2004 Volkswagen PHAETON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter: 1; Steering: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Structure:Body:Trunk Lid: 1; Suspension: 1; Suspension:Front: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10283155 · 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)
2004 VW PHAETON TRUNK WIRE HOUSING - THE SLEEVE OVER THE WIRE HOUSING CAME OFF AND THEN THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT COVERS THE WIRES BROKE AWAY FROM THE JOINT THAT ENABLES THE WIRES TO COMPRESS BACK INTO THE TRUNK LID WHEN IT IS CLOSED. WHEN HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED THE TRUNK LID BUT THE PLASTIC TUBE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN METAL AND REAR GLASS SHIELD. THE GLASS BROKE AND WAS REPLACE. 2 WEEKS LATER, WHILE HAVING THE 80,000 MILE SERVICE THE TECHNICIAN CLOSED THE TRUNK AND AGAIN THE PLASTIC PIECE WAS CAUGHT AND THE REAR GLASS…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283320 · 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)
CONTROL ARM GASKETS CORRODED ON ALL UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS LEADING TO METAL ON METAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323136 · 2010-04-01 (April 1, 2010)
2004 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON WITH FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO PAY FOR A $3,00 DOLLAR REPAIR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDER WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE HESITATION OF THE CONVERTER ENGAGING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS AND NEVER COULD FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY. HE FINALLY HAD AN INDEPENDENT ELECTRONIC CHECK DONE AND THE PROBLEMS WERE AS FOLLOWS; THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AT ALL TIMES. THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE ESP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10323136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10967077 · 2017-03-19 (March 19, 2017)
TRUNK EMERGENCY ESCAPE/ENTRAPMENT PREVENTION HANDLE NOT WORKING DUE TO DEFECTIVE TRUNK WIRING HARNESS. ONLY APPLIES TO VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRUNK.
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10967077 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.