While at a stop applied brakes and vehicle started to accelerate up to 50 MPH. Consumer could not stop vehicle, and it rearended another vehicle. No injuries, damage to vehicle unknown at this time.
2001 Volkswagen Passat acceleration complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 20 of 20, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Consumer stated the rear brake light was out, dealer replaced a bad bulb, also the headlights were shining low, dealer stated the headlights were out of range.
When at a stop or driving transmission will not shift to higher gear. Engine will race, RPM's go up, and vehicle will not accelerate. Vehicle has been taken to dealer 4 times, cannot remedy the problem.
Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer regarding gas tank sender replacement due to recall (01v‑157). After recall was done it failed again. *yh
On acceleration, the accelerator pedal stuck to the floor, causing rapid acceleration. Had I not put the vehicle into neutral, it would have caused a crash. Accelerator remained "floored" for 15-20 seconds; it repeated consistently when I re-tested it.
My vw passat has a problem with hesitation upon acceleration. My dealer has had other complaints but vw of america seems unaware of it and has not provided a fix. I am currently talking with vwoa and working my way up the chain of command. Picture this: I am leaving a gasoline station, accelerate slightly to the station exit, check traffic in the curb lane on a 45 MPH limit city street, see there is ample room to merge in front of the nearest car, press the accelerator - and nothing happens - for as long as 3 seconds! I now accommodate for the possibility of it happening by waiting for a large gap in traffic, sometimes to the irritation of the driver behind me. It is very bothersome: an accident waiting to happen. When the problem does occur, it is always at slow speed, around 10 MPH, after a short acceleration and after lifting my foot from the accelerator and reapplying pressure. The tachometer is at 1000 RPM and sits there for 1 to 3 seconds, then rises quickly to the point where the engine speed engages the transmission and acceleration begins. I have tried pumping the accelerator which does not seem to shorten the hesitation time.
There is a bizarre acceleration lag in vehicle when consumer applies pressure to gas pedal. Dealership examined vehicle for two weeks, and informed consumer that there was a problem with acceleration of vehicle, but would not inform him what problem was. When consumer attempted to contact better business bureau, dealership informed consumer that vehicle was operating normally. Please provide any additional descriptive information of the problem or attachments regarding this problem.
Auto has cruise control. The owner's manual indicates that there is a cruise control indicator light on the dashboard. When the cruise control is on/engaged, no indicator light shows on the dash. Morong vw (the falmouth, maine service center we use) and the vw customer service hotline indicate that despite the owner's manual statement that cars with cruise control have a cruise control indicator light, none is installed in 2001 vw passats. They both indicated that no repairs would be made to this problem, despite my request. In my view, it is potentially dangerous for there not to be an indicator showing the cruise control to be engaged. I've never owned a car or been in a car with cruise control that did not have such a light. Without the light, there is higher risk of inadvertent engagement, or failure to remember that the system is engaged, both potentially dangerous situations. Is there any regulation that requires such a light? Thanks for your time.
While driving about any MPH stepped off gas pedal and vehicle would not decelerate. Stepped on brake pedal, and vehicle will slow down. As soon as let brake pedal go, vehicle will accelerate again.
Cruise control was set at 65 MPH with about 400 miles on vehicle, and brakes did not turn off cruise control . Vehicle did not stop. Driver had to use emergency parking brake, and crashed into vehicle in front of him. Upon impact, driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupants. *ak vw did not give consumer a loaner car and could find nothing wrong with vehicle.
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