2004 Volkswagen Passat — Known Issues & Recalls

A fuel leak has developed from the top side of the fuel tank on the drivers side of me vehicle. A fuel leak in this manner is a serious critical and immediate safety risk. Recall 08V156000 was 'performed' on my vehicle back in 2008 but the exact same fuel system safety defect has returned. VW acknowledges the recall and claims it was completed while only an inspection to check for fuel leaks was performed at the time. VW Care and my local dealership refuse to address the ongoing issue. This poses a continued fire risk, and I am now being told to pay out of pocket for a known safety recall that clearly failed to remedy the original defect.

There was a recall reported by the manufacturer, Volkswagenm in 2008. There were multiple Fuel System issues: A Heat Shield that may contact the exhaust system and result in a vehicle fire; a fuel leak from a fuel line or fuel tank ventilation valve, in the presence of an ignition source, can lead to a vehicle fire. In 2008, my car was inspected and the recall was deemed "complete." However, the car was only 4 years old at the time and no repairs were made. Only a visual inspection was done. I bought the car used 6 years ago, and it has been diagnosed as having a defective fuel tank ventilation valve. VW should pay for the parts and labor to have this fixed because it was never fixed. I've been told there's no statue of limitations on recalls. VW claims that because the recall was deemed "Complete" that they "fixed" the issue but they didn't.

WHEN YOU FILL UP THE FUEL TANK IT LEAKS IT LEAKS A QUARTER OF A TANK OF FUEL ROUGHLY 4 TO 5 GALLONS OF FUEL DRIP OUT THERE'S A FACTORY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE I TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER PAID MONEY TO HAVE THEM INSPECT IT AND THEY SAID YES IT'S LEAKING AT THE FACTORY RECALL I'VE HAD AN INDEPENDENT DEALER CONFIRM THAT! VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT DO ANYTHING DUE TO WHAT THEY CLAIM A REMEDY WAS DONE BY MOVING FUEL LINES 10 YEARS AGO, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT OR I WOULD NOT HAVE 4 GALLONS OF FUEL SPILL IN MY DRIVEWAY VEHICLE IS BASICALLY IN OPERABLE AND THEY WANT $3000 TO PUT A NEW FUEL TANK IN WHEN IT'S A FACTORY RECALL WHICH NEVER EXPIRES I HAVE TALK TO THE VOLKSWAGEN REP AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE FOUND IN FORUMS IS DO YOU HAVE TO GO TO VOLTS WAGON OF AMERICA AND FIGHT THEM AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE AN ISSUE!! TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WE NEVER FILL IT OVER A HALF A TANK OF FUEL SO WE DO NOT LEAK FUEL OR EXPLODE WHILE WE'RE DRIVING HOPEFULLY PLEASE HELP IN ANYWAY YOU CAN THANK YOU

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CAR REGARDLESS OF BEING PARKED OR MOVING. NOTICED PUDDLE OF GAS ON THE GROUND UNDER THE FUEL TANK. FUEL WAS DRIPPING DOWN OFF THE FUEL TANK AND THE HEAT SHIELDS. FOLLOWED DRIP TO THE ROLLOVER VALVE NIPPLE WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. AFTER REFUELING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. FUEL WAS ALSO VISIBLE UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL VALVE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

GAS TANK/ FUEL LINE FRACTURE, LEAKING GAS WHEN I FILL IT UP, STRONG GAS SMELL/ODOR. STOPS LEAKING AT AROUND 3/4 TANK. VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD TO DRIVE. VW DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO CORRECT, WANTS TO CHARGE ME 2600, TO FIX I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR 4200 3 MONTHS AGO.

GAS FUEL LINE/TANK LEAKING GAS

FUEL TANK LEAK. THERE IS NO DAMAGE NO IMPACT NO VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF ANY MISUSE OF CAR. FUEL TANK LEAKS WHEN FILLED ABOVE 3/4 OF A TANK. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY DANGEROUS THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY VOLKSWAGEN. IN ALL MY LIFE AS A MECHANIC I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING THIS UNSAFE. IF MY LOVED ONES WERE TO GET HURT I WILL HOLD VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE. THIS NEEDS TO FIXED NOW!..

LEAKING AT VENT/TOP OF GAS TANK. EXACTLY THE SAME DESCRIPTION OF THAT PAST HEAT SHEILD/VENT GAS LEAKING RECALL FROM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO

THE CAR DIED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD, I WAS ABLE TO VEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT WAS ROLLING BEFORE IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE AND AFTER TESTING ALL COMPONENTS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR WASN'T GETTING ANY FUEL DUE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP.

A COIL FOR HEATED SEATS HAS MELTED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THIS CAUSED PAIN AND CONFUSION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SEAT NOW HAS AN UGLY MELTED HOLE IN IT.

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER SEAT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED (THE SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON). IT STARTED WITH A BURNING SMELL. EXCESSIVE HEAT BURNED MY LEG A BIT (SOME SKIN REDNESS), BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT IS HAPPENING AND TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THE SEAT LEATHER NOW APPEARS STIFF AND WRINKLED (NOT SOFT AND SMOOTH LIKE THE REST OF THE LEATHER) IN THE AREA WHERE I FELT THE HEAT.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT STALLS AND THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES WHILE MERGING WITH OTHER TRAFFIC AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $1000 TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, AND THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. EVEN THE VW DEALERSHIP DOSE NOT HAVE AN ANSWER.

BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM ORIGINAL OWNER EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO. ALL RECEIPTS FOR UPKEEP & MAINTENANCE WERE AVAILABLE. CAR RAN GREAT FOR 30,000 MILES. ONE DAY IT STARTING RUNNING BAD WITHIN 30 MINS WHOLE MOTOR SHUT DOWN. MOTOR JUST SHUT DOWN IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY. PIECE OF METAL FOUND UNDER VALVE COVER AND NOW FOR NO REASON NEEDS A WHOLE NEW MOTOR!!!! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE! VERY DISSATISFIED! I HAVE OWNED THREE VEHICLES ALL FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS UNTIL THIS VW AND NOW AM WITHOUT A CAR. NEVER WILL BUY OR MENTION ANYONE ELSE BUYING A VW. CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND $3,000 FOR ANOTHER MOTOR AFTER ONLY OWNING FOR 2 YEARS! NOW THE CAR SITS AT A MECHANIC SHOP WITH NEW TIRES AND NEW VALVE COVER GASKETS AND A POS MOTOR.

STANDING WATER IN DRIVER SIDE AND REAR DRIVER SIDE AREA.

TAKATA RECALL COOLANT FLENCH LEAKING, AIR VALVE COVER CAME OFF( LEAKING) AND WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND THERMOSTAT NOT WORKING, CANNOT SMOG CAR. ENGINE TROUBLESHOOTING LIGHT COMES BACK ON ALL THE TIME.

The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that there was gasoline leaking in his driveway where the vehicle was parked, after he had refueled the vehicle the day before. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic informed the contact that it was a known failure related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V156000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the failure was addressed in 2012 and the recall was closed on the VIN. The failure mileage was 97,361.

THE CAR STALLED IN THE ROAD. PULLED OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART FULL TANK OF GAS.

MY CAR 2004 VW PASSAT ALMOST GETT ON FIRE FRONT PASSANDER SEAT HAVE START TO BURN BUT WAS OK AFTER I SHUTT OFF THE CAR AFTER THAT NOW I CAN DRIVE BUT THE SEAT ITS DEMAGED

HAD TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH UNTOLD AMOUNT OF WIRES DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE WINDOWS ROLL. DOWN THE ALARM IS DISABLED, THE DOORS UNLOCK. WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS GO. ON AND OFF DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK EMERGENCY FLASHERS GO OFF AND ALARM WILL GO OFF. CAN'T UNLOCK CAR WITHOUT SETTING ALARM OFF.