Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
15 970106/04/199753616Toothed belt runs towards outside, wears out/ jumps off, and cracks. *ak12/02/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
201583108/28/200810026848Volkswagen: exhaust heat shield, replacement guidelines. heat shields are to be inspected after completion o any type of repair to the underbody (exhaust system transmission, etc.), and if damaged, replaced. *pe12/29/2008
990106/25/1999605989Conditions with visible smoke from exhaust system when accelerating. *tt08/04/1999

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
10/01/2006117000109/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen passat. upon purchasing the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the seller stated that it was a minor issue. the check engine light was reset and illuminated again two days later. in addition, the vehicle would constantly overheat. there were no signs of the vehicle overheating while driving; however, radiator fluid would spill out of the vehicle when it was parked. the radiator, timer, water pump, and sensors were replaced on the vehicle, but none of the repairs remedied the failure. nhtsa campaign id number 95v178000 (engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan) for the 1995 passat is identical to the failure she is experiencing. the failure mileage was 117,000 and current mileage was 136,000. updated 09/10/08. *lj updated 09/16/08. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
07/04/201186000
 I was driving on the highway in my 1996 vw passat at 65 mph and the entire inside of my car was engulfed with water and anti freeze steam and vapor. it was quickly and with out warning impossible to see through the windshield. the probable cause of the problem is a defective heater core. this is a very serious safety issue and could have lead to a major accident resulting in injury or death.
11/12/2010115017
 Heater core failed while driving, blowing hot steam out of the vents, dumping hot coolant onto my feet and fogging up the windshield instantly.
11/17/1999
 Vehicle has been experincing ongoing problem with day ruinning light/ head light, heater / cooling system would intermittently go out or stop operating. sometimes if key is jiggled it would cause it to come back on or operate again. aslo, speedometer / odometer fail edto operate. dealer notified and refused to repair unless cost goes to consumer. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
10/01/2006117000109/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 1996 volkswagen passat. upon purchasing the vehicle, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. the seller stated that it was a minor issue. the check engine light was reset and illuminated again two days later. in addition, the vehicle would constantly overheat. there were no signs of the vehicle overheating while driving; however, radiator fluid would spill out of the vehicle when it was parked. the radiator, timer, water pump, and sensors were replaced on the vehicle, but none of the repairs remedied the failure. nhtsa campaign id number 95v178000 (engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan) for the 1995 passat is identical to the failure she is experiencing. the failure mileage was 117,000 and current mileage was 136,000. updated 09/10/08. *lj updated 09/16/08. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
10/01/200092000106/01/2000
 Our main comment is that this vehicle was sold to our daughter illegally. we then found that the mileage indicator had been rolled back. this car has been sitting in her driveway because it will not run, all the hardware is falling off. after finally in. *jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****743725
03/26/19971
 Valve cover gasket failed.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
1
 The consumer noticed the engine rpm's idling high while stopped at light, soon after the vehicle started smoking, the consumer turned the vehicle off but it would not shut off and was stilll idling high resulting in the engine catching on fire. nlm
01/01/19971
 Check engine light comes on and off for unknown reasons.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
12/30/1995
 The car blows smoke so bad i cannot keep the windows open. i have the dealer get the car past emissions because it fails every time. this not only effects myself but every person in the area that i happen to be passing through. the dealer says this is normal. this is not normal for even a diesel. this is a health problem. a raw fuel smell is also present, there are no visible leaks.
10/01/19981
 Exhaust system failed intermittantly causing loudness and vibration, making car undrivable and to fail state inspection.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
06/23/2006704/10/1996
 I have had ongoing issues with electronic and emissions sensors for this vehicle and recently spent $756.54 to (again!) replace sensors so that the vehicle would pass its annual emissions test (as mandated by the epa). i wrote to vw customer care to seek reimbursement of this (and past) charges and was told today (7/13/06) that no recalls or service bulletins were issued, so no reimbursement will be made. i told them that nhtsa issued recall 99v131 (which addresses some of the areas) but vw told me that it did not apply, as all reimbursements are vin-specific. can anyone please help? thank you. *jb