Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
00411/09/200410011567Engine coolant temperature (ect) sensor. *tc01/26/2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE
01070201/11/200710021315Dtc's p1297 (17705) or p1557 (17965) stored in dtc memory. this may be caused by intake hoses leaking (during boost conditions) due to incorrect torque on clamps or improper placement, worn or torn intake hoses. *kb04/03/2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
TB-07-09-0605/18/200910030369Volkswagen: engine oil pressure too low, light is on, engine flush. the low engine oil pressure condition may be caused by a restriction of the oil pump suction line strainer. *pe09/25/2009
201323303/30/200710021437Engine oil pressure too low, light is on, engine flush. *kb04/26/2007
040310/01/200410010539Valve cover, diagnosing oil leakage from gaskets. *tt11/30/2004
040208/05/200410009888Low engine oil pressure light is on. *tt11/01/2004
040108/26/2005050310009887Engine oil specifications, oil capacity, oil filter. *tt11/01/2004
042108/01/200410009873Warranty extension covering certain oil sludge related repairs. *tt11/01/2004
042108/04/200410009874Oil sludge - warranty extension for 1998-2004 model year volkswagen passat with 1.8l turbo engine us and canadian dealers. service circular. *tt11/01/2004
040307/12/200410008913Engine, fluctuating idle or idle speed too low. *mj08/31/2004
040206/22/200410008086Engine, fluctuating idle or idle speed too low. *mj07/21/2004
040905/10/200410007711Evaluating fuel mixture diagnostic trouble codes- how to perform effective diagnosis related to fuel system adaptation - system too rich/too lean. volkswagen. *mj07/08/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
17000103/15/20009903612460Information regarding the capacities of the engine oil with filter change. *mjs06/08/2000
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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
051307/28/200510016097Update programming for catalytic converter system. *sc08/23/2005

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
EA07014VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC09/28/200707/07/2008PASSENGER ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES08V156000
 The manufacturer notified nhtsa on 04-apr-08 that a safety recall action would be initiated to remedy the issue.in june 2008, the manufacturer issued a technical service bulletin (code 26e5/r5) regarding the specific procedures to be employed in this campaign.vehicle owner notification letters were sent beginning approximately june 13, 2008.the campaign was assigned nhtsa no. 08v-156.this recall affects all my 1999-2005, 5th generation gasoline-powered passat sedans and station wagons.approximately 412,000 vehicles are affected.corrective action will consist of installing additional exhaust system heat shielding to mitigate the potential thermal effects of engine ignition problems.based on this action, the subject ea has been closed.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE
09/17/20121520001
 I am the second owner of this 00 vw passat . this car has been a great running and driving car. i bought it in feb 10 2012 . on sept 17 2012 my wife was driving this car to my sons football game with my mother in law. she was going about 50 mph when it shuttered and shut off . she was able to get it off the side of the road and stopped and when she opened the car door there were flames coming from under the hood she went to the other side of the car and helped her mother out of the car. the flames were spreading so fast they were not able to get anything out of the car. by the the time they got to the other side of the road away from the car the whole car was on fire. and when the fire department got there there was nothing left but some melted things in the trunk. i am just happy they made it out ok but what worries me is that it happened so fast and that there were no signs of anything wrong with the car .i have seen on the internet that this is not a isolated incident with this 00 passat. i have seen pictures and video of the same car with the same results. so right now i am at a total loss this being a second car i only had liability insurance all i can do is hope that someone can stop this from happening to someone else and it should be volkswagen's responsibility to find who owns these vehicles and fix the problem..... *tr
09/17/2012152000
 I am the second owner of this 00 vw passat . this car has been a great running and driving car. i bought it in feb 10 2012 . on sept 17 2012 my wife was driving this car to my sons football game with my mother in law. she was going about 50 mph when it shuttered and shut off . she was able to get it off the side of the road and stopped and when she opened the car door there were flames coming from under the hood she went to the other side of the car and helped her mother out of the car. the flames were spreading so fast they were not able to get anything out of the car. by the the time they got to the other side of the road away from the car the whole car was on fire. and when the fire department got there there was nothing left but some melted things in the trunk. i am just happy they made it out ok but what worries me is that it happened so fast and that there were no signs of anything wrong with the car .i have seen on the internet that this is not a isolated incident with this 00 passat. i have seen pictures and video of the same car with the same results. so right now i am at a total loss this being a second car i only had liability insurance all i can do is hope that someone can stop this from happening to someone else and it should be volkswagen's responsibility to find who owns these vehicles and fix the problem.....
08/20/201013430
 Check engine turned on. my car starts to lose power. there was a misfire at #2 cylinder according to the auto mechanic.. in a stopped position or when i turn car off, i smell something burning. had new coil installed and did a road test. the car was still misfiring. checked again, and all ignition coils needed to be replaced. in 01/2012, again, there was a misfire at the #2 cylinder. the burning smell returned. i had that repaired. in 05/2012, again, there was a misfire at the #3 cylinder. the burning smell returned. i had that repaired.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
02/25/201276000
 When acceleration and engaging passing mode, vehicle continues to accelerate even when pedal released. very difficult to control speed and brake. have done internet search on ploblem and find it fairly common with vw passat and certail audi models that use same throttle body. this device apparantly requires regular servicing to avoid sticking problem. there is no doubt this is a dangerous condition and in my own instance, could easily have led to a highspeed accident. this vehicle was just purchased by me and went through md motor vehicle inspection in december, 2011.
01/27/2006301/17/2006
 2000 volkswagen passat. consumer writes in regards to vehicle that die unexpectedly at various speeds *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle has stalled while making turns across highways and entering freeways. the vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times where different components were replaced, but the stalling continued. *jb
12/05/2010140000
 While stopped at a red light, the engine accelerated by itself (computer failure?). my husband, who was driving, had to use both feet, pressing down as hard as he could, to stop the car. fortunately, no one was in front of us and we were far enough back that we did not accelerate into the intersection. the engine sound returned to normal after 15-30 seconds and we drove it home without further incident but we have stopped driving the car for safety reasons. in addition, the abs computer module has also failed, though we have not had any incidents related to that failure as the brakes are otherwise fine.
08/01/2007781505/25/2006
 Bought a vw passat used from private dealer~i owned the car for exactly 1 year, turbo failed ~ check engine light has been on since owning vehicle. car has been diagnosed with oil sludge issues from previous owners. just paid for turbo and two oil lines to be replaced. vw of america stated they would take responsibility ~ never heard from them, i keep calling ~ check engine light has been on since day one ~ no one wants to help me on this quest to seek action. i owe 11,000.00 more on the vehicle car was smoking severely ~thought it was an undercarriage~but it is near the turbo line so it could be mistaken. *tr
07/15/20071007/26/2005
 I have had my 2000 vw passat for a little over two years and it has been a money pit! i have had so many problems since a month or so after i bought my car. i bought the car from a private party, test drove the car, had it checked out by a mechanic, and i have put thousands of dollars into the car. i bought the car just before my senior year in high school thinking i made a wonderful choice, and i had to replace a new right side boot just after a month of owning the car. the check engine light/abs/airbag kept coming on and beeping at me, and i had to buy a whole new brain to the car over $1500. i had to replace the timing belt way before the mile warranty, oil leaks which ruined some wires, new shocks/shock absorbers, now the window will go part way down, but will no longer go up... and my headlights are fogged up which i have noticed on all other 2000 passats...! many things have gone wrong with this car. i am so frustrated with the car. i do not recommend a vw to anyone! i am going into the second year of college and have spent most of my savings on this piece of junk. i think after fixing a part of the car that it should run without any problems. since i have put so much money into this car i cannot afford to get a reliable car. there is something seriously wrong with vw and the recalls! as far as i am concerned the whole car should be recalled!!!! *tr
12/07/20031
 Owner was driving and noticed a smell, then he saw smoke coming out of the dash vents. he then saw fire on the passenger-side footwell area. the fire was first observed on the floor where it sloped upward, where the passenger would place their feet. he pulled over, got out, and threw some snow on the passenger-side floor area. he opened a rear door and took some personal belongings out and then observed the dash break out into flames. *nm
02/03/200665000109/14/2003
 2000 passat gls 4-motion v6 has been regularly serviced. oil changes every 3000 miles. at appx 65000 miles, with no warning, the car overheated while idling (it had been idling for less than 8 minutes, it was only 50 degrees outside, the coolant had been checked a few weeks previous at the car's last oil change). the temperature gauge in the dash maxed out and steam and smoke started issuing from under the hood. turned the car off & let it cool for appx 20 minutes before opening hood. checked coolant, it had completely boiled away. replaced coolant, let car continue to cool for appx another 1.5 hrs. started car and drove it (slowly) to a garage specializing in european cars. (my regular mechanic.) replaced the water pump and thermostat, both of which had stopped working. vw recommends that the timing belt be replaced at 80000 miles. mechanic told me that the timing belt looked significantly worn and that it should be replaced now for fear it might break before the regularly scheduled replacement. replaced timing belt. total cost of replacing water pump, thermostat and timing belt: $725. due to excessive engine temperature from the water pump and thermostat failure, pistons and valves in engine now knock and engine is noisy, particularly when first started. engine no longer seems to be as responsive, power wise, as it was previously. 65000 miles seems a bit young to be experiencing a water pump failure. the fact that the engine overheated so quickly and with no prior indication of an impending problem, and that this resulted in such stress to the engine leads me to believe that there may have been a design flaw involved. (have had water pumps go out in other cars, but never prior to 80000 miles, never in under 8 minutes and never with such dire results and high repair costs. *nm
03/24/200687000103/17/2000
 I am the original owner of a 2000 vw passat, 4 cyl. on 3/24/06, the defrost no longer worked properly in the vehicle. pinkish-orange coolant started spraying out on my feet while driving, white smoke came spilling out of the vents & the coolant spread itself thick on the interior of the windshield & windows. this left it cloudy & i had to pull the vehicle over and wipe the windows with cleaner and paper towels. with it becoming immediately cloudy, i lost visibility of the cars in front of me. coolant also leaked onto the passenger floor board/mat. i immediately looked online for feedback and found it could possibly be a cracked heater core (which is not covered under my extended warranty). i took it by a vw dealer for a drive by diagnosis, it was confirmed it was the heater core. i contacted vw of america immediately to notify them of this problem and asked if they could assist with 50%-100% of the repairs because it was a reported problem everywhere. vw customer care said i needed to set up a diagnosis appt with the vw dealer, which was on 4/24/06. 10 minutes after i dropped my car off, my service consultant russell dilley w/miramar vw in san diego, ca called my cell phone and said yes it is the heater core. prior to leaving my car with him, he believed it to be a cracked heater core, just with my few symptoms explained and he said he has seen this problem many times before and he confirmed vw of america had covered the cost of the repairs. i notified vw of america customer care that the diagnosis was performed and ready. i had to pay $99.00 for the so called one hour diagnosis appt, even though it was confirmed in 10 minutes. customer care said they would contact me within 48 hours to let me know their decision w/the assistance of the repair. i received a call yesterday 5/1/06 from marlina, she said vw of america will not be able to assist with the repair of the cracked heater core because of the age of the vehicle & the mileage. year 2000, mileage 89k. *nm
10/08/200480000107/01/2000
 1. brought 2000 passat glx to dealer twice to fix 'smoke coming from engine compartment and accompanying burning smell.' dealer charged $430 to replace in/out transmission cooler lines the first time in the shop, and tightened the cams the second time. 2. less than 3 weeks after the second service 'tightening the cams', car caught fire while traveling northbound on i-95 at mile marker 8 in ny. after being notified of smoke coming from the car by another motorist, we pulled over. shortly thereafter, the entire car was engulfed in flames. 3. nothing was done to correct the failure as the car was totaled. investigation may or may not be conducted by insurance company to find the cause of the fire. *ak
08/25/20041
 While driving check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic informed consumer that the problem could not be duplicated. *ak
10/15/200344578
 Complete engine failure check oil pressure light appeared at 38000 miles; brought to vw dealer - told that the sensor light was stuck on car is taken to vw dealer at 40444 for 40000 mile maintenance check oil pressure light appears at 44578 miles; car taken to another dealer and dealer claims engine is total loss.
02/05/200482000105/30/2000
 I have a 2000 vw passat gls sedan (automatic) 1.8t engine. i have taken the car to service every 5k miles to vw and then to a reputable mechanic (have all the service records). it is currently at 82,000 miles. 2 months ago the car stalled on the road. the oil check light had been on for awhile. i had called vw regarding the sensor light and they said that it is only a sensor problem, and not worry about it. after investigation, the car is in need of a new engine. cam shafts 3 and 4 were dry and not receiving oil. i submitted the car to vw to claim under the 10 year/100k mile powertrain warranty. after 2 months of investigations, vw usa has denied my claim and states that this is due to poor maintenance. the mechanic shop i take my car to is very reputable. my family and friends have and continue to go to this shop and have never had a problem. i am in the stages of legal action against vw usa.*ak
12/26/20022100005/20/2000
 I drive a 2000 volkswagon passat glx 4motion. i have felt that i got a bad car since very early on in my lease (i now have 8 months left). on this particular occaision, i had a severe oil leak. the dealer informed me that there was a hole in my oil pan that must have been caused by a rock (i don't recall feeling anything hit the car hard enough to put a hole in anything). i was told that this was not a warranteed item, rather normal wear and tear. i have owned 5 other cars and never had this problem. i also noticed that the car was shaking when the breaks are applied. i was told by the dealer that this is due to warped rotors. i only have 20,000 miles on the vehicle and have never heard of any kind of break problems with that few miles. i was also told that is not covered by warrantee either, again, normal wear and tear. the other 5 cars that i owned easily had over 20,000 miles on them and never had a problem with brake rotors. this seems to be a trend with this vehicle. early on in my lease, i had multiple problems with my car not starting. each time it was due to carbon buildup on my spark plugs. the first time it happened there was only 2,000 miles on the car and the dealer had the nerve to tell me that spark plugs were standard maintenenance items and i must not be taking care of my car properly. 2 years later, there was an emission controls recall which fixed this problem, which the dealer initially called driver error, not a vehicle problem.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
11/14/200555459104/30/2000
 When i brought my 2000 vw passat (55k miles) to dealer for service, they said that the cooling system has sludge. the radiator, heater core needed to be replaced and need to have coolant flush for 2 times. the total is $2600!!! the service advisor said the only cause would be wrong type of coolant, but i have not done service other than the vw dealer. so, i suspect that that is defect in the cooling system of the 2000 passat. *nm
06/06/200550000208/15/2000
 The secondary air filter on my 2000 vw passat failed at 14,000 miles. it was replaced under warranty. my car now has 50,000 miles on it and it has failed again. replacement price is $1,000. the vw repairshop stated that this not a necessary part and really doesn't need to be replaced. but without replacement the engine light goes on everytime the car is started. i contacted vw directly and filed a complaint. they refused to fix the part. i see that two other people have filed a complaint about the secondary air filter.
08/08/200443580109/19/2000
 At 40,000 miles, the water pump bearing failed. foutunately, i stopped the car immediately and did not incur further engine damage. was advised by the dealer that wv under-engineered the water pump bearing, resulting in premature failure.*ak
12/01/2000112/01/1999
 Consumer stated the vehicle hesitated during start up in cold weather, and also there was a rough start at times, also the water pump seized, causing the timing belt and the hydraulic tensioner to be damaged.*jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - HOSE
08/10/2006825001010/03/2003
 Purchased my 2000 passat in 2003, had numerous problems since. it seemed like everything on the car had to be replaced. the control arms, o2 sensors, twice, belts, stereo didn't turn on, all new hoses right away, all 4 window regulators, and now to top it all off, the abs lights kept coming on. my husband has a 2000 audi a4, virtually the same car, and had to replace all of the same things. the abs seemed to work fine, but the dealer said it would be $1800 to fix it. i looked at some online forums and found thousands of people with similar problems. the manufacturer, (bosch or volkswagen, should do something about this. my car has been parked since august 2006 because i don't have money to fix it! i am college student. help!
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
06/02/2010100000
 In the last couple years my 2000 vw passat has a burning smell like a fire in the engine after driving a bit (i've noticed this particularly when the heater is on), has hesitated and jumped when i've tried to shift gears and accelerate, and a while ago the check engine light was going on when this hesitation occurred; although this light hasn't come on in the same situation lately, and the hesitation itself doesn't seem to be occurring as much as before. at any rate, i still get the burning smell and recently read that there is an investigation on this very make and model by nhtsa for said problems. my mechanic has been saying all along there is no problem, but perhaps he doesn't know of this investigation. what should i do?
08/31/2010100300
 2000 vw passat 1.8t engine failure due to sludge buildup
06/01/2008870001
 I am the owner of a 2000 vw passat with the 1.8 liter turbo engine. this engine is known to have serious sludging issues. this was unknown to me. two months ago my oil pressure indicator lit up. i could not find any oil pressure issues so i took the car to the dealership 45 miles away. they inspected the car and informed me the engine was sludged up. apparently vw has a warranty regarding this issue but only if you can produce every receipt of every oil change the vehicle has ever had from the day it was purchased from vw. problem: i am the second owner. i can not produce receipts from the previous owner. to compound the problem i purchase my oil and filters by the case to last me several years. i do not have those receipts of those purchases anymore. i changed the oil according vw specifications located in the manual. to make matters worse vw decided to change the owners manual to state that synthetic oil must be used instead of regular motor oil, but did not inform me of this. vw will/has contacted me as the new owner of the car regarding recalls but would not inform me of this very important maintenance change that could destroy my engine. now vw wants to charge me over $4,000 to put a new oil sludging kit on my car to compensate for a known defect simply because i can not produce records to show that i changed the oil every three months and that i used synthetic oils instead of regular oil as the owner manual states. *tr
07/15/2005520001
 2000 passat -oil pressure light and a big stop light came on with no prior warnings or anything wrong. immediately turned off. waited about 1 hour then drove 1 mile home. next day had it towed to dealership for diagnosis. was told by vw mechanic he was not supposed to tell me but my engine was blown due to oil sludge in the engine which was a known problem with this year. wanted $9500 to replace engine (only 52k miles) i still owed $7500 on the car. replaced engine at another garage for $5400 then had to replace turbo for $2000. oil is now leaking and they do not know what the problem is. called vw. they said they would be glad to pay for a replacement engine if i could produce every oil change receipt. the garage where i got my oil changed only keeps records in the computer for 6 months then they are put in boxes in storage. vw basically said too bad. i have had 2 jettas and now this passat. i will not buy another vw product. i had no problems with the jettas. if they have known problems why are they not recalls? vw could not answer this question. *tr
04/25/200890000103/01/2007
 Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen passat. while driving 5 mph, the vehicle began to shake and the front end made a clicking noise. the contact then noticed a burning rubber smell and noticed smoke coming from the front passenger side. a police report was filed. the vehicle caught fire under the hood and has not been diagnosed by the dealer. the failure mileage was 90,000. updated 05/28/08 *bf
07/09/200451971211/07/2000
 Tl*contact owns a 2000 volkswagen passat. it was repaired on two occasions. the check engine light was always on, and when she accelerated the vehicle made an unusual noise. the mechanic stated that the failure was the air pump and fuse. the contact was concerned of the risk involved since the failure mileage was 51,971 miles. the current mileage was 75200. *ak
02/16/2007106/13/2003
 Turbo started sucking up oil, eventually leading to engine failure. *jb
05/20/20041
 Owner parked the vehicle at a doctor's office. shortly after he went into the doctor's office, the vehicle caught fire. fire burned throughout engine compartment and passenger compartment and caused severe scorching to the front of the floor pan. exhaust heat shield melted. *nm
01/01/19011
 2000 passat oil sludge build up caused engine to fail. *ts while driving the oil indicator light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer who explained that the oil pressure was low, but close to manufacturers specifications. the oil pump, pvc system, and turbo tubes were replaced. less than three months later the consume started hearing a rumbling noise which seemed to be coming from the engine. the vehicle was taken back to the service dealer where id was determined that he noise was probably rod knock and the remedy was to replaced the engine. the consumer feels that vw should be responsibly fro replacing the engine because they were aware that the oil filter was too small. *nm
02/19/200679000111/20/2002
 While driving my 2000 passat, the stop engine light came on to notify me that there was a problem with oil pressure. there was nothing prior to this warning that would have lead me to believe that there was a problem. no odd noises in the car and it was driving fine. i took the car to the dealer and was informed that the engine was totaled and it needed to be replaced at a cost of $7,000. i did find out that in august of 2004, vw of america issues a service notice to all the service departments that due to a malfunctioning fuel pump, oil sludge may build up in the engine, ultimately leading to engine failure. this was not sent to any of the vehicle owners. in the notice, vwoa said that they would extend the warranty of the car and replace the motor, only if there was proof that the oil was changed every 5000 miles. because i have gaps in my oil changes with the dealer, they will not honor this extended warranty and are trying to charge me for the new motor. i've had the care in a number of times between august of 2004 and february 19, 2006 when the light came on and was never notified that there may be a problem. i asked the service manager at the dealer why i wasn't notified of this issue and he said that vwoa issues a number of service memos and was he to tell all of the customers everytime one was issued. had i been notified that this might be the end result of the oil pump not being replaced in 2004, i wouldn't be in my current situation. i have read a number of web posts with people that have had similar problems with their local dealers and vwoa. *jb
02/20/200649500206/21/2000
 Oil sludge build up in engine. 2000 volkswagen passat 1.8 turbo 4 cylinder 49000. *jb
12/13/200579784103/18/2004
 Purchased a used car from dan perkins chevrolet, in milford, ct on march, 18, 2004.i was advised by the salesman, john almeida, that the car came in as a trade from a girl who bought cars from him all the time at dan perkins. upon further investigation i found the car was purchased brand new from a couple in massachusetts and that dan perkins purchased it at an auction. when i picked the car up and drove it home the engine light was on/the lighter did not work/the tires were bald, and the 6 disc cd changer was not in the car. when i contacted the salesperson, john almeida, and the used car manager, they stated they fixed everything, but that they were not responsible for the cd changer, i wrote a letter to dan perkins himself, and he gave me a new one because it was advertised with the cd changer. when my oil light came on i brought it to curran volkswagen in stratford, ct. they advised me to get a copy of my contract from dan perkins and any other paperwork from dan perkins. i contacted the salesman, john almeida and his manager told me that there was no way i was getting a copy of anything. they do not keep copies of contracts from their customers. he also yelled in the background that curran vw was trying to pass the buck and that i was out of luck!!!the car is now sitting in my driveway with no engine!i am making car payments on a car that does not work, on a car that i have had less than 2 years!i contacted curran vw because vw extended the warranty for the engine to 8 years, i only found this out because i did my own research online. vw of america denied my claim because one of my mechanics, who does not have a computer, handwrote receipts for the oil changes.curran volkswagen gave me an estimate of $12,074.60. the kelly blue book value is $8,000!!!!!vw of america advises their consumers to have oil changed every 5,000 miles or every 6 months. i had mine changed every 3,000 miles.dan perkins showed me no vehicle history reports. *ak
01/27/200590494204/29/2000
 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. *nm
06/24/200558000007/13/2000
 At 58,000 miles my oil pressure light came on and the stop demand light came on. i contacted the dealer and the service man indicated to me that the 2000 passats' where having problems with the oil pumps. he further explained to me that what was happening was that the pumps that were manufractured were not built strong enough to up hold certain sythetic oils. he further stated that when the oil gets to hot the oil cyrstalizes and then turnss to sludge. given that information i then proceeded to get my car serviced. however upon the date of service ( even knowing the problem) my car was diagnosed at a cost to me for $75.00. at the time of service i learned that the pump was only covered under the warrenty if i could produce 5 years of oil slips. i have several concerns regarding this matter. the first, the owners mannual does not indicate that the pumps are sensative to certain types of oils (synthetic). secondly, the mannual does not state that the warrenty repairs will only be coverded if all receipts for services performed on the vehicle are provided. thridly, it is clear in my mind that if a manufracturer places a default or defective oil pump in a car that it should be a recall? i have read in the most recent comsumer report magazine and it seems to be a reoccuring problem with vw passats. fourthly, when contacting volkeswagon directly i spoke to customer care the attidude was appauling. the response i received was oh well that is our policy did not get that reception when buying the car! i bought my passat july 13, 2000 and by july 13, 2005 i have a serious engine problem. finally, the dealer stated that the cost to me would start anywere at 1,000. can anyone tell me why this is my problem? i am a therapist and i come across many paths in my travel. my paths include physiatrist, teachers,doctors, clients etc i will be sure to share with them my dissatification with volkeswagon. this should be a recall issue. thank you
03/15/200472500212/12/1999
 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.*ak
12/29/20034
 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.
11/17/200320000107/21/2000
 My husband and i purchased a 2000 passat with 927 miles on the odometer on july 21, 2000 (ancira, san antonio, tx). three visits to the dealer three for a fluid leak (3/29/01, 2/13/02, 1/17/03). each time, we were told that nothing was wrong. four months ago- emission control, check engine light came on. also the following quit working: power mirrors, the travel computer, temperature sensor was erratic, fuel door quit and the fuel mileage gauge malfunctioned. most recently, the car started running rough and a clear, viscous fluid appeared on my garage floor. the car has 25,000 miles. we change the oil regularly. it had a 15,000-mile check-up. we took the car to a reputable mechanic (mander automotive in helotes, texas). the owner of mander (bob mander) was very concerned that this car had so many electrical and computer problems. ancira informed (mander) that the car's warranty had expired by 900 miles (24,990) that visit (11/6/03). computer scan and analysis showed several codes related to misfires and running lean. also: transaxle seal leak and battery failed the load test-would not hold acharge. mander fixed: seal leak, replaced the battery, changed the oil, replaced the actuator (fuel door), repaired vacuum leaks, reset the t.e.h. computer and corrected the faulty wiring to the mirrors. we spent $649. 24 hours later-check engine light re-appeared. the car began to vibrate hard. we took the car back to mr. mander (11/14/03). he found a defective oxygen sensor and problem with the coolant sensor- both replaced. that time we spent $358. my husband and i have an established relationship with mander automotive and trust their work and analysis. the check engine light and emissions control light is back on. the car is running hard, again. i have contacted vw (reference #30522917) and my husband was advised to take the car to a different dealer here in san antonio (rod east). *la
10/22/200335234110/04/2000
 When the vehicle stopped at a stop sign or a traffic light, it stalled. *ak the problem was diagnosed as a secondary air injector valve. the vehicle experienced a rough idle. the valve was replaced, but the vehicle still idled rough. the check engine light was intermittent prior to repair. *sc *jb
05/22/200324600405/01/2000
 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.*ak the volkswagen headquarters did pay for the hose when the malfunction indicator light illuminated at approx. 24,000 miles. *ph *jb
03/01/20031
 The vehicle started to make a noise, and then stalled.*jb
10/19/2002103/01/2002
 The belly pan became dislodged from the front undercarriage as i accelerated onto a major highway. when i stopped for assistance at the nearest gas station. the two mechanics on duty told me that they had seen eight similar instances that week, all involving volkswagens. to my knowledge, i hadn't ran into any curbs or belgian blocks with the front of my car recently. i believe that all the screws/bolts that had held up the pan had falllen out over time. three days later, i took the car to a vw dealer, because only a dealer had the right fasteners to secure the pan. they told me that the pan was scraped in the front, that i must have hit something for the pan to fall off. i disagree i think the screws fell out over time. the mechanics had the opinion that the design of the screws/bolts is flawed, since they had seen this situation happen on so many recent model vws. i'd like to know if there is a trend of vw belly pans coming loose over time. i was told that the belly pan serves to deaden road noise. isn't it purpose also to protect the uindercarriage? if so, it should be able to withstand scraping up against curbs or survivng assault from other regular road debris. the fact that the belly pan may fall off without warning at any time is a dangerous situation. dt
01/20/200205/01/2000
 Car wouldn't start, towed to dealer, was told it was a carbon buildup on the valves. solution oil change, tune up, change thermostat, fuel cleaner. cost $946 not covered under waranty. *ak
03/16/2001209/05/2000
 Oil pan was designed without a protective cover, and has on two occasions became punctured, causing a major oil leak.*ak *nlm
03/07/2001
 Would be pulling out of parking lot or driveway when vehicle would stall out. this problem has happened at least 4 other times. contacted dealer and informed use different fuel which did not work. *ak
11/24/2000208/01/2000
 I had to replace 2 oil pans within a week apart due to small hole in pan. they told me it was from driver error but i know i did not go over anything to make hole. i was willing to concede first time as i could not remember if i had indeed maybe hit something but a week later it happened again and i had been extremely careful. the hole happened to be in the exact same spot as before. they gave me very hard time and would not allow me to take both oil pans with me so i could investigate. i bought car from checkered flag in virginia beach but live in texas and these events occurred here in tx. i went to autobahn vw in fort worth,tx for repairs. please help.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
11/01/2002502/01/2000
 Engine occassionally stalls when shifting from a gear into neutral (for the purpose of braking). today it happened 3 times stopping at stop lights, and 2 times in parking lots. this has been happening, often, all week (once at highway speeds, slowing for an exit ramp - engine stalls, power steering and braking goes out, not good). this problem was 'fixed' at around 40k miles when a 'waste solenoid gate' and a 'turbo valve' were replaced at the dealership over 3 separate visits. the stalling was gone for about 6000 miles, but now it has returned. this may be connected with the 'check engine light' which was on at that time, and has flashed on recently. i'm planning on taking it to a local vw shop soon to get thier opinion. dt
10/12/2002702/01/2000
 I bought my 2000 volkswagen passat from georgia auto square in athens, ga. it was brand new with no miles. i have had all service requirements & recommendations done at this dealer. my car hesitates & loses power when trying to pass other cars on two lane roads, accelerating onto the expressway or accelerating while on the expressway. i have taken my car to the dealer one hour away six to seven times over a year (not including the times it was in for routine maintenance). they have kept my car over 50 days trying to find the problem, which they claim, is a wet air filter. they told once that they had to remove the snow guard, which worked with other cars experiencing this problem (obviously i am not the only one). this seems bizarre since it doesn't appear to be weather related. how does water get into an air filter (if that in fact is the problem) and why after all this time haven't they been able remedy it? i have had numerous close calls involving my family & other drivers unfortunate enough to be near me during these power failures. being in several life threatening situations after being assured that my car was fixed, their service manager apologized for my inconvenience. three weeks ago while driving to a funeral, my car stalled while merging at i-985 & i-85. after suddenly losing power & terrifying me and the driver behind me, who saw that i experiencing trouble, the car finally started jerking, let out a billow of smoke & finally (and thankfully) caught & drove on. i have been forced to drive a nissan with 240,000 miles on it while i pay for a volkswagen with a little over 40,000 miles, which once again sits at the dealer's. this time he has had it for over a week (test driving, yet again) the car i am paying for. he has admitted previous times experiencing the exact problems i reported while driving the vehicle. yet, the dealer and the volkswagen rep continue to exercise reckless disregard for my life, my family's lives, and others on the road. dt
12/01/2000112/01/1999
 Consumer stated the vehicle hesitated during start up in cold weather, and also there was a rough start at times, also the water pump seized, causing the timing belt and the hydraulic tensioner to be damaged.*jb
02/01/2000
 The engine starts to stall when you accelerate at higher speeds. every time taken to the dealer, he says the air filter is soaked w/water. he has no explaination. finally admitted that there are several cars throughout the country w/this problem. his last solution (from vw) was to remove the snow grill (which makes no sense & did not correct the problem). it is terrifying to try & pass a car on a 2 lane road or in the middle of a 5 lane expressway & have your car start to stall . the airbag default light has also come on twice. please help. *ak
09/20/2001
 Vehicle has stalled numerous times at any speed. vehicle taken to dealer every time vehicle stalled, could not remedy problem. *ak
10/01/200111/01/1999
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
08/23/2001107/25/2000
 The engine uses too much oil prior to the recommended regular service changes, the vehicle has had 3 oil changes. nlm
08/25/2000406/01/2000
 Deadly fault at low mph, low rpm, emergency or lane change situation! no safety defect listed. *ak
06/23/2000305/01/2000
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
06/09/2001602/01/2000
 The problem resulted in engine shut down without warning. potential for catastrophic failure. technicians worked for nearly two weeks - problem not resolved. *ak
01/01/20013
 Consumer states vehicle shakes when idle at a light, consumer states vehicle has been in for service many times and the problem contiues to exist, possibly engine related. *jb
 While traveling engine check indicator would flash, and soon after vehicle would stall. dealer has been notifed. please provide further information.*ak
08/15/20003
 Vehicle failed to start.*et
01/01/2000
 Car wouldn't start. when brought to the dealership, we were told that there was a design defect in the v6 model passat engines. they are not properly burning any of the u>s> available gasolines, which is causing a carbon build-up on the valves. this will be an ongoing problem with the vehicle. their solution is to adjust the engine so it burns hotter and this might allieviate the problem. they are also supplying dealers with a machine to clean the carbon off the valves, but these machines are not available at this time. *ak
02/12/2000
 Vehicle stalled and died while driving. vehicle is currently at the dealership awaiting parts. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
08/10/2006825001010/03/2003
 Purchased my 2000 passat in 2003, had numerous problems since. it seemed like everything on the car had to be replaced. the control arms, o2 sensors, twice, belts, stereo didn't turn on, all new hoses right away, all 4 window regulators, and now to top it all off, the abs lights kept coming on. my husband has a 2000 audi a4, virtually the same car, and had to replace all of the same things. the abs seemed to work fine, but the dealer said it would be $1800 to fix it. i looked at some online forums and found thousands of people with similar problems. the manufacturer, (bosch or volkswagen, should do something about this. my car has been parked since august 2006 because i don't have money to fix it! i am college student. help!
12/23/200460586103/03/2000
 The car was making a funny noise and then the engine stopped. we had it towed to minuteman vw in bedford, ma and they said that the oil pump had failed and that both the oil pump and the engine would have to be replaced at a cost of $6,320.00. the 2000 passat has 60,586 miles on it and had been in for service at 55,478 miles. the service department told us that it should be covered under the 10 year/100,000 mile power train warranty, but when they submitted our claim to vw they refused to cover it because they said i needed to provide copies of every oil change receipt for the past 4 1/2 years. i was able to find 4 receipts, but i do not see anywhere in the owners manual where it clearly and explicitly states that warranty repairs will only be performed if all receipts for all services performed on the car are provided. i noticed that there have been several technical service bulletins issued on this car which relate to engine problems and would like this defect to be considered for a recall. thank you. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - TURBO-CHARGER
12/23/200460586103/03/2000
 The car was making a funny noise and then the engine stopped. we had it towed to minuteman vw in bedford, ma and they said that the oil pump had failed and that both the oil pump and the engine would have to be replaced at a cost of $6,320.00. the 2000 passat has 60,586 miles on it and had been in for service at 55,478 miles. the service department told us that it should be covered under the 10 year/100,000 mile power train warranty, but when they submitted our claim to vw they refused to cover it because they said i needed to provide copies of every oil change receipt for the past 4 1/2 years. i was able to find 4 receipts, but i do not see anywhere in the owners manual where it clearly and explicitly states that warranty repairs will only be performed if all receipts for all services performed on the car are provided. i noticed that there have been several technical service bulletins issued on this car which relate to engine problems and would like this defect to be considered for a recall. thank you. *jb
05/06/200428000203/20/2000
 I have a 2000 vw passat and have carbon build up on the valves due from premium gas use as required in manual. 2 seperate occasions i had to pay hundreds to repair this recurring problem. the dealer says they don't know what fuel i should use. vw headquarters first said a year ago to strictly use premium. now they tell me to use regular but they will not do anything for me. i had to replace a re circulation valve and vacuums. i beleive there is a consumer issue here that someone has to address because i cannot get anybody to agree which fuel to use. they should repair my problem for free.
08/30/200357000201/08/2000
 While driving at moderate speeds of about 35 to 45 mph, car engine lost all power. engine was still running and all accessories (lights, radio, etc.) were on, but pressing on the gas pedal lead to no movement by the car. epc warning light came on at the time of power loss as did the asr warning light. stopping the car and turning it off and then back on remedied situation, but it recurred on 9/2/2003 under same conditions. dealer analysis showed a sticking turbo booster valve and a bad oxygen sensor (this is the 2nd o2 sensor to be replaced within a year). dealer had to order parts and they will not be in until at least 9/9/2003. meanwhile, i have to drive a 79 mile round trip commute daily in traffic, and fear that this will happen when i am at 75 mph on the interstate. this could lead to a crash with possible fatalities if it occurred.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - OTHER FUEL TYPES - TURBO-CHARGER
02/16/2007106/13/2003
 Turbo started sucking up oil, eventually leading to engine failure. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
09/09/20081270001
 2000 passat wagon 1.8 caught fire and burned - its was not running and was parked for 20 min then fire started under the right side of the engine. *tr
06/20/20081044131
 2000 passat auto transmission began to catch on fire near engine and where exhaust meet. my son and a friend both 20yrs old were driving late at night when this occurred. i thank god it did not end tragically. *tr
04/18/2004
 Owner was driving the vehicle, parked it, turned off the engine, and went inside a restaurant to pick up a pizza. while owner was inside, the volkswagen caught fire. fire burned carpet in front center of passenger compartment, plastics in front center of dash. all damage above location of exhaust and catalytic converter underneath the floor.
06/26/20061
 Owner drove the vehicle approximately 7 miles, went into a store, came out, and observed a fire in the vehicle. heat shield above right side catalytic converter melted and some wiring in the dash was burned.
12/17/20051
 Owner had the catalytic converters and oxygen sensors replaced. a few weeks later, owner was driving the vehicle and then stopped and was sitting in her driveway using her cell phone when she smelled smoke. she got out of the vehicle and looked at the engine and saw fire. exhaust system had overheated, causing melting of the exhaust heat shield and materials on the floor pan just above the catalytic converters.
01/28/200649200105/01/2005
 Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was parked for over an hour, when the heat shield on the top of the exhaust system began to smolder. no indicator lamp illuminated prior to the problem. the fire department was notified and came, although no flames erupted. the fire department could not determine the cause of the smoke. however, an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and discovered the cause of the smoke was the heat shield.
10/24/2002406/01/2000
 Vehicle check engine light and emissions workshop indicator have been coming on 2-3 minutes after start up. vehicle taken in for 40,000 mile service and check engine light diagnostic. visit # 1) replaced oxygen sensor on emissions system. check engine light back on next day. visit # 2)reset check engine light. check engine light back on next day. scheduled appointment for full diagnostic next week. visit #3) replaced vacuum lines, thought 40,000 mile service was stressing older parts. check engine light on next day. visit # 4) reset check engine light. check engine light on next day. scheduled another full diagnostic. visit # 5) ordered and replaced secondary air pump, left vehicle overnight. check engine light on at pick up. no alternate transportation available, agreed to return vehicle next day. visit # 6) replaced relay for secondary air pump. plan to return vehicle to me after 3 more days. hoping 6th repair attempt is successful (11/22/02) dt
03/01/2002311/01/1999
 Secondary air injection pump used for ignition has failed. when starting vehicle it makes a loud wining noise. hard part replaced 3 times, but problem reoccurred. *ak
1
 Every passat owner i have talked to (5) indicated this part had failed. recall? no safety defect listed. *ak
12/14/2001402/01/2000
 Emissions workshop light comes on, then engine check lamp shows on dash. dealer replaced air pump, said that a hose was loose and never found the problem. vw of america was contacted along with the customer service rep at the dealer. we had to trade the car becauce the problem could not be repaired. i have not contacted an attorney at this time. why is vw allowed to sell cars that they cannot repair? i would like to be compensated for our financial loss as well as for our time and trouble.*ak
09/07/2001603/01/2000
 Check engine light keeps coming on along with emissions workshop lights; gas tank, vacumn pump and sensors all replaced but still this problem continues. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
05/01/2006780001005/01/2006
 Check engine light has been on since purchasing of car ~ electra auto sales was aware of this and noted this was their records they would be responsible. they have been given me the run around because of the faulty engine system. my daughter and i were subjected to almost being killed on the highway because of the car stalling and rough idliing ~ paul vargas owner of electra auto sales has not returned any called back . ak
08/10/2006825001010/03/2003
 Purchased my 2000 passat in 2003, had numerous problems since. it seemed like everything on the car had to be replaced. the control arms, o2 sensors, twice, belts, stereo didn't turn on, all new hoses right away, all 4 window regulators, and now to top it all off, the abs lights kept coming on. my husband has a 2000 audi a4, virtually the same car, and had to replace all of the same things. the abs seemed to work fine, but the dealer said it would be $1800 to fix it. i looked at some online forums and found thousands of people with similar problems. the manufacturer, (bosch or volkswagen, should do something about this. my car has been parked since august 2006 because i don't have money to fix it! i am college student. help!
06/11/200673000306/12/2005
 The engine light has been on for a while. i had the catalytic converter replaced last year in 08/05 when it initially occurred. the problem went off. it came back on just yesterday 07/11/2006. the message says it is emission workshop. i have not taken it to a vw dealer, however, i suspect it is the same catalytic converter problem. another problem i have had is the stop - brake fault message. the abs light is on while the brake light is illuminating. i have taken my car to two different independent mechanics to check on the issues. they mentioned that the brake pads were all fine. and so was the fluid brake reservoir level. they were guessing it was electrical problem or abs sensor problem. *jb
08/01/200325000512/01/1999
 Problem extended over the period of about 2 years. the check emissions light came on sporadically, then stayed on at all times. the sensor was worked on by 3 mechanics : 1st time- diagnosis unsealed gas cap - stayed off for 6 months; 2nd time - 4th time- just happens on vws and computer reset - stayed off about average of 2-4 weeks before lighting up again; 5th time - on all the time, mechanic would reset, would take on test drive and it would come on again. at this point i had moved to nc where the car proceeded to fail inspection due to this issue. the second local mechanic managed to fix problem; car passed emissions inspection and light has been off for 6 months. *jb
03/18/2005603/13/2000
 2000 4-cyl vw passat, 64000 miles: 2 emissions failures within 48 hrs: 1.) replaced defective evaporator check valve and hose, replaced fuel reg to manifold line and n249 valve line to manifold, replaced vacuum lines ($331); 2.) cleaned carbonated throttle body, replaced jet valve, repalced air filter. replaced mass air flow meter (under extended warranty) ($236). at 50,000 miles: replaced 2nd pump, n112 valve, cobi valve, cracked pipe, fuse set codes. *ak
02/04/200559775208/03/2000
 Emissions workshop light is on. *ak
03/07/200558000504/28/2000
 The engine check-emission light has come on five times. each time the dealer made a different repair. 1) secondary air pump 2) check valve 3) mass air flow sensor 4) inlet hose for booster valve 5)combi valve and secondary air pump. the first time the secondary air pump was replaced was at 58000 miles. the second time at 72000 miles, only 14000 miles later. the dealer said the emission system is poorly designed.*ak
03/02/200555000105/03/2000
 If found on www.epa.gov a recall for emission on the passat 2.8l. mfr recall # we/lk, epa# 1694. the exact defect was found on my passat 1.8l. vacuum supply within the secondary air system is lost when the secondary air vacuum hoses disconnect from the system control valve. the rubber vacuum hose connectors split and separate from the vacuum connection the valve due to heat dissipation in that area. the secondary air hose part# 058133817d. i took my vehicle in after the check engine light went on for the emission workshop. my repair was not covered due to recall not covering my vin. *jb
12/26/200475250204/23/2000
 The mass air flow meter gave out on my 2000 volkswagen passat in august 2003. a couple of months later, the warranty for the part was extended to 70,000 miles. i received a rebate for the expense (five months after submitting it). now, 16 months later, the air flow meter failed again, and my car is past the 70,000 mile warranty period (but the part is only 20,000 miles old). volkswagen is clearly having a significant problem with this part, which has been confirmed by two different volkwagen dealerships. *jb
12/01/200460000302/20/2004
 My check engine light comes on every 2 weeks, my transmission is jerking when gearing down. this is a new car and it should be more dependable. they reset my light and then we start over because it always comes back on.*ak
11/02/200443800202/18/2000
 For second time, in two months the emission check light has come on. this is on my vw passat 2000, which has 43,000 miles. after taking the car to dealership, i was told that there are faulty vacuum hoses again in the engine that needs to be replaced. i was told by dealership that i should be expecting to change these vacuum hoses every 40,000 miles. this sounds like a manufacturing defect to me, as i have never replaced this component in my other cars, let alone on a regular basis. i had replaced other vacuum hoses a month ago. *jb
07/01/200433503302/21/2000
 Analysis of system after check engine light showed one of two oxygen sensors defective. item was replaced. no other codes indicated further problems..two days later, check engine light lit again. second oxygen sensor replaced. three days later, check engine light on again. . analysis determined air mass meter defective and was replaced. repair costs = $841.25. very reputable repair shop said this happens frequenly to vw's??? vw will be notified and asked to compensate for repairs. *ak
12/17/2003
 I have had persistent emission problems with my 2000 v6 vw passat since date of purchase. the maf/oxygen sensors have been replaced numerous times and now i have an emissions issue again (now outside of warranty) that traces back to something in my secondary air system (error codes 1411, 1423). these emission problems are regular and persistent and vw should take care of them without me spending hundreds/thousands of dollars time and time and time again! *nm
11/17/200320000107/21/2000
 My husband and i purchased a 2000 passat with 927 miles on the odometer on july 21, 2000 (ancira, san antonio, tx). three visits to the dealer three for a fluid leak (3/29/01, 2/13/02, 1/17/03). each time, we were told that nothing was wrong. four months ago- emission control, check engine light came on. also the following quit working: power mirrors, the travel computer, temperature sensor was erratic, fuel door quit and the fuel mileage gauge malfunctioned. most recently, the car started running rough and a clear, viscous fluid appeared on my garage floor. the car has 25,000 miles. we change the oil regularly. it had a 15,000-mile check-up. we took the car to a reputable mechanic (mander automotive in helotes, texas). the owner of mander (bob mander) was very concerned that this car had so many electrical and computer problems. ancira informed (mander) that the car's warranty had expired by 900 miles (24,990) that visit (11/6/03). computer scan and analysis showed several codes related to misfires and running lean. also: transaxle seal leak and battery failed the load test-would not hold acharge. mander fixed: seal leak, replaced the battery, changed the oil, replaced the actuator (fuel door), repaired vacuum leaks, reset the t.e.h. computer and corrected the faulty wiring to the mirrors. we spent $649. 24 hours later-check engine light re-appeared. the car began to vibrate hard. we took the car back to mr. mander (11/14/03). he found a defective oxygen sensor and problem with the coolant sensor- both replaced. that time we spent $358. my husband and i have an established relationship with mander automotive and trust their work and analysis. the check engine light and emissions control light is back on. the car is running hard, again. i have contacted vw (reference #30522917) and my husband was advised to take the car to a different dealer here in san antonio (rod east). *la
09/04/200322975306/09/2000
 3 emissions system failures in one year. secondary air pump replaced twice and mass air flow sensor replaced once. car has less than 24000 miles. *la
09/04/2003107/10/2000
 Mass air flow sensor needed to be replaced 4 months after having the secondary air pump and actuator valve on the back of the head replaced.*ak
06/11/2001305/01/2000
 The vehicle has had three failures of the mass airflow sensor since it was purchased. in each instance the failure occurred while accelerating onto a freeway. each failure resulted in a severe loss of power for several seconds that could have resulted in an accident. the dealer has only replaced the mass airflow sensor with no other cause found reported for the previous failures.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
05/01/2006780001005/01/2006
 Check engine light has been on since purchasing of car ~ electra auto sales was aware of this and noted this was their records they would be responsible. they have been given me the run around because of the faulty engine system. my daughter and i were subjected to almost being killed on the highway because of the car stalling and rough idliing ~ paul vargas owner of electra auto sales has not returned any called back . ak
11/25/2006103/03/2003
 I've had my 2000 passat now for 3 years, my husband and myself see to it that our cars have annual tune-ups and regular oil changes. for the past month the abs and brake light has been flashing non-stop. during my most recent tune up, i was informed that the catalytic converters have to be replaced. my mechanic was convinced that a recall had to be in place because he was seeing this problem occurring frequently. i called the vw dealership where i purchased the vehicle and was informed that $100 was needed to even look at the car. all of this has me furious. a recall is needed--right a way!!!!! *jb
07/01/2005107075207/15/2000
 I recently had an experience that i believe would be of interest to your organization. in july of 2000 my wife and i researched for an finally purchased a volkswagen passat (vin# wvwmd23b7yp212346). we were very pleased with our purchase fo a number of years, until what were described to us as normal repairs became necessary. some of the more memorable normal repairs included rear brakes at 40,000 miles (front brakes were in very good condition) for approx. $700.00, and the outside rear view mirror adjustor for $400.00. we began to suspect the pricing structure of vw parts and labor was skewed toward the expensive. a big part of of our decision to buy vw was their reputation for solid transportation over a long time. the car was even listed as a recommended purchase on a number of consumer magazines! the most outrageous example of this situation occured in july 1st 2005, when the check engine light came on, and we took the car to our dealer for service. the result of the check was that the catalytic converters (2 of them) needed to be replaced, at a total cost of $3,400.00! since our state has vehicle testing, this is a required repair to be able to continue to drive the car. we have owned the car for 5 years and have 108,000 miles on the odometer. contacting vw gave no relief, as their stated warranty was for 5 years, but only for 80,000 miles. needless to say, i will never purchase a volkswagen product again, and would like to inform potential purchasers of this type of unexpected cost.
04/15/2003430002
 Consumer complained that at 43000 miles catalytic converter was replaced under warranty. currently, at 90,000 miles another one needed to be replaced. dealer will not replace the catalytic converter for free.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CRANKCASE (PCV)
11/05/200131796302/24/2000
 I purchased a new 2000 passat in feb. of 2000. on nov. 5, 2001 the engine light came on, the dash displayed emission workshop.the sysmptoms were a jolting when placing the car into any gear and the car losing power for several seconds while driving.i took it in and found out the engine control module needed replacment & the mass air flow sensor needed to be replaced and it was fixed at no charge. then, on dec. 23, 2002 i had the same symptoms and took it in and had topay $161.00 to replace the vaccum line to manifold. now yesterday april 28,2003 i had the same symptoms and found out the mass air flow sensor needs to be replaced for the seoncd time and the dealer will only pay 50% and they will stand behind their decision because they feel it's more then fair. the dealer has told me that it is very rare for this problem to happen. well it has already happened 3 times in the 3 years i have owned it and they are unable to give me an answer to why this happens. i would like to know how may complaints you have received on case number:748685. i feel like i purchased a lemon and will be dealing with this same problem over and over. i will never purchase or recommend a volkswagen to anyone.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
11/18/2004668231
 While driving at any speed a knocking noise was coming from the engine compartment. dealership repaired the gas recirculation valve (egr valve). *ak
 There are four oil packets located into her vehicle. causing the vehicle to stall and the engine light appear on the dashboard. please provide additional information dealer is aware of the problem. ts