2004 Volkswagen Passat: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Mar 10, 2015 · Engine · 81,000 miles · VA · fire

March 8 at approximately 10pm: on a trip back from out of town with my 2 young children and puppy, the rpms in the vw passat began escalating yet no additional power was coming into the engine. I tried shifting to a lower gear and also attempted cruise control to minimize the RPM racing. Cruise control did not respond and the change in gear did nothing for the racing rpms. A few more miles down the highway the car began losing momentum -? It was similar to the feeling of running out of gas though I had a full tank. I moved the car into the service lane before the engine shut off. Within seconds of pulling over, the engine began smoking. I felt the need to get out of the vehicle, even though I was on the highway late at night, pregnant, with 2 small children and a puppy. We left everything in the car, got out (I called 911) and were about 8 feet away when flames became visible escaping from the hood of the vehicle. A state trooper was passing through at the time and noticed the strong smell; he quickly circled back and then saw the fire.two fire trucks and 2 more state troopers arrived at the scene -?? But by that point -?? The entire front end of my car was in flames. The tires were so hot from the fire that they had melted to the road. The front end of the car was completely destroyed, the driver'??s side window was blown out, and the dashboard melted. Everything in the car experienced chemical smoke damage and/or water damage from the fire trucks. The insurance company ??totaled?? The car this morning. Sunday night I noticed that the federal safety agency was at one point investigating vw passat engine fires. I would encourage you to continue that investigation. Though my children and puppy were not physically injured (I don't know if they have suffered mental trauma) -?? I am pregnant and do not know if the fumes will be toxic to my unborn child. *tr..updated 06/01/16 *bf updated 9/27/2017

Filed Sep 12, 2007 · Electrical · 58,000 miles · CA

Sun visor w/homelink causes #5 fuse to blow. Wires are shorting out inside the visor causing smoke. When fuse blows you loose climatronic AC, cruise control, auto dimming mirrors, and steering wheel controls.

Filed Jul 10, 2007 · Lights · 26,570 miles · CA

6/30 I drove my 2004 vw passat wagon. I had used the cruise control and had to slow down, I attempted to re-activate the cruise control, it would not respond. I tried again the following day and it worked. 7/3, I parked my car for an hour appt. I returned to my car to find the brake lights were on. I turned the car on, tapped the brakes and turned it off. The brake lights stayed on. I had to leave town for a few days and upon returning, called my dealer, ontario vw. 7/9 I made an appt to service the car. Sylvia in service made the appt. She mentioned there was a recall on the brake light switch. After making the appt, I researched the recall. I found the federal safety agency site. The federal safety agency had a campaign id # 07v063000 for 6 makes of volkswagen, varying years, all for brake light switch malfunction. The description matched my problem exactly. Later on the 9th, I went to drop off my car for repair. I was checked in and told my car was not affected by the recall. Jose meza, senior service advisor, told me my VIN # had no recall. I explained about the info I found and he said I was incorrect. He did not offer to research anything about it. My car is under warranty and will be repaired. My issue is with the handling of this situation and the lack of interest on the part of ontario vw and vw corp, whom I called to complain and was also told that my VIN # did not reflect a recall. If 5 other vw makes have the same problem and are under recall, why am I being challenged about including my car in the recall? This is a serious safety issue as the brake lights can become inoperable without my knowledge. Vehicle safety should be the priority for all manufacturers and dealerships and I am shocked at the lack of interest I am receiving from all I contact about this issue. Including the federal safety agency that told me I could file a general complaint and possibly be included in a future recall but could not offer specific help with anything else.

Filed May 9, 2007 · Acceleration, Lights · 61,688 miles · KY

Brake light switch failed intermittently over a period of two years, finally failed completely. Whenever the switch was operating poorly it kicked out the cruise control.

Filed Sep 29, 2006 · Lights · 61,000 miles · FL

Cruise control and rear brake light failure on 2004 vw passat.