2003 Volkswagen Passat: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Aug 21, 2009 · Acceleration · 54,800 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. The contact stated while driving with the cruise control function at 72 MPH and attempting to decrease speed, the cruise control would not disengage. She applied pressure to the brakes and the vehicle accelerated. The contact was forced to drive into a median; however, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle which caused the driver to crash into two metal poles causing the air bags to deploy. The contact sustained minor injuries of powder burn from the air bag. A police report was filed. The vehicle was inspected by an insurance adjuster who determined that the vehicle was destroyed; however, the failure is still under investigation. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 54,800.

Filed Jul 21, 2007 · Lights · 34,540 miles · PA

Twice, the rear brake lights remained on uncontrollably - intermittently at first, then permanently. This failure was trouble-shot and repaired by the dealer both times. In each case, the brake light switch had failed. From studying the switch part numbers, it appears the suffix has also twice changed to a later version - although I don't believe they were installed in that order in my car (see pn's below). I believe I have the latest version currently installed. This is an unacceptable failure mode, as it not only is a safety issue (driving around with brake lights continuously on, but if left on for prolonged period, the rear brake light bulb sockets get extremely hot and in my opinion have a good chance to melt the plastic socket/reflectors and possibly catch fire. More importantly, the ABS and cruise control become inop, the throttle body alignment is disturbed causing the car to behave terribly on acceleration and many cel-type light illuminate on the instrument panel. Failures occurred: 1st time: @ 34540mi, 4/7/2005. 2nd time: @ 49,746mi, 5/24/2006. Orig s/w pn 3b094551a (from factory). 2nd s/w/1st replacement pn 3b0945511_ (assume basic pn), 3rd s/w/2nd replacement pn 3b0945511b). I have never had to change the brake light switch on my 1984 vw scirocco - I'm the original owner and had driven it over 174k miles! A failed brake light switch on this passat has much greater impact (lights, ABS, throttle, cruise control) when it fails than it would on the scirocco (just lights), and it was the passat brake light s/w that failed twice - due to poor design/reliability. Amazing and unacceptable.

Filed Jun 25, 2007 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. The contact has had the vehicle repaired, however, several failures continue to recur. The failures include the instrument panel lights, cruise control, heated seats, the regulator pin in the passenger side rear window, the glove compartment, and the head lights. The failures were noticed while driving 40 MPH. The current mileage is 109,000 and failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed May 4, 2007 · Lights · 67,700 miles · OK

The brake light switch on my 2003 volswagen passat had failed sometime before I purchased the car. It was purchased on april 23, 2007. This failure caused the brake lights not to light when the brake was pressed and the cruise control not to function. The car was repaired at a cost of $129.00 using a replacement brake switch.

Filed Jan 12, 2007 · Fuel system · 29,000 miles · IL

Relative to the federal safety agency recall 06v017000, my 2003 volkswagen 1.8t passat, which I purchased as a certified used vehicle with 25k miles, experienced what later was determined to be a fuel-pump failure at approximately 29k miles. This incident occurred in october 2004, while I was traveling at highway speed on a rural interstate following a weekend trip to a neighboring state. I had been using the cruise control to travel at the 65 MPH speed limit, and had accelerated to pass a semi-tractor-trailer. Having passed the truck, the cruise control did not kick back in as usual when I took my foot off the accelerator but, rather, the car lost power suddenly and completely. I was able to navigate to the side shoulder without property damage or injury, where I arranged for towing to the nearest town with a vw dealer (the tow-truck driver sent to retrieve me nearly was side-swiped/killed by a passing semi while loading my vehicle onto his flatbed, however). It being a sunday, my trip was disrupted and I was forced to stay overnight in the dealer locale until the problem could be addressed the following day. Because a new fuel pump was not in stock and could not be delivered for another 2 days, I returned home in a rental car and arranged to have my car transported to my local dealership once the repair was completed, which turned out to be some 9 days later. Expenses of the disruption were reimbursed completely by vw of america. I became aware of the subsequent recall only recently via an internet website on vw passat mechanical problems. I have not been contacted by vw about the recall, but I presume that it was because my defective fuel pump had been replaced before the recall action was initiated.

Filed Aug 30, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · CT

2003 volkswagen passat consumer request for early termination of the lease.***no answer required***. *mr the consumer made the request due to the numerous mechanical problems such as a defective purge valve, right front head light, the vehicle overheated and started t o smoke due to a faulty water pump. The brake light would not shut off and the right head light went out for the second time. The brake light switch was replaced. The cruise control would not disengage. The vehicle would not start at times.

Filed Aug 26, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 40,000 miles · AL

Have had nothing but problems with this lemon. * 500 miles cruise control fails, has to be replaced. * 16,000 miles ignition coil fails, replaced coil and mass air flow sensor. * 28,000 miles fan in dash diagnosed as faulty and needing to be replaced. Parts ordered, never installed. * 40,000 miles oil pump and oil hoses are replaced due to oil pressure failures. Car broke down on road. * 44,159 miles oil pressure switch replaced due to oil pressure failures. * 46,000 miles fuel pump failure, replaced under warranty. Car broke down on road. Volkswagen has a problem with these cars and "oil sludge". Vw refuses to fix my car under warranty. Last word was "we reserve the right to refuse any warrany claim, regardless of documentation of oil changes." I've talked to several dealerships and it's a #1 problem with these cars comming in for ruined engines and oil sludge. Vw is refusing to pay for fixing the problems in most cases. I've got all documentation, original paperwork when purchased, etc.

Filed Mar 23, 2003 · Electrical · TX

Loss of power to climate control, cruise control, headlights (low beam), some interior lights, radio display, steering wheel controls, home link transmitter. Apparent short in driver side sun visor. Visor was replaced under warranty and everything returned to normal.