2012 Volkswagen Passat Owner Complaints

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, I FELT A CLICK VIBRATION ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN A MESSAGE FLASHED ON THE DASH SCREEN: AIRBAG: ERROR NONE OF THE ELECTRONIC SWITCHES ON THE STEERING COLUMN FUNCTION, NO AIRBAG AVAILABILITY, NO HORN. I TOOK IT TO THE ONION CREEK DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN, TX AND THEY QUICKLY FOUND WHAT WAS A QUICK, BUT EXPENSIVE FIX CAN BE DONE. $700 TO FIX. WHEN I INQUIRED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND REQUESTED THEY COVER THE COST, THEY BALKED. I CONTACTED VW USA, THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO COVER 75% OF THE COST, THEN LATER RESCINDED THE OFFER BECAUSE THE LADY AT VW USA DECIDED SHE DIDN'T WANT TO COVER IT AND I HAD NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER. WHEN THEY DID OFFER TO PAY THE 75%, I HAD AGREED TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO NEGOTIATE FOR GREATER COVERAGE, I SUPPOSE SHE DID NOT LIKE THAT. *TR

11/13/2013

THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH FROZE SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN THIS YEAR AFTER DOING IT THREE TIMES LAST YEAR. THE LATCH FROZE EVERY TIME THERE WAS MOISTURE (FOG, SNOW ,RAIN, ETC.) AND THE TEMPERATURE FELL BELOW 32 F. THE LATCH WAS FINALLY REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE SENSOR FOR THE AIRBAGS FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

1/30/2014

VEHICLE DOE NOT SHOW THE TRUE SPEED OF THE CAR. SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY 7-8 KMH. @ 100 KMS. VW DOES NOT ACCEPT THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

2/6/2012

I WAS IN VERY SLOW BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER IN THE ENGINE AND NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. LIGHTS, RADIO AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS DID NOT SEEM TO BE IMPACTED. AFTER A MINUTE, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 3 MONTHS. *TR

11/8/2013

IN THE MORNING, I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO MY 2012 VW PASSAT S. I NOTICED A POOL OF FLUID THAT SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE ON THE ASPHALT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I ENTERED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND TURNED THE KEY FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO ON, A SOUND OF DRAINING FLUID COULD BE HEARD AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, AND IT DOES TURN OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. I DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN, AFRAID THAT THE IGNITION WOULD START A FIRE. SINCE THIS OCCURRED ON A SUNDAY MORNING, ALL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT VW DEALERSHIPS ARE CLOSED. ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER, I UNLOCKED THE PASSAT AND OPENED THE DOOR TO GET SOME ITEMS FROM THE CAR. AGAIN, THE SOUND OF DRAINING FLUID COULD BE HEARD AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AGAIN, AND A FRESH POOL OF GASOLINE HAS FORMED. THE GAS IS DRIPPING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE REAR WHEEL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, AS THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 1,000 MILES. *TR

7/22/2012

VEHICLE HAS STALLED OUT FOUR TIMES ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASTIONS WHEN I COME TO A STOP. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND VW REPORTS CAR CHECKS OUT FINE. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

1/25/2013

CAR HAS CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. DRIVING REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE TO THE LEFT ON STEERING WHEEL. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR ALIGNMENT AND ALTHOUGH THEY ADJUST IT, RIGHT PULL PERSISTS. SOMETIMES, STEERING HAS A FEEL AS THOUGH CAR IS ERRATIC. CAR NEVER SETTLES INTO TACKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE WHICH SEEMS VERY ODD AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN CANNOT RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TR

4/16/2013

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, A LOUD STRANGE NOISE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD NO LONGER WORK, AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR MY AIRBAG. AS MY HUSBAND DROVE US HOME, I SEARCHED THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. THE ERROR MESSAGE IS TO WARN THE DRIVER THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND MAY NOT DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD OR MAY DEPLOY WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT WARN OF AN ACCIDENT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING UNEXPECTEDLY WOULD PROBABLY CAUSE A CAR ACCIDENT. MY HUSBAND TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE MCKINNEY, TX VW DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THE NEXT MORNING. THEY SAID THE CLOCK SPRING HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY REPLACED THIS PART, BUT MY STEERING WHEEL STILL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. THIS IS THE SAME SOUND WE HEARD WHILE WE DROVE HOME THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AGAIN, BUT I AGAIN HEARD THE SAME CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL OF THE PASSATS MAKE THIS NOISE, AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. MY STEERING DID NOT MAKE NOISE THE FIRST 40,000 MILES I PUT ON THE CAR, SO I'M WORRIED THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PART. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I FOUND ONLINE THAT A LOT OF OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT, AND MANY OF THEM HAD CLOCK SPRINGS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE DEFECTIVE AS WELL. WITH SO MANY DEFECTIVE PARTS, THIS SEEMS WORTHY OF A RECALL SINCE THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

3/31/2014

IN THE MORNING, I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO MY 2012 VW PASSAT S. I NOTICED A POOL OF FLUID THAT SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE ON THE ASPHALT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I ENTERED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND TURNED THE KEY FROM THE OFF TO ON POSITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO ON, A SOUND OF DRAINING FLUID COULD BE HEARD AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR, AND IT DOES TURN OVER, BUT WILL NOT START. I DECIDED NOT TO ATTEMPT TO START IT AGAIN, AFRAID THAT THE IGNITION WOULD START A FIRE. SINCE THIS OCCURRED ON A SUNDAY MORNING, ALL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AT VW DEALERSHIPS ARE CLOSED. ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER, I UNLOCKED THE PASSAT AND OPENED THE DOOR TO GET SOME ITEMS FROM THE CAR. AGAIN, THE SOUND OF DRAINING FLUID COULD BE HEARD AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. I CHECKED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AGAIN, AND A FRESH POOL OF GASOLINE HAS FORMED. THE GAS IS DRIPPING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, NEAR THE REAR WHEEL. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, AS THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 1,000 MILES. *TR

7/22/2012

VEHICLE STALLED ON BUSY SURFACE STREET, LOST ALL POWER. REFUSED TO RESTART. TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS FAILED HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR

10/30/2012

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM STOPPED WORKING. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND THE BULB ADAPTER. THE PLASTIC HAD MELTED WHICH PREVENTED ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOWING FROM THE HOUSING TO THE BULB. THE MELTED PLASTIC HAD CAUSED HAZING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT NO COST. *TR

11/14/2012

LOSS OF EITHER DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMP(S) AND/OR LOWBEAM HEADLAMP(S) DUE TO LAMP SOCKETS MELTING IN HOUSINGS. 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED, ONCE WITH THE DAYTIME LAMPS AND TWICE WITH THE L/S HEADLAMPS. *TR

10/14/2013

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2012 PASSAT TDI. I REALLY LIKED THE CAR. HOWEVER, I HAVE A SAFETY SUGGESTION THAT MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE IN THE FUTURE. LET ME TELL YOU MY EXPERIENCE. I TOOK POSSESSION ON FEBRUARY 9, 2012. ON MARCH 15, I CAME HOME TO LUNCH AND PULLED IN MY GARAGE. APPARENTLY, I DID NOT HAVE THE BACK TIRES ALL THE WAY IN. OUR DRIVEWAY HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND WAS WATERING SOME FLOWERS. IN A FEW MOMENTS MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVE, CURVED AND WENT OFF AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT TREES ON THE WAY DOWN. IT WAS TOTALED. I HAD IT ONE MONTH AND ONE WEEK. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS SICK. NOW I REALIZE THAT I DID NOT HAVE IT IN PARK. THIS CAR WAS DIFFERENT THAT ANY CAR THAT I HAVE DRIVEN IN THE PAST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE AN IGNITION TO PUT THE KEY IN. YOU JUST HAVE A BUTTON TO TURN IT ON AND TURN IT OFF. BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT, I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PUSHING THE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF. IN ALL OF MY OTHER CARS YOU COULDN'T GET THE KEYS OUT UNLESS YOU HAD IT IN PARK. I HAD MADE THIS MISTAKE A FEW TIMES BUT WAS ALWAYS ON A FLAT AREA-USUALLY IN MY GARAGE. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU HAVE A FEATURE ON THESE PUSH BUTTON VEHICLES THAT WILL SOUND SOME KIND OF ALARM WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF AND NOT IN PARK. MY HEART CRINGES WHEN I THINK THAT I COULD HAVE DONE THIS WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT IN THEIR CAR SEATS. THIS CAR HAS MANY FEATURES AND IS VERY TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED, BUT I STRONGLY FEEL THAT A FEATURE SUCH AS THIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON THESE CARS. *TR

4/14/2012

THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY/HESITATION UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION (2.5L). THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO OR ACROSS TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO OTHERS AND IS REPORTED ELSEWHERE ON THE WEB. HTTP://WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS/111-VOLKSWAGEN-PASSAT-B7-DISCUSSION/344045-MY-REVIEW-2012-PASSAT-SOMEWHAT-LONG-READ.HTML (SEE PERFORMANCE NOTE). *TR

5/31/2012

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHARP OBJECT LOCATED NEAR A HANDLE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE ROOF ON THE INTERIOR, THAT CUT HIS FINGER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THE CUT ON HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER. THE RENTAL FACILITY WAS NOTIFIED AND REMOVED THE VEHICLE FROM ITS FACILITY. A REPORT ABOUT THE INCIDENT WAS ALSO FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE RENTAL FACILITY SINCE THE INCIDENT AND DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

1/26/2012

EVERY TIME IT IS COLD OUTSIDE MY DOOR LATCH STOPS FUNCTIONING SO I CANT OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. I SPRAYED LUBRICANT IN IT WHICH HELPS SOMETIMES BUT I THINK A NEW CAR SHOULDN'T HAVE A ISSUE LIKE THAT. ALSO WHEN I CAN GET IT OPEN SOMETIMES IT WONT CLOSE. THE ISSUE IS THE ACTUAL LATCH WHICH OF COURSE ISN'T COVERED. PRETTY EMBARRASSING CLIMBING THROUGH A PASSENGER DOOR TO GET IN THE DRIVER SEAT . WHAT HAPPENS IF IM IN A WRECK AND MY DOOR WONT OPEN? WILL I OWN A PART OF VOLKSWAGEN? *TR

1/12/2014

VEHICLE STALLED ON BUSY SURFACE STREET, LOST ALL POWER. REFUSED TO RESTART. TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS FAILED HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. *TR

10/30/2012

METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. FUEL WAS TESTED AND FOUND TO BE DIESEL FUEL. NO OTHER FUEL HAS EVER BEEN USED OR PUMPED INTO THIS VEHICLE. *TR

5/1/2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AND THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED IN THE TEST VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ

2/28/2012

IF I AM DRIVING WITH NO ACCELERATION (COASTING) AND STEP ON THE GAS TO ENTER TRAFFIC THERE IS NO POWER; NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUSH ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BOTH IN TOWN WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO CUT IN BETWEEN CARS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE LOTS OF ROOM BETWEEN CARS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS ONLY A PROBLEM FOR ME BECAUSE I AM NOT USED TO DRIVING A CAR WITH A DIGITAL THROTTLE. *TR

5/30/2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, HE WOULD HEAR A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE NOISE WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000.

12/19/2012

METALLIC CLICKING, LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, ALWAYS IN REVERSE AND CONSTANT (FORWARD AND REVERSE) WHEN WET OR COLD. ONLY LESS FREQUENT IN WARMER TEMPS. ON 3RD SERVICE VISIT TO HAVE NOISE CHECKED, VW ISSUED WARRANTY CLAIM AND THEN DENIED REPAIR SAYING NO FIX AVAILABLE. I APPEALED TO NO AVAIL. NOISE IS EXCESSIVE AND PROBLEMATIC. *TR

3/23/2013

THE CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL THEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. ALSO A WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING WHICH DID NOT ACCELERATE VERY WELL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NEED A TURBO WHICH WAS JUST REPLACED 20,000 MILES AGO, MECHATRONIC UNIT ,, AD BLUE HESTER KIT ,PARTICULATE FILTER PART . THE CAR IS 3 YEARS OLD I PUT ABOUT 35K MILES ON A YEAR. I SERVICE THE CAR RELIGIOUSLY NEVER HAVE MISSED REQUIRED SERVICE. OVER $6,000 DOLLAR REPAIR

8/6/2015

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

9/15/2015

RECENTLY I DROVE SEVERAL NEW CARS (THE LATEST BEING THE 2012 PASSAT) AND FOUND ONE COMMON COMPLAINT: THE HEADREST ON THESE CARS ARE TILTED FORWARD WAY TOO MUCH WITH NO ADJUSTMENTS AVAILABLE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NHTSA REQUIRES VEHICLES HEADRESTS TO BE HIGHER AND CLOSE TO THE HEAD TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURIES. HOW DO YOU IMPROVE SAFETY IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A COMFORTABLE DRIVING POSITION? THE NEW HEADREST REGULATION FORCES THE DRIVER TO SLOUCH FORWARD (AND LOOKING DOWN) WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING FATIGUE TO SET QUICKLY. FOR ME, THE ONLY WAY TO FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHILE DRIVING THESE NEW CARS ARE BY RECLINING THE SEAT BACK EXCESSIVELY (SO MY HEAD DON'T TILT FORWARD). THIS, IN MY OPINION, AREN'T SAFE SINCE THIS POSITION REDUCES THE DRIVER'S ALERTNESS. WITH THE ACTIVE HEADREST TECHNOLOGY, WHY CAN'T CAR MANUFACTURER'S SET THE HEADREST AT A NORMAL ANGLE? IN MY OPINION THE NEW HEAD REST REGULATION IS AN EASY AND LAZY WAY TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURY WITHOUT PROPER RESEARCH (I.E ONLY BASED ON MEASUREMENTS WITH NO REGARDS TO DRIVER'S COMFORT). *TR

1/9/2012

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MADE A SHORT STOP AND BOTH SECTIONS OF THE BACK SEAT UNLOCKED AND CAME DOWN/FORWARD. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS SITTING IN THEM. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE TRUNK THAT WOULD HAVE SET OFF THE UNLOCKING BARS. *TR

12/13/2012

OUR NEW PASSAT HAS PROBLEM CONTROLLING THE CAR WHILE USING REVERSE ON A HILL. IT APPEARS THAT VW HAS TIED THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKING FUNCTION TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE. IF THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR IS DISENGAGED THUS ALLOWING THE ENGINE FALL TO AN IDLE AND NOT DEVELOP ANY THRUST. IF THE DRIVER IS USING BOTH FEET TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, RIGHT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE DEVELOPS NO POWER EVEN IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY. BY RELEASING THE BRAKE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH AT FULL THROTTLE IN REVERSE IN AN OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION UNTIL THE DRIVER REALIZES WHAT IS HAPPENING AND REMOVES THEIR FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN INJURY OR EVEN A FATALITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VW ENGINEERING STAFF HAS NEVER TRIED PARALLEL PARKING THE PASSAT ON A HILL IN SAN FRANCISCO. VW ENGINEERS SHOULD REMOVE THE SOFTWARE CODE THAT TIES THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE FUNCTION TOGETHER WHILE IN REVERSE OR AT LEAST ACTIVATE IT WHEN THE SPEED IS GREATER THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. IF YOU DONT USE TWO FEET AND ONLY USE ONE, THEN THE HILL HOLD WILL BE EFFECTIVE AND GENERALLY YOU CAN CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS IMPLEMENTATION EXISTS AND WHEN PARKING ON A STEEP HILL, IN A VERY TIGHT SPOT, YOU ALMOST ALWAYS USE TWO FEET TO HAVE TOTAL CONTROL. VOLKSWAGEN ENGINEERS, IN GOOD FAITH, IMPLEMENTED THE NHTSA RECOMMENDATION FOR "BRAKE THROTTLE OVERRIDE". DOCKET NO. NHTSA-2012-0038. PAGE 16 HAS SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON INTENTIONAL "TWO FOOTED USE". THE VW DEALER INVESTIGATED AND OFFERED US A FULL RETURN AND REFUND. WE ARE HOPING THE NHTSA WILL WORK WITH VW TO HELP RECONCILE THIS SOFTWARE ANOMALY.

5/15/2012

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD CODES READ. THE CODE WAS P205C AND THIS INDICATES THE EMISSIONS ADBLUE HEATER AND SENSOR HAD A PROBLEM. THE UNIT (HEATER AND SENSOR) IN THE ADBLUE TANK IS A NON SERVICEABLE UNIT AND MUST BE REPLACED. OVER $750.00 TO REPLACE. ALL THE EFFICIENCY OF TDI JUST WENT UP IN SMOKE. HAPPENED AT 4,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY AND DEALER HAD NO HELP EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF TDI'S ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN DESIGN, MANY MANY TDI'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

4/17/2015

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE "WHEEL HOP" UPON STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ESPECIALLY ON A WET ROADWAY AND A HILL. THE TIRES JUST CANNOT GET TRACTION AND SPIN. AS WELL ONCE THE WHEELS START TO SPIN THE ECS (STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM) CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING WHICH HAS LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO ECS DISABLE SWITCH AS WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, SO I CANNOT TEMPORARILY DISABLE THE SYSTEM FOR TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE ISSUE. LOSING POWER WHILE PULLING OUT INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCING A POWER LOSS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR CAME WITH HANKOOK OPTIMA H426 TIRES AND I SWITCHED TO YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR (V RATED) TIRES BELIEVING THE ISSUE WAS THE TIRES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH 33 YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING FROM LIGHT ACCELERATION, FEATHERING THE ACCELERATOR, USING THE S MODE OF THE TIPTONIC TRANSMISSION AND USING THE TIPTRONIC CONTROL IN D MODE TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN THE LOWER GEAR AND TRYING TO START IN A HIGHER GEAR TO REDUCE THE TORQUE TO THE WHEELS, BUT THE TIPTRONIC WILL NOT ALLOW UPSHIFTING WHEN STOPPED. I RAISED THIS CONCERN WITH THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE WHEEL HOP CAUSING BANGING OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAINST THE TRAVEL STOPS. THIS THUMPING AND EXTREME MOVEMENT OF THE SUSPENSION CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATES "IT IS PERFORMING TO SPECS AS DESIGNED." WELL THEN I THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

1/10/2013

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MULTIPLE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING. I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. *TR

8/13/2014

SCENARIO: 1. CAR STATIONARY IN GARAGE 2. WENT TO TURN ON THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START 3. RADIO AND ACCESSORIES WORKING FINE 4. SMELT A LOT OF GASOLINE AND STOPPED CRANKING THE CAR 5. LARGE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE HAD SPILLED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR ACTIONS: 1. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE AS IT SPILLED GASOLINE WHEN LIFTED 2. FIRE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT THE HOSE FROM THE FUEL TANK IN TO THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD COME LOOSE 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS THAT THE CABLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT POTENTIAL FAULTY PART DETAILS: 1. HOSE IS BLACK IN COLOR 2. HOSE IS TUCKED INSIDE A BLACK PLASTIC HOUSING 3. FIRE DEPARTMENT OBSERVED NO DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING ON MY VEHICLE 4. FIRE DEPARTMENT HEARD A DISTINCT CLICK WHEN THEY PUSHED THE HOSE IN TO THE FUEL SYSTEM 5. DUE TO #4, FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS THAT THE CABLE WAS NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AND COULD BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT STRONGLY ADVISE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2012 OWNERS TO CONTACT THEIR DEALER TO GET THE HOSE AND FUEL SYSTEM ASSEMBLY CHECKED OUT AND URGE NHTSA TO OPEN A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

5/4/2012

THE VEHICLE HAS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY/HESITATION UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION (2.5L). THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO OR ACROSS TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

10/20/2013

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE "WHEEL HOP" UPON STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ESPECIALLY ON A WET ROADWAY AND A HILL. THE TIRES JUST CANNOT GET TRACTION AND SPIN. AS WELL ONCE THE WHEELS START TO SPIN THE ECS (STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM) CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING WHICH HAS LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO ECS DISABLE SWITCH AS WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, SO I CANNOT TEMPORARILY DISABLE THE SYSTEM FOR TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE ISSUE. LOSING POWER WHILE PULLING OUT INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCING A POWER LOSS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR CAME WITH HANKOOK OPTIMA H426 TIRES AND I SWITCHED TO YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR (V RATED) TIRES BELIEVING THE ISSUE WAS THE TIRES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH 33 YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING FROM LIGHT ACCELERATION, FEATHERING THE ACCELERATOR, USING THE S MODE OF THE TIPTONIC TRANSMISSION AND USING THE TIPTRONIC CONTROL IN D MODE TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN THE LOWER GEAR AND TRYING TO START IN A HIGHER GEAR TO REDUCE THE TORQUE TO THE WHEELS, BUT THE TIPTRONIC WILL NOT ALLOW UPSHIFTING WHEN STOPPED. I RAISED THIS CONCERN WITH THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE WHEEL HOP CAUSING BANGING OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAINST THE TRAVEL STOPS. THIS THUMPING AND EXTREME MOVEMENT OF THE SUSPENSION CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATES "IT IS PERFORMING TO SPECS AS DESIGNED." WELL THEN I THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

1/10/2013

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2012 VW PASSAT WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES. THE OPTIMO H426 TIRES THAT CAME INSTALLED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE THE TIRES HAVE A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OF 60,000 MILES. SEE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW.HANKOOKTIREUSA.COM/SERV/WARRANTY.ASPX?PAGENUM=3&SUBNUM=1&CHILDNUM=1 HANKOOK WARRANTY DEPARTMENT IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY STATE THAT THE PRODUCT ONLY HAS WARRANTY WHEN PURCHASED THROUGH A TIRE SHOP. MY LIMITED WARRANTY PAMPHLET THAT CAME WITH MY CAR DOES NOT STATE THAT THE MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE PRODUCT DOES NOT APPLY. A COPY OF THE WARRANTY CAN BE FOUND AT THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://HANKOOKTIREUSA.COM/SERV/ORIGINALEQUIP.ASPX?PAGENUM=3&SUBNUM=1&CHILDNUM=2 I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IN ASSISTING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS MY TIRES ARE WORN BELOW THE 2/32NDS INCH AND THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY AND I. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

7/17/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 03/04/15*LJ UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS

1/7/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

1/8/2015

MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT S HAS POWER WINDOWS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO OR THREE DAYS OF COLD TEMPERATURES (NIGHTS DOWN TO 5 DEGREES F., AND DAYTIME HIGHS IN RANGE OF 25 DEGREES ON 12/3/11; 20 DEGREES ON 12/4, AND 15 DEGREES ON 12/5), MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE NOW "FROZEN UP", AT ALL FOUR DOOR POSITIONS. THE MOTORS OPERATE--WINDOWS MAKE ABOUT A 1/16TH INCH UP OR DOWN MOVEMENT WHEN YOU TRY THE WINDOW SWITCHES, BUT THE WINDOWS ARE "STUCK" IN THE UP POSITION. I HAVE CALLED THE VW DEALER, AND THEY HAVE SAID "THERE MAY BE SOME MOISTURE IN THERE." NO ICE OR SNOW IS VISIBLE NEAR THE WINDOWS OR THE JOINT WHERE THEY ENTER THEIR RESPECTIVE DOORS. COLORADO WEATHER CONDITIONS OF INTERMITTENT COLD, DRY SNOWS HAVE CALLED FOR BRUSHING OFF SNOW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AT SEVERAL INTERMITTENT TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS. THE NEIGHBORS ON MY BLOCK IN A RESIDENTIAL SECTION OF DENVER HAVE NUMEROUS CARS WHICH ARE AND HAVE BEEN SIMILARLY PARKED ON THE SAME CURB IN THE SAME WEATHER AND CONDITIONS-- BMW. NISSAN(S), TOYOTA(S), INFINITY, HONDA, OLDER VW, AND NONE OF THEIR CARS HAVE HAD ANY ISSUE. LIKEWISE, MY PREVIOUS CAR, A 2001 VW PASSAT WAS REGULARLY PARKED IN THE SAME SPOT OVER THE YEARS IN MANY SIMILAR WEATHER CIRCUMSTANCES, WITHOUT SUCH A FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS 2012 VW PASSAT, WHICH IS ALL NEW, AND BUILT IN A NEW US PLANT MAY HAVE UTILIZED SOME TYPE OF INADEQUATE MOTOR SIZE (TOO WEAK TO OVERCOME A SMALL AMOUNT OF FROZEN MOISTURE?) OR POORLY DESIGNED WINDOW RUB STRIPS IN THE DOOR CHANNEL THAT EITHER ADMIT TOO MUCH MOISTURE DOWN INTO THE WINDOW CHANNEL, OR OVERREACT TO ANY FREEZING. IN ANY CASE, HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR THAT CAN'T OR WON'T ALLOW WINDOWS TO OPEN IS VERY FRUSTRATING, AND ALONG MOUNTAIN AND OTHER COLORADO ROADS, A CRASH COULD END UP WITH THE CAR IN RIVER OR LAKE WATER, IN WHICH CASE, LOWERING A WINDOW MAY SAVE A LIFE. *TR

12/5/2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL AND THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED IN THE TEST VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ

2/28/2012

OUR NEW PASSAT HAS PROBLEM CONTROLLING THE CAR WHILE USING REVERSE ON A HILL. IT APPEARS THAT VW HAS TIED THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKING FUNCTION TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN REVERSE. IF THE BRAKE IS PRESSED, THE ACCELERATOR IS DISENGAGED THUS ALLOWING THE ENGINE FALL TO AN IDLE AND NOT DEVELOP ANY THRUST. IF THE DRIVER IS USING BOTH FEET TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, RIGHT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE DEVELOPS NO POWER EVEN IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY. BY RELEASING THE BRAKE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED FULLY, THE VEHICLE WILL LURCH AT FULL THROTTLE IN REVERSE IN AN OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION UNTIL THE DRIVER REALIZES WHAT IS HAPPENING AND REMOVES THEIR FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN INJURY OR EVEN A FATALITY. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE VW ENGINEERING STAFF HAS NEVER TRIED PARALLEL PARKING THE PASSAT ON A HILL IN SAN FRANCISCO. VW ENGINEERS SHOULD REMOVE THE SOFTWARE CODE THAT TIES THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE FUNCTION TOGETHER WHILE IN REVERSE OR AT LEAST ACTIVATE IT WHEN THE SPEED IS GREATER THAN 5 MILES AN HOUR. IF YOU DONT USE TWO FEET AND ONLY USE ONE, THEN THE HILL HOLD WILL BE EFFECTIVE AND GENERALLY YOU CAN CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS IMPLEMENTATION EXISTS AND WHEN PARKING ON A STEEP HILL, IN A VERY TIGHT SPOT, YOU ALMOST ALWAYS USE TWO FEET TO HAVE TOTAL CONTROL. VOLKSWAGEN ENGINEERS, IN GOOD FAITH, IMPLEMENTED THE NHTSA RECOMMENDATION FOR "BRAKE THROTTLE OVERRIDE". DOCKET NO. NHTSA-2012-0038. PAGE 16 HAS SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON INTENTIONAL "TWO FOOTED USE". THE VW DEALER INVESTIGATED AND OFFERED US A FULL RETURN AND REFUND. WE ARE HOPING THE NHTSA WILL WORK WITH VW TO HELP RECONCILE THIS SOFTWARE ANOMALY.

5/15/2012

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER ACTUAL SPEEDS. IT IS PESSIMISTIC BY 4 MPH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VW'S OWN CLIMATIC CONTROL DIAGNOSTIC READOUT INDICATES A SPEED THAT IS 2 MPH GREATER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER READS. FURTHERMORE, THE TRIPOMETER AVERAGE SPEED READS 3 MPH GREATER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER. MULTIPLE GPS UNITS ALL AGREE TO WITHIN A TENTH OR TWO MPH AND INDICATE A SPEED THAT IS 4 MPH FASTER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER. (I.E. SPEEDOMETER READS 70 MPH, DIAGNOSTIC READOUT SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOWS 72 MPH, TRIPOMETER AVERAGE SPEED SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOWS 73 MPH AND GPS SIMULTANEOUSLY SHOWS 74 MPH WHILE CRUISE IS SET AT 70 MPH). VW SAYS IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH AND THAT AT 70 MPH READINGS BETWEEN 65 AND 75 MPH ARE ACCEPTABLE! *TR

5/31/2012

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE "WHEEL HOP" UPON STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, ESPECIALLY ON A WET ROADWAY AND A HILL. THE TIRES JUST CANNOT GET TRACTION AND SPIN. AS WELL ONCE THE WHEELS START TO SPIN THE ECS (STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM) CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING WHICH HAS LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THERE IS NO ECS DISABLE SWITCH AS WITH PREVIOUS MODELS, SO I CANNOT TEMPORARILY DISABLE THE SYSTEM FOR TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE ISSUE. LOSING POWER WHILE PULLING OUT INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND EXPERIENCING A POWER LOSS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR CAME WITH HANKOOK OPTIMA H426 TIRES AND I SWITCHED TO YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR (V RATED) TIRES BELIEVING THE ISSUE WAS THE TIRES. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH 33 YEARS OF DRIVING AND HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING FROM LIGHT ACCELERATION, FEATHERING THE ACCELERATOR, USING THE S MODE OF THE TIPTONIC TRANSMISSION AND USING THE TIPTRONIC CONTROL IN D MODE TO HOLD THE TRANSMISSION IN THE LOWER GEAR AND TRYING TO START IN A HIGHER GEAR TO REDUCE THE TORQUE TO THE WHEELS, BUT THE TIPTRONIC WILL NOT ALLOW UPSHIFTING WHEN STOPPED. I RAISED THIS CONCERN WITH THE DEALERSHIP SINCE THE WHEEL HOP CAUSING BANGING OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAINST THE TRAVEL STOPS. THIS THUMPING AND EXTREME MOVEMENT OF THE SUSPENSION CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE DEALERSHIP STATES "IT IS PERFORMING TO SPECS AS DESIGNED." WELL THEN I THINK THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TR

1/10/2013

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT NIGHT. NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME TO KICK UP A ROCK, NO OVERPASSES FOR SOMETHING TO BE THROWN FROM. COMPLETELY RANDOM EXPLOSION. I HEARD A LOUD GUNSHOT SOUND, THEN SMALL GLASS PIECES RAINED DOWN ON MY HEAD AND FACE AND ALL OVER MY THREE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. LOOKED UP AND HEARD THE SOUND OF WIND AND SAW THE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID THEY WON'T REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO VW DIRECTLY AND THEY ARE DENYING THE CLAIM AS WELL. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY ARE NOT STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. THEY ARE LUCKY NOBODY WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN FOR THEM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

1/27/2014

THE RIGHT LOW BEAM LAMP REMAINS OFF, EVEN THOUGH THE BULB IS GOOD, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT OR IN REDUCED VISION. WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BACK OF THE BULB FIXTURE THE BULB ILLUMINATES BUT THEN TURNS OFF AGAIN ONCE THE PRESSURE IS REMOVED. THE CURRENT VW RECALL FOR THE SAME OR AT LEAST SIMILAR PROBLEM DOES NOT EXTEND TO THIS VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE HOOD HAS NEVER BEEN ROUGHLY CLOSED, UNLESS DONE DURING SERVICE AT A VW FACILITY. *TT

4/15/2014

WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF A 2012 VW PASSAT WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H426 TIRES. THE OPTIMO H426 TIRES THAT CAME INSTALLED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS WEBSITE THE TIRES HAVE A MANUFACTURER WARRANTY OF 60,000 MILES. SEE LINK BELOW. HTTP://WWW.HANKOOKTIREUSA.COM/SERV/WARRANTY.ASPX?PAGENUM=3&SUBNUM=1&CHILDNUM=1 HANKOOK WARRANTY DEPARTMENT IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE TIRES BECAUSE THE TIRES CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY STATE THAT THE PRODUCT ONLY HAS WARRANTY WHEN PURCHASED THROUGH A TIRE SHOP. MY LIMITED WARRANTY PAMPHLET THAT CAME WITH MY CAR DOES NOT STATE THAT THE MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE PRODUCT DOES NOT APPLY. A COPY OF THE WARRANTY CAN BE FOUND AT THE LINK BELOW. HTTP://HANKOOKTIREUSA.COM/SERV/ORIGINALEQUIP.ASPX?PAGENUM=3&SUBNUM=1&CHILDNUM=2 I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IN ASSISTING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AS MY TIRES ARE WORN BELOW THE 2/32NDS INCH AND THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY AND I. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

7/17/2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 03/04/15*LJ UPDATED 10/15/2015*JS

1/7/2015

ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS HAVE STOPPED WORKING INCLUDING THE HORN. THE AIRBAG ICON SHOWS AN "ERROR" MESSAGE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CRACKING SOUND WHEN IT TURNS. IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION #PE15010. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE: STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING/STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE (SCCM). DEALER WANTS OVER $ 500 TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 58,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2012. UPDATED 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN

7/13/2015

ALL STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS HAVE STOPPED WORKING INCLUDING THE HORN. THE AIRBAG ICON SHOWS AN "ERROR" MESSAGE. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CRACKING SOUND WHEN IT TURNS. IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION #PE15010. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE: STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING/STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODULE (SCCM). DEALER WANTS OVER $ 500 TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 58,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2012. UPDATED 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ UPDATED 11/22/2017*CN

7/13/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROL MODEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,500.

8/19/2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND, THE GEARS SHIFTED, AND THE VEHICLE DECREASED SPEED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

11/9/2015

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE DUE TO CLOGGING. VISIBILITY THROUGH WINDSHIELD WAS RESTRICTED DUE TO HEAVY FOGGING AND POOR DEFROSTER PERFORMANCE OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. CLEANING OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS NO HELP. THE FOGGING WOULD COME AND GO DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND WAS HEAVY AT TIMES. DIAGNOSIS TOOK SOME TIME DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD. GENERALLY A 3 YEAR OLD, WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WILL NOT HAVE A CLOGGED HEATER CORE. THE GRADUAL DIMINUTION OF HEAT DUE TO THE PROGRESSIVE CLOGGING CAUSED THE LACK OF FULL HEAT NOT TO BE APPARENT IN THE SPRING AND FALL MONTHS HOWEVER HEAVY FOGGING OCCURED DURING THESE SEASONS. IT WAS NOT UNTIL WINTER THAT THE LACK OF HEAT AND DEFROST WAS APPARENT. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE HEATER CORE ASSEMBLY THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED.

1/30/2016