Windshield Problems of Volkswagen Passat

Vw Passat windshield shatters for no apparent reason. This seems to be a trend that I discovered while talking with other vw owners and searching the web. . . . This has happened to people while driving. Time bomb waiting to happen and money out of peoples pockets!!.

See all problems of the 2001 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Front windshield defrost/defogger not operating/blowing on windshield. If windshield began to fog or frost, there may not be enough airflow to clear the windshield, resulting in reduced driver visibility and a possible crash without prior warning. Manufacturer refusing to fix under safety warranty.

See all problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

In April 2008 my 2004 vw Passat spontaneously developed a crack, gradually lengthening, in the windshield. I replaced it with an original equipment windshield, and now, in March 2009, the windshield has again spontaneously developed a lengthening crack. In neither case was there any chip or "ding" or anything suggesting any impact of anything into the windshield.

See all problems of the 2004 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

This vehicle had been to the dealer on numerous occasions for replacement of the windshield. Driver informed the mechanic that this problem was still not resolved at this time. The windshield cracked repeatedly, and was replaced. But, the problem recurred.

The vehicle has a safety issue as I cannot see when I put the heater on. The windshield becomes completely covered with steam. I have almost crashed 5 times already. Help! ## VIN passed ## vw Passat 2002 ##.

See all problems of the 2002 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Windshield craked repeatedly for no apparent reason. Original windshield cracked on the lower left next to passenger side pillar, next windshield cracked almost identically on the driver's side. No evidence of damage caused by stone, etc.

Water leaks into drivers side floor, relay failure and resultant defroster failure. Mildew, respiratory distress, uncontrolable sneezing, and resultant difficulty with vehicle control. Entire carpet replacement. Cost over $1000 with labor.

See all problems of the 1998 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

I own a 2003 Passat (purchased in 8/2002) . In the beginning of March 2004, a pebble flew up from the road and put a crack in my windshield. On April 6, 2004, it happened again. I am concerned with the quality of the glass in the windshield. I would think that it should withstand an airborne pebble. My Passat has only has 15000 miles to date. If the car was on the road more often, would it have been subject to more cracks? is there something wrong with the quality of the glass?.

The windshield cracked, while the vehicle was parked, the dealer indicated it was caused by the weather.

In the past 12 months, I have had the window regulator in my vehicle replaced 4 times. Upon researching, there appears to be (literally) hundreds of customers with the same complaint. I understand there is a shortage of replacement parts, there needs to be a recall. Will Volkswagen do nothing until slapped with a class action law suit because someone dies from a window malfunction in an auto accident?.

See all problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

There is a crack in windshield starting in front of driver below wiper blade, up 5 inches and over 3 feet. The crack appeared when the car was parked in direct sun on a hot day in a parking lot pointed away from other moving vehicles. There is only one shared of glass missing from behind the wiper that is perhaps 1/4 inch long and 1/8 inch deep. Vw maintains this is an impact point as determined by running a ballpoint pen along the crack. My position is that this is a defect. The heat and expansion caused the crack. In order for this to be impact related, a tiny stone would have to hit behind the wiper from directly overhead. The laws of physics rules out that an object with so little mass could have had enough energy to cause this much damage.

Window trim can fail, leading to "loop/noose" which can kill children/passenger.

When front/left door was closed, glass for the window of right/rear door shattered. The problem has not been examined by dealership. Consumer stated the window was replaced under warranty.

Window glass was broken by a rock. Problem exists in size and shape of tempered glass crumbs. Lots of tiny shards, less that 1mm, very sharp and dangerous. Extra expense incurred in cleaning interior.

Complete shut down of electrical system while the car is being driven resulting in complete loss of power and limited control of the car. A search of the web indicates this is not an isolated occurance. Volkswagen customer service is non existent. As for the door handle and window problem, again this is not an isolated incident. So far no one has lost their life at least in our case. M.

See all problems of the 1996 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

Window molding and door moldings fall off.

While driving consumer noted a blurred vision on right side of glass, making everything distorted. Horizontal lines look choppy and guard rails look wobbly. Contacted dealer, and dealer replaced windshield on July 5th and had same problem. Also, dealer wanted to replace windshield again. Consumer states windshield also has stress fractures that look like strands of a cobweb, dealer states this is not a defect and that this is normal.

While driving rear passenger's window exploded without warning. Just prior to explosion, had just closed window.

After I posted the following message to the Passat users group: my new 2001. 5 Passat wagon has a perceptible distortion, or rippling effect, in the front windshield. For example, when seeing poles, trees, or building sidings while making a turn, or when viewing highway exit signs while passing them on the parkway. There's an accordion effect; vertical objects inchworm; letters expand and contract. Just moving my head from side to side by a few inches can produce this effect. I can't say yet that it's hazardous but it's certainly distracting. Meanwhile, I can't get the dealer to even sit in the driver's seat and tell me it's my imagination. I was referred to the following messages: (1) I've seen several reports of this. Time to get a new dealer. You should get new glass under warranty. (2) my '99 was 5000 miles new when I realized the windshield had a distortion and ripple effect. They replaced it no charge, but the second one is as bad as the first one. (3) has anyone with a '99 b5 noticed distortions in the front and rear glass? I've had my windshield and rear glass replaced under warranty, and the new glass is also distorted - although not quite as bad as the original. (4) when I recently had a genuine new vw windscreen installed after damage I noticed an optical distortion right of my straight ahead vision. This is disgraceful quality control from a major motor manufacturer and their authorized repair dealer. (5) there appears to be a defect in the passenger side of the windshield. A wavy, vertical line. The service manager looked at mine and found it right away, he also told me it was noted on several new 2000's on the lot, and that another customer has a really serious problem with it. Check the windshield by looking out at a straight line, the side of a building or a pole, and moving your eyes up and down as well as right and left. Vw is aware of the problem. I am not having the windshield replaced, especially after the mess they made on a.

Driver's side back window had trouble opening and closing. Currently, driver's side front window had trouble opening and closing.

Windshield cracked without any road damage. Verified by dealer!.

Front windshield cracked while vehicle was parked in direct sunlight on an extremely hot day. Vehicle design uses a frameless glass windshield which I believe does not adequately support glass, thereby resulting in windshield stress cracks which obscure outward visibility and present serious safety issue. Request NHTSA investigate Volkswagen's use of frameless windshield glass and determine if there is an unusually high incidence of windshield failure in Volkswagen (and companion Audi) vehicles.

See all problems of the 1999 Volkswagen Passat 🔎.

I read on 3/19/99 some reviews by owners of Passats on the internet (while I was searching for comments by owners of the Honda odessey min-van). Unfortunately I cannot find the website again. However, while there, two people had asked questions relating to windshield cracking during a test drive by a well known magazine (I think it was car & driver) for the Audi a4, basically the same car as the Passat. The question was had anyone experienced such cracking. I was shocked on 3/20/99 to get into the car and see the 10-inch crack which was not there the day before. So I've been searching the www without success to find the comments from the message boards I read last Friday.

Windshield is optically distorted.

Window panel--prevents closing of window. Intake manifold oil leak (gasket).

Windshield seals leak.

Windshield at an acute angle has a distortion or loss of clarity. Blur starts in corners and edges of glass one end to the other. Problem is very noiiceable. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.

I need to know if this defect as a hazard. My new 2001. 5 Passat wagon has a perceptible distortion, or rippling effect, in the front windshield; e. G. , when seeing poles, trees, or building sidings while making a turn, or when viewing parkway exit signs while passing them. There's an accordion effect; vertical objects inchworm; letters expand and contract. Just moving my head from side to side by a few inches can produce this effect. I can't say yet that it's hazardous but it's certainly distracting. Meanwhile, I can't get the dealer to even sit in the driver's seat and tell me it's my imagination.  when posted to Passat users group following messages resulted:  (1) I've seen several reports of this. Time to get a new dealer. You should get new glass under warranty. (2) my '99 was 5000 miles new when I realized the windshield had a distortion and ripple effect. They replaced it no charge, but the second one is as bad as the first one. (3) has anyone with a '99 b5 noticed distortions in the front and rear glass? I've had my windshield and rear glass replaced under warranty, and the new glass is also distorted - although not quite as bad as the original. (4) when I recently had a genuine new vw windscreen installed after damage I noticed an optical distortion right of my straight ahead vision. This is disgraceful quality control from a major motor manufacturer and their authorized repair dealer. (5) there appears to be a defect in the passenger side of the windshield. A wavy, vertical line. The service manager looked at mine and found it right away, he also told me it was noted on several new 2000's on the lot, and that another customer has a really serious problem with it. Check the windshield by looking out at a straight line, the side of a building or a pole, and moving your eyes up and down as well as right and left. Vw is aware of the problem. Im not having the windshield replaced, especially after their mess made on a simple oil change.

Purchased car brand new and noticed distortion on front windshield later that day. Contacted dealership and they replaced it with one that has even more distortions. I stressed strongly to examine prior to putting in and they didn't. After much complaining to vw of America they agreed to put in windshield #3 but can not promise it won't have bad distortions. They say Passat windshield are just that way. I have never had such poor qaulity glass in any previously owned vehicles. I'm also disappointed that they don't care. I posted on vw board and received many responses from other Passat owners who also have this problem across the USA. At this point don't want my car torn apart for another defective piece of glass. I could get a generic windshield (haven't looked into that yet) but prefer a vw windshield for warranty and looks without vertical distortions causing things to appear wavy while driving.

See odi 746847: connect error on following. my new 2001. 5 Passat wagon has a perceptible distortion, or rippling effect, in the front windshield; e. G. , when seeing poles, trees, or building sidings while making a turn, or when viewing parkway exit signs while passing them. There's an accordion effect; vertical objects inchworm; letters expand and contract. Just moving my head from side to side by a few inches can produce this effect. I can't say yet that it's hazardous but it's certainly distracting. Meanwhile, I can't get the dealer to even sit in the driver's seat and tell me it's my imagination.  when posted to Passat users group following messages resulted:  (1) I've seen several reports of this. Time to get a new dealer. You should get new glass under warranty. (2) my '99 was 5000 miles new when I realized the windshield had a distortion and ripple effect. They replaced it no charge, but the second one is as bad as the first one. (3) has anyone with a '99 b5 noticed distortions in the front and rear glass? I've had my windshield and rear glass replaced under warranty, and the new glass is also distorted - although not quite as bad as the original. (4) when I recently had a genuine new vw windscreen installed after damage I noticed an optical distortion right of my straight ahead vision. This is disgraceful quality control from a major motor manufacturer and their authorized repair dealer. (5) there appears to be a defect in the passenger side of the windshield. A wavy, vertical line. The service manager looked at mine and found it right away, he also told me it was noted on several new 2000's on the lot, and that another customer has a really serious problem with it. Check the windshield by looking out at a straight line, the side of a building or a pole, and moving your eyes up and down as well as right and left. Vw is aware of the problem. Im not having the windshield replaced, especially after their mess made on a simple oil change.

There is a defect and distortion in my windshield in my line of vision. I believe ( after inspecting similar Passats ) that this defect and distortion is present on a number of vehicles that vw produced. At this time, the manufacturer is unwilling to authorize a replacement. I am sending in this complaint to see if others have made a similar complaint. I believe the problem can be a potential safety hazard that vw is not willing to solve.

Driver's front and side doors had trouble opening and closing.