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-01-12-0402/10/201210043602Volkswagen: gasoline engines have rough idle, have significant loss of power or stalling with reduced performance. *pe04/13/2012
ESA-10C5(NS)06/01/201110041251Ready09/21/2011
ESA-10C5(NS)06/01/201110041251Volkswagen service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. 2002 passat. the malfunction light may be on. there may be oil leakage or engine starting problems due to a cracked or broken crankcase breather hose. *rm09/21/2011
SAC-28F3/P1-REV08/01/201010036496Volkswagen: gasoline engine vehicles inspect, and if necessary, replace ignition coils. vehicles affected by this action may have ignition coils that could malfunction under certain conditions. models passat and wagon; golf; gti; jetta a03/23/2011
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
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
042108/01/200410009873Warranty extension covering certain oil sludge related repairs. *tt11/01/2004
040108/26/2005050310009887Engine oil specifications, oil capacity, oil filter. *tt11/01/2004
040208/05/200410009888Low engine oil pressure light is on. *tt11/01/2004
040307/12/200410008913Engine, fluctuating idle or idle speed too low. *mj08/31/2004
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
030304/15/200310001568Update programming (flashing) engine control module (ecm) and transmission control module (tcm). *tt06/06/2003
030101/16/2003020810000917Update programming (flashing) engine control module (ecm) to correct cold start misfire. *tt04/03/2003
020812/04/200210000814Update programming (flashing) electronic control module (ecm) to correct cold start misfire. *tt04/01/2003
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
SAC-28F3/P1-REV08/01/201010036496Volkswagen: gasoline engine vehicles inspect, and if necessary, replace ignition coils. vehicles affected by this action may have ignition coils that could malfunction under certain conditions. models passat and wagon; golf; gti; jetta a03/23/2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CRANKCASE (PCV)
ESA-10C5(NS)06/01/201110041251Ready09/21/2011
ESA-10C5(NS)06/01/201110041251Volkswagen service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. 2002 passat. the malfunction light may be on. there may be oil leakage or engine starting problems due to a cracked or broken crankcase breather hose. *rm09/21/2011

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EA11002VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC01/26/201102/17/2012Engine Compartment Fire
 In july 2010, the agency opened pe10-027 to investigate allegations of coil on plug (cop) ignition coil fires in my2002-2003 vw passat vehicles.the investigation was upgraded in january 2011 to include all my2001-2007 4-cylinder vw passat, gasoline, turbo-charged vehicles.based on the analysis of vw's response, and including odi's consumer complaints, odi has since identified 135 unique engine fire reports attributable to the cop coils.after further review of the details as contained in each report, odi determined that 43 of the 135 fire reports were actual fire/flame incidents, 83 fire reports were thermal events (smoke, spark, heat or wire melt), and another 9 fire reports were undetermined in severity due to the lack of information.these cop coil fires were characterized as initiated from within the cop coil circuit located at the top of the engine block and below the plastic engine cover.the fires observed were contained in the engine compartment and did not reach into the passenger compartment in contrast to those caused by an overheated catalytic converter examined in odi
PE10027VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC07/26/201002/07/2011Engine Compartment Fire
 Odi has received 11 complaints alleging that a fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle that may be related to ignition coil failure, and 9 complaints of ignition coil failure that did not result in a fire.reports state that the vehicle hesitated or lost power, and the check engine or dashboard lights illuminated.the vehicles were repaired by replacing the faulty ignition coil(s). some of the complaints indicated that the ignition coils were replaced more than once.the scope of pe10-027 focused on model years (my)2002-2003 passat vehicles.volkswagen provided data regarding their analysis of the vehicle fires and faulty ignition coils for these vehicles as well as other my passat vehicles.odi needs to further investigate this issue.to facilitate the acquisition and analysis of additional information, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis, ea11-002.
EA11002VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC01/26/2011Engine Compartment Fire
 Odi has received 14 complaints alleging that a fire started in the engine compartment of the vehicle that may be related to ignition coil failure, and 21 complaints of ignition coil failure that did not result in a fire.reports state that the vehicle hesitated or lost power, and the check engine or dashboard lights illuminated.the vehicles were repaired by replacing the faulty ignition coil(s). some of the complaints indicated that the ignition coils were replaced more than once.the scope of pe10-027 focused on model years (my) 2002-2003 passat vehicles and volkswagen provided data regarding their analysis of the vehicle fires and faulty ignition coils for these vehicles.however, based on consumer complaints, odi also requested and received data from volkswagen regarding my2006-2007 passat vehicles.the failure report for this engineering analysis contains data for my 2002-2003 and my 2006-2007 vehicles.odi needs to further investigate this issue.to facilitate the acquisition and analysis of additional information, this investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis.odi is expanding the scope to include my 2001-2007 passat vehicles.
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 AND ENGINE COOLING
02/08/2012152000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while the contact was driving approximately 25 mph, the engine power began to significantly reduce during acceleration. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the upward and downward oxygen sensors were replaced. the malfunction persisted after the repair was performed. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 152,000. sm.
02/08/2012152000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while the contact was driving approximately 25 mph, the engine power began to significantly reduce during acceleration. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. the upward and downward oxygen sensors were replaced. the malfunction persisted after the repair was performed. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 152,000. js
09/14/201162000
 Ignition coils caught fire while driving. mechanic states that they catch fire all the time.
02/13/2011
 In 2002, i bought my passat new. at the end of december 2010, the stop oil light came on. two weeks later, a recall letter arrived. i drove to pasadena and back to northern california february 2011. after a little malfunction on the freeway in livermore, i pulled into a gas station and the passat started to sound like a diesel engine. towed to dublin vw. they say the engine is fried and a new one would cost $6800. all this due to oil sludge issue.
02/14/201194000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 30 mph the contact noticed the vehicle lost power, he smelled a burnt odor, and noticed smoke releasing from the vents. within moments the passenger glove compartment area was on fire. the vehicle will be towed to the dealer. the fire department was present. the failure and the current mileage were 94,000. li
02/13/2011
 In 2002, i bought my passat new. at the end of december 2010, the stop oil light came on. two weeks later, a recall letter arrived. i drove to pasadena and back to northern california february 2011. after a little malfunction on the freeway in livermore, i pulled into a gas station and the passat started to sound like a diesel engine. towed to dublin vw. they say the engine is fried and a new one would cost $6800. all this due to oil sludge issue.
02/14/201194000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 30 mph the contact noticed the vehicle lost power, he smelled a burnt odor, and noticed smoke releasing from the vents. within moments the passenger glove compartment area was on fire. the vehicle will be towed to the dealer. the fire department was present. the failure and the current mileage were 94,000. li
11/15/201080000
 Tl-the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 25-30 mph he heard a noise coming from the engine. he stated the vehicle immediately lost power. he stated he drove for about 2 minutes and the vehicle stalled. he stated the engine light illuminated on the dashboard after the failure. the vehicle was towed to his residence. the vehicle had not been checked by an authorized dealer or a mechanic. the vehicle had not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 80,000. vwb
01/08/2011140000
 Tl. the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact while driving 65 mph the vehicle lost power so the contact pulled over. the contact stated no indicators flashed on the dash board and suddenly the vehicle started smoking. the contact then towed the vehicle and junked it due to the damages. the contact has not called the manufacturer nor the dealer. the contact stated the vehicle could have caused a major fire. the failure mileage was 140,000. jo
10/07/2010103000
 Tl-the contact owns 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 60 mph, the contact smelled a strong burning odor of plastic, and then pulled over to the side of the road. the contact exited the vehicle. the front of the vehicle erupted into flames. the fire department extinguished the fire. a police report was filed. there was no injury. the vehicle was completely destroyed and towed to an independent mechanic. the failure mileage was approximately 103,000. js
09/15/200957000
 Tl-the driver owns a 2002 volkswagen passat glx. while driving approximately 30 mph the vehicle engine light came on. the vehicle was driven to there destination and the vehicle was checked by a local mechanic the next day. the local mechanic did a diagnostic and she was advised that the calaltytic converter failed. the vehicle has not been repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 57,000 and the current mileage was 65,000. vwb
01/10/201080000
 1. oil was leaking and we repaired it in a local garage. a day later we noticed the oil sludge problem - which told us oil something, stop engine. we called the vw dealer in hartford, ct, and they suggested to bring the car in immediately otherwise it will impact the engine. we immediately took and droped it at the vw dealer and they called us next day telling the oil is not getting into the engine. everything is blocked. they suggested to repair it otherwise the engine will be dead. we asked them to repair and paid close to $1800. they have replaced bunch of pipes, and parts but labor cost was lot more than parts. but i learned on the internet, that this is an existing problem and vw is aware of it. i read thru few forums on the net, and they all suggested, if i do not have all the oil change receipts, they will not cover the repair charges. but i am surprised, that vw dealer never mentioned about the existing problem, i had to learn thru internet. 2. check engine sign comes all the time on my dashboard, first time i took it, they repaired (same dealer) fixing and replacing small parts and again most of it is labor charges and less parts. we paid about $2000. all these repairs happened within couple of months of each other. again 10 days later, the check engine sign comes and they repaired again few things and charged about $500. a week later the check engiine sign comes again. we call the dealer and he says bring it in. i am sick and tired of taking this car every week to the dealer and paying them lot of money every time i take it. my car is 2002 vw passat 1.8t. i heard there are lot of known problem with this model and dealer never mentioned to us once.
01/26/2010980001
 Engine compartment fire. started 2002 vw passat 1.8t and there was no heater fan or windshield wipers functional. drove around the block. let car idle to warm up and engine stopped. smelled burning and put out small fire. car towed to dealer. *tr
12/01/2007107/18/2006
 2002 volkswagen passat has engine problems. *nj the consumer stated the vehicle has not been driven in a year and a half due to the oil sludge and misfiring problems. the catalytic converter failed and the spark plugs and coil packs were constantly being replaced. *jb
09/05/2009900001
 I have talked to, blogged with, and communicated with various volkswagen passat owners and previous owners one complaint that has just become my biggest problem is due to oil sludge build up that occurs and effects the oil pressure censor in these vehicles i own a 2002 passat wagon and had a terrible oil leak months after i got it covered by warranty. now months after, i start blogging and investigating on my own the cost to repair this so called oil sludge problem which is so bad in these vehicles i am told this will cost $500-$2000 to fix! why hasn't this problem which is not covered or honored by volkswagen or extended warranty been recalled???? this is a very common problem, and the fact that i take very good care of my vehicle sound be taken into consideration when it goes in the shop for such a common default in these cars...please help shine the light on this issue i am sure if it is investigated by you that you will see the hardship of this problem hopefully you aren't a passat owner yourself. *tr
07/26/2002500301/01/2002
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact stated that her vehicle was a lemon when she purchased it in 2002. water enters the vehicle from the sun roof whenever it rains. she received a recall notice, but the vehicle was not repaired according to the recall. the vehicle was taken to the dealer more than fifteen times, but it has never been repaired. the failure mileage was 500 miles. updated 8/24/09 *cn the consumer was told the water leak was coming from the after market speaker. the headlight tail light and fog light bulbs were replaced. the check engine light illuminated and the coolant bottle had a hairline crack. the heat in the vehicle was not working properly. the technician discovered the heater core had a blockage. the water pump was leaking. both outer cv boots were replaced. there was a large evap leak at the purge valve which was replaced. the cruise control light was on. the right side valve cover gasket was leaking oil and the alternator was replaced. updated 08/26/09. *jb
02/06/2009730001
 My car had been hit on the driver side so i took it to the auto body shop to be repaired, being paid for by the person insurance co that hit me. when i went to pick the car up about 3 weeks later i drive 2 blocks and then lights started flashing (warning oil pressure) stop car immediately. i called the auto body shop so i could take the car back to them because the car was in excellent working order when i took it there no lights were on or flashing only the door was damaged. few days later the auto body said they would have to have it towed to a dealer wynn because they don't know why the lights are on. wynn dealer gave diagnoses of oil sludge for the lights flashing and the auto body had replaced the door with the wrong door. i was told this would cost me 2300 dollars, 2300 dollars. i was told by the deal that this is the problem and removal of the sludge will fix the problem. they had the car for a month repairs to replace the door and the oil sludge. month later when i went to pick up the car at that time there was an engine light came on, had the manager check why. he hook up a computer and said it may be a bad cylinder he reset the light and i drove it for 2 weeks maybe and now excessive amount of smoke was coming from the car and it was losing power . i took it back to dealer stating you told me the problem was fixed i was told that now it has a turbo charger problem had been damaged which would be covered by my warranty. so i left it there for repairs. picked it up a week later and was told everything was fine now drove it for not even a day and the car was still losing power and now shaking out of control. i had to take it back to the dealer and now was told i had a bad engine coil so the best they could do for now is replace it with a used one. in the mean time i had called volkswagen customer service and they told me i had to take it back to them for diagnose. because when they replaced the coil it still didn't. *tr
11/25/2005548181
 Oil pump sludge on my volkswagen 2002 1.8t passat engine light came on. engine quite working in the middle of the freeway. it only had 54,818 miles. i had to pay 10,000 out of my own pocket to replace the engine. *tr
01/20/2009855001
 My volkswagen passat 2002 caught on fire. i know you are investigating this so i wanted to inform you. *tr
05/15/2008670001
 I have a 2002 volkswagen passat with 79000 miles, in may of 2008 while my daughter was away at school the stop engine light came on. after she took it to a local shop and i spent over $300 in diagnostic services i was advised of vw's tsb 10 07 13, 2013233, published aug 17, 2007which acknowledged the oil sludge issue and the magic flush. had the car towed at my expense from md to nj. vw agreed with the diagnostics and performed the flush. since that time (<8 months) the car has been in the garage numerous times for additional related oil issues. the latest >6k due to the turbo filling up with oil, can and crank seals leaking, valve covers leaking, premature cracking caused by the oil in the timing belt, etc. independent mechanics as well as the dealers mechanics agree that this can be a residual effect from the oil sludge. vw of america would not listen to the facts and have left me holding the bag. oil changes have been done every 3500 miles, with receipts. vw should be stepping up to the plate, they know that there is a design issue with the 1.8t in the passat. i think that they intentionally make it difficult on the consumer so that they give up. any advice? *tr
11/30/2008522001
 Need to replace at least one bank of cam adjuster. seems to be a problem with part. cost to replace @$6,000. no help from vw. *tr
10/04/20081250001
 Car driven to airport parking on 9/26 running fine. car picked up at airport parking on 10/4. engine running a bit rough. check engine light started to flash. within five miles, there was an engine fire behind engine by firewall low. before emergency/fire personnel could arrive, car fully engulfed and totally destroyed. car regularly maintained. no oil/fluid leakage. running fine prior to eight day idle in parking garage. *tr
09/01/20071
 2002 volkswagen passat with fuel odor. consumer states that she noticed a strong fuel smell filling her garage. mechanic stated that there was a crack in the fuel tank. mechanic stated that the consumer hit the bottom of the fuel tank on something. *kb the consumer stated a few months after the fuel tank was replaced, the timing belt failed. *jb
05/09/20081430001
 Was driving on the interstate when the car started sputtering. then i saw smoke coming up from the hood. pulled the car over, opened the hood and saw flames. grabbed my kid out of the car and watched the car become engulfed in fire. car was in excellent condition with all maintenance up to date. *tr
03/13/200886000206/18/2004
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began shaking violently and shut down in the middle of an intersection. the vehicle then skidded into an intersection and almost struck a child. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the ignition coil housing burned. the dealer would not repair the vehicle or allow him to pay $785 with a credit card to repair the ignition coil. the turbo coil also failed; however, the dealer does not agree with this diagnosis. the manufacturer was unable to assist. the contact also smelled electrical wiring burning. he stated that oil breaks down prematurely, which caused the engine to seize and the vehicle to overheat. the manufacturer stated in writing that they see no reason why they should offer any assistance, and that there was a previous recall on a case by case basis related to other engine failures. the federal trade commission complaint number was 13323205. the current mileage was 101,222 and failure mileage was 86,000.
11/26/200775000111/01/2006
 Engine fails due to oil sludge problem. *tr
11/05/200784000204/27/2005
 I pay $1500 for used 2002 passat vw two years ago now dealer wants to charge me $ 6700 for new engine. old engine was damage due to engine sludge. i submitted regular oil change receipts and was denied warranty. my passat has 84,000 mile and only two years of riding enjoyment. my car sitting at dealership for almost two weeks. please help car needed for work. *tr
05/29/200787000204/20/2005
 I'm religious about changing the oil in the car, about the maintenance and care of it. i love my volkswagen passat. i had the oil pressure light came on once or twice over the last two years, but always took it into a shop for regular maintenance. the light always went off and nothing ever happened. however, there has been a lot of sludge buildup in the engine, despite the best efforts. so much so that the oil pump was blocked and the engine seized as a result. i had the oil pressure warning come on the day my car died. it was a few miles after it went on it stopped running and i had to push my car into it's parking spot at home. volkswagen dealers @ the burnsville location told me that they had started with a 100,000 mile warranty on the passats, but that it had become cost ineffective and so cut the warranty to 50,000. my car seized at under 87,000. i've not been able to afford to fix it, as yet. had to take time off work and so my paycheck was greatly reduced. haven't been able to make the car payment on it either, as a result, which has a balance of near to $10,000.00. *ak
12/31/20021
 Owner's wife drove volkswagen home, parked it in the left bay of a two-car garage. approximately one hour later, owner was alerted by a smoke alarm/smell of smoke. owner went out to garage and observed flames coming from the engine compartment of the volkswagen. ran back into house and told wife to call 911. returned to garage and observed volkswagen almost completely engulfed in flames. fire destroyed vehicle and house. cause undetermined. *nm
08/24/200664777109/10/2001
 On august 24, 2006 my 2002 vw passat with 64777 miles was taken in to replace the spark plugs. no problem so far, i picked up the car a got as far as two blocks when the temp gauge pegged out. i immediately stopped the car and checked for leakage, no leakage was noticeable i drove the car back to the dealership and was informed that the water pump failed. i had fork out nearly $1000 dollars to get the car back on the road. the service manager showed my the failed pump and was astonished that the impeller was made out of plastic. to add insult when i contacted vw and request some type of relief for the expense. i requested a written response which i never received only a terse phone call. vw's response was sorry for your loss. *nm
08/02/200627561304/07/2002
 I would like to lodge a complaint regarding the excessive failure of vacuum hoses causing the engine malfunction indicator light to come on repeatedly on the 2002 vw passat wagon. on august 2, 2006, the vacuum hose failed (replaced with p/n 06b-133-783 bc). the cost of the repair was $271.63. on september 11, 2006, the vacuum hose was replaced as per vehicle recall (replaced with p/n 06b-103-221p). and on october 18, 2006, the vacuum hose failed (replaced with p/n 1n-020-353-5). the cost of this repair was $137.93. also to be considered is the inconvenience of taking the car to a repair facility time after time. *nm
06/14/200685000611/14/2000
 Bought the car new and have had to deal with defective tires, defective ignition coils causing two major breakdowns at highway speeds with children in the car. the last two ignition coils were recalled. the car will not run if it is wet from heavy rain and has to be completely dried before the breaks work properly. oil pump was replaced 14 months ago, another major breakdown on highway with children. it has broken down yet again...the dealership says it needs another oil pump because of sludge, about $2000, not under warranty because it is past the 12 month, 12,000mile mark. two other private mechanics told me, replacing the oil pump would only disguise, temporarily the real issue....the engine is junk. it now sits in my driveway because it is not under warranty because i am missing some oil change receipts. also the blinkers don't work, the rear door won't open, auto locks work intermittently and headlights have been replaced twice and are out again. this was the first new car i ever bought. i bought the car after a divorce because i wanted a dependable car to commute to work and transport my children safely. the car has 85,00 mi. *nm
02/22/200645000110/28/2002
 Low engine oil pressure light came on. turned car off and pulled over. had it towed to the dealer. before it was even looked at the dealer tells me that it is going to cost me $2600 and that i am lucky. he said the last person that came in with this problem had to get a new engine, but that he didn't think that my car is that bad. don't know how he could say that without looking in the engine or turning the engine on. it sounds like a money making scam for the dealer. they know that people don't keep all their receipts so they can deny the warranty claim and the dealer charges people $2600 for this very known issue with many vw's. i was told this is a bunch of hoses that will need replaced. i don't see how or why this would cost $2600. *nm
09/01/2005103/29/2002
 On sept 1,2005 on my way to the e.r. at a local hospital the oil light came on telling me to stop engine/check oil pressure. i turned engine off, and checked oil level, all ok. tried to start engine to get off of new york state thruway, engine making terrible noise, turned off had car towed to dealer. was told by dealer it would be at least $400.00 to look at the car and diagnose it. after one week dealer called and said it would cost $9000.00 to replace entire motor, on sept. 2 2005 called v.w. of america they stated to me at that time that they were aware of the problem with the 1.8 turbo building up oil sludge in the motor, and that they had extended the warranty on the engine. they said that they needed maintenance records to prove my case, they gave me a fax # which was the wrong #. after the long holiday weekend i phoned v.w. of america again and they stated , to fax the documents directly to the dealer that they did not receive them, the consumer advocate that i was speaking with was new and did not know the fax #. the dealer stated that my records were not detailed enough and that i was missing six receipts, i moved one year ago and the valvoline station where i had the oil changed faithfully stated that if you do not use there services for 6 months that the computer automatically drops your records. i seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place, v.w. and the dealer keep shuffling me back and forth, in the mean time i have no vehicle and i am renting a car to get back and forth to work. after searching your web site i found 8 complaints including my own out of 50 that's almost 20% of the complaints for the same problem, and the other people are given the same run around. this has to stop somewhere and some one has to take responsibility for an obviously defective product. i have contacted an attorney and are prepared to litigate if necessary. *nm
01/13/200539000108/15/2002
 I have a 2002 volswagen passat with 39000 miles, on 1/13/2005 the oil pressure stop engine message came on the dash, and the engine started smoking and running rough. i had it towed to the dealer that day. the dealer and vw said they would not even look at it until i provided a service record. i made them a copy of my log which had the exact date and mileage, but that wasn't good enough. they wanted copies of the receipts which i went out and got, but i learned today that wasn't good enough. they wanted name and address of the mech. which i provided, but vw says i don't have proper documt. because there is not a specific receipt for the oil filter even though the part # for the filter is on the receipt. it took over 3 weeks and dozens of phone calls to both the dealer and volkswagen of america to finally get a diagnosis (note: the asm of volkswagen of amer. denied my warranty on 02/02/2005 without being able to tell me the problem with the car!!) which appears to be oil sludge buildup. *jb
12/01/2004330001
 I am leasing a 2002 v.w. passat. the vehicle has aproximately 33,000 miles and is equipped with the 1.8 liter turbo. i was driving the vehicle home from work when the oil pressure warning light came on, followed by the word stop on the dashboard. i pulled the vehicle over and had it towed to the closest v.w. dealer. the dealer diagnosed the problem as an oil sludge problem and advised me it would cost $900 to fix the problem unless i could show proof of oil changes through receipts. i supplied the dealer with 6 oil change receipts from a small garage near my house where i get the oil changed. i called the dealer back a few days later and asked the status of my car. the g.m. of the shop accused me of forgery due to the fact the receipts did not have tax or method of payment at the bottom. i replied that the shop charges me $30.00 to change the oil, i give them $30.00, and i leave. he then stated if i paid cash for the oil changes, i guess i couldn't give them what they wanted(proof of payment i.e. check stub, credit card statement's). he estimated the repair at $900 and that the warrenty would not cover any of it. so because i pay cash for my oil changes i am being denied repair under warrenty. the repair consists of clearing out the oil pump pick up screen of the sludge and replacing a couple of vent tubes that may be clogged. the car is presently sitting at the dealer in need of repair. i plan on greiving the decision by v.w of amer.and hope for the best.*ak
06/24/2004600003
 While driving 25 mph vehicle stalled. dealership repaired the problem once, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
09/15/200317952
 Four ignition coils defective - replaced defective ignition - key stuck in car for over nine days defective stereo - replaced twice to date defective electrical - windows and locks go up and down while driving, gas cap pops open unexpectedly computer problem - computer blacks out at times defective wheel bearing - replaced at 17,952 miles defective motor blower - replaced defective rear wheel lining - replaced
01/30/200311600
 Vehicle's ignition coil pack has malfunctioned and vehicle shut off. dealer notified. please provide additional information. ph
10/15/2002
 The vehicle engine coil is failing, making the speed very slow. dealer has been notified. ph
01/20/200330004
 Vehicle's ignition coil has been replaced four times and consumer still has a problem with vehicle. dealer notified. please provide additional information. ph
01/21/2003
 Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and without warning the vehicle will shut off causing consumer to pull over. dealer notified. ts
03/15/2002
 Consumer states while driving the vehicle the check engine light would come on then the car would shut off. ts
01/21/2003
 While driving the engine light came on. heavy vibrations forced the consumer to pull off the road due to a faulty engine coil pack. dealer changed two of the faulty coil pack and refused to change the other two. please provide further information. ph
11/17/2002
 Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and no warning the vehicle will heavily jerk and then the engine light will come on and stay on the remainder of the time vehicle is being operated on. dealer notified. ts
01/04/2003
 Consumer stated that while driving and without warning the vehicle would vibrate then lose power. dealer notified. ts
12/01/20027504405/16/2002
 My 2002 vw passat has had major problems with engine coils. on 12-1-02, with 7,504 miles on the vehicle, the #2 coil broke and i had to have it towed to gezon motors in grand rapids, mi. i was visiting mi, so i had to borrow a car to return home to ohio. then, on jan. 12, 2003, coils #3 and #4 broke so i had to have the car towed to midwestern auto group in dublin, ohio. there were approx. 8500 miles on my car at that time. because the coils are on backorder, it is possible that the car will not be repaired for two weeks. considering the number of vw drivers who are experiencing defective coils, there should be a recall on this part. in addition to this problem, my radio suddenly stopped working and had to be replaced in november 2002.
 While driving vehicle shakes, consumer states took to dealer and they stated a coil had burned out. consumer states dealer is only changing the coils as they burn out, dealer is aware of the problem. ts
01/02/20023700209/17/2002
 2002 volkswagon passat - ignition coil failed, causing the car to lose much power. we had the same problem less than two weeks ago (december 23, 2002). the vw dealer acknowledged that these have been failing often but refused to replace the other two coils even though they admitted they are more likely to fail than the newer replacement units (old units have part number h, new are j). we have repeatedly contacted the volkswagon national consumer care number and they have lied to us about contacting our dealer (our repair was delayed because they said they called but didn't). we are afraid to drive the vehicle because of the high risk of getting stranded or worse in an accident. (note: incident date is jan 2 2003 not 2002, but it's not an available option)
 Consumer states his vehicle stalls while driving at 50mph. due to faulty engine coil. on november 10, dealer changed the engine coil #4 on december 26, dealer changed engine coil #3, consumer asked the dealer to change the other 4 inoperable coils and dealer refused. please provide further information. ts
12/19/200212000
 Consumer was pulling out there driveway, and vehicle started hesitating to accelerated, and the mil(malfunction indicator light) came on. the dealership indicated that one of ignition coil spring had broke. please provide more details. ts
12/16/200212350107/02/2002
 The coil pack has failed on my vw 2002 passat 1.8t. i had it towed to the dealer who stated that it should not be driven in its condition. the dealer also stated that it was a part failure and he wasn't suprised. there have been a lot of them lately and the parts are on back order. later that night i did a little research and i find out that hundreds of other people with the 2002 1.8t engine are having the same issue. (vwvortex.com or google.com vw coil packs) something with the cold weather affects the coil packs. vw should recall these parts and replace them with working coil packs. luckily when mine went i was two blocks from my apartment. it did happen however in the middle of an intersection. the light turned green and i accelerated. about 2 seconds later i experienced an extreme loss of power and a rumbling feeling. the car shuttered and i pulled over to stop. since the dealer stated it was not drivable i am lucky i was not stranded on the freeway as i generally commute 30 minutes to work every day. i worry that myself and other owners of the 1.8t engine will experience the same issue only further from a safe place causing accidents or being stranded on the side of the road. since it is a known failure among vw mechanics its clear that a recall is in order. vw has sold the 1.8t as a quality engine above others in its class and should stand behind it.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
11/01/20081150001
 I own a 2002 vw passat and i am the original owner. i have no heat and the dealer has told me that i need a new heater core which appears to be a known problem w/ vw's that they have yet to acknowledge. the dealer said they would not cover under warranty but suggested i call vwoa and see if i could get it covered under goodwill. i called vwoa and stated my case and requested that they cover it under goodwill and they refused. my car has been regularly maintained by the dealer and i am very upset that vw has a known problem and refuses to correct it and they expect me to pay $1000 to have this known problem fixed. *tr
03/24/2009510001
 While driving, the windows instantly fogged up without warning. immediately grabbing something to wipe the windows, nearly hit another vehicle before pulling to the shoulder. also present at this time, was an odor of anti-freeze. vehicle purchased used 2007, 37,469 miles. driven approx 12k miles. current mileage 51k. corresponding with mfg, unsuccessful. research indicates this is a prevalent issue. *tr
02/26/200652250106/29/2002
 Car is 3 1/2 years old. 52,500 miles. (2500 miles out of warranty) engine coolant flushed/replaced at 40,000 miles as required. heater core just failed while on the freeway, blowing vapor into the cabin and steaming up the windows to the point the car was barely drivable. vw america would not assist with the repair citing the age of the vehicle. i guess vw considers a car that's less than 4 years old to have significant problems. repair cost is close to $1300. i will never buy a vw again, and i have already dissuaded a colleague at work from buying one as he was in the market for a new car. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - FAN
07/09/200758300106/14/2007
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving 70 mph, the vehicle began to overheat and smoke. the contact pulled off the road, waited until the vehicle cooled down, and drove to the nearest dealer. the mechanic stated that the primary fan had burned out. he also stated that it was a very common failure with his model of vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 58,300. updated 02-01-08 *bf updated 02/01/08 *tr
11/28/2001111/16/2001
 I purchased my 2002 volks passat gls. i have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. my radio quit, i had the speakers replaced twice, i had the heater blower motor replaced, i had the ignition coils replaced 3 times (recall), wv campaign (recall), sludge in the engine (recall), the right wheel tire hull reinforced (recall). i have talked with volkswagen corporate office and have an active complaint number. their customer service is terrible both at the corporate and dealer level. the volkswagen dealer in auburn, wa is inept and has put the wrong oil in the my car 2 times. i would like volkwagen to buy-back my car or give me a life-time warranty on the car. any ideas? there have been too many incidents to list just one. it has been an ongoing problem.*ak
8372
 Check engine light illuminated and dealer stated engine coil needed replacing. ts
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
12/23/2010
 I had a 2002 vw passat with 1.8t engine. its original engine was dead due to oil sludge 3 years ago; and its replaced engine was dead today again. i think volkswagen should pay back my money, about $6000, for replacing 2 engines; and recall this engine immediately.
02/13/2010102000
 I have a 2002 vw passat. i had numerous problems with it since i bought it, the control arms go, the engine coils fail constantly and just recently my low oil pressure light came on. i had my car towed to the place where i purchased it and they said this means that my engine is shot. i have done some research and tried to look for used parts and it turns out that with the 1.8l turbo passat engine this occurs very frequently. now i am stuck paying almost $11,000 for a car that i cant even drive because it is going to cost me nearly $5,000 to fix. i really would like this problem to be looked into and i am highly surprised that this has not been a recall issue yet.
01/27/20081200001
 During trip in 2008 the low oil pressure light came on while driving my 2002 passat 1.8t (w/ auto transmission) on the freeway- i pulled over and shut the engine off the car as the warning light advised. the car was towed to a dealership & i was told i needed a new oil pump due to oil sludge ($1300). the car had approx. 120k miles on it. the dealership did tell me about the extended warranty for 02 passats for oil sludge-related repairs, however, volkswagen wouldn't honor this warranty without receipts for every oil change done on the car - which i did not have. approx. a few months later, the engine stopped running.this is all due to oil sludge issues. i had about 90% of all of my oil change receipts and vw would not honor the warranty. as and engineer in know that the 1.8t engine was not designed correctlybecause if it were, vw would not have changed the size of the original oil filter to a larger one and there would be no need to use synthetic oil. *tr
01/18/2007600001
 In jan. 2007 the low oil pressure light came on while driving my 2002 passat 1.8t (w/ auto transmission) on the freeway- i immediately stopped the car as the warning light advised. the car was towed to a dealership & i was told i needed a new oil pump due to oil sludge ($1300). the car had approx. 60k miles on it. the dealership did not tell me about the extended warranty for '02 passats for oil sludge-related repairs; i found out about it by researching online. however, volkswagen wouldn't honor this warranty without receipts for every oil change done on the car - which i did not have. approx. a year & a half later, the same oil pressure light came on while driving & i had to immediately stop the car. this time, i had to replace the entire engine ($8000!!) due to oil sludge issues. again, extended warranty for oil sludge repairs was useless to me because i didn't have receipts for every single oil change done over the life of the car. *tr
07/27/20091269451
 I was driving my 2002 passat 1.8t for a approximately 30, reaching my house the car started sputtering and acting weird. once i parked in my driveway and open the hood the engine was on fire for no apparent reason. the car was running perfectly fine for the first 30 minutes and then was on fire. *tr
08/05/2008540001
 My wife was driving the vehicle and heard a pop from under the car. she pulled over right away and saw fluids and smoke coming from the engine compartment. within five minutes the engine and passenger compartments were fully engulfed in flames. the vehicle was considered totaled. volkswagen is blaming it on an after market stereo power cable and an investigator with 23 years of experience said oil lines ruptured and the fire initially ignited low in the engine compartment -- not on top by the stereo power lead. photos and a description of the incident is posted at the following link: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21108730-rant-our-2002-volkswagen-passat-glx-death-trap. *tr
08/12/2008160001
 Driving at 60 mph the engine completely stalled requiring an emergency maneuver to clear highway. vw mechanic says rod snapped and put hole through engine. not oil-related. *tr
05/09/2008800001
 Engine was running rough, engine light came on (flashing), i was advised engine was missing on a cylinder and could drive 'slowly' to the mechanic. on way to dealership warning light came on (stop - no engine oil). mechanic changed vacuum hose and reset computer, engine not loosing oil. week later - warning light (stop - no engine oil). mechanic confirmed engine was not loosing oil. took to vw dealership. dealership advised vacuum hoses were 'bad'. original mechanic changed vacuum hoses. week later - warning light (stop - no engine oil). took to vw dealership - dealership advised after market parts (vacuum hoses) causing issue. - changed hose. day later - warning light (stop- no engine oil) - took back to vw dealership - dealership advised hoses are 'bad' - replaced 3 other hoses. about 2 weeks later - engine running poorly, delay when pulling out from stops, took to vw dealership. dealership took apart engine. advised that they
06/15/2007730991
 Cylinder head failed without warning, car had less than 75k. car was serviced on a regular basis. vw refused to pay for cost losing a thirty year loyal customer. they offered to apply $2200 to the repair of the car or apply it toward another new vw on the dealer lot, what a insult. i will never recommend their product. *tr
11/01/200755000109/14/2001
 Oil sludge -- need new engine. *tr
02/03/200840506/25/2005
 Mechanical defect in the 2002 vw passat that causes sludge build up in the engine on august 8, 2006 which in turn caused the engine to breakdown on sept. 29, 2006 and other associated mechanical problems like stalling approximately june 2007 and failure of front wheel suspension on february 3, 2008 upon exiting the highway. *tr
09/06/200758000102/02/2002
 On september 6th of this year, a message appeared on the dashboard display low oil pressure, stop motor. i immediately called the dealership in pompton plains, nj (the closest dealership to my house) to arrange servicing, since the car was not to be driven. the volkswagen representative with whom i spoke on the phone instructed me to bring my car to the dealership. when i finally brought the car in, service manager joe informed me that what i experienced was likely engine trouble requiring of multiple part replacement and called oil sludge. i was told that it would cost $2,800 for repairs because the warranty on my five-year-old/56,000-mile car ran out. i called customer care at 1-800-822-8987 and spoke with representative named frodet and her supervisor, james custer, both of whom told me that this problem is not unheard of and has even been termed oil sludge and is covered under vw's special extended warranty 8 years/unlimited miles. frodet opened case no. 70295194 in my name and called service manager. i received a call next day. i was told that in order to fix this problem under vw?s special extended warranty, i needed to provide all eleven receipts for oil changes that took place within the entire five-year period of ownership. after scouring my files, i found that i have a total of 20 receipts pertaining to service and maintenance of the vehicle, seventeen of which were not from the crest mont dealership. i faxed these seventeen receipts to the attention of service manager joe. the very next day september 18th, joe called me again to let me know me that a field factory representative reviewed these receipts and refused to admit sixteen of them. these receipts were from my personal mechanic to whom i had entrusted the care and service of every car i had. but, because my mechanic failed to specify my car's vin, license plate number, and oil filter part numbers in the receipts, i was out of luck. *tr
05/13/200777365505/10/2002
 I was traveling from ga back to tampa when the message of stop oil pressure, stop motor appeared on the dash. of course i was terrified because this has never happened before. i pulled into a gas station and had a gentleman to check my oil. i knew there was oil because i had an oil change on may 3, 2007. the gentleman stated there was oil and to allow my car to cool. i waited about 30 minutes, the gentleman checked my oil again and it read the same.i preceeded to try to reach to interstate to go home and the light came on again. this time the message was stop, stop motor and check service manual. now i'm really terrified. i pulled into an advance discount auto shop and called my extended warranty and had my car towed from gainesville, fl to tampa (approximately 145 miles). i cost me $227.00. my extended warranty covered $100.00. the full price was $327.00. monday morning i called kuhn vw and was told to bring in my car. i was informed by a lady (who was taking my information) that it was a common problem. a diagnostic was ran ($94.00). i was told that suldge was in my engine and that a further diagnostic needed to be ran which would cost $282.00. to de-sludge the engine wolud cost $2,788.00 plus tax. needless to say, i instructed them to put my car back together. i called my extended warranty and informed them about it and they would not cover it. i have my car at a mechanic who de-sludged my engine for $450.00. the light continued to come on and with further examination it was diagnosed that the oil pump was the problem. the mechanic is trying to fix the oil pump and then will i trade it in for another car. my car is five years old. i bought my car brand new in 2002, from the dealership. i've had all of my services completed by the dealership; except for two. i have all of my receipts. i was not aware of this defect until now and i'm very upset and concerned that a company can put people's life in danger. my car has approximately 77,360 miles.
08/08/20022
 I owned a 2002 vw passat v6 for 2 years. three times within that time during rainstorms, the engine died and all the electrical equipment, including the power brakes , failed. i have just found out that the air intake for the engine is either near a wheel well or behind a headlight, as is apparently common for sporty cars. the water gets sucked into the engine. vw charged me $9000 after the second event, blaming it on pine needles in drainage wells. five days later, i went through a small puddle and it happened again. i sold the car. i think this warrants investigation as a major safety hazard. *nm
07/14/200644000106/22/2002
 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. *jb
03/30/2006552562
 Customer was driving from mississippi when light come on reading stop. customer stopped vehicle. nothing found wrong. drove to south carolina without anymore incident. took vehicle into dealer in columbia, sc when got here to have oil changed, and check out vehicle for light coming on. dealership performed oil change, said they could not duplicate problem. sold customer on replacing both front cv joint boots and repacking bearings. two weeks later light came back on reading stop, oil pressure. turned vehicle off, had towed to dealership. dealer said they were checking car, would have to order new oil pan. called dealer when didn't hear back for several days, told engine had oil sludge, would need to get all receipts for oil changes to get covered under warranty. called three dealerships, all said would fax records. one faxed records, but the service manager that had them was no longer working there when we went to dealership and records were gone. records were faxed from all 3, no oil changes now existed. after talking to vw america, got some oil changes sent, said that was our responsibility to provide. asked dealer what the actual problem was with engine, not sure, but i needed to buy a new or remanufactured one though. i requested to speak to tech who worked on car, he said they found the problem when brought car in for oil change first time, said bearings burned out in engine, when they used the synthetic oil that was now recommended by vw, it would have freed up the sludge in the engine and caused it to clog up the oil pump and the bearing to be burned as they were. i know that customer having problem locating three oil changes from various facilities, 55k mi on car, vw not even considering any assistance in engine replacement. strongly advise against engine repair only replacement, denial of any responsibility on vx part. *nm
03/18/200651000102/23/2002
 I received a letter from volkswagen (vw) of america, dated august 2004, detailing an engine malfunction being reported by some vw owners. the problem is described as oil sludge. as a result the letter states that my warranty on the 2002 vw passat is being extended to 8 years regardless of mileage. it goes onto state that, volkswagen will cover necessary engine repairs if oil sludge causes a malfunction in your engine and you can provide documentation of oil changes according to the maintenance schedule for your vehicle. on march 18, 2006, i was returning from a conference in wisconsin when my engine light and oil lamp appeared on my car. i had my car towed to hatfield vw. i was shocked to find out that vw would not even diagnose the problem until i could produce documentation of oil changes. while my husband was outraged, i was confident that all would be resolved. my husband changes the oil in both our vehicles from products purchased from autozone; however, he did not realize that i began keeping documented records on my computer at home detailing the date and mileage of our oil changes. i began doing this as a result of the august 2002 letter from vw. i soon found out from the hatfield vw service department that my oil change log was not sufficient documentation. i spent the next 2-3 days working with chase bank in order to get my bank statements. i found the purchases to autozone, and each corroborated with the log. i took them to the hatfield regional manager on saturday, march 25, 2006. he felt confident that the matter would be resolved. as soon as we got home, we received a call from the hatfield service manager stating that the documentation was insufficient. the service manager told us we needed itemized receipts. i went to autozone that evening and was able to reproduce the last oil change receipt. i was then informed that i needed a new engine costing $4000-5000.00, yet they had no diagnosis. *jb
03/09/200691000304/04/2002
 My wife purchased a 2002 passat with a 1.8t engine. all was well (except for the very expensive maintenance on this vehicle) up until a couple of weeks ago. my check engine light came on so i took it to the dealer. they told me they were going to clean the throttle body and replace an axle boot. this was a friday morning and i had my car friday night, $512 later. saturday i took the car for inspection and it failed due to emissions. on monday (2 days later) the check engine light came on again. i took it back to the dealer tuesday morning. wednesday i picked it up. belts were changed, including the timing belt, the water pump was changed, and various other repairs not properly explained to me. this time it cost me an additional $1,087.00. so far in less than a week i had spent $1,600.00. thursday morning i drove to work and i called the dealer to report that i still felt a twitch in the engine. he said that was strange and asked me to bring it in. on thursday i was driving to a lunch meeting with a colleague when all of a sudden a loud rattling noise was heard coming from the engine. i immediately pulled over and discovered engine oil all over the ground. i called the dealer who was shocked and had the vehicle towed to the dealer. turns out the engine threw a rod right threw the block and oil pan. basically my engine is toast. coincidence? i have a hard time swallowing that. this is less than one week after i originally took the car in and they worked on it. now i have to spend upwards of $4,000.00 to fix this and no one, not the dealer and certainly now vw, is willing to help me with this. vw totally dismissed me because while the car is only 4 years old it has 91,000 miles. i have kept up with the maintenance and an engine should not throw a rod after 90,000. this is obviously a defect of some kind or something the mechanic at the dealership did to it. *jb
02/13/200653000101/09/2002
 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. *nm
11/26/200562000102/11/2002
 2002 volkswagen passat 1.8t engine failure due to oil sludge at 62,600 miles. . *ak
11/01/200538000206/01/2002
 Dt: the contact stated 10 days ago the vehicle began to smell of oil. the dealer attempted to repair the vehicle, but once the vehicle was returned, the smell was still there. she took the vehicle back to the service dealer for repair. this time the dealer said a gasket was loose. the dealer replaced the gasket, and it seemed to have repaired the problem. *ak
08/27/200580000205/08/2005
 I was driving my 2002 volkswagen passat when my engine light came on. i immediately pulled over. i was in new york at the time so i had the car towed to the nearest vw dealership, which was romano vw in fayetville, ny. i had did some research and found that the vw has a problem with the pollen housing filter. i asked the service manager omar to check the filter, which in return he stated it was fine. the problem was the oil pump, and the computer. i eventually found out that the computer failed do to a water leak on the passenger side of the car, which is where the computer is located. romano vw said there was a water leak but it was not caused by the filter. i have been fighting with vw customer care and they keep denying my claim. i eventually had my car fixed and picked the car up and drove home. once i got home the engine light came on again. i took the car to prestige vw in turnersville, nj and they stated that the problem is cause from the pollen housing filter. vw customer care has still denied my claim. after doing more research it turns out the pollen housing filter is a major issue in the volkswagen, but vw themselves do not agree. *nm
09/02/200541000203/15/2002
 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. *jb
09/01/2005111/24/2001
 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. *jb
08/12/200250100105/04/2002
 On august 12, 2005 i was driving my 2002 passat to work when my oil pressure light came on. i had the car towed to the nearest vw dealer when they told me that my car had oil sludge due to manufacturer error. the car has 50,100 miles and is completely ruined. vw will not replace without all oil receipts. i am missing 2 receipts. i do not understand how a car with 50000 miles on it can ruin so easily.
03/05/20028
 Numberous problems with vehicle. after bumping noise, engine revved, car lurched forward and accelerated to a rapid speed. *bf the mlp light cam on several times. the radio did not work. the radio was repaired and broke again then was replaced. the consumer stated that she found standing water in the car on the back right side under the front seat. the air pollen filter was cracked . filter and carpet was replaced. the back door locks'; return true; onmouseout=window.status=''; return true;>door locks refused to unlock therefore the consumer could not open either back door from inside or out. the vehicle accelerated out of control of the driver and hit a curb at 50 miles an hour. the consumer continued to pump the brakes finally getting the vehicle to stop. the vehicle had 4 flat tires as a result of hitting the curb head on with rims bent as well. the bumper came off. *tc
10/01/20041
 2002 passat volkswagen sludge in engine. *bf the consumer stated she had to have engine repair work done twice on the vehicle. the dealer stated the vehicle required special oil. *jb
08/09/2004106/12/2002
 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. *ak
09/19/2003310/08/2001
 While driving at 40 mph, the vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. without warning then the vehicle stalled. the driver tried to restart the vehicle but was unable to do so. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the engine needed to be replaced. *la the dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor and cleaned the fuel pump relay to resolve the stalling problem. the radio was inoperative due to a short in the wiring. *nm*nm
12/01/20027000107/31/2002
 Nar 3-10-03 with the consumer vehicle having less than 7000 miles, many problems occurred, the front and rear windows froze from the inside, the vehicle began to stall, the ignition coil needed to be replaced, the glove compartment flooded when it rained or snowed, also the carpets and pollen filter were damaged due to the flood. the consumers was very disappointed and suggested that a full refund be given or have volvo to give them a new 2003 passat, equally equipped as the 2002 at the same purchase price. *cb *jb
12/03/20031
 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. *nlm
08/27/20031
 Check engine light appeared on the dashboard while driving about 45 mph on the highway vehicle was inspected by a mechanic, who stated that oil was a quart low. the mechanic added a quart of oil. the light was still on the dashboard. the next day the vehicle had a knocking noise coming from underneath the vehicle. *ak
07/14/20031
 Instrumental panel never provides accurate information on the performing of the engine, engine dies due to running short on oil dealer notified. *ak
05/11/2003011/12/2001
 Since purchasing my 2002 passat in november 2001 it has regularly had problems with the electrical system. the items that have broken have been: stereo (on 3 different occasions, has necessitated 6 trips to dealership), engine failure light gone off 3 times, headlights failed to go on, indicator light stopped functioning, car more often than not fails to turn over without multiple attempts. *nlm
12/01/20021
 Can't get any parts of car warranted since i had filed a complaint with bbb. including no horn, both headlights went out with in 4 days of each other, the engine has erratic shift points especially when cold. the problem is vw says not to let the engine warm up but my engine oil heater is broken. takes about 10 minutes at freeway speed to warm up. and the supposed abs are not really abs brakes when emergency braking from 75 mph. and many little interior mechanical issues.*jb
02/03/2002600001
 The vehicle stalled without warning.*jb
01/06/200316800005/15/2002
 Three out of four ignition coils in my 2002 vw passat have failed. vw states that this is not a major problem. i believe it is a major problem because when the first two went i was driving the car on route 128 and had to get over to the side of the road to stop because of the extreme decrease in power. we waited two weeks to get the car back and the third coil went less than 48 hours later. i now have one more coil to go bad and i find that i no longer drive my vw because of that. i fear that my 60 mile a day commute into work will find me on the side of the mass turnpike instead of driving on it. there seems to be quite the number of vw & audi motor vehcile that are having this problem but vw deems it not to be of importance for the the peace of mind of their car owners. i will now need to wait for this coil to fail before vw will finally replace the defective coil still residing in my car.
01/27/2003
 I had purchased 2002 vw passatt in june 2002 (4 cylinder). during the past 6 month i had to change all four coils which means my car was out for repairs every 6 weeks during the 6 month time span. appearantly volkswagen passatts are known for their bad coils. about 90% of cars have this type of problem! there should be a total recall!! the dealrships are sending customers back on to the road with a potentially serious and dangerous problems. i have a child and i'm afraid to drive in the car with my child in it. i'm afraid to leave town, to drive on a highway or at night. the car is mechanically unreliable. i have purchased a product that i can't use without risk. customers are not informed about the coil problem when they purchase these vehicles. people are being scammed! and vw manufacturers are not doing anything about the problem! a 6 mo old car should not be in a repair shop every 6 weeks for the same problem!i don't feel safe in this car! passatt is a time bomb!
12/27/2002700005/11/2002
 Driving on expressway. auto lost power and started shaking. luckily i was able to get over to shoulder of road. dealer stated it was ignition coil failure. the car was in the shop for 26 days waitnig for parts because of the ignition coil problem with the passat.
01/22/200319831308/31/2001
 Injection coil failure on 1.8t engine-vw passat 2002. we have had 3 failures spanning 16 months. car was purchased 8/01. injection coil at cylinder #2 occurred on 1/02, 7/02,1/03 every 7000 miles. we went back to the dealer and the manager has confirmed that this is a known problem with the 4 cylinder engines but won't take the car back. we are actually lucky because we only have problems with one coil. other drivers have had multiple coil failures. when i spoke to the tow truck driver on 1/03, he mentioned that he's had about 100 audi a4's ( same engine as the vw 1.8t) recently( we've had a cold spell in chicago for the last 2 weeks). they all have the same problem. the engine light goes on while driving. the car idles roughly and it dosen't go. the cars are in for repeated injection coil replacements but they still keep failing. this has been a frustrating experience. there should be a recall with this situation because it involves both the audi and vw cars with 1.8t engines. a4's, beetles,jettas, and passats!
01/02/20031000005/15/2002
 Coil problem with my 2002 passat. the car has 10,000 miles and was in the shop for 3 weeks. vw replaced 1 coil, but there is a strong possiblility that the other 3 will go, too. vw needs to do a recall since the car loses acceleration when the coil goes.
12/07/200208/16/2001
 My 2002 volkswagen passat has an ignition coil problem that causes it to misfire and lose power. the car was in a vw service center for more than 2 weeks. after receiving the car back from the dealer the problem has exhibited itself again. vw can't guarantee the problem will be permanently fixed. ts
12/02/20021
 The engine light would contiue to flash every time the vehicle was started. dealer was not notified. please provied further information.*jb
10/01/20021
 Consumer stated that his vehicle is firing off the cylinder,causing the qual pack to leak. *nlm
01/07/20031
 Customer states that while driving at any speed the vehicle will stall without warning making it hard for the driver to control the vehicle, the dealer has been notified. *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
02/09/200861000103/28/2002
 Last saturday (feb.9, 2008) around 11:00am, while i was picking up my two daughters from ballet school (boston ballet, 19 clarendon street, boston), the check engine lamp started to blink and i could feel my car (2002 passat wagon, all wheel drive) was a little bit shaking. as the car manual says, i drove in low power to the closest volkswagen dealership (boston volkswagen, 168 western avenue, allston). while i was driving to the dealership, i saw some smoke coming out from the front hood (right front side). we (my daughters, my wife, and myself) got the dealership around 11:30am. a sales consultant (michael petersante) and another person there saw my car, and said that my car possibly would catch on fire. we evacuated from the car, they moved all the cars around my car to the other place. the dealer called for a fire department. before the fire department came in, while i was looking at my car from the inside of the dealership building, i could see the flame coming out above the right front wheel in the car (somewhere the engine is located) and smoke filling up inside of my car. the fire department (boston fire-engine 41, ladder 14, unit d11) came and put out the fire. a police officer (boston police district 14, 301 washington street, brighton) came after the fire was extinguished (arrived at 11:53am), and checked out the scene and had my car, whose front part (engine compartment) was all broken and crushed while the wire was put out, be towed. it was hard to believe that a 5-6 years old car caught on fire while i was driving and in just 30 minutes reached to such situation. fortunately, we were close to the dealership and were able to get there before the worst thing happens. and again, very fortunately, my family was able to get away to the safe place before the worst thing happens. but if it happened 10 minutes earlier or if it took 10 minutes longer than actually it did to get there, things that i don
02/21/200513000412/11/2002
 Vw passat 2002. malfunction indicator light indicating problem with engine. returned to dealership for repair. lease about to expire, brought in (3) prior times.. 2/21 towed to nearest dealer, being told don't know what is wrong, needs all oil change receipts, needs permission from manufacturer to ok repair under warranty. warranty is extended for 8 years in writing. manufacture blames dealer, dealer blames customer. car is a lemon. see article autoweek 2/7/2005 and prior articles. customers are well aware there is an engine problem and now causing oil sludge related problems. absolutely outrageous. since 2002 until now, payments being made for a defective car due to faulty engineering! and now the customers must pay for it! no way. *nm
08/18/200329000112/20/2001
 Oil pan failed or was damaged by outside influence resulting in severe oil loss and risk of fire. oil pan is constructed with a thin sheet of aluminum and is protected by a simple sheet of plastic.*ak
10/01/2002205/01/2002
 No summary. dt
11/16/2002211/01/2001
 Coil pack failure on new car with only 11k miles. driving at 50 mph with 6month old child, left with little power has cylinders misfiring. requested that all 4 be replaced. vw denied request. got car back after 12 days at dealership (12/1/02). 2 days later, (70 miles later) same problem. car returned to on dec 3rd. vw has not issued recall. safety issue!! being on boston highways with other drivers bearing down on you at 70 mph and you lose this type of power. not to mention the other possible scenarios of being standed. go to vwvortex forum. many other owners having the same problem. dt
11/18/2002103/01/2002
 The replacement ignition coil is on back order. the car has been sitting idle for 1 week. it is unknown when the replacement part will arrive possibly a week or two. this is not an isolated incident as i was told by the technician at the vw service department (new motors, erie pa) that 5 other cars were sitting waiting for a new ignition coil. this is also evidenced by the fact that i have to wait 2 weeks or more for the part to arrive. dt
10/10/2002304/01/2002
 No summary. dt
09/15/20021
 Consumer states that the vehicle would intermittently loses accelertion while driving in low gear. vehicle been to the dealer on two occasion and they are unable to locate the problem. feel free to provide any further information. *mr
04/10/20024
 Engine check light comes on and stayes on or flickeres on and off, indicating an engine problem, the component was reset on 4 occasions but the problem reoccurs. *ak *nlm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - TURBO-CHARGER
11/07/200649333507/25/2003
 My car started making horrible noises in the engine so i stopped driving it and had it towed to the vw dealership. i was told that my turbo would need replacing at a cost of $5600. the dealership wouldn't honor my warranty because i couldn't produce every receipt from my oil changes-i had lived in 3 states since i got the car. however, i complained enough that they told me they would only charge me $3200 to fix the car and would give me a good trade in on another vw. i have decided one vw is enough of a problem and i didn't need another car with the same problems and lack of service from the company. i felt vw left me without any choice other than to pay the money so i could have a car and they definitely didn't stand by there product. is there anything i can do? *jb
12/09/2005430001
 I went to turn on 2002 passat volkswagen a couple days ago and a flashing stop came on. i called my dealer after checking the manual and they said it sounded like a problem with the oil pick up tube and for me not to turn my car back on because it could ruin the engine. so i had my car towed to the dealer and they informed me that it is only under warranty if i can supply them with every receipt from owning the car. i have misplaced two so now they will not cover this and is costing me around $950.00 to get this fixed. i have always changed my oil on time. this seems to be there way of screwing there so called valued customers. i was on a web site (myvwlemon.com) and found numerous of passat owners with this exact problem and out come. why is the consumer responsible for a poorly designed engine? the heat of the 1.8l turbo is breaking the oil down creating sludge. they obviously know of this problem because they issued a warranty extension. however, vw of america will only cover the warranty if the owner can provide every single receipt, something they know that very few people can do especially if some change their own oil. this is just one of the problems that i have dealt with since i bought by passat brand new. checking the website also tells me this may not be the last of my problems. *jb
02/08/20053800005/15/2002
 I had to have my engine replaced by vw and my car still isn't right. i bought my car in germany not the us. but it is registered with vwoa i feel like they sold me a defective product. they would not even consider listening to my complaints on the oil sludge problem. this cost me $7000.00 to replace my whole engine and time missed from work. (lost income) what can be done?
02/22/2005105/01/2002
 This is the email i sent to volkswagen of america. we had to slow down on the interstate to look for an exit because of the warning light coming on. i felt in great danger at the time. i am 58 years old and have purchased a number of new automobiles in my life. never have i had such a terrible experience. i have a passat parked because the oil light is warning me i was sold a defective motor. this has been a horrific experience. i am making automobile payments to volkswagen credit even though i am afraid to start the engine. i was sent a letter stating the car was defective but i would need each and every oil change receipt for volkswagen to address your faulty engine. this is ludicrous. i take excellent care of my automobiles and thus realize good trade in value. i will be stating the facts of my experience with this volkswagen purchase via the internet, automobile magazines, the greater dallas chamber of commerce, the better business bureau and will purchase one quarter page ads in the dallas morning news and the new york times. this automobile has a manufacturer's defect and should just be recalled by volkswagen. i will be on a campaign until eternity and will solicit other volkswagen owners across the world to join me. this is the worse automobile buying experience i can imagine. louis mcelroy director the greater dallas chamber. *ak
04/17/200421000104/18/2002
 Engine seized due to defect in turbo/oil pump; vw dealer stated due to improper maintenance (not enough oil changes); vw usa said due to defective oil pump, but still won't cover under warranty; engine replaced; cause found to be defective turbo. *ak
11/30/200355224509/10/2001
 My volkswagen 2002 passat has been having problems with the oil pump for sometime now. deel vw has not honor the warranty and i have had to pay for the repairs. i have also complaint to vw of america and my complaint has been ignored. deel vw and vw of america has always pass on the problem on me (the consumer), instead of taking responsibility upon themselves for a lemon. i have showed maintenance proof several times; on the vw 2002 passat and they always blame someone else. the car was also recall; for ignition coil problem. this condition may also effect the emissions of the vehicle. the problem has been repair; but i have absolutely no trust on deel vw and vw of america! the car is back in the dealer; for problems with the turbo and they wont honor the warranty on that ether. the cost to replace the turbo is 3089.00; bringing the total cost of the repairs to $8,536.80 out of pocket; not including the car rentals&that they refuse to pay also. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - OTHER FUEL TYPES - TURBO-CHARGER
5000311/01/2002
 The spark plugs/ignition coil has a manufactures defect. both components causes the vehicle to lose power with no warning. ph
12/24/2002200003
 The ignition coil has has had to be replaced three times in my 2002 passat. vw knows about the problem but due a shortage of parts, they will only fix them on a needed basis. ts
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
01/06/2011121791
 Emission related issues, secondary air pump and combi valve for 2002 volkswagen passat. they are installed in a spot where they are exposed to moisture resulting in a failure.
07/02/2009680001
 Heat shield was replaced in a recall during the summer of 2008. a couple days after the repair we complained of a fire smell, returned the vehicle to the local dealer. at the time they said they replaced the heat shield again and the smell would eventually go away. a year later, the we experienced an engine compartment fire. the car was towed to the dealer that did the recall work. after inspection they admitted to us that the recall work was performed, however the heat shield was installed incorrectly, which caused it to catch fire. they explained that the instructions they were supplied by vw were unclear. they also admitted that they have no way of knowing how many heat shields were installed incorrectly at their dealership before they received the corrected or more clear installation instructions. i am concerned that there may have been many more dealerships with the same problem. if nothing else, the local dealership should be ordered to send out a letter notifying their recall customers of the potential problem. *tr
05/02/20041
 Owner started up engine of volkswagen, ran back inside house to get wallet. came back 2-3 minutes later and saw smoke and flames from center of dashboard area. called 911 and ran back inside to shut windows because smoke was coming into the house. radio had not been working for several weeks prior to the fire incident. within one week prior to the fire incident, the digital readout in the climate control panel flashed and looked scrambled. vehicle burned throughout passenger compartment, scorching to underside of front floor and transaxle near exhaust system. *nm
01/12/200212/01/2001
 Purchased car in late dec, 2001. have taken car in for repair on 1/12/02 and 1/16/02 for it emitting excess, raw fuel through exhaust system. have been waiting 7.5 weeks for the repair to be made. was told by service manager that they're having same problem. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
07/26/2002500301/01/2002
 Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact stated that her vehicle was a lemon when she purchased it in 2002. water enters the vehicle from the sun roof whenever it rains. she received a recall notice, but the vehicle was not repaired according to the recall. the vehicle was taken to the dealer more than fifteen times, but it has never been repaired. the failure mileage was 500 miles. updated 8/24/09 *cn the consumer was told the water leak was coming from the after market speaker. the headlight tail light and fog light bulbs were replaced. the check engine light illuminated and the coolant bottle had a hairline crack. the heat in the vehicle was not working properly. the technician discovered the heater core had a blockage. the water pump was leaking. both outer cv boots were replaced. there was a large evap leak at the purge valve which was replaced. the cruise control light was on. the right side valve cover gasket was leaking oil and the alternator was replaced. updated 08/26/09. *jb
09/19/200640000108/31/2001
 I had the check engine light on and took it to the dealer. he said there was problem with combi valve, vacuum hose and secondary air pump which costs a total of >1200$ in total. luckily, i had the extended warranty and i have to pay 700$. the car is 2002 vw passat gls (1.8) and have only 40k on it. this is the second major repair and the previous one was some kind of cv joint issue. all this problems seems to be a common problem for all passat owners and i wonder why there is not even a recall for this. may be they know this problem and want people to go and pay money. one thing is sure. this will be my first and last vw. i don't recommend any one to buy vw, but better buy cheap japanese cars like mitsubhishi which runs for years and years without any problem. *jb
01/24/200528897310/20/2001
 While driving at any speed vehicle stalled. vehicle was taken to the dealer on two occasions, and dealer replaced the mass air sensors, but problem recurred. *ak
01/04/200229850208/09/2001
 First my car floods from a rainstorm; the sunroof had a drain leak then the coils on my catalytic converter/engine broke, my car was not driveable, and had to be towed. today the other two coils went and my car had to be towed again. why couldn't the four coils be replaced at the same time? my car is a vw passat wagon 2002. ts
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
12/01/2007107/18/2006
 2002 volkswagen passat has engine problems. *nj the consumer stated the vehicle has not been driven in a year and a half due to the oil sludge and misfiring problems. the catalytic converter failed and the spark plugs and coil packs were constantly being replaced. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CRANKCASE (PCV)
12/11/200221511508/20/2001
 The ignition coil continued to break which caused vehicle to lose power while driving. the dealer was notified. *jb the left front headlight had burned out, and the left speaker had gone out. the ignition coil was replaced and the mechanic reprogrammed the ecu in order to correct the misfires. *scc
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
03/24/200741926107/08/2005
 Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passsat wagon gls with a failure mileage of 41,926 . the contact stated that when she tried to start the vehicle it would not start. she noticed white smoke coming from the tail pipe, and some fluid squirting from the brake hose. the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and the contact was informed that there was water in the engine. also, the dealer determined that the brake booster had condensation build up which was getting into the intake manifold. the manufacturer stated it was an environmental issue due to the climate in which she lived. the current mileage was 42,400.*ak
03/14/2005585001
 The engine check light came on, and then smoke started coming out of the tail pipe. consumer later had the vehicle towed to the dealer, and they found out that there was oil sludge in the engine. the dealer asked for maintenance record. dealer told the consumer they would not provide service until all receipts were provided, showing oil changes.*ak