2002 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls

COIL PACKS DEFECTIVE IN 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - DEALER SAID THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY VOLKSWAGEN. BUT VW REFUSED TO REPLACE ALL COIL PACKS EXCEPT THE ONE THAT FAILED, EXPOSING DRIVERS TO FURTHER FAILURES (QUITE POSSIBLY IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION)

Owner-reported narrative. 16,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000095 at NHTSA ↗

MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND RAN VERY ROUGHLY. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO AN OFF RAMP BEFORE STOPPING THE CAR. I CALLED THE VW ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I HAD MY WIFE, MY SON, MY SISTER IN LAW, AND MY DOG, SO FINDING A WAY HOME WAS NOT EASY. I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS STILL WITHIN MY "HOME" AREA, AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A FRIEND WITH A LARGE ENOUGH CAR. AFTER THE DEALER OPENED THE NEXT DAY, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A COIL PACK THAT HAD GONE BAD AND THE PAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000192 at NHTSA ↗

THE COIL PACK HAS FAILED ON MY VW 2002 PASSAT 1.8T. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN ITS CONDITION. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS A PART FAILURE AND HE WASN'T SUPRISED. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THEM LATELY AND THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. LATER THAT NIGHT I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND I FIND OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE 2002 1.8T ENGINE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. (VWVORTEX.COM OR GOOGLE.COM "VW COIL PACKS") SOMETHING WITH THE COLD WEATHER AFFECTS THE COIL PACKS. VW SHOULD RECALL THES…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000198 at NHTSA ↗

COIL PACK FAILED FIVE TIMES. NO ANSWERS FROM VW.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000232 at NHTSA ↗

ONE OF THE COLI PACKS FAILED ON MY CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES. THE CAR RAN VERY ROUGH AND HAD A VERY NOTICABLE LOSS OF POWER. A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD AND THE MANUAL SAID THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND SHOULD BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS AFRAID THAT IF I WAS IN A SITUATION WHERE THE CAR NEEDED TO ACCELERATE QUCIKLY THAT AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000248 at NHTSA ↗

2002 VW PASSANT. I AM TOLD THAT ALL LATE 2001 AND ALL 2002 MODELS WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINES WHERE SUPPLIED WITH DEFECTIVE INGITION COILS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN MY CAR BREAKING DOWN THREE TIMES. IT EITHER SPONTANISLY (SP) LOSES POWER OR LOSES ALL POWER AND THE CAR SHAKES. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DEADLY IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. VW NORTH AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE ALL 4 COILS. THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THEM AS THEY FAIL. THIS MEANS THAT FOR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS, THEY EACH HAVE FOUR CHANCES TO BE INVOLVED IN A WRECK WHEN THE EN…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000258 at NHTSA ↗

ONE OF FOUR COIL PACKS (A.K.A. IGNITION COILS) FAILED IN MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO. UPON PHONING THE DEALERSHIP, I FOUND THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 20 OTHER CARS ON THEIR LOT WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. IN ORDER TO APPEASE THEIR CUSTOMERS, THE DEALER HAD BEEN PULLING THE PART OUT OF 2003 MODELS, BUT THEY RAN OUT OF CARS TO CANNIBALIZE. I HAVE FURTHER LEARNED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN LATE MODEL VW'S AS WELL AS AUDI'S WITH THE 1.8L ENGINE, AND ALTHOUGH VW IS AWARE O…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000272 at NHTSA ↗

COIL PACK FAILURE. DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO BROKEN COILS ON PREVIOUS INCIDENTS - CURRENTLY AWAITING REPLACEMENT FOR THIRD INCIDENT. VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE - MUST BE TOWED. SYMPTOMS INDICATED BY FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT ON DASH AND VERY ROUGH IDLING. NO INDICATION OF WHEN REPLACEMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE - CAR IS IN DEALER SERVICE LOT TWO WEEKS. DEALER HAS REPORTED THAT 17 OTHER PASSATS ARE ALSO AWAITING REPLACEMENT. VW MUST ISSUE A RECALL OR SERVICE ADVISORY TO REPLACE ALL COILS NOT JUST BAD ONES.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,567 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000290 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-01-25 (January 25, 2002)

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAN SUFFER ABRASION DAMAGE IF THE REAR TIRE GOES FLAT AND THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNTIL THE TIRE DISINTEGRATES.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL FIT PASSAT VEHICLES WITH A NEW WHEEL HOUSE LINER THAT WILL BETTER PROTECT THE CAR'S FILLER NECK. JETTA VEHICLES WILL BE FITTED WITH A DIFFERENT METAL SHIELD DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ABRASION PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF TIRE DISINTEGRATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)

CERTAIN SEDANS AND STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L W8 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRES OF THE MAXIMUM LOAD RATING INDEX 93H; HOWEVER, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH TIRES WITH THE LOAD RATING INDEX 97H.

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH TIRES HAVING THE LOAD RATING INDEX 97H.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES WITH THE PROPER SIZE TIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2008-04-07 (April 7, 2008)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL LINE (1.8T ENGINES ONLY) OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE.

Consequence: A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. IN ADDITION, 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS AND FLASH ALL 1.8T ENGINES WITH A PRECAUTIONARY SOFTWARE UPDATE. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT AND ADJUST THE FUEL LINE ROUTING ON 1.8T VEHICLES AND THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.