2000 Volkswagen Passat Electrical Problems

PROBLEMAS ELCTRICOS

IN APPROXIMATELY JULY OF 2014 MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STARTED EXPERIENCING ON AND OFF AGAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE FIRING. I HAD RECENTLY RETIRED AND WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR DAILY, AND SO I WAS UNABLE TO ASSOCIATE THE PROBLEM WITH ANY RECENT DRIVING EVENT. HOWEVER, ONE MORNING WHEN THE HESITATION WAS VERY PRONOUNCED I POPPED THE HOOD TO HAVE A LOOK. WATER WAS STANDING ALMOST LEVEL WITH THE TOP OF THE BATTERY IN THE AREA HOUSING THAT PART. I USED MY INDOOR/OUTDOOR VACUUM TO PUMP OUT AS MUCH WATER AS POSSIBLE. WHEN I THOUGHT THE AREA WAS THOROUGHLY DRIED OUT I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. HE DIDN'T TAKE LONG TO DETERMINE THAT DRAINAGE HOLES ON BOTH SIDES UNDER THE HOOD WERE CLOGGED. HE WAS ABLE TO UNCLOG THE HOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IMMEDIATELY, BUT THE HOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS LOCATED BENEATH PARTS THAT HAVE TO BE MOVED FOR ACCESS. I RECALLED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS WHEN I WAS CERTAIN I WAS HEARING THE SOUND OF WATER SLOSHING AROUND UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD ASKED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AT TIME OF SERVICE FOR THE SOUND TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THE SAME THING: THERE WAS NOTHING TO EXPLAIN THE SOUND I WAS HEARING. I NOW BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS I'VE OWNED THE CAR, AND MIGHT HAVE IMPACTED MORE THAN JUST THE BATTERY AT ANY TIME. I THOUGHT THERE SHOULD BE MORE THAN ONE REPORT OF THIS PROBLEM ON FILE.

MY HUSBAND PICKUP WOULD NOT START, SO I LIFT MY HOOD OF MY PASSAT TO GIVE HIM A JUMP AND THE WHOLE SECTION ALL THE WAY ACROSS THAT HOLDS THE BATTERY HAVE AT LEAST 6 INCHES OF WATER JUST STANDING IN THERE. WE HAVE HAD SOME DOWN POURS OF RAIN,BUT RAIN WATER SHOULD NEVER BE STANDING ON THE INSIDE OF MY HOOD. THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY KILLED ME IF I NEVER HAD TO LIFT MY HOOD AND TRY TO DRIVE THIS WITH WATER STANDING AROUND ALL OF MY ELECTRICAL WIRES AND BATTERY. I HAVE TAKEN TWO PICTURES FOR VISIBILITY, BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO GET THAT WATER OUT WITHOUT ELECTROCUTING MYSELF. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME.

A RAINY NIGHT, 10:30 PM., ON THE FREEWAY RETURNING HOME FROM A SYMPHONY CONCERT, THE ENGINE SIMPLY QUIT. I, HUSBAND/DRIVER, TRIED THREE TIME TO RESTART IT BEFORE YELLING TO MY WIFE TO TURN ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS WHICH SHE DID. AS WE SLOWED, I REMEMBER SEEING ALL ICONS ON DASH BLINKING. BOTH OF US WERE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND DO NOT REMEMBER BEING HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. INJURIES SUSTAINED: A CONTUSION AND MINOR WHIPLASH BY HUSBAND; FRACTURED C-7 AND T-1 VERTEBRATES AND CONCUSSION BY MY WIFE. SHE HAS BEEN IN A NECK-TO-WAIST BRACE FROM NOV. 10, 2013 UNTIL PRESENT. WE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR PASSAT SCRUPULOUSLY ACCORDING TO VW STANDARDS AT THEIR SERVICE CENTERS BY THEIR TRAINED MECHANICS. ONE MONTH EARLIER WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT SOMEPLACE. TWICE HAD TO WAIT FOR AAA TOWING. AAA ABLE TO START IT RIGHT UP AS THOUGH NOTHING WAS WRONG. VW RAN "FAULT CODES" BUT FOUND NO PROBLEM.WE BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY AT VW'S SUGGESTION. SOMETHING WENT HORRIBLY WRONG WITH OUR CAR INSPITE OF OUR RESPONSIBLE MAINTENANCE. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. WE WISH TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER CASES LIKE OURS. AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WANT OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER. I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS REPORT. *TR

MY 2000 VW PASSAT GLS WAGON BEGAN EXHIBITING A FLASHING/BEEPING RED BRAKE LIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY A SOLID YELLOW ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO INDICATE A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. ALSO AT THIS TIME THE INFORMATION HUD HAS "STOP, BRAKE FAULT, SERVICE MANUAL" FLASHING. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS FAILURE IS FAIRLY COMMON ON 1998-2001 PASSATS, BUT NO ACTION HAS EVER BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. I INTEND TO HAVE THE ABS MODULE REBUILT AND DO THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION WORK MYSELF; THE RESULT SHOULD BE AROUND $220 OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT DEALERSHIP SERVICE WORK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE SPENT WELL IN EXCESS OF $1,000. GIVEN THE APPARENT FAILURE RATE OF THIS MODULE AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A CORE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL (INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE THE REPAIR). THANK YOU. *TR

WHEN MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM THERE IS A SCREEN THAT WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS WRONG. WHEN IT GETS MORE THAN 65 DEGREES OUTSIDE THE SCREEN QUITS WORKING, IT GOES BLANK. FIRST TIME I HAD PROBLEMS MY CAR WAS OVER HEATING, IT WAS BEEPING AT ME. I COULDN'T MAKE OUT WHAT IT WAS SAYING ON THE SCREEN. I HAD TO PULL OVER CUFF MY HANDS AROUND THE SCREEN TO SEE STOP OVER HEATING. I LOOKED AT MY DASH SAW THAT IT WAS OVER HEATING. THAT HAPPENED TWICE OFF AN ON WITH IN A FEW WEEKS. MY DAD AN I FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH OVER HEATING. ANOTHER TIME WAS JUST RECENT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AN ONCE AGAIN COULDN'T READ THE SCREEN. I CUFFED MY HANDS AN WAS ABLE TO SEE EMISSION CHECK. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME BUT WHEN MY CAR OVER HEATED I USED GOOGLE TO SEARCH THIS SCREEN PROBLEM. TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS ON RECALL OR ANYTHING,THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE.THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM I THINK VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD PAY THE $400 IT TAKES TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS THEIR PRODUCT THAT IS DEFECTED! WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR PROBLEM, SOME POINT THE LACK OF THIS WORKING COULD HURT SOMEONE. I'M WRITING TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

ONE OF THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOWS INTO FELL INTO THE DOOR RANDOM ON DAY, HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATOR. EVENTUALLY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND DRIVER REAR WINDOW ALSO BECAME DEFECTIVE, FALLING INTO THE DOOR AND THEIR REGULATORS HAD TO BE REPLACE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED, CLEARLY THIS IS A DEFECT VW NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF AS MANY OTHERS WITH SAME CAR ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD TODAY 8/9/10 IN MY 2000 V W PASSAT AND MY CAR STARTED SMOKING THROUGH THE VENTS. NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE SMOKE. FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD TOTALLY ENGULFING THE ENTIRE CAR WITHIN MINUTES RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS EVENT. *TR

2000 VW PASSAT ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS ON. PROBABLY BAD ABS MODULE. *TR

MY 2000 VW PASSAT WAS PARKED FOR APPROX. 45 MINUTES THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ONLY "PROBLEM" I HAD WITH THE VEHICLE WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LOCK IT WITH THE ELECTRONIC KEY IT WOULD NOT "BEEP". I MOVED CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE TWO TIMES AND ONLY THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS FAINTLY FLICKERED. NO BEEP. OTHER THAN THAT THERE WERE NOT PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND BROKE OUT THE WINDOWS. TIRES AND ENGINE MELTED. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND. *TR

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. INTERMITTENT BUT OFTEN. SEEMS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY ISSUE IN VW PASSAT. *TR

1. I HAVE A 2000 VW PASSAT AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE 2000 WITHOUT ISSUES. 2. IN MARCH 2004, SOON AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND DIDN'T TURN OFF. 3. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE AND REPLACED IT FOR $1500. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULES. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DO GET A LOT OF THEM BUT VW HASN'T YET ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE PART. I ALSO CALLED VW AND THEY DECLINED TO COVER THE PART. I'VE RECENTLY LOOKED INTO THIS AND APPEARS THAT IT'S HAPPENING TO MORE AND MORE PASSATS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE ALARM IN HER VEHICLE WOULD GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. SHE HAD TO UNPLUG THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO SHUT OFF THE ALARM. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE DOORS OR THE WINDOWS GOING UP AND DOWN. THE ONLY WINDOW SHE COULD CONTROL WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THERE WAS ALSO APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES OF WATER UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS COLLECTIVE RAIN WATER THAT DID NOT DRAIN, BUT RATHER ESCAPED INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $4,000. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM WHY IT WOULD COST SO MUCH FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT'S CASE WAS FILED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SHE ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUES WERE COMMON AMONG VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES, A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP STATING: STOP! BRAKE FAILURE. SEE SERVICE MANUAL. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I IMMEDIATELY HAD MY BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR THE ABS. ACCORDING TO VW IT IS A ABS CENTRAL MODULE FAILURE. REPLACING IT WILL COST OVER $1000. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT VW SHOULD CORRECT. IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT VW IS ALLOWED TO SCARE ITS CUSTOMERS INTO THINKING THEY ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF BRAKE FAILURE JUST TO GET THEM TO CORRECT AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT. CHECKING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2000 PASSAT. *TR

MY 2000 VW PASSAT CAUGHT ON FIRE DEC 28, 2007. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY DEALER FOR SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. THE FINAL COST TO REPAIR (IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED) IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. I FIND IT VERY PERTURBING TO FIND OUT THAT VW KNEW OF THESE (COIL) DEFECTS YET DID NOTHING TO INFORM OWNERS. I HAD TWO SMALL CHILDREN AGES 2 AND 4 IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. FORTUNATELY, MY QUICK INSTINCTS PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH LIMITED ENGINE DAMAGE AND WITHOUT CASUALTIES. *TR

FAX FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH HER VW PASSAT. *KB IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHE WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 8-10 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES LATER HE NOTICED FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE IS A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OPEN FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH (NHTSA ACTION # PE07024). THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE GARAGE WHERE THE CAR IS SERVICED INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIND A CAUSE OTHER THAN IT MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL. THE CAR IS A COMPLETE LOSS. *NM

I OWN A 2000 V6 PASSAT, WHICH I HAVE SERVICED REGULARLY AT A VW DEALERSHIP. ON MARCH 25, 2005, THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A 60K MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK ON MY PASSAT. THIS SERVICE INCLUDED A CHECK OF MY ORIGINAL VW BATTERY. THE BATTERY READOUTS INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE. ON MAY 13, 2005 (MILEAGE 61336), MY BATTERY COMPLETELY EXPLODED LIKE A BOMB WHEN I WENT TO RESTART MY CAR AFTER REFUELING AT A PETROL STATION. I CONTACTED VW USA AND THEY NOT ONLY DID NOT CARE ABOUT THE SITUATION BUT DID NOT SEE THAT ANY RESULTING DAMAGE SHOULD BE COVERED BY THEM. ULTIMATELY, I PAID FOR THE NEW BATTERY, MY INSURANCE CARRIER COVERED WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT AND MY VW DEALERSHIP COVERED THE REMAINING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. MY DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT I WAS THE 2ND CUSTOMER TO EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR DEALERSHIP.

THE ABS MODULE HAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FAILURE. THE WARNING LIGHT AND BEEPER CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED. THE BRAKES ARE OK BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUE TO ACTIVATE SPORADICALLY. *JB

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE 5 TO 10 MINUTES CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE, THEN FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE FIRE CONSUMED THE VEHICLE,IT WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED. *AK

2000 VW PASSAT- WHEN YOU TRY TO LOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IT WILL NOT LOCK WITH THE DOOR CONTROL UNLESS YOU OPEN ALL THE DOORS AND THEN PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON. THIS DOES NOT CONCERN ME AS MUCH AS WHEN YOU PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND CLOSE IT BEIND YOU. THE DOOR WILL LOCK YOU IN AND THE PANIC ALARM STARTS GOING OFF. IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE KEY IT WILL LOCK YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND WILL SET THE PANIC ALARM OFF.

DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP. GAUGE CAUSING TO REPLACE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *AK

I WAS DIRIVNG THE CAR WHEN SMOKE STARTED ENTERING THE CABIN AREA. PULLED OVER, AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGLUFED IN SMOKE. HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WAS NO FLAMES, BUT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO USE A HOSE TO KILL THE SMOKE. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN TALLAHASSEE INDICATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR "MALFUNCTIONED". I'D LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOW A MALFUCNTION INT HE ALTERNATOR COULD CAUSE A NEAR FIRE HAZARD, AND IF IT WAS A MALFUCNTION -- WHAT CAUSED IT, AND A BULLETIN POSTED AS TO HOW TO AVOID IT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER AS THE CAR WAS PARACTICALLY IN FLAMES.*AK

FIRE: 2000 VW PASSAT GL - SEDAN/V6. SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 HOURS. FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON RIGHT SIDE AND DESTROYED MAJOR COMPONENTS. FIRE WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL FUEL LINE BREACHED AT WHICH TIME FIRE CONSUMED VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY INSURANCE COMPANY INDICATED FAILURE OF AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT, HOWEVER EXACT CAUSE REMAINS UNDETERMINED.*AK

THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND CONTINUED DURING THE ENTIRE TIME THE ENGINE WAS ON. IT SEEMED TO START AT EVERY IGNITION ACTIVATION, THE PROBLEMS DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE DRIVING OR IDLE. IT HAPPENED EVERY TIME I AM READY TO GO TO WORK!! I TOOK THE CAR THREE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHILE WARRANTY WAS STILL GOOD - THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN ALL THREE TIMES. THE MAIN INDICATOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE "ENGINE SYMBOL W/THE VOLT" SYMBOL THAT GOES ON IN THE DASHBOARD. THE FOURTH TIME IT HAPPENED (PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD, NOW), IT WENT AWAY WHILE THE DEALER WAS CHECKING IT OUT. AGAIN THE MECHANICS COULD NOT DETECT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ON JULY 11, AS I WAS COMING HOME THE PROBLEM AGAIN SHOWED UP. THIS TIME THE DEALER CHANGED AN ENGINE PART "COIL" AND SAID THAT THE COIL WAS THE PROBLEM AND THESE PASSAT CARS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. I AM REALLY MAD BECAUSE I DID NOT EXPECT THE ADDED EXPENSE $620 TOTAL, THE TIME LOST, THE INCONVENIENCE, AND THE LACK OF RESPECT BY THE DEALERS (THESE GUYS BEHAVE AS IF THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR, I AM PAYING DEARLY BY CHOOSING WV BRAND). *JB

I OWNED A 2000 VW PASSAT. MY CAR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES UPON ACCELERATION DURING PASSING OR ACCELERATING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY. I HAD IT INTO THE SHOP AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES. THE VW REP INSINUATED THAT I WAS DOING SOMETHING TO THE VEHICLE. THEY FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO TRADE FOR A 2003. THERE IS NOW A RECALL ON THE IGNITION COIL STARTING WITH 2001. I THINK YOU HAD BETTER INCLUDE 2000 ON THAT RECALL. *NLM

INTERMITTENTLY CAR WILL NOT START. USUALLY I CAN MANEUVER THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER FROM THE PARK POSITION DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS, (NEUTRAL, DRIVE, ETC...) THEN BACK TO THE PARK POSITION & THEN THE CAR WILL START. VW DEALER IS UNABLE TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM BUT OFFERED TO REPLACE A PART FOR A FEE OF $400.00 BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. *JB

THIS IS REGARDING A 2000 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS AN "ACTION PLAN" BY VOLKSWAGEN FOR 2001 AND NEWER PASSATS FOR COIL WIRES. I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD INCLUDE THE 2000 AS WELL. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO COIL FAILURES. UNLIKE CARS WHICH ARE COVERED BY THE RECALL I HAVE TO GET THEM REPLACED AS THEY FAIL. I BELIEVE VW IS JUST TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY NOT INCLUDING THE 2000 CARS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE IGNITION COIL BROKE CAUSING LOST OF ACCELERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NAR 1/15/2003. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AT A LOW MILEAGE. THE FIRST SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WHICH HAD COME ON AND DID SO SPORADICALLY. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WHICH BEGAN MOVING ERRATICALLY, TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALL. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE IGNITION. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND AFTER PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC THERE WAS A READING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER. AS OF NOW THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. IN THE OWNER MANUAL IT STATES WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON DON'T DRIVE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEIRS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH COIL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALERSHIP. TS

BRAKE ASSEMBLY SWITCH WAS FAULTY WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO BE SWITCHED OUT OF PARK. COST TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $150.00. CAR HAD 18,032 MILES AND WAS 28 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASED CAR NEW. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DID NOT COVER WORK UNDER WARRANTY. PER WWW.NEWBEETLE.ORG FORM, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER FAULTY SWITCHES. MR

ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR AND TRUNK LID HAVE A DASH LIGHT AND CHIME INDICATOR TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THAT THESE DOORS ARE OPEN, ON ONE OCCASION THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WAS ON, ONLY THEN DID THE DRIVER REALIZED THAT A REAR DOOR WAS AJAR, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NLM

CONSUMER STATED ON 2 OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

ECU FAILURE: (5K MILES) ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, ENGINE COMPUTER LIGHT LIT, ATTEMPED TO START USING 3 DIFFERENT POWER SOURCES (DEALER, TOW, ANOTHER CAR) FAILED - BATTERY FINE. ENGINE COMPUTER WAS RESET AFTER TEST INDICATED FAULTY COMPUTER SETTINGS. ERROR 2: (14K MILES) ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIGHT LIT. DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ENGINE COMPUTER, REPLACED COMPUTER. ERROR 3: 20 MILES AFTER PICKING CAR UP FROM DEALER, ENGINE DISPLAYED "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" MESSAGE, MIL LIT AGAIN. RETURNED TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED ECU A SECOND TIME. DEALER ALSO REPLACES MAF (MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR). THIS SEEMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ECU PROBLEMS... FOR NOW? ERROR 3: (15K MILES) PASSENGER POWER WINDOW FAILED WITH LOUD "POP" DEALER REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR, STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT VW WAS WORKING ON A MORE ROBUST WINDOW DESIGN -- WILL FUTURE FAILURE BE REPLACED BY VW AFTER WARRENTEE PERIOD? ERROR 4: CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED, REPLACED BY DEALER.

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL NOT START UP. DEALER HAS REPAIRED AND REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK