2004 Volkswagen Passat Lights Problems
10 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Lights Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Owner Complaints (10)
THE LOW-BEAM PORTION OF MY HEADLIGHT BULBS ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE SEEM TO LAST ONLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS. I'VE BECOME AN EXPERT AT REPLACING THEM. I DRIVE THREE MILES TO WORK, SO THE LIGHTS ARE NOT LIT AN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF HOURS/MILES. *TR
CAR PARKED FRONT FACING WEST APPEARS TO HAVE CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FOG OVER ON THE INSIDE. DEALER SOLD ME A KIT FOR APPROXIMATELY $15 AND I WAS TOLD TO APPLY TO THE OUTSIDE. THAT WAS WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS ON THE INSIDE AND NOT THE OUTSIDE. I AM RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME AND NOW THE DEALER WANTS $250 PER HEADLIGHT PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THEM. *TR
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MY 2004 VW PASSAT (REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH). I HAD MY REPAIRS COMPLETED AT AN AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE CENTER IN OCTOBER 2007 AND SENT MY FORM TO VW FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I RECEIVED A CALL ON 1/10/08 INFORMING ME THAT THE DEADLINE FOR THE REPAIR WAS 9/23/07. THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED WAS DATED SEPTEMBER 2007 AND DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A DEADLINE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR
KNOWN ISSUE "VIBRATING HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY", DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS AT DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO VIBRATE CAUSING REPEATED HEADLAMP BULB FAILURE. ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
6/30 I DROVE MY 2004 VW PASSAT WAGON. I HAD USED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN, I ATTEMPTED TO RE-ACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. I TRIED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY AND IT WORKED. 7/3, I PARKED MY CAR FOR AN HOUR APPT. I RETURNED TO MY CAR TO FIND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON. I TURNED THE CAR ON, TAPPED THE BRAKES AND TURNED IT OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON. I HAD TO LEAVE TOWN FOR A FEW DAYS AND UPON RETURNING, CALLED MY DEALER, ONTARIO VW. 7/9 I MADE AN APPT TO SERVICE THE CAR. SYLVIA IN SERVICE MADE THE APPT. SHE MENTIONED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. AFTER MAKING THE APPT, I RESEARCHED THE RECALL. I FOUND THE NHTSA SITE. NHTSA HAD A CAMPAIGN ID # 07V063000 FOR 6 MAKES OF VOLKSWAGEN, VARYING YEARS, ALL FOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION. THE DESCRIPTION MATCHED MY PROBLEM EXACTLY. LATER ON THE 9TH, I WENT TO DROP OFF MY CAR FOR REPAIR. I WAS CHECKED IN AND TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. JOSE MEZA, SENIOR SERVICE ADVISOR, TOLD ME MY VIN # HAD NO RECALL. I EXPLAINED ABOUT THE INFO I FOUND AND HE SAID I WAS INCORRECT. HE DID NOT OFFER TO RESEARCH ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL BE REPAIRED. MY ISSUE IS WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION AND THE LACK OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF ONTARIO VW AND VW CORP, WHOM I CALLED TO COMPLAIN AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY VIN # DID NOT REFLECT A RECALL. IF 5 OTHER VW MAKES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE UNDER RECALL, WHY AM I BEING CHALLENGED ABOUT INCLUDING MY CAR IN THE RECALL? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAN BECOME INOPERABLE WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. VEHICLE SAFETY SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY FOR ALL MANUFACTURERS AND DEALERSHIPS AND I AM SHOCKED AT THE LACK OF INTEREST I AM RECEIVING FROM ALL I CONTACT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. INCLUDING THE NHTSA THAT TOLD ME I COULD FILE A GENERAL COMPLAINT AND POSSIBLY BE INCLUDED IN A FUTURE RECALL BUT COULD NOT OFFER SPECIFIC HELP WITH ANYTHING ELSE. *TR
ON OCCASION THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STAY ON AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ALSO STAY ON WITH NO FOOT PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED INTERMITTENTLY OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELY. WHENEVER THE SWITCH WAS OPERATING POORLY IT KICKED OUT THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE ON 2004 VW PASSAT. *JB
MY COMPLAIN IS REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON 2004 VW PASSAT. I HAVE OWN THIS CAR SINCE NOV 04 AND FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DIM HEADLIGHTS ARE INADEQUATE ON THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THE DIM MAY SHINE OUT APPOX 25 FEET AND THEN JUST CUT OFF. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER WITH NO RESULTS. COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME IF THERE IS A TESTING LOCATION, WHERE I COULD TAKE THE CAR TO SEE IF THE LIGHTS EVEN MEET YOUR SAFETY REGULATIONS. THANK YOU. *AK
IN SIX MONTHS MY BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING TWICE THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRKE LIGHT SWITH ON IT. *AK