While driving at any speed at night in inclement conditions headlights and windshield wipers worked intermittently. Consumer stated, if he moved the key back and forth in the ignition switch the headlights would come back on.
1997 Volkswagen Passat visibility complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 16 of 16, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Numerous ocassions my passat will "shut down" while driving. Lose all power, A/C, headlights, windshield wipers, and numerous other power related items. This has happened while driving on the interstate and luckily I was able to pull over before being hit, or hitting someone.
On top of all the chronic design and other failures that have been endured, add the following : drivers outside rear view mirror - lens falls off on own accord. Also, although not immediately safety related - passenger side visor plastic holes broke out so screws will not hold visor in place.
Sunroof suddenly and loudly exploded outwards from cabin after about 10 minutes of driving with heat on high/medium high at approx 65 MPH. Sliding sunroof partition was open. Only a few pieces of glass fell into cabin, but entire sunroof was shattered into thousands of uniform pieces, expanding outward from cabin and remaining in a slightly outwards expanded shape.
Heater core failed spontaneously, causing massive amounts of sweet smelling white/grey smoke and hot mist to fill the passenger compartment, causing a total visual obstruction to the driver and choking/coughing of a 5 year old passenger. The driver, my daughter, manager to pull safely off the busy road (us rt 1), but she and her child were very shaken by the event. The failure of the heater core could have caused a fatality! I have reported the incident to vw of america. I expected to hear back today from the vw dealership, but did not. I requested that they pay in entirety for the repair. The service manager was resistant, as there has been no recall on this model vw, although there have been on many others. The car has been a lemon, very expensive to maintain. It was a model built either in brazil or mexico. After the warranty expired with the dealer, we took the vehicle to a certified vw mechanic who was meticulous about maintaining the vehicle mechanically--we have detailed computerized documentation. Nevertheless, there has been an ongoing problem with the doors and locks, either the doors not staying securely latched during driving, problems with the power windows, and now the doors may be locked from the outside only--not when one is driving and wishes security. I did not report this to vw. I will be delighted if they come through for me on the heater core. One thing at a time.
While driving at any speed and without prior warning chemical fumes are coming through the vents. Dealer stated heater core failed.
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