2006 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls

IMPENDING HEALTH RISK TO USERS OF THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HERE IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I RECENTLY SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN, THEIR (SAD) RESPONSE, AND MY REPLY ================================================= DATE: FRI, 21 OCT 2005 08:39:08 -0700 (PDT) FROM: "CATT" <[email removed]> TO: "VIC WEB RESPONSES" <[email removed]> HOW ABOUT YOU READ MY EMAIL AGAIN? I DID NOT SAY YOUR AD WAS OFFENSIVE--I SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS. ARE YOU ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JACK IN THE BOX DEBACLE? VIC WEB RESPONSES <[email removed]> WROTE: DEAR CATT, THA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140486 at NHTSA ↗

HERE IS THE ENTIRE UNABRIDGED VERSION OF MY FIRST EMAIL TO VOLKSWAGEN REGARDING THE HEALTH SAFETY ISSUES OF LISTING THEIR GLOVE BOX AS A MINI-REFRIGERATOR. THIS ADDENDUM CAN BE ATTACHED TO COMPLAINT WITH THE CONFIRMATION # 10140486 PREVIOUSLY SENT TO YOU {YOUR SYSTEM WOULD ONLY ALLOW FOR 2000 CHARACTERS} THANKS, CATT ================================================= -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [email removed] [MAILTO:[email removed]] SENT: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005 3:44 AM TO: [email removed] SUBJECT: MARKETING / PUBLIC …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140487 at NHTSA ↗

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM. AFTER ENGAGING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTO THE ON POSITION THEY B WORKED INTERMEDIATELY BASED ON SPEED AT WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. THIS ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED A SPEED OF MORE THAN 5 MPH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED PROPERLY. THE CONTACT FELT THERE MAY BE A COMPUTER PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE MA…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146005 at NHTSA ↗

DECEMBER 23 - LEASED A BRAND NEW 2006 PASSAT. DROVE OFF THE LOT AND ON TO THE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO WASH WINDOWS, WINDOW SPRAY WORKED, WIPERS DID NOT. STOPPED TO CHECK OWNERS MANUAL, I WAS USING THE EQUIPMENT PROPERLY. THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, BASICALLY WORKING AT WILL. DECEMBER 24 - DEALERSHIP CLOSED, DECEMBER 25 DEALERSHIP CLOSED AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CAR, FEARING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WITH REGARD TO THE WIPERS. DECEMBER 26 - TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY PUT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 140 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146855 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN MATERIAL FOR THE LEATHER SEATS AND HEADREST. VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY FOR THE LIMITED NEW VEHICLE. I WANTED TO A INDEPENDENT AUTO INTERIOR SPECIALIST, WHO SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. YET, VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT'S NORMAL AND SAID THE OTHER VEHICLES ARE THE SAME. HOWEVER, WHEN ASKED TO SEE THE OTHER VEHICLES THERE WAS NONE AVAILABLE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149288 at NHTSA ↗

LTR FM (PA) OWNER OF A 2006 PASSAT DEFECTIVE SEATING QUESTION WHY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED DOT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEATER SEATS BURNED HIM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10150865 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A 2006 PASSAT FROM GRAHAM AUTOMOTIVE IN SIOUX FALLS, SD ON DECEMBER 20, 2005. ON FRIDAY, FEB 24TH WHEN DRIVING ON I-229 IN TOWN I THOUGHT I HEARD SOME SORT OF NOISE IN THE TRUNK. UPON GETTING TO MY DESTINATION, I NOTICED A SMELL LIKE GASOLINE, I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE RIGHT FRONT SECTION OF THE GAS TANK. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS 2 MILES AWAY. THEY PUT IT UP ON THE RACK AND HAD ALREADY DETERMINED IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I LOOKED AT THE GAS TA…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151544 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP, THE RPM GAUGE NEEDLE GAVE SPORADIC READINGS. WHILE THE RPM READINGS WERE INACCURATE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS QUICKLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,526 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151856 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIE ROD SECURING NUT MAY BE INSUFFICIENTLY TORQUED.

Consequence: AN INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED TIE ROD NUT MAY LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD. THIS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL NEW LEFT AND RIGHT TIE ROD SECURING NUTS AT THE PROPER TORQUED SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 7, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.

Reported: 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)

ON CERTAIN '6' GENERATION PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DURING HEAVY RAIN DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE ENTERING THE WIPER MOTOR. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE WIPERS CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPECIAL COVER AND SEALING KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.

Reported: 2006-12-12 (December 12, 2006)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L ENGINE WITH 147 KW MAY HAVE A VACUUM LINE THAT MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME DISCONNECTED AT LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES POSSIBLY INCREASING VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED VACUUM LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.

Reported: 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2006 Volkswagen Passat sedans and wagons, 2005-2013 Audi A3, and 2006-2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Reported: 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.

Reported: 2018-04-18 (April 18, 2018)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2007 Volkswagen Passat sedan and wagon vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q8. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-079.

Reported: 2024-10-30 (October 30, 2024)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.