1995 Volkswagen Passat visibility problems

Filed Jan 14, 2009 · Visibility · 165,000 miles · PA

Heater core "doors " melted from the r type antifreeze breaking down to an acid. This cause the heatercore to break, antifreeze entered the car through the vents and also oddly enough filled the gauge cluster with steam fogging the cluster. It's $800 for a replacement so I bought a fitting and some hose clamps and bypasses the heater core so I could still operate the vehicle when it wasn't too cold. However when operating the vehicle in cold weather all the windows had to be down due to your body heat causing all glass in the vehicle to fog. Replaced the heater core in january, flushed the radiator and installed regular type 50/50 antifreeze and not the vw r-type fluid to prevent break down into acid again.

Filed Mar 6, 2006 · Visibility · 142,900 miles · MN · crash

95 passat heater core rupture filling the vehicle cabin with hot radiator fluid and steam. Windshield became coated with anti-freeze solution that just smeared and could not be wiped off. Vehicle left the road into the ditch. I will bypass the heater core for I can't afford to have it repaired at this time. Contacted vwoa and no specific recalls have been issued.

Filed Dec 5, 2005 · Visibility · 134,000 miles · PA

Dt: contact stated while driving at 35 MPH. The vents started steaming. The vehicle was then towed to a mechanic. They performed a diagnostics test, which indicated that the heater core malfunctioned. The vehicle was not at a local dealership, and no repairs have been made.

Filed Jun 17, 2005 · Visibility · 130,853 miles · GA · 1 injury

1. Normal driving on a surburban road at about 45mph. All of a sudden, smoke/steam from the vents, a completely fogged windshield, a sweet smell, and scalding hot coolant onto my feet, almost causing me to hit a pedestrian walking alongside the road. 2. It was the heater core. A very common problem to 80's and 90's vw passenger cars. So now I have no working heater (luckily its summer) and my car wont reach its max cooling capacity. Thus, car runs hot. 3. Because I am a college student and cannot afford a $1200usd fix, I have bypassed it with a copper u-pipe. The part is avalible, and vwoa have done a massive number of 'good-will' fixes. I'm still talking with them to come of with a resolution.

Filed Mar 17, 2005 · Visibility · WV · 1 injury

Heater core on the vr6 powered vehicles is the valeo brand, known to fail. It just blews coolant through the dash vents all over the coupe inside.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 175,000 miles · UN

Timing chain stretched and valves went against pistons. Engine light goes on and off all the time. Ignition switch fail and lights go off. Right window doesn't work. Ignition coil is defective.

Filed Apr 1, 2003 · Visibility · 31,750 miles · CA

The heater core ruptured.

Filed Dec 30, 2002 · Seat belts, Visibility · IL

While driving at normal speed consumer felt that vehicle suddenly went from drive to neutral, then back to drive. Took vehicle to dealer ,and they replaced a part. Consumer is not aware of which part was replaced problem stopped. Currently, sunroof and rear seat belts are not working. Consumer owns a 1996 not in the dims system. Please provide any further information. Ts

Filed May 16, 2001 · Visibility · NE

The rear power window motors have failed to operate on several occasions. After removing the door panels and checking the wiring for good contacts, the windows will opperate for a short while. I see this as a potential safety problem due to the fact that one might be trapped in the vehicle and unable to escape by other means than the window. If you were not able to open the window, you can't escape. My kids ride back there.

Filed May 15, 2001 · Visibility · VA

Electric rear window stuck in down position. Vehicle brough to auto-glass shop to repair. Interior door panel removed for repair. Cause of damage was a wire bundle that had rubbed against a sharp metal edge on interior of door. Two wires were exposed and were arching to the door when the window button was depressed. These sparks are a potential fire hazard.