Front headlights malfunctioned - replaced them but they couldn't make the alignment of the beam. The car runs to the right but the wheels are calibrated and the direction alignment is done. The car infiltrated water inside the car and trunk. Sunroof malfunction - opens in all positions but don't close. The car as the front glass is from 2005 and all the others are from 2002, construction of the car 2003. Diesel escaped from the pump. Cd changer - 6 cds as malfunction the radio doesn't eject the cd's. The motor gag various times a constant rotation. The trunk was hard to open and close. There are other complaints.... The complaints begin 15 days from the purchase.
2003 Volkswagen Passat fuel system complaints
Page 5 of 7: complaints 101 to 130 of 169, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Last summer the fuel pump failed on the highway on my 2003 volkswagen passat VIN #[xxx]. The car was towed to vw and the fuel pump was replaced. During a search on the internet for recalls I noticed that there was a recall for the fuel pump on the car. When I looked deeper into the recall I found that my car is barely out of the VIN # recall range. I have also found that this is a large problem with other people being barely out of recall range. I think that the VIN # recall range is obviously short of what it should be since so many people are having this issue.. This is not normal wear and tear. Vwoa was not willing to help in this matter and I thought I should report it...*nm updated 07/11/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Tl* - the contact stated that a 2003 volkswagen passat stalled while driving at approximately 30 MPH. There were no warning indicators. The vehicle would not restart and was towed to a repair shop. The repair shop diagnosed the vehicle as having a bad fuel pump and replaced the part. The repair shop advised the contact there was a recent recall on fuel pump. The contact called the dealer and was told this vehicle was not a part of the recall due to the VIN. *ak updated 2/22/2007-
Car quits suddenly while driving; won't re-start. Was towed to dealer; replaced fuel pump.
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.
2003 volkswagen passat 1.8l fuel pump died without warning during rush hour in a very busy part of town. It caused a huge traffic jam, and I had the car towed to my house by aaa. I had my mechanic check it out and her verified that the fuel pump had died. The car has only 55k miles on it, which is very premature for a fuel pump failure. This is a recall item on 2003 passats built up until 3/03. My car was built on 4/03 and volkswagen refuses to cover the repair, nor fix it under warranty because my car is over the warranty mileage.
Fuel pump faliiure on 2003 vw passat car stalled on I-95 in the middle of highway traffic family was stranded on I-95 at 1:00am
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle made a clanging noise while pulling into a garage. When the brake was depressed, the pedal went all the way to the floor, and did not engage completely. There was no indication of a problem prior to the incident. A private repair shop was consulted, and determined the rear brakes needed to be replaced. The brake pads were replaced, the tires were rotated, and the oil was changed. During the subsequent test drive, the vehicle stalled completely while traveling 25 MPH. A service dealer was consulted by the private repair shop, and determined that the fuel pump had failed. The fuel pump was replaced. There was a the federal safety agency recall # 06v017000 which pertained to the fuel pump. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Dt*: the contact stated, recall # 06v017000; fuel pump (vw #m7) was received in the 2nd week of march 2006. When the service dealer was contacted for an appointment, the contact was informed the fuel pump was back ordered and the contact would be notified when the part was available. In may 2006 the part was still on back order. When the manufacturer was notified, the contact was referred back to dealer.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle had a recall (06v017000) for the fuel pump. The vehicle was on the waiting list to get the fuel pump replaced with the dealer for five months. The service dealer expressed the part was not available. The manufacturer expressed the fuel was unable to be obtained.
Consumer complaint against dealer and manufacturer refuse to repair the 2003 volkswagen passat under recall. *kb the dealer informed the consumer they couldn't perform the recall because there were no more fuel pumps available.
Dt*: the contact stated there was a recall notice received in march 2006. There were no problems with the vehicle before the recall notices was received; however the contact inquired six times as to when the part would be in and the dealership could not offer an estimate. The federal safety agency recall was # 06v017000 regarding the fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump. The parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts were not available.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 65 MPH, the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road and then towed to an independent repair shop. The repair shop determined the fuel pump needed to be replaced. There was a the federal safety agency recall, # 06v017000, regarding the fuel pump. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN. 08/29/06 vehicle was in left lane of 4 lane interstate when failure occurred. Driver had to move across all the lanes to safety.
At 44,400 miles and just 4,000 miles after fuel pump replaced the new fuel pump failed on my 2003 passat wagon. Both incidents occurred while driving the car on high traffic suburban washington dc streets. There was no warning and car came to an abrupt stop without time for me to signal the cars behind me. This is in addition to having to replace both front and rear rotors at about 20,00 miles as well as control arms. This seems to be an inordinate amount of service in only 3 years and 44,000 miles!
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle would not start due to a defective fuel pump. The vehicle was towed to the service dealer who determined the fuel pump was the cause of the problem. The fuel pump was replaced due to recall # m7 (the federal safety agency # 06v017000). The pump was replaced three times by the service dealer who determined the first two to be defective and the third pump failure due to ethanol mixture in the fuel. The manufacturer suggested several gas stations to be used that had been tested for ethanol content.
Over four months ago, I received volkswagen's safety recall m7 (applicable to 2003 vw passat's) regarding a defective fuel pump that may cause a car to "stall without warning and . . . Present a potential risk of crash." I immediately called a dealer to get the part replaced. Nothing has happened since. After months on a waiting list I am now leaving the washington dc area, and am told that there is a similar wait list (backed up for over 4 months) where I'm moving to. Volkswagen's delay and refusal to cure the fuel pump defect is simply unacceptable. I strongly urge the federal safety agency to investigate.
The federal safety agency recall 06v017000 for a vw passat. I have been waiting nearly 3 months since my appointment for the "part to arrive." I have called a written vw about the fuel pump, all I get is - "it's on order."
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH the vehicle stalled without warning. It was coasted off the road without incident and towed to an independent repair shop. Upon inspection, a fuel pump failure was discovered. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 06v017000, regarding the gasoline fuel system; fuel pump. The manufacturer was alerted and stated the VIN was not included in the recall.
2003 vw passat 4-door with 1.8t motor. I find it hard to believe that a fuel pump failure which causes a vehicle to die without warning on a california freeway to not be a defect. There is a recall for this part, but it just so happens my vehicle identification number does not match up. Just because the VIN # does not match up, does not mean there still is not a defect. I would like to know how I could research this further, so that I don't get stranded on the freeway again.
I was driving along when my 2003 vw passat lost power and stopped. I had it towed to a vw dealership in town. They said the fuel pump needed replacing. I found that there is a recall on this make and model for this problem, however, vw refuses to cover the cost.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was maneuvered off the road and later towed to the dealer who determined the fuel pump needed to be replaced. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 06v017000, regarding the fuel pump. The VIN was not included in the recall.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving on a normal road condition at 45 MPH the vehicle decelerated until it completely stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where the fuel pump was replaced. There was a recall for the fuel pump but the VIN was not included. The consumer replaced the fuel pump at his expense. Updated 09/12/06.
On this date I was driving at 65 miles per hour on the interstate. As a car pulled on to the driving lane in front of me from the entrance ramp, I accelerated and pulled left into the passing lane. Suddenly I had no power, and managed to coast about 3/4 of a mile, through traffic, to the right hand shoulder where I could get off the road. It was a very dangerous few minutes which fortunately did not result in any collision. The car was towed to the local volkswagen dealer where the fuel pump was found to have failed. It was replaced at a cost of $589.80. The mileage at the time of the incident was 63, 661 miles.
2003 passat broke down because of a broken fuel pump. Consumer would like to be reimbursed. *kb the dealer refused to cover the failed part because the vehicle had over 50000 miles. The vehicle was taken to a local garage for repair.
Dt*: the contact stated a recall letter was received in march 2006; the vehicle is not having any problems as indicated in the recall. The dealer has been contacted at least once a week since receiving the letter. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 06v017000 on the vehicle regarding the fuel pump. The parts needed to repair the vehicle are not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts are not available.
Dt*: the contact stated there have not been any problems with the vehicle however, a the federal safety agency recall, #06v017000 on the vehicle regarding the fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump was received in april 2006. The parts needed to repair the vehicle are not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts are not available. The parts finally arrived and the vehicle was repaired. Updated 07/03/06.
After receiving a letter, dated march 2006, stating a recall was needed for my 2003 volkswagen passat, an appointment was made to get the issue taken care of. I have a friend with the same car and learned of the importance of the recall after her car cut off on her while she was driving. This could be a very dangerous situation. I was called roughly a day before my appointment to let me know that the part was on back order and they would need to move my appointment back 2 weeks. I called the dealership back with concern for my safety and asked if there was a rental car available until the part came in. They informed me that they would not be able to give me a rental car but I could call volkswagen and speak with them about it. I guess they didn't feel my safety was an issue, therefore they did not give me a rental, but they did offer to call around and see if I could be seen sooner. That didn't work out because everyone was on back order for the same part. I kept my appointment for today at 8am, took off work, drove clear across town, checked in with them, they took my key, and I headed to the customer waiting area. I was called back down to the desk 5 minutes later for them to tell me that they still didn't have the part and would have to call me when it came in. I could not believe that no one called to inform me of this instead of having me drive all the way to the dealership! I find it hard to believe that volkswagen is not more concerned regarding the safety of their customers to plan ahead. Makes me never want to buy a volkswagen again!
Dt*: the contact stated stoppage of fuel supply to the engine could cause it to stall. There is a the federal safety agency recall, #06v017000 on the vehicle regarding the fuel system gasoline delivery fuel pump. The parts needed to repair the vehicle are not available at the local dealership. The manufacturer confirmed the parts are not available. The contact indicated that on april 14, 2006 the dealer was supposed to replace the fuel pump per volkswagen safety recall m7, but the work was canceled due to no replacement parts. The contact continued to inquire from the local dealer when the replacement part would be available, but did not receive a definitive answer. The contact contacted a dealer 60 miles away and made an appointment to have the work done there. It took several trips by contact until the replacement work was completed. The contact was unhappy by volkswagen uncaring attitude and lack of assistance and service by volkswagen dealers.
We own a 2003 volkswagen passat. Twice the fuel pump has gone out in the middle of hwy. 29 in napa. The first time the fuel pump went out the car was still under warranty. The second time it went out, yesterday, the car was no longer under warranty and we were charged $441 to have it fixed. Volkswagen denies that our model has any problem with the fuel pump even though other passat models are under recall for this same problem. The second fuel pump was put in last january, about 16 months ago. Now another fuel pump was put in yesterday, april 27, 2006. Both times the fuel pump has gone out without warning on highway 29 in napa.
Recalled fuel pump is not available. Dealer says pump is on national back order.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2003 Volkswagen Passat?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history