2003 Volkswagen Passat: jerking or lurching

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 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 May 21, 2008 · Fuel system, Transmission · 42,000 miles · KY

I own a 2003 passat 4-motion. I purchased it from the dealer in july of 2005 when it had 42,000 miles on it. Almost immediately I noticed two things about the car: first, it sometimes hesitates when trying to accelerate and then when it does finally take off, it "leaps" forward. Second, when shifting down sometimes, it does not do so normally but will actually jerk the car badly and make a "clunky" sound, like the transmission is failing. This seems to happen when you don't come to a complete stop and then try and accelerate again, like stop and go traffic. I have had the car back to the dealer many times and have been told that this is just a "characteristic" of the car and that there is nothing they can do about it. Overall I am very disappointed in the car.

Filed Sep 20, 2007 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · RI

While backing up out of the driveway the car lurched into reverse and then would not shift out of 1st gear causing drastically slow speeds while driving the car. Any speed above 15 MPH would redline the tac and the engine. The vw dealership determined it was a bad computer control module that needed to be replaced.

Filed Mar 4, 2007 · Brakes · 41,000 miles · AZ

I brought my 2003 passat glx sedan into dealership because car was jerky when the brakes were applied. Car has 41,214 miles on it, 90% highway. Dealer informed me that the rear brake rotors were warped and had to be replaced along with pads. Dealer informed that passat rotors could not be turned in lieu of replacement. From other complaints I view, it appears this is a defect in the rotors.

Filed Apr 4, 2006 · Airbags, Electrical · 44,500 miles · SC

Car had trouble starting, electrical problems, lurching while driving and ultimately transmission and air bag failure.

Filed Apr 4, 2006 · Body · 44,500 miles · SC

Due to a sunroof drain clog, our 2003 passat wagon passenger floorboard quickly filled with water in what I would describe as major flooding. As an immediate and direct result with no opportunity to react and respond our car began to have trouble starting. After getting it started and being unaware of the situation we were dealing with, an attempt was made to drive it to the dealer to see what was wrong. During that ride the electrical system went haywire, the car began to lurch and ultimately shut down on the side of the highway. I was forced to call vw for a tow and was responded to promptly. The dealer's service dept examined the car and found that the transmission control module and the air bag control module were both submerged as they both rest underneath the carpet in the floorboard. Both items were deemed to be nonfunctioning and had to be replaced. Along with the labor to clean carpets and replace these parts the total bill was around 2300 dollars. Here is my complaint: this was not covered under warranty according to the dealer, however; there is no literature in the owners manual or buyers guide that suggests the importance of keeping these drains unclogged. I mean if major flooding in the floorboard of a vehicle, a place where the vital computer modules are kept, is going to create catastrophic damage then it should be notated and/or made clear to the buyer at the time of purchase. I consider this to be a design flaw and worthy of warranting a recall. If you need verification of many more instances of the same problem with the same types of vehicles (vw passats, etc.) creating the same types of consequences all you need to do is visit the forum at theautobahn.com and I am sure you will be just as disturbed and frustrated as I was even if you don't own one of these vehicles. Thank you for your time. A very angry consumer.

Filed Feb 7, 2005 · Acceleration · 10,700 miles · NY · crash

I was stopped at a light with several cars in front of me. When the light changed and the car ahead of me moved and was about 15 feet in front I took my foot of the brake and the car accelerated forward with out me touching the gas pedal. I was startled and I slammed on the brakes. The car did not slow down at all and only the rear end of the car in front of me stopped my car. I looked down at my foot to make sure I had hit the brakes and not the accelerator. My foot was squarely in the middle of the brake pedal. Normally when the brakes are hit hard the front end of the car dips and the sudden stopping of the car jerks the driver forward. None of this happened until my car hit the car in front of me.

Filed Jan 20, 2004 · Transmission · PA

After making a stop and returning to normal traveling 55 MPH or at higher speed vehicle started jerking. Dealership serviced vehicle and noticed that transmission needed to be replaced.