2008 Volkswagen Passat Wipers & Visibility Problems
4 owner-reported wipers & visibility complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (4)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PSSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS HOUSED PIVOTING TABS FOR A SHADE TO KEEP THE SUN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DESIGN WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED BECAUSE THE CHILD OCCUPANT IN THE BACK SEAT COULD PULL THE TABS UP AND DOWN AND COULD POTENTIALLY CATCH HIS FINGERS IN THE TAB. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THE 2008 VW PASSAT SELF-ADJUST THEIR SPEED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT THE DRIVER TOUCHING THEM. ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2010, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 AND DROVE INTO AN AREA UNDER A TORNADO WARNING. IT WAS RAINING IN TORRENTS AND TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON REGULAR SPEED, AND WHILE STOPPED THEY SUDDENLY CHANGED TO INTERMITTENT WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE CONTROLS. THIS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES! I WAS TRYING TO WATCH THE SKY FOR SWIRLING CLOUDS AND WATCH THE ROAD FOR FLASH FLOODING AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS KEPT SLOWING TO INTERMITTENT! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AT 7:30 A.M. MONDAY MORNING AND LEARNED THAT THE WIPERS ARE OPERATING AS DESIGNED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE ENGINEERS AND LEADERS AT VW COULD POSSIBLY THINK THAT THE CAR HAS A BETTER SENSE OF THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY NEEDS THAN THE DRIVER! THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE AND OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD! THE DRIVER KNOWS THE CONDITIONS THEY ARE IN! HOW COULD THE CAR SELF-ADJUST SOMETHING AS CRITICAL AS THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY? PLEASE FORCE VW TO CHANGE THIS "FEATURE" IN THE PASSAT AND ANY OTHER MODELS WHERE IT IS PRESENT. *TR
SEVERE DISTORTION IN WINDSHIELD. VW REPLACED ORIGINAL WITH TWO MORE. THAN SAFELIGHT REPLACED TWO MORE WINDSHIELDS AND LAST WAS REPLACED BE BLUE RIDGE AUTO GLASS. DRIVING WITH THIS DISTORTION CAUSES HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. *TR
DRIVING HOME WITH IN FREEZING WEATHER AFTER A SNOW STORM, EVERY FEW MINUTES CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD WITH WASHER FLUID, WHERE AFTER STOPPING THE CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE WIPERS REFUSED TO FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING (ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE ROAD SALT). HAD TO CAREFULLY PULL OVER, CHECKED THE FUSES, AND CLEARED ALL ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD COWL AND WIPER BLADE ARMS, THEN IT WORKED. NONE OF MY OLDER CARS HAD THIS ISSUE. *TR