general problems of the 2013 Volkswagen Passat - part 1

I was on top of beech mountain nc working at a customer's house when it started to snow. I was at the bottom of their driveway and when I attempted to drive out, the traction control light would turn on, indicating I was losing traction. When this happened, I was unable to accelerate any more and the car started sliding backwards. So sitting in the car in the snow, I pulled up youtube to figure out the "procedure" to disable traction control so I could get more speed. Turn the car off, ignition on, activate the flashers, push the brake pedal multiple times, then start the car. Traction control disabled, so "simple"! the only problem is once the car starts moving traction control gets enabled again and I'm sliding backwards again! extremely dangerous on a mountain! eventually I was able to clear the snow enough and just hold down the accelerator to power out. So now my gps is telling me I have to drive up a hill to get off the mountain. Same problem: I start up the hill, traction control kicks on and I lose all power and begin to slide backwards! luckily I am a good driver because I was able to control the slide and do a 180 in the middle of the road. So my gps tries to reroute me and sends me up a different hill! same exact result! I eventually had to just ignore my gps entirely and just manually look for a road that was heading down hill. I thought for sure I was either going to wreck because of the traction control or be stuck up there in a snow storm! not having the option to disable traction control and leave it off so that I could get uphill us very unsafe! the worst part is I didn't even realize my car didn't have the option to disable traction control until I was already stuck! if I'd known that, I would have taken my truck.

High pressure fuel pump failed, causing the car to completely shut down on the highway. Because of the systems design, it sends fragments into the fuel lines and fuel injectors clogging them. The Passat tdi uses the cp4 hpfp that has already been recalled by fca and BMW. I was unaware how common it is for this fuel pump fail and the complete destruction it causes to the fuel system.

On [xxx] at 6 a. M. I was commuting nb on [xxx] , when engine lost power on 5 lane highway after driving over rough patch of road (~1 mile s of [xxx]). I barely got car onto right shoulder from middle lane when car shut off. Glow plug pigtails warning light came on right as I experienced significant decrease in engine power. Aaa towed car to vw dealer. Diagnostic performed on 7/5. I was informed of catastrophic failure of fuel pump, metal had gotten into fuel lines and tore up. My entire fuel system needs to be replaced. Dealer quoted $7k to repair. Car had never displayed signs of fuel issues. Car is well maintained and gets regular service at dealer. Upon investigation, I see vw had several years with high pressure fuel pumps failing. This needs to investigated/addressed as these failures are still occurring in cars that are 2013 and newer. I have requested dealer to send me pdf of repair estimate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While making a right turn, I attempted to accelerate only to be met with intense juddering. I was able to pull of the road and shut off the engine, but it would not restart. I called the every dealership near me and the soonest appointment was 2 weeks out and they would not tell me if they had loaner cars. The appointment comes and the dealer not only tells me to rent a car out of pocket, but the high pressure fuel pump had failed meaning a $7000 replacement of the entire fuel system. My vehicle is still within the mileage limit on the extended warranty but I was 5 months out of the time limit. I brought up the warranty, and a TSB related to this failure and they still told me I was out of luck. I still owe thousands on this car, and another vw dealer tried to gouge me stating that the only way to get out of this was to buy a new car. Absolute insanity all throughout this company. And to add insult to injury, every single maintenance item was followed to the exact mileage and the fuel level wasnt even below a quarter of a tank.

The vehicle cuts off while driving we’ve done numerous expensive replacements to water pump, control arm bushings, new battery, variable valve timing, celinoid, camshaft adjustment magnet, spark plugs and coils, ignition switch, fuel pump, gas cap. Oil filters and there is still a problem.

I financed a car from a car place (mainline) auto in March, there’s been some lights on it, I mentioned this numberless times also, the steering wheel was completely out of commission and the horn did not work, or the mileage, I talk with him he said bring it in and he will fix it, he fixed the steering wheel 2 weeks later but there’s lights still on the vehicle, last Friday 06/16/2017 I got an email saying I need to make a payment of the months that I missed not intentionally, so I proceed to call the dealer and she said she would make note that I will come into the office Monday morning 06/19/2023 so that the car wouldn’t be repossessed, afterwards come sun I woke up around 11:30 and the car was gone, I called my insurance company pear holdings and they opened up a claim, I also called jacksonville police department and they told me that it was repoed. Went up there Monday and payed tons of money that I had no idea I was being charged or responsible for, after I argued about the missing information and lack of communication so this would not happen, after I payed to get the car I walked to get inside and on the the front window it said (caught slipping) in white marker , I tried to get it off the a wet paper towel but it didn’t come off so I went inside the place and told her about the writing and she called someone from the back in a language I’m not fluent with and told me I would need to talk with them, that was already a red flag as well, when I got to the back of the dealer place outside I asked one of the mechanics could he come over and see if he could wipe it off,this is harassment, favoritism, mis handled information, long waits for watever reason I’ve asked them numerous of times to just give me the money that I put down on the car back that I didn’t even give them personally same week I brought it, they got my card info from the insurance company that wasn’t authorized by me I would like to take further action because I’m still making payments.

Day of purchase (feb2020)nox sensor went out on way home. Check engine light came on took back to vw dealership they fixed for free. Next component to go bad or become faulty was and still is the fuel door actuator when raining or washing off the car will get wet and fuel door will not open. Reported it to vw dealer after the issue arose at which time I was told it was not covered under the emissions warranty even though it’s listed. Next issue was clock spring broke and had to have vw repair the clock spring. This they did free of charge. Then issues arose with first blinkers bulbs blowing and randomly ceasing to work. It has progressed from blinkers ,to back up lights and tag lights. Recently the obd displayed a adblu error 200 miles to no engine restart. Then it dropped to 50 miles. Then zero at which time the obd flashed red and car would not start. Filled adblu waited few hours car started up no codes showing on dash. Get on interstate and with little time it flashes the same messages adblu error 200 miles to no engine restart. Then to 50 miles down to 10 miles turning red at 0 miles no engine start. As of 6 days ago I have recently learned of a recall made by vw regarding the approved emissions modification being faulty leading to the exact symptoms the car displays regarding the adblu(def system). Vw dealer refuses to acknowledge that the recall fix needs fixing since they reported to have fixed it already. All of the issues that we have had with the nox sensor, clock spring, exterior lighting , fuel door actuator, and the def system corrected approved modification, has been part of a recall that was supposedly already performed prior to the purchase. Now the def system is not working properly due to the malfunctioning of the aem software. Def injector have clogged due to crystallization of adblu , a affect of inadequate injection from the faulty aem. Emission mod decals under hood are not in proper locations nor properly filled.

My horn doesn’t work airbags don’t work car cut off 2 times on highway.

Vw bcm unit causes vehicle to idle then shut off while driving making it impossible to steer or increase speed.

Was driving on the freeway and the vehicle suddenly died. Leaving me stranded in the car left lane with no way to pull over.

Stalling? have to put in drive in order to forward in order to get car to back up? air bags dealer will not fix wo $245. 00 dx fee. Clock wheel has more connection to what is wrong/air bags connections as well connected to horn (which stopped working) drive? all fuses replaced with new ones; horn would still not work; dangerous driving in florida without a horn** I just want all of the deemed replacement part of this vw 2013 Passat done without any charge whatsover; even an unnecessary dx fee** I am driving a car with defective air bags that can explode leading to a lethal situation for myself and/or my disabled grandchild** there have been a lot of complaints online other than for what these recalled products are allowed on this vehicle. I am not the only one dealing with this stalling issue/go forward to go backwards issue** dangerous*** what is I have to suddenly put it in reverse to get out of another vehicle or another harmful situation?????.

Took my car to heritage. Volkswagen in 2022. They said the fuel tank needed replaced. Had engine light on and epc light on. They replaced the the upper and lower fuel tanks. When I picked up my car it still had the same problem. Still have the same lights on. I get hesitation when the car gets to the 2 ohms mark. I have to add fuel injection cleaner often.

My 2013 vw Passat 2. 5 s only has 59k miles and I was driving I no down road all sudden the car jerked forward and went into limp mode. I had it looked at then parts replaced and still having issues and they can't figure out issue. And now new codes keep coming up and keep getting new parts put in but it still feels like engine about shake right out of the car. I tried calling Volkswagen and they were supposed to call me back withing 2 days and I never heard anything back. I take really good care of my car and had all the parts replaced but its still having throttle and electrical issues and I can't get ahold of anyone. Mines having a lot of same issues as these people too which is weird especially around same time.

My 2013 volkwagen Passat I purchased in November of 2019 has continued to have so many problems involving what I have been told the major recal the Volkswagen has for my vehicle. How ever I only see the recal fix for my vehicle back in October of 2019 yet it was back in the dealer for the same recal just 6 weeks ago and now I have had it in another machanic shop for the 2nd time now same recal issues and I cant get an hones answer from any one. My vehicle was also supposed to be at the dealer ship just about 6 weeks ago but I went there and my vehicle was not there yet they would not give me any information and my gps is on however my account information is incorrect.

While in motion, thankfully at a low speed, the car suddenly stalled, though the radio stayed on. After getting off the road, I saw that the check engine light was on at that point, but it turned off once the car was restarted, only to turn on again six days later.

2013 Passat tdi. 136000 miles. Vehicle was driving at highway speeds and the glow plug light started to flash, no other indicator lights or car performance issues were noted at this time. Car was pulled over safety to a town within 5 miles, the car was shut down. Just to see if it was a glitch car was restarted briefly and the check engine light remained on. Car was immediately turned off. While on the phone relaying my information to family, bystanders advised me that the car was on fire below the engine bay. The fire was quickly put out with water. The damage seems to be in the same area as has been noted by recalls 17v309000 and 16v171000, both of these recalls were complied with prior to this event. Documentation of this is maintained with the owner. All scheduled maintenance and repairs have been completed at Volkswagen dealerships since purchase, all records maintained.

Minor front end collision causing explosion of car causing my son to burn to death.

Vehicle struck a tree and caught on fire. My brother in law was killed.

My 2013 vw Passat tdi has been to the dealership 3 times for a crank but no start condition. First time when the tow truck driver dropped it off it started right up, so we picked it up and went on our way. The second time it had a bad fuel lift pump that they replaced the third time a complete hpfp failure that at 151,000 miles they will not take care of. After looking into the problem I find out that the faulty lift pump may have contributed to the failure and in California this seems to be a very common problem. Can you help in any way? thank you ron.

I purchased my car November 20th 2019 with 85,000 miles and 10 weeks later when it broke down I was told I had no warranty and they say they only sell used certified with warranty used vehicles and I was forced to pay 25,00 dollars and when I picked my car up 11 days later my extra key fob was missing and I was treated so incredibly bad. My loan was supposed to be processed ASAP and I spoke with the bank and everything went thru and then lithia motors took my loan docs from when I signed on November 20th and they copied them and put the date for November 21st and I do have the documents from my car insurance company and the call was recorded with my self the employee at lithia and my insurance company as we give information about the loan and car I was purchasing and consider lithia motors does not allow vehicles to leave the lot unless a binder is in there posestion. And now the fuel system has had issues and my vehicles not running and I fear the lash back from them since they about to be served with a lawsuit from my lawyer.

I was sold a Volkswagen Passat never was told about all the recalls it had so I had the car about 3 months and the adblue messsed up and engine wouldn't start but the day I took my car to get serviced they ignored all the lights that were on the dashboard so I took the car back and they acted like they didn't see them said they would turn off so we left and before we got home the car started smoking I called and they said they would have to look at it t see what was wrong when we just left the dealership they would not tow it or pay for a tow we took it in they fixed the fuel injector and then called and said they found another issue and ever issue they have found has al been one of the recalls and I called and told them I was worried bout mine n my kids safety cuz one of the recalls could cause a fire and I didn't want that to happen and they told me there was nothing wrong it wasn't an open recall but yet every recall is what's messing up and I called there company vw at tourney advocate for the settlement they got for these recalls and my car was included in the settlement for the recall and all the recalls got their money back or a new car and this dealership said it's not their problem I bout it with a warranty but pretty much they got paid for my piece of shot car and just sold it with a warranty I owe 26000 and had the car 3 months and the warranty is only good another 20000 miles I'm concerned about them fraudung people into buying lemons and the safety of people who get these cars.

Car frequently stalls and the picks up when accelerating from a stop. When I'm pulling out into traffic it gets very scary when you're already out in the lane and it loses power and after several seconds it picks up. This happens every day.

The car has coolant issues, had power steering system replaced, now there's a gas leak, replaced gas cap loss of power suspension is horrible now everytime I refuel the car struggles to turn on.

My car is a 2013 Passat purchased by me in 2014, I have always taken my car to be serviced with all required service maintenances since purchase date (services done all at Volkswagen dealerships). The next service was not due. I have this all documented by the dealerships. My car has approx. 94,000 miles on it. The check engine light started to come on intermittently. Today Volkswagen dealer (following diagnostic testing) told me the head gasket needs to be replaced but that this is a risky repair as the primary problem is the engine. The Volkswagen dealership is telling me the engine needs to be replaced. The Volkswagen dealer is telling me today that this is not a usual problem with this vehicle. I called Volkswagen to ask for financial assistance or buy back plan for this and was told there is nothing that can be done.

Pulling out of driveway epc light comes on. Total loss of power and engine speed set to 1800rpm in "safe mode" no one knows exactly what is wrong. Mechanics cannot ttell me what is wrong. Dealership vw has no idea and want to start replacing items in descriminately and I don't have that kind of money to throw around and besides. The people that built the car can't figure it out. This is a huge safety issue. Computer faults and shuts down the power at hiway speeds and sometimes car stalls out. This is very dangerous and happening to hundreds maybe thousands of people I'm reading online and talking with other owners.

My vehicle for some reason is not under the recall for all other models with same defect. I have a intake manifold malfunction that was recalled on all cc's of my year and prior but for some reason my model wasn't covered and should be.

Stalling, sputtering erratically. It sputters, bumps and may stall. When it stalls it is necessary to turn ignition completely off and start again in park.

I own a 2013 vw Passat diesel which has a bad nitrogen oxide sensor at 47,300 miles. I have learned that this part is not covered under emissions warranty and many other vw car owners have experienced failures with this same sensor. With all the current existing diesel emission problems and fines, you would think that this critical sensor would be part of the emissions warranty. My local vw dealer and the vw corporation wants me to pay over $800 to fix a critical emission problem which is an ongoing issue with many vw owners. This is a defective part for which they have been fined in the past (2005). All vehicles with this defective nitrogen oxide sensor are increasing the world pollution. Why is this sensor not part of a recall, not part of an extended emissions warranty, and why am I and many other owners stuck paying for defective parts? under the emissions settlement program, Volkswagen has agreed to "promote zero emissions vehicle technology". So, why is there not a recall or warranty on the nitrogen oxide sensor?.

Leaking fuel line.

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle lost power without warning. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the high pressure fuel system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was 89,094.

Reductive agent heating element and/or level sensor failed. Car has less than 32,000 miles on it. The repair was covered under our certified pre-owned warranty, but I see that this seems to be a common part failure, so I want to report it.

156 miles into a 200 mile trip the vehicle lost power climbing a grade on a highway. At first it felt like the road was washboarded but after changing lanes the 'washboard' feeling remained and I thought it was a flat tire. Within a few seconds of changing lanes the vehicle lost power - 60mph to 30mph in a second. I pulled off the road, vehicle was still running but had very little power to move forward. Had vehicle towed to nearest vw dealership. Was informed the hpfp had failed due to metal shaving in the system. Pump, rails and injectors need to be replaced. Vehicle has 110k miles on it. At 80k I had one of the injectors replaced at a vw dealership - car was having symptoms of power lag and intermittent 'washboard road' feeling when accelerating. Was told at that time the injector 'just went bad, happens sometimes' - now I am sure the system was going bad and should have been addressed before it became catastrophic. Not covered by vw, $5k repair.

Check engine light / malfunction indicator lamp came on in car. I was about 1 mile into my commute to work driving around 50mph. Took to Volkswagen dealer and car had p203b, reductant level sensor circuit which was a damaged ad blue sensor. Mechanic and sales advisor mentioned that this part is critical and the car will shut off and not start until replaced. I was forced to fix or be left with a non-running car. Sales advisor mentioned that this part has been updated and fixed by Volkswagen and that the new part will not malfunction for newer cars. I'm not sure if the car would shut off in the middle of an intersection or on the interstate, but it could be a major safety hazard. I feel this part should be recalled and people who paid to have this fixed be re-reimbursed. I feel screwed to have a non-sellable diesel vehicle and then get hit with another $1175 part for a device that is supposed to clean up diesel exhaust emissions.

Cel came on, code for for failing reductant level sensor p203b implausable signal. Car has 66,000 miles, cared for to the letter. Vw wants over a $1000. 00 to repair. This is an extreamly common failure not possible ofr the owner to induce. . .

Adblue heater element failure was covered until July now not part of emissions or switch failure NHTSA #16v171000 90degrees should not have been on.