Bad heater core needed to be replaced after 48,000 miles. Dealer service unwilling to cover repairs.
2001 Volkswagen Passat visibility complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 31 of 31, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was traveling at freeway speed outside of pendelton oregon when the wind blew my sun roof off of my car. The sun roof was closed, and the car just erupted and the roof was literally peeled off the top of my car. I have taken photos of the problem, and it seems volkswagen is using a plastic caliper system to connect the sunroof glass assembly to the drive mechanics on the motor driven carraige. The plastic fatigued because of use and volkswagen could care less. The new assemblage is $2200 and there is no second choice, purchase the entire assembly or go without a sunroof..... After calling volkswagen and getting nowhere I am proceeding to small claims court in oregon for pursiut of my money back.
Sunroof area rattles / klunks occasionally over bumps. Payed $69.95 fee and dealer could not diagnose the problem.
For the third time in 6.5 months, the rear passenger window on my 2001 volkswagen passat wagon has shattered. The previous two occurrences were reported earlier. This time the car was parked in the parking lot at work and the window was open a few inches. Upon returning to my car after work around noon, I found the window shattered again and shards of glass all over the inside of the car. After the previous incident, the volkswagen representative indicated that there was not a defect in the car. He felt that outside influences caused the problem. That is difficult to believe after the third occurrence.
Heat exchanger (heater core) failure at 50004 miles.
Rear passenger window shattered while parked in garage. This occurred twice within a 5 month period. This complaint is filed for the most recent event. The first event occurred on 10/30/2003. The first time the window shattered it was closed. The second time it shattered,the window was open a few inches.
Heater core failed 2.5 years old.
While driving, the passenger side door glass exploded into the vehicle. The sound was like a gun shot. There were thousands of glass pieces. The window was completely destroyed. Much of the glass fell in, causing minor cuts to the passenger. Some of the glass fell down inside the door. There were no visible defects in the window (cracks, stars, etc.) and nothing impacted the window to cause it to break.
Windshield wipers do not work on rainy days making it difficult to see out the windshield. A lady hit my car on the right side collapsing that side along the doors and some of the rear and the air bag did not deploy. I put my feet on accelerator for speed and the car refuses to respond. The more I accelerate the slower the car goes.
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.
Electronic mirror turns completly black from dusk to dawn when autos are following with headlamps on. Can cause accident as no visibility from mirror. Vw advised to put tape on sensor - 2002 model corrected with a switch. Same problem w/2001 jetta. Please help!
When front/left door was closed, glass for the window of right/rear door shattered. The problem has not been examined by dealership. *ak consumer stated the window was replaced under warranty.
I need to know if this defect as a hazard. My new 2001.5 passat wagon has a perceptible distortion, or rippling effect, in the front windshield; e.g., when seeing poles, trees, or building sidings while making a turn, or when viewing parkway exit signs while passing them. There's an accordion effect; vertical objects inchworm; letters expand and contract. Just moving my head from side to side by a few inches can produce this effect. I can't say yet that it's hazardous but it's certainly distracting. Meanwhile, I can't get the dealer to even sit in the driver's seat and tell me it's my imagination. when posted to passat users group following messages resulted: (1) I've seen several reports of this. Time to get a new dealer. You should get new glass under warranty. (2) my '99 was 5000 miles new when I realized the windshield had a distortion and ripple effect. They replaced it no charge, but the second one is as bad as the first one. (3) has anyone with a '99 b5 noticed distortions in the front and rear glass? I've had my windshield and rear glass replaced under warranty, and the new glass is also distorted - although not quite as bad as the original. (4) when I recently had a genuine new vw windscreen installed after damage I noticed an optical distortion right of my straight ahead vision. This is disgraceful quality control from a major motor manufacturer and their authorized repair dealer. (5) there appears to be a defect in the passenger side of the windshield. A wavy, vertical line. The service manager looked at mine and found it right away, he also told me it was noted on several new 2000's on the lot, and that another customer has a really serious problem with it. Check the windshield by looking out at a straight line, the side of a building or a pole, and moving your eyes up and down as well as right and left. Vw is aware of the problem. Im not having the windshield replaced, especially after their mess made on a simple oil change.
While driving consumer noted a blurred vision on right side of glass, making everything distorted. Horizontal lines look choppy and guard rails look wobbly. Contacted dealer, and dealer replaced windshield on july 5th and had same problem. Also, dealer wanted to replace windshield again.*ak consumer states windshield also has stress fractures that look like strands of a cobweb, dealer states this is not a defect and that this is normal.
Purchased car brand new and noticed distortion on front windshield later that day. Contacted dealership and they replaced it with one that has even more distortions. I stressed strongly to examine prior to putting in and they didn't. After much complaining to vw of america they agreed to put in windshield #3 but can not promise it won't have bad distortions. They say passat windshield are just that way. I have never had such poor qaulity glass in any previously owned vehicles. I'm also disappointed that they don't care. I posted on vw board and received many responses from other passat owners who also have this problem across the USA. At this point don't want my car torn apart for another defective piece of glass. I could get a generic windshield (haven't looked into that yet) but prefer a vw windshield for warranty and looks without vertical distortions causing things to appear wavy while driving.
See odi 746847: connect error on following. my new 2001.5 passat wagon has a perceptible distortion, or rippling effect, in the front windshield; e.g., when seeing poles, trees, or building sidings while making a turn, or when viewing parkway exit signs while passing them. There's an accordion effect; vertical objects inchworm; letters expand and contract. Just moving my head from side to side by a few inches can produce this effect. I can't say yet that it's hazardous but it's certainly distracting. Meanwhile, I can't get the dealer to even sit in the driver's seat and tell me it's my imagination. when posted to passat users group following messages resulted: (1) I've seen several reports of this. Time to get a new dealer. You should get new glass under warranty. (2) my '99 was 5000 miles new when I realized the windshield had a distortion and ripple effect. They replaced it no charge, but the second one is as bad as the first one. (3) has anyone with a '99 b5 noticed distortions in the front and rear glass? I've had my windshield and rear glass replaced under warranty, and the new glass is also distorted - although not quite as bad as the original. (4) when I recently had a genuine new vw windscreen installed after damage I noticed an optical distortion right of my straight ahead vision. This is disgraceful quality control from a major motor manufacturer and their authorized repair dealer. (5) there appears to be a defect in the passenger side of the windshield. A wavy, vertical line. The service manager looked at mine and found it right away, he also told me it was noted on several new 2000's on the lot, and that another customer has a really serious problem with it. Check the windshield by looking out at a straight line, the side of a building or a pole, and moving your eyes up and down as well as right and left. Vw is aware of the problem. Im not having the windshield replaced, especially after their mess made on a simple oil change.
After I posted the following message to the passat users group: my new 2001.5 passat wagon has a perceptible distortion, or rippling effect, in the front windshield. For example, when seeing poles, trees, or building sidings while making a turn, or when viewing highway exit signs while passing them on the parkway. There's an accordion effect; vertical objects inchworm; letters expand and contract. Just moving my head from side to side by a few inches can produce this effect. I can't say yet that it's hazardous but it's certainly distracting. Meanwhile, I can't get the dealer to even sit in the driver's seat and tell me it's my imagination. I was referred to the following messages: (1) I've seen several reports of this. Time to get a new dealer. You should get new glass under warranty. (2) my '99 was 5000 miles new when I realized the windshield had a distortion and ripple effect. They replaced it no charge, but the second one is as bad as the first one. (3) has anyone with a '99 b5 noticed distortions in the front and rear glass? I've had my windshield and rear glass replaced under warranty, and the new glass is also distorted - although not quite as bad as the original. (4) when I recently had a genuine new vw windscreen installed after damage I noticed an optical distortion right of my straight ahead vision. This is disgraceful quality control from a major motor manufacturer and their authorized repair dealer. (5) there appears to be a defect in the passenger side of the windshield. A wavy, vertical line. The service manager looked at mine and found it right away, he also told me it was noted on several new 2000's on the lot, and that another customer has a really serious problem with it. Check the windshield by looking out at a straight line, the side of a building or a pole, and moving your eyes up and down as well as right and left. Vw is aware of the problem. I am not having the windshield replaced, especially after the mess they made on a
While driving rear passenger's window exploded without warning. Just prior to explosion, had just closed window.*ak
There is a defect and distortion in my windshield in my line of vision. I believe ( after inspecting similar passats ) that this defect and distortion is present on a number of vehicles that vw produced. At this time, the manufacturer is unwilling to authorize a replacement. I am sending in this complaint to see if others have made a similar complaint. I believe the problem can be a potential safety hazard that vw is not willing to solve.
Transmission makes vibration noise when upshifting, the noise seems to be coming from the left rear, dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. Nlm
While driving windshield wipers malfunctioned, causing visual difficulty which could result in a crash. Occupant found out that windshield wiper washer fluid reservoir was low, and filled it up, at which windshield wipers were operating.
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