2001 Volkswagen Passat Fuel System Problems

STARTED SMELLING GAS AND MILEAGE STARTED DROPPI G BAD AROUND THE END OF NOVEMBER. WE SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THE GAS TANK AND FUEL LINES FOR 01 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT FOR THIS VIN # WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY SONS CAR. NOW ITS AT THE SHOP BECAUSE ITS GAS MILEAGE WENT WAY DOWN AND AND SMELLS LIKE GAS AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS DRIVING A BOMB BASICALLY. IT COULD BE AROUND $1000 TO FIX IT. NONE OF US HAVE THAT KIND OF $ AND HES STILL HAS $800 LEFT OWEING ON IT. HELP

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS HAD AN R5 RECALL FOR FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK, AND A HEAT SHIELD. THE HARD (LOW PRESSURE FUEL RETURN?) LINE, THE MIDDLE ONE OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET ATOP THE FIREWALL, HAS FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. IT NOW SPRAYS GASOLINE DIRECTLY DOWN ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HEAT SHIELD. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE IN THE SAME EXACT POINT THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD. THIS PART IS DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND DESTROYED MY CAR. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO FIX IT. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE AND MY LOCAL DEALER, BOTH TOLD ME THAT ONCE THE RECALL IS CLOSED ON MY VEHICLE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY'LL DO. THEY WANTED ME TO TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PAY $135 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC UNTIL I SHOWED THEM A VIDEO OF THE FUEL LINE UNDER PRESSURE SPRAYING EVERYWHERE.

I NOTICE THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM MY VW PASSAT 2001'S FUEL TANK. I FILL OUT THIS COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO SEEK A HELP FROM AUTHORITIES ON THESE MATTERS AND ALSO KNOWING IF MY ISSUES CAN BE HANDLED BY VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA. *TR

2001 PASSAT 1.8T MANUAL TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED FUEL LEAK ON THE FIREWALL ATTACHMENT AREA, ON THE MIDDLE LINE DIRECTLY OVER CATALYTIC CONVERTER; CAR COMPARTMENT SMELLED HEAVILY OF GASOLINE. STOPPING CAR AND INSPECTING THE FUEL LINE SHOWED THE CRACK. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND WAS VERY LUCKY IN THIS CASE NOT TO HAVE CAR ON FIRE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS AS THERE SEEMS TO BE RELATED RECALLS FROM VW ON THIS ISSUE. I'M SCARED TO HAVE KIDS ON BOARD THE PASSAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MORE FUEL THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FAILURE IN THE FUEL TANK LEVEL SENDING UNITS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V157000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,370.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE WOULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. HE THEN INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FUEL LEAK. HE LATER DISCOVERED A TRAIL OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 198,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRACTURE OCCURRED WITHOUT EXTERNAL STRESS OF ANY KIND. IT DEVELOPED WITHOUT WARNING AND GIVEN THE POSITION WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 02/03/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT HER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND ADJUSTED THE FUEL LINE ROUTING AS WELL AS THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE BUT DID NOT REPLACE ANY COMPONENTS. AFTER REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPRAYING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE AND WAS CAUSING OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUMES TO EMIT THROUGH THE DEFOGGER SYSTEM. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED HER THAT THEY MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL AND THEY ONLY HAD TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT ANY FURTHER REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HER EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE DEALER REPAIRED THE EXACT COMPONENTS LISTED UNDER RECALL AND NOTHING MORE. THEY OFFERED NO FURTHER OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

KEPT SMELLING GAS THREW THE VENTS, STRONG ODOR OF GAS WHEREVER IT WAS PARKED WHEN YOU APPROACHED OR GOT DOWN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE LAST FEW TIMES BEFORE THE FUEL LINE SNAPPED THERE WERE SMALL PUDDLES OF GAS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHEN ONE DROVE AWAY FROM A PARKED POSITION. WHEN I NOTICED THE PUDDLES I OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL LINES HAD SNAPPED, WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT RUBBER FUEL LINE AND CLAMPS TO TEMPORARILY PATCH THE LEAK. STILL SMELLING STRONG GAS ORDER EVEN THOUGH DOES NOT SEEM LIKE LINE IS STILL LEAKING BUT CANNOT GET IT TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN UNTIL THE WEEKEND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE R5 RECALL CAMPAIGN. SHE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER ONLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FLEX PIPE MUST BE DISENGAGED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. IF ANY DAMAGES OCCUR DURING THE DETACHMENT OF THE COMPONENT, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE RECALL REMEDY COULD POSSIBLY BE EXPENSIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,803. UPDATED 04/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/27/09.8JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 65 MPH SHE SMELLED GAS. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WHILE FUEL WAS ESCAPING FROM THE FUEL LINE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT SHE NEEDED APPROVAL FROM THE FIRE MARSHALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHICH REPLACED THE FUEL LINE FOR $700. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 40,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK WITH GASOLINE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING ON THE GROUND FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNKNOWN DEFECT MY LIFE WAS IN BIG DANGEROUS.*TR

FUEL LEAKING NEAR A REAR WHEEL FROM A SMALL HOSE CONNECTING THE FUEL FILTER TO THE FORWARD FUEL LINE WHEN STARTING IN COLD WEATHER. *TR

THE FUEL SENSOR FAILS AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR OF USE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE FAILURE MODE IS THAT IT ALWAYS REPORTS TWICE THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF FUEL AVAILABLE. *TR

THE HARD LINE MOUNTED ON THE FIRE WALL THAT GUIDES THE THREE FUEL LINES BROKE OR FAILED. PLASTIC FUEL LINE WHICH CRACKS OR IS DEFECTIVE LOCATED AT THE SITE WHERE THE LINES ARE CLAMPED BY A PLASTIC HOUSING. GASOLINE SPRAYS ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK.

I OWN A 2001 VW PASSAT AND I NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IN TEMPERATURES OF 17 DEGREES. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE ALEXANDRIA VW DEALERSHIP (ALEXANDRIA, VA) TWICE AND THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS BUT FOUND NOTHING. AFTER READING THROUGH THE OTHER REPORTS ONLINE, I FEEL THAT VW CORPORATION OF AMERICA SHOULD REPLACE ALL ASSOCIATED PARTS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS AND AVOID POTENTIAL VEHICLE EXPLOSIONS AND LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 67 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRASTICALLY DECELERATE AND THEN COASTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRESENT. TEN SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED AND WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY PUMP CAUSED THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

FUEL LINE ON FIREWALL CRACKED AND SPRAYING FUEL OVER ENGINE

FAILURE TO START WHEN IT DOES THE FUMES RESEMBLE PAINT THINNER VERY CONCERNED WITH POSSIBLE EXPLOSION. *NM

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE PAST FIVE WEEKS. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS A "FULL" READING FOR THE FIRST 100-150 MILES OF DRIVING, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. AFTER 100-150 MILES, THE GAUGE DISPLAYS 7/8 FULL, AND THE NEEDLE DOES NOT MOVE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 300-380 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN, AT WHICH POINT THE NEEDLE DISPLAYS 1/2 TANK OF FUEL REMAINS. THIS VEHICLE WILL GENERALLY YIELD 400 TO 430 MILES ON A FULL TANK OF FUEL. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS VEHICLE DAILY, AND HAS NEARLY RUN OUT OF FUEL TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO A FALSE READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATES THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN ON MY VEHICLE, AND REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AT THEIR EXPENSE. *NM

NHTSA 01V157000 SITES A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL TANK GAUGE MY VEHICLE ABSOLUTELY HAS THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE GAS GAUGE WILL RECORD 280 MILES THEN AFTER DRIVING A FEW HOURS IT WILL SAY 380 MILES LEFT FOR FUEL THEN IN A 30 MILE DISTANCE IT WILL PLUMMET DOWN TO 60 OR LESS. THE CAR IS A 2001 PASSAT AND NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS THIS AS A RECALL AS OF 08/04/05 *JB

STRONG SMELL OF GAS EMANATING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTO CABIN THROUGH HEATING SYSTEM, DROVE TO VW DEALER, WHO TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THE CAR DID NOT EXPLODE, THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH HEATS TO 1000 DEGREES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL LINE, ALTHOUGH THEY CHARGED A LOT TO DO SO.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT. *NM RECALL#01V157000. *SC

FUEL GAUGE WAS INDICATING INCORRECT AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE ALWAYS INDICATED A FULL TANK OF GAS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. A RECALL (01V157000) WAS ISSUED FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT BUT THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLES EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED MOST OF THE COST. *AK *NLM

FAILURE OF THE FUEL GAS SENDER RESULTED IN A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHEN THERE WAS REMAINING GASOLINE IN THE FUEL TANK. AUTOMOBILE WAS ASENDING A STEEP GRADE ON US 580 WEST BOUND TOWARD LIVERMORE CA, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 106 DEGREES F, FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED 1/8 TO 1/4 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART BY THE DEALER TECHNICIAN ON LEVEL GROUND. THE 1 3B0-919-673-S SENDER WAS REPLACED. DUBLIN VW REPAIR IVOICE NUMBER 268745. DEALER REPORTED TWO OTHER CARS WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM DURING THE PRIOR WEEK.*AK

SEVERAL TIMES NOW, I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN DRIVING MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT V6 GLX. THE LAST TIME IT WAS ABSOLUTELY IRRITATING BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE STILL SHOWED A QUARTER TANK AVAILABLE AND DID NOT GIVE ANY INDICATION OR WARNING OF LOW FUEL. WORSE, THE CAR STOPPED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. WORST, WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER, THEY OFFERED TO HAVE A LOOK AT THE GAS TANK, BUT THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME AT THAT TIME, THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT EVEN CONTACT ME AND INFORM ME THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM AND A RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE!!! PLEASE CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL VOLKSWAGEN NEW PASSAT OWNERS GET INFORMED OF THE SAFETY RELATED RECALL!!!! IF I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND YOUR WEBSITE PER PURE INCIDENT, I WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN OF THIS ACTUAL PROBLEM KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN. *NLM

ORIGINAL TIRES CONTINENTAL 195/65R15 91HCH95 DOT LMPCPXBU2300. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE, PULL OVER LOOKED ALL AROUND CAR AND DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE NOISE RETURNED WITH A SMALL POP, THEN IT WAS QUIET AGAIN, THEN THREE MINUTES LATER NOISE RETURNED EVEN LOUDER. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD COMPLETELY COME OFF OF RIM, THE TIRE BLOWOUT DAMAGED THE FENDER LINING AND DAMAGED THE FUEL TANK, THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY DESPITE THE FACT THAT VW PASSAT'S FOR YEAR 1997-2000 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, RECALL CAMPAIGN ID # 02V-026. *NLM *DT

MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY YOUR RECALL CAMPAIN ID#01V157000, UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING GAS TANK SENDER REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL (01V-157). AFTER RECALL WAS DONE IT FAILED AGAIN. *YH *NM

A BLOWOUT CAUSED TWO PUNCTURES THROUGH FUEL TANK AND SEVERE FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE UNDER ITS WARRANTY. *AK TIRE WAS A CONTINENTAL, SIZE P195/65R15, DOT# LMPCPXBU. *SLC