turned onto it from another street. When the car died, "steering wheel locked" displayed on dash panel. Car would not start, steering wheel wouldn't move beyond about 1" to the right. Message would display "steering wheel still locked" or "move steering wheel. " after 40 minutes of this rotation of messages and trying to start the vehicle, moved the steering wheel up and down. Car finally started but only for 3 seconds. Battery light would come on. Was able to start the car several times doing this and moving it 30 feet to safely park on the side of the road. Temperature outside was about 30 degrees f. For about 1 month prior to this, I would periodically hear a ticking sound after removing the key from the ignition. After the ticking stopped, a message would display on the dash panel "steering column locked. Visit workshop!" it was extremely cold when this happened, but it didn't happen every time I turned off the car, and the car started fine each time after. Outside temp was in the teens (f) when this typically happened.
I have owned this car for beraly one month. 2 days after purchasing the 02 sensors went bad. 1 week later my pcv valve went bad. And 2 days after that my car stalled on me while driving down a canyon and would not start again. I lost control and ended up on the side of the road. I though I was going to kill myself. After sitting there for about an hour the car turned on but was extremely shaky and would stall the minute I slowed down or came to a stop. I managed to get the car to a repair shop only to have the engine die on me. The car cannot be turned on or moved. I was told it might be the timing chain which is a common issue in this engine. I'm being told I need to practically replace the engine which will cost more than what the car is worth. If I try to turn the car on. It hesitates a lot and once it turns over it immediately shuts off. I have beraly made 1 payment on this vehicle and it already died on me. Was excited about such a nice looking car only to have fall under the lemon car category in my opinion. I am now left with a car payment. A huge repair bill and no mode of transportation all due to Volkswagens faulty design.
The car battery is fine, the car shuts off immediately when pushing on brake, leaks brake fluid, cannot keep running, cannot get to vw to get the current 4 recalls taken care of unless I can pay for towing, can't run because of fuel pump and the apparent issues vw is having already on other 2010 models brake system, this is the same year and it is obvious that the Passat 2010 are having the same issues with the abs! Volkswagen will not to the vehicle even the issue of inability to drive is due to the recall of fuel pump and the not yet recalled 2010 Passat brakes (abs) , causing it to shut offf. The electrical goes haywire. Sorry for non tech terms but this is what is going on, it immediately says service brakes then shuts off. Brake fluid is leaking, as well as coolant.
The timing chain tensioners have gone out on my vehicle. The vehicle makes a noise when accelerating making it undriveable. The dealership states the repairs are not covered under the vw timing chain settlement.
I have been having electrical issues with this car after owning it for 4 years. It started with the tail light bulb always burning out. I have had issues with the windows before and had it replaced. Last year I paid almost $2200 for window which won't roll down and the door which won't lock, water pump, oil leak and other minor issues. The keypad will lock 3 doors only and the lights won't come on when locked but when unlocked it'll come on. I have purchased 3 batteries thus far because the car constantly drains the battery. I've had this car stop in the middle of driving on major streets and almost got rear ended. My passenger right rear door does not lock and window does not work at all. I feel unsafe in this car because I am afraid that some electrical issue might cause my car to catch on fire. The tail light will work if I tap the outside cover to the light. I have gotten pulled over several times because of this and once I show the cop that if I tap it it'll come on, then they understand. At this present moment I can not open the driver side door from the outside and that will cost over $1000 to repair. I purchased my car in August 2009 and I have 62,043 miles on the vehicle. I do not mistreat the car but it's really not worth it and vw does not want to acknowledge that this is a poorly built vehicle. It feels as if this is was a trial an error model car. I am confident that if this car wasn't as old as it is now it would qualify for the lemon law. I am sure that I am not the only vw cc owner experiencing these headaches but if I am at least I am making it known of some of the issues I have encountered while being a first time and last time vw owner.
While driving home (approx 50 mile trip) I heard a loud screeching noise from the engine area. I was traveling on a highway at about 60mpg. I pulled over, turned off the car and saw smoke and smelled burning from under the hood. I opened the hood and smoke billowed out of the back of the engine bay. I looked under the car to see if it was leaking anything and found a large amount of what seemed to be oil dripping from the car. I then noticed a trail of oil from before I stopped the car. I left the car in place for a tow to not damage the vehicle anymore than it already was. It was towed to the vw dealership in town where they diagnosed the problem is that the pcv valve stopped working correctly, which caused the rear main seal to fail and become completely destroyed. They said that the entire engine needs to be taken out to replace the seal and is going to cost $1700. Vehicle did not have any indication of problems before the screeching noise and did not have any check engine light come on during the problem. Vehicle has just over 100,000 miles and vw of America denied to help out in anyway when contacting customer service. Another incident with exact same issue was found when I looked at open claims on NHTSA and many other claims are easily found with a simple google search. I have had all maintenance performed on time and at vw dealerships and was never advised to get the pcv replaced as normal maintenance.
Takata recall. My vehicle is covered under the airbag recall but no action has been taken to remedy the recall.
While driving on the highway with the sunroof closed. Out of the blue and unprovoked - the sunroof exploded. It was not hit by anything to cause this. The majority of the glass flew out, but had the inner plastic sunroof material been open it certainly could have injured those inside. Additionally over the course of the next few days I did find dark glass shards in my hair that had clearly come from the sunroof. My story is lucky, but easily could have ended in injury to driver from the glass or from injuries to others on the road caused by an accident prompted by the shock of unprovoked shattering glass to the driver. The car is not very old (2010) and the sunroof is certainly not overused. This absolutely can't be the users' fault.
My wife bought a 2008 touareg from a local dealer with about 16,000 miles on it and she seldom drives the vehicle (to and from work). After about 3 or 4k miles the tires began to make alot of noise. I noted feathering/cupping only on the inside rear tires. The tires with new ones and after about 8,000 miles (w/rotations) the rear tires began to feather?cup again. I have a 2010 Passat that has the same exact problem. When the tires begin to feather/cup the noise sounds like snow tires. This is the rear tires only and on the inside tread. I can't rotate the tires cause when you do, it sounds like one is running on all flat tires. I checked the web and there is thousands of complaints about this problem and of course vw denies any wrongdoing. I believe its a rear gear-box, or axle problem. I have spoke to many vw owners 07 thru 2010 and most have the same problem, while only a few do not. I believe a recall is on order. Vw engineers should be ashamed for allowing this defect to leave their factories and volks wagen to you I say. . Not built to last!.
Car's transmission disengaged while wife was driving it. Car has dsg transmission that is same as the recall transmission from 2009 and 2010. Since then car's transmission has disengaged and then reengaged after restarting it a total of approximately 10 times some at low speeds and some at hi. Car always had lurch when driving. A google search shows over 6000 complaints at least regarding 2010 dsg transmission for vw Passat.