Engine Problems of Volkswagen Passat - part 2

Engine light.

See all problems of the 1999 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Stop oil pressure light went on and car died. Towed car to dealer who accused me of not servicing car. I took exception to this nonsense and noted a manufacturing defect that caused vw to extend their warranty to 8 years. I produced all oil change receipts as required and have still not heard a verdict. They extend a warranty with the strictest of conditions and then refuse to honor it in a timely manner.

See all problems of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Recurring engine misfire. There is a engine misfire that seems to occur mostly when it's very hot outside (arizona summers!) and significantly affects the car's ability to accelerate. I took it to the dealer who checked the fuel filter and found no problem. They reset the code and gave the car back to me. The problem is still occurring and I am scheduled to take the car in again. The dealership said they contacted vw America and vw America stated they know of no problem, but for me to bring the car in and attempt to recreate the circumstances under which the misfire occurs.

See all problems of the 2006 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Events leading up to the failure ;the problem that I am about to describe has on a consistent basis occurred since I purchased the vehicle. Failure and its consequences ; there are three problems. The 1st problem being that when the vehicle is running/on and I am either in park, at a stop light or similar, the engine "sputters" as if it has lower grade/bad gas or is misfiring or has an air leak of some sort. Problem 2, when I am at a complete stop/parked and the vehicle is in drive, when I let off the brake to "creep" forward (like in traffic) the car shakes/throbs/inches forward as if the brakes are clamping down on the discs and letting go really quick. It is not a problem with the brakes because if I let the car "creep" in idle up a hill without using the brakes the car still shakes/throbs. The 3rd problem is that the throttle response is delayed anywhere from 1 full second to 3 full seconds. It's simple, when I press on the gas pedal, the car does not move/the engine does not rev anywhere from 1 to 3 full seconds. At highway cruising speeds, it does the same thing. In both instances whether it be at a stop light of cruising at highway speeds, this problem has nearly gotten me killed or seriously hurt. What was done to correct the failure = I took the vehicle in to have the dealership service department see what was causing these problems so they could fix it and they didn't come up with anything.

I have a vw Passat with less than 30,000 miles on it that has sludge in the motor and have been faithful with my oil changes but I am missing one receipt. Vw of America refuses to cover the work under warranty stating lack of maintenance on my behalf for the problem. They are taking no responsibility for the defective engines they are putting in these cars but blaming it on the consumers. I am sorry I ever bought this car and I am now left with no transportation for my kids to get to school and for me to get to work and I have no money to fix the car because I am a single mother living paycheck to paycheck. It is very frustrating that I have to be driving down the freeway with my 3 daughters in the car and have my engine freeze up and almost crash into several cars trying to get over to the side of the road. I then take it to the closest dealer to be treated like dirt and told I did not do enough to take care of my car. They then shuttle me off to some advocate for vw and he treats me even worse and tells me sorry the answer is no have a nice day. . I have never been treated so poorly in my life and I am appalled that I ever bought this car and will tell everyone I know about this issue and warn everyone I know to get rid of their vws.

See all problems of the 2004 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Oil sludge build up in engine. 2000 Volkswagen Passat 1. 8 turbo 4 cylinder 49000.

See all problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

The throttle body on my 2002 Passat GLS 1. 8 turbo failed at only 56,000 miles. This part is not covered under the power train warranty. This seems to premature of a failure, and Volkswagen should look into this. I have spoken to other Volkswagen owners who own other Passat models and they have had the same issues, some even at 30,000 miles. Vw take action please and investigate this issue.

The contact stated while driving the vehicle the stop engine now- low oil pressure light illuminated. She pulled the vehicle off the road for inspection. She checked the dip stick for an oil reading. The reading indicated the vehicle contained no oil in the engine. She added oil to the engine before driving the vehicle to the dealership. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle as having sludge build up in the engine. The engine will have to be replaced in order to fix the problem. No however, repairs have been made .

See all problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

My 2001 Volkswagen Passat needs a new engine because it is filled with sludge. After researching this on my own I found that this is a common problem with the 1. 8t engine. Vw issued an extended warranty on that engine provided the consumer can produce oil change receipts showing the car was maintained according to the owners manual. I sent them the proper receipts showing my car was maintained properly and they still denied me. My car only has about 43,000 miles on it and I just bought it 10 months ago.

See all problems of the 2001 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

All bolts holding compressor in place broke.

Oil pressure light coming on and telling me to turn the vehicle off immediately. Found out it is a oil sludge issue with the 1. 8t engine. It is a $1,600 bill to fix the vehicle. Volkswagen will not cover the expenses unless we show a copy of our oil change receipts since we have owned the car. Well, we have owned the car for 3. 5 years and we don't hang onto receipts for more than 3 months. So, they are not going to cover the damage to the vehicle. I have found out that Volkswagen has known of a sludging problem with the 1. 8t engine since late 2004. We bought the car early 2002.

Sludge in the motor was found. I changed to synthetic oil soon after my warranty was over but was never told to change to synthetic because of possible sludge. I was never told that this problem was common in vw 1. 8t engines. This problem will cost me $2,000 so far. I have kept great care of the car and have records except those who were service by the dealership because those are stamped in my book (the one that is given to you at the dealership) the information should be enough for the warranty. I have yet to solve this , but in dealing with the other dealerships they only keep records for a few years.

The contact stated there were toxic fumes in vehicle. The dealership replaced the turbo, but this did not help to eliminate the fume problem. Currently, they insisted that the engine needed to be removed and all of the seals need to be replaced. The manufacturer advised him not drive the vehicle because it was not safe. There have been no further repairs made to the vehicle.

The abs, brake and oil light all come on (oil will flash) with sporadic irregularities in the tachometer. The tachometer will sometimes drop to zero. All this happens with 3 distinct beeps whenever I use the brakes. Colder temperatures can lessen the occurrence of the problems. Dealership service says that the abs module needs to be replaced at a cost of $3600. I have not yet approved the repair on the car.

Alexandria vw damaged my engine and refuses to take responsibility for proving a replacement engine. Also, vw of America won't replace a defected engine.

I own a 2003 Passat GLS with about 40,000 miles on it. A few days ago, the oil pressure light came on advising that I stop driving the car. As I was just pulling into parking lot of my work, I parked the car and had it towed. The first thing the mechanic from vw told me was my warranty would not be honored without proof of all my service records from vw. I do have the oil changed regularly but not always at 4,999 miles. I have moved and have had the oil changed at different places and have had trouble getting all my records. After several conversations in which I was t old mulitple things about what caused the light to come on, I received a call saying that my engine was scorched and needed to be replaced at the cost of $11,000. I could not produce all oil changes done to the car in the almost two years I woned it and vw would not honor my warranty even though I paid for extended coverage. The mechanic at vw said it is rare that anyone can produce all records and this is a common problem due to lack of precise maintenance. I have not had an new engine put in the car as the car isn't even worth the cost of the engine. I am looking into the possibility of rebulit engine.

I am currently having an issue with a 2003 vw Passat. After 27,000 miles, the engine and possible the turbo has gone, and the dealer is saying that the repairs will cost 9,000 dollars. Volks wagen has had an oil sludge problem with this year of Passats that typically results in this problem, even after suggested maintenance. Volkswagen issued a notice to their customers of this problem about 3 months ago, and also recommended that their drivers change the oil to a synthetic oil. I have been changing my oil at the recommended 5,000 mile increments, although using a non-synthetic brand of oil. I am now having a very hard time coming up with my oil change receipts. I can prove that I changed the oil 3 times although I need to prove I changed it 5 times for the warranty to kick in. Even after changing the oil at the required increments my engine is gone due to a known problem that vw is not taking responsibility for. I am extremely frustrated and angry at the service that I am currently receiving and would like to take action on this matter ? as I am currently sitting with a 9,000 bill for a problem that vw has admitted to, although will not take responsibility for.

I was just told by the vw dealer that my 1998 vw Passat with 1. 8t engine needs to be replaced because of sludge problems. I change the oil more frequently than the required 5000 miles (usually between 3000 and 3500), but don't have every receipt, and don't have the oil change receipts from the previous owner, so they won't honor their warranty. They want me to pay $8000 when it is their recognized design flaw. Nothing has been done to correct it yet.

See all problems of the 1998 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

The oil light came on. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who wanted $11,000. 00 to replace an engine for oil sludge. Consumer stated that vw has clearly admitted to the sludge problem. Article attach from Volkswagen to work with dealers to improve guidelines for sludge repairs.

The crank shaft screw got loose, backed out, and rattled throughout the engine at 50 mph. Consumer was informed by the dealer that a new engine was needed because the screw ruined the interior parts of the engine.

1999 Volkswagen Passat 1. 8l turbo engine with 71,000 miles stopped suddenly; then check-engine light came & car would not re-start. Check-oil light had been intermittently on for 2-3 miles prior, but oil was checked and it was actually overfull. 803 miles prior, vw service dept had serviced car for check-engine light, and replaced turbo recirculation valve and hose. Oil has been changed every 3000 miles since car was purchased used, with 30,000 miles, in Feb. '04. Vw service department claims failure was caused by engine becoming oil-starved due to sludge in oil take-up tube. Sludge caused by not using synthetic oil, although it is not required. Cam gear was damaged, leaving metal pieces throughout engine. Entire engine, turbo and catalytic converter had to be replaced. Vw denies any responsibility. Parts may still be w/mechanic, I certainly do not have facilities or desire to store an entire ruined engine.

2002 Passat Volkswagen sludge in engine. The consumer stated she had to have engine repair work done twice on the vehicle. The dealer stated the vehicle required special oil.

2001 Volkswagen Passat - oil sludge - my car had a stop low oil pressure warning light. I pulled over, checked oil and oil pressure was not low. Proceeded and car lost power on the highway. It was very dangerous pulling over. Volkswagen will not pay for the $6000 repair. Engine seized. Volkswagen is trying to look like the nice guy with their extended warranty. The big catch--must have every receipt for every oil change to prove they were done every 5,000 miles. Volkswagen is not standing by their car. Horrible to deal with. This is a huge problem with many Passat owners affected.

Total engine malfunction/failure of 1. 8t volkswagon 2002 Passat - volkswagon just issued internal memo to dealers about the potential for this problem. It is described by vw as "oil sludge related repairs" however; is a known engine design flaw and repeated problem which will occur much more in the future. I was told I would not be covered under warranty because I cannot prove by receipt oil changes every 5000 mile interval. I had 6 receipts I could find to show for 41000 miles.

While driving at low speeds the vehicle lost oil pressure intermittently. Please provide additional information.

Our oil light kept coming on. Kept taking in for oil change and said was fine. No one could tell us why oil light kept coming on. Then received a letter from vw of America stating there was oil sludge problem. Will not fix car w/out oil receipts. Can not drive car w/out getting oil sludge prob. Fixed because it can damage engine.

Like many, many others, my 1998 vw Passat 2. 8 liter with tiptronic (automatic) transmission has the following problems: 1) abs light on (abs not working); 2) brake light on (both before and after all rotors & pads were replaced and fluid changed); 3) tachometer not working; 4) oil light on (but oil level and pressure are okay). This was an intermittent problem that began early this year but is now almost constant. All problems appear to be caused by a bad abs controller, which is also used in Audi a4 models (part # 8e0 614 111r). Vw dealership quotes over $1000 for the part alone. Sometimes, if the car has been sitting a few days or if it is cold outside, the lights do not come on and the tachometer works correctly for awhile. Then, all of a sudden, all the above-mentioned problems happen. Or, I will be driving the car with the problems, then the tach jumps to life and all the warning lights go out. As I said before: there are numerous people who have the same problems. This is a safety issue (no abs could lead to accidents) as well as a quality issue: abs controllers should not fail so frequently on such relatively new vehicles. A recall should be performed by volkswagon and Audi to replace defective abs controllers in their 1998-on Passat and 1996-on a4 models. Thank you, marc jacobi.

Engine speed pulsates at idle when automatic transmission is in gear and brakes applied. No failure or warning lights displayed. To prevent surging of car while stopped, transmission must be put in neutral. Also hesitates significantly during some accelerations from stop due to condition, and idles rough when cold. Same fault last year in Jan. 2003, resolution through replacement of coolant sensor and throttle body.

4th winter in a row since purchasing vehicle it has experienced a problem starting. Each year the "diagnosis" has been somewhat different. . . But mainly a "problem with carbonization buildup". 4 times in 4 years, resulting in new plugs, oil change, this year a new battery, "decarbonization procedure". . . . Hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Have used only the finest fuel (vw claimed this was the root problem, poor quality fuel) since the first incident in 2000. Problem persists.

Engine coils failure again. Last winter I had a failure in January and the car was in the shop for 4 weeks with a backorder problem. After the coil was replaced, another failed 1 week later and the other 3 were replaced. Less then the 10 months later, on the coldest day this year. . . . Another failure. Not sure if the problem was resolved.

At about 61000 miles my 2001 Volkswagen Passat displayed a "check engine" symbol and a dashboard message indicating a problem with the emissions control system. I took the car to my local dealer. I was told that the light and message were related to a service campaign relating to a vacuum line and that the issue was addressed. At about 74k miles, the same light and emissions control message reappeared. I returned to the same dealer and was told that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, that it was tested and everything worked fine. The codes were reset and the vehicle was returned to me. Shortly thereafter, however, the light and emissions control message reappeared. This time, the shop foreman at the dealership suggested that I arrange to leave the vehicle for extended testing. I agreed to do so. After a day or two of tests, it was determined that the catalytic converters on the vehicle were malfunctioning. I was told, however, that despite the 7 year/70,000 mile federally mandated emissions system warranty, Volkswagen would not pay for the repair, because the vehicle now had about 79k miles on it. From speaking with several sources, including the dealership's foreman and a representative of Volkswagen, I learned that the vacuum line repair performed at 61k miles was not related to the emissions message that first appeared at that time. It appears that, although the vechile has clearly indicated a problem with the emissions control system since the incident at 61k miles, no one took the time to diagnose the problem until, unfortunately, after the warranty period had run.

Instrumental panel never provides accurate information on the performing of the engine, engine dies due to running short on oil dealer notified.

In follow up to reading an article about "oil sludge" problems in vw's. I have recently had my engine replaced on a 2003 vw 1. 8 liter turbocharged Passat. The engine seized due to oil sludge problems. The engine was replaced approximately 2 months ago. The vehicle had 36,000 miles and was properly maintained.

The malfunction indicator light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on 5/24/2003, and the temperature sensor was replaced. Six days later light the illuminated again. The Volkswagen headquarters did pay for the hose when the malfunction indicator light illuminated at approx. 24,000 miles.

On April 14, 2005 I was going to work when a warning light came on that said stop. I called commonwealth motors and was told by larry riggins to check the oil level to see if needed to add oil, so I did. That did not resolve problem. I called back the dealer, who gave me the tow number for Volkswagen, and said that he would set up an appointment that day. After waiting for two hours we were towed in only to find that they would not even look at car till next day. Next day, larry called and said that they needed to pull engine and look at oil pan which could add up to a lot of money. When questioned due to the car's warranty, larry informed me that only if I had all of the maintenance records, including oil changes, Volkswagen would not honor the 5 year power train warranty, under 50,000 miles. Car has been there for 3 days with no resolution. After researching I found a site called vwlemon. Com and discovered that known to Volkswagen ,but unbeknownst to me, Volkswagen Passats with 1. 8 turbo engine had a design flaw that caused engine to become clogged with sludge which could completely seize the engine. I was fortunately not on the freeway when this occurred so that I could safely pull over. Certainly it was a safety issue and a manufactured design flaw that Volkswagen of America will not pay for.