2003 Volkswagen Passat transmission problems

Filed Dec 1, 2017 · Brakes, Electrical · 172,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle jerked and stalled. The vehicle inadvertently shifted in reverse and the brakes stopped working. The contact had to apply the parking brake. The contact mentioned that the gear shifter was stuck in park. Also, the check engine, tire pressure, and epc indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to heritage volkswagen of south atlanta at (678) 263-3711 (4305 jonesboro rd, union city, ga 30291) where it was diagnosed that the ignition control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that there were no recalls associated with the VIN. The contact was advised to call the federal safety agency. The approximate failure mileage was 172,000.

Filed Aug 24, 2015 · Transmission · CA

The ad blue heater failures are rampant is all passat models 2012 to 2015. The safety issue is that in the winter time when ad blue freezes the car goes into a non restart countdown. If the car stalls during this time the person may be stuck in sub zero weather without heat. The ad blue heater is only covered under the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty because they say it does not qualify as emissions control system. The car will shut down because if the ad blue freezes the emissions goes unexpectedly high so how can this not be part of the emissions system? The cost of repair is $1,000 plus.

Filed Jul 17, 2014 · Body, Driver assistance · 140,000 miles · NC

Car was constantly getting the passenger side (front and back) flooded w water during a rain storm. Had to get new battery cleaned out sunroof drainage. It didn't matter. Whenever it rained the battery would be dead because the control module which is there is all messed up sending mixed messages. Finely just died in the middle of the road. Not worth putting money into the car. I purchased this car less then a year ago and had this problem after the first rain and went down from their. Im so disappointed hoping buying a used vw I was going to be satisfied but had nothing trouble from day one.

Filed Nov 13, 2013 · Transmission · 103,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the gear shifter could independently shift from park to drive without the contact depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000. ..updated 12-26-13 *bf the consumer stated property damaged resulted, due to the brake failure. Updated 12/30/13

Filed Jul 10, 2013 · Transmission · 101,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 acura mdx. The contact stated the transmission on the vehicle shuttered while driving 40 MPH. The contact stated the shuttered stopped when he took his foot off of the accelerator pedal, but it started to shutter again when it was engaged. The shuttering seemed to occur between third and forth gear. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. The failure and current mileage was 66,000.

Filed Apr 3, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 112,000 miles · TN

On or about feb. 1, 2013, I started my manual-transmission 2003 volkswagen passat gls (v6) and shifted into reverse to back out of my driveway. As soon as I took my foot off the brake, the car lurched backward even though I was not depressing the accelerator pedal. I quickly shifted into neutral, engaged the parking brake and turned off the ignition. When I tried to restart the car, it would not start and did not start until about an hour later. My first thought was that the accelerator could have become lodged under the floormat, but that was not the case; nor was it the case in at least four other similar incidents. Two of these incidents took place as I was driving at a low speed in a residential area. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians or other cars around me and I had the presence of mind to recognize the issue, shift into neutral and park the car. However, I fear what could happen if this incident recurred when I was at an intersection, railroad crossing or crosswalk. Despite repeated attempts, my mechanic has been unable to replicate the incident or identify the cause.

Filed Feb 15, 2013 · Transmission · 152,000 miles · CT

I was driving on the highway around 47-50 MPH all of a sudden I heard a strong hit,as if someone hit me from the rear... Then my dashboard started flashing and all the transmission gears got locked up, I was able to stop the car and turn it off, funny thing is this happens during summer only when it's hot outside otherwise, I don't see it... This can be dangerous.

Filed Mar 10, 2011 · Transmission · NC

Power train lack of power when pressing the accelerator may have caused an accident, pulling out in traffic. This was due to water leak in pollen filter box (cracked) which affected the shift lock solenoid, affecting the transmission control module. 2003 volkswagen passat mileage of 121,000 miles. Normally garaged and maintained according to schedule. After rain, found an inch of water in rear passenger floor. Transmission non-functional, air bag warning light and other warning lights on. Dealer said the pollen filter seal was no good and that water leaked in and destroyed the transmission control unit which is located in the floor behind the passenger seat. I have read many accounts on the internet from many angry owners of similar problems where leaks from this seal have caused catastrophic repairs. The service manager at the vw dealer told me that checking the pollen filter seal is not part of any regular maintenance and that in order to check it, you'd need to disassemble quite a few things in the engine compartment. When I asked him how an owner could possibly know if the seal needed replacement and he replied "you found out how". I am clearly not alone in having experienced a failure from a part that is not in any way maintainable (the pollen filter seal) and that has caused major damage to the car. I feel this is a consumer issue and that this is a design defect in the passat that vw should compensate owners for. There is no way for an owner to be able to avoid this situation -- it is not a matter of maintenance. It got to do with the passat leaking water and the location of an extremely expensive component in the rear passenger floor, the area where any water that leaks migrates to. If this failure had occurred during driving, I might. I have been told to replace transmission spent another 2000$ and its not even this the problem!!!!

Filed Mar 5, 2011 · Transmission · 163,012 miles · NJ

Due to a design flaw with all passats 1998 and up they are prone to having major failure of TCM transmission control module as in cases of heavy rain water will leak into passenger floor area and fill the TCM with water hence locking transmission into park and no longer allowing vehicle to be shifted...

Filed Oct 27, 2009 · Transmission · 50,000 miles · NJ

Car had sludge in 2007 dealer cleaned engine and said it was fixed. In feb 2009 the sludge came back again and the dealer fixed the sludge again. On october 2009 the car oil light came on again this time they said it was not sludge but the cam shaft adjusters which they said was not covered under warranty. My research shows that cam shaft adjusters are damaged and break up due to low oil pressure which is a direct relation to sludge in your engine which I had twice. Dealer now claims I did not maintain my car and this is why they are not covering it under warranty.