2001 Volkswagen Passat: check engine light

Filed Oct 18, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 152,000 miles · TX

Abs module is out, can't get emissions passed unless I pay over 600 dollars. Also I don't have ABS, can't see if my check engine light means anything because I'm told it all gets re routed thorough the ABS module and can't get past that problem.

Filed Jun 24, 2010 · Engine · 51,000 miles · CA

Tl-the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen passat glx. While driving approximately 40 MPH the vehicle engine light came on. The contact stated he drove the vehicle to his destination. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop and he was told the catalytic converter needed replacing. The failure was constant since july 1, 2008. The vehicle has not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000 and the current mileage was 62,000. Vwb

Filed Sep 21, 2009 · Engine · 155,000 miles · IN

1. During my wife's morning commute the oil light stop engine light illuminated in our 2001.5 vw passat. Fortunately she was in a rural area and was able to get the car shut off immediately and coasted off the road without incident. 2. The failure was the result of severe oil coking with the 1.8t engine. Vw issued a notification letter dated august 2004 advising of the ?oil sludge? Problem. The letter states ?engine oil sludge occurs when old, dirty engine oil thickens and cannot continue to provide adequate engine lubrication.? The letter implies the issue is due to poor maintenance. In reality the failure is due to a latent design defect of improper heat rejection attribute of the engine sump. Basically not enough oil quantity and oil cooling capacity. The oil then cokes over time in a similar manner as is encountered on gas turbine engines under extreme temperatures. Eventually the coked particles accumulate and plugs the sump screen. The oil pump then resulting in the loss of oil pressure and engine failure. The loss of engine power at a critical time is a safety concern. 3. Fortunately as our car was not run without oil pressure I was able to save the engine. Vw would not honor the warranty despite providing a log book from all the maintenance performed from new. They required all receipts of oil changes. I perform all my own maintenance. Vw clearly has gamed the warranty and misrepresented the problem as poor maintenance and sludge. I have always changed the oil every 5k miles. This cost me nearly $2k in parts not including my labor. This is a major repair. The oil pump, sump screen, all crank case ventilation lines, turbo lines, etc. Had to be replaced. There was coffee grounds (coked oil) throughout the engine. What a mess. I hold a bs in aero engr tech and faa a&p license. I run the aftermarket for a large gas turbine engine mfg. I know engine design and warranty gaming when I see it.

Filed Apr 20, 2009 · Engine · 142,000 miles · MN

2001 1/2 volkswagen passat station wagon, manual, 1.8t persistent issues with ignition coils, and check engine light over 8 years.

Filed Nov 12, 2007 · Engine · 85,925 miles · GA

2001 passat 1.8l turbo. Car's engine pressure warning light came on. The car was towed to dwight harrison volkswagen. They checked the oil pressure and said it was fine. They changed the oil and said the oil pressure indicator might have been caused by not using a vw oil filter. Not one mention of the oil sludge problem that has been prevalent with this engine. Drove the car for around 5000 miles without any more problems. Then the oil pressure light came back on intermittently. I towed the car into heritage vw who said it could be an oil sludge problem but that I'll have to authorize 5 hours of labor to tell for sure (about $500). I cannot find all of my oil change receipts and vw won't advise if they will cover any of the repair until I spend the $500. What am I supposed to do after they've taken my car apart and I'll already spent $500 getting a diagnosis? I never received the letter vw said they sent about the problem in 2004. I've had the oil changed at vw dealerships after they acknowledged the problem in 2004 yet the dealership never once asked if I'd like to put in synthetic oil. Don't they have any responsibility for the faulty design of the turbo engine? Don't the dealers have a responsibility to tell you of the problem when you are getting the oil changed? This is typical of vw dealerships - they want you to spend money while they have a guessing game about the problem. They did this with a transmission problem I had, the cooling system and the check engine light.

Filed Nov 9, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · CA

2001 volkswagen passat check engine and oil pressure lights illuminating. Consumer states that the vehicle also experienced a loss of power and engine made a whining noise.

Filed Aug 8, 2007 · Engine · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen passat. She stated that the check engine light remained illuminated. The dealer stated that the engine coolant temperature sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that they would make the repair; however, there would be a charge. The current mileage was 67,000 and the failure mileage was unavailable.

Filed Feb 12, 2007 · Engine · GA

I have a 2001 volkswagen passat and the check oil pressure stop engine light came on yesterday. The oil level is fine. We had an oil change the day before. The car had to be towed to the volkswagen dealership. This comes three months after we had to send it to volkswagen to have a cooling problem worked on which cost over 3,000. They were told to fix anything that was wrong with the car.

Filed Jul 28, 2006 · Engine · 62,000 miles · VA

We have a 2001 passat and put about 10k miles/year. The car has been serviced about twice every year at our local vw dealership since we bought it new. We originally bought the car with safety in mind. While driving on the interstate about a week ago, the engine light came on. The car seized/stalled as I was getting off the interstate. This could easily have LED to a serious accident. I had the car towed to our dealership. Once they realized what had happened, they became very hostile. They asked us for all of our records. They had incomplete ones for us as the dealership had changed hands a few years ago. We have almost every record but this will not suffice for them. They are asking for half of the 11k repair bill (and suggested that we repair it and trade in for one of their used cars). What really bothers us is that part of the problem of missing records is due to the dealership. The other issue is that when the car had failed, the tow guy showed me that the oil cap was encrusted with sludge. When I pointed this out to the dealership and that while they probably would have seen this at the last oil change, that they are under no obligation to inform the customer of such a potential hazard. This is a major safety concern and vw/vw dealerships should be obliged to watch for this and at least suggest an engine flush. After too much trust, we are very disappointed with vw for this. They should know better.

Filed Jun 13, 2006 · Engine · 53,000 miles · CA

My 2001 passat------my husband and I were driving on the freeway, the stop engine light appeared in big red lettering and proceeded to say that the oil pressure was low. We got to a gas station and checked the oil and it looked fine. Got home and looked again with better lighting, still the same. We had the vehicle towed to the dealership. There the service center had told us that this was due to "oil sludge" and will be covered under our extended warranty if documentation was provided for all oil change services. Not to mention the vehicle was purchase in 2001 with 6 miles and has only got 53000 now in 2006. I have gotten the routine oil changes up to date and they are requiring me to show proof of all oil changes. I would like to know who keeps every oil change receipt!!! This is insane. I am so fed up with the way vw is taking care of this issue, they are using this as an excuse so that they do not have to repair my vehicle. I am still in the process of trying to find all the "documentation" that is needed. I can not believe that less than 3 weeks of my last oil change vw still will not provide me with moderate service. I will never, repeat never buy another vehicle or recommend vw to anyone!! I have read all other similar complaints and I can see that vw has no remorse for the fishy service it is providing. I will take this action further. I just wonder how many people got there vehicles with the "sludge" covered under warranty??? Why even purchase the warranty if it is not covering the problem???

Filed Sep 29, 2005 · Engine · 73,000 miles · CA

The check engine light came on with a message display of "emissions workshop!" around 73k mi. The car dealer I bought it from thought it might be the o2 sensors, but it turned out not be to. I took it to the local vw dealer and they told me that it was a "recall/service bulletin" problem of some sort so they reset my onboard computer. The check engine light came on again with the same message shortly there after. I took it in to the vw dealer again and they replaced both of my catalytic converters (which were covered by the vw emissions warranty). This seemed to have resolved the problem. (the problem occurred the same day I purchased the vehicle so it would be a good assumption that this problem had occurred before I attained the vehicle).

Filed Jul 19, 2005 · Airbags · 54,000 miles · MN

Dt: caller said the air bags deployed without warning. While driving caller said both curtin air bags deployed over the doors. Caller said he did not have a crash or hit a bump. Caller said an engine warning light came on ,and there wa sa blinking warning light. Caller made appointment to have it looked at, but did not make it before the air bag deployed. Vehicle was at dealer, and they said they have never seen this before. Manufacturer has not been contacted yet.