2006 Volkswagen Passat: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jul 16, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 121,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 volkswagen passat. While driving various speeds at night, the driver side headlight failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the headlight wires were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

Filed Nov 8, 2017 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · VA

Headlight wiring has lost all insulation, all wires are naked. High fire risk. I noticed this just now but seems to be like that for years and other have reported this problem on the web. Vw says common issue.

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · 124,000 miles · GA

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the check engine, headlight, and epc warning indicators illuminated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The auto nation dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The contact stated that the dealer cancelled approximately four appointments due to no part availability. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts would be available. The failure mileage was 124,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Oct 11, 2016 · Lights · CO

Low beams on both sides constantly fail. Have replaced bulbs with many different brands. Failure occurs around every 6 months, go figure. Mechanic stated to replace housing unit would cost between $600 to $800.

Filed Apr 26, 2016 · Lights · 37,792 miles · NV

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 volkswagen passat. While driving at any speed, the headlights dimmed and forced the driver to drive with the high beams at night. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the headlight concealment device and the switches needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 37,792. Additionally, the contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v079000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Feb 10, 2014 · Lights · 12,000 miles · TX

I took the vehicle in to have the headlight repaired. Both had stopped working over the weekend due to the insulation becoming brittle and breaking off of both wires to the plug that holds the light bulb. The wires were shorting out preventing the headlights from working. I made a temporary fix by applying electrical tape to the wires that allowed the lights to work. The car has about 120000 miles on it. The service people at west houston vw, [xxx], indicated this is a fairly common problem and the entire headlight assembly will need to be replaced at a cost of about $ 800. I see this as a defect with the wires used for the assembly. I checked on-line and there are numerous reports of problems with the 2006 passat headlights failing. I contacted vw customer care for assistance and was denied any assistance due to the age of the car and the mileage. They also indicated there was no recall or service alert on the problem. I find this hard to believe since the staff at west houston vw knew exactly what the problem was once we described it to them. It seemed to be a fairly common problem that they have seen with the headlights failing. This is a serious safety issue both from the lack of lights and the possibility of an electrical short that could cause a fire. I have worked for a wire manufacturer and the insulation does not just become brittle and fall off of the wire. There is a manufacturing defect with the insulation on the wire. Vw needs to address this issue and issue a safety recall to repair/replace the defective wiring. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 12, 2012 · Body, Visibility · 96,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that the low and high beam headlights would not illuminate. In addition, the interior roof headliner had become separated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 96,000.

Filed Apr 11, 2012 · Electrical · 38,046 miles · AZ

Almost home on a saturday afternoon with the cruise control (cc) on, and it suddenly goes off - car running fine but it won't go back on cc. Checked other electrical controls at the steering wheel, and none were working - no horn, no turn signals, no w/s wipers, no lights (headlights still worked as they are always on when the engine is running). Made it safely home, and turned the engine off - but, the headlights won't go off. Tried it several times without success. Then tried to get the key out, but it would not come out so I was left with the headlights on and unable to get the key out. Disconnected the battery to get the lights off. Monday prepared to drive the car into the nearest vw dealer 35 miles away - connected the battery and started the engine, but it quit right away - tried it several times without success. Finally had the car towed to the vw dealer at my expense. Vw dealer diagnosed the problem as a faulty steering module, and said the bill would be over $1,000 but that I would only have to pay for the labor. Dealer replaced the module and then found that the ignition/starter switch was faulty. Final bill came to much more than a $1,000.00, of which I was required to pay $382.75 if I wanted my car back.

Filed Feb 21, 2012 · Brakes, Engine · 92,670 miles · AL

I began to have problems with the engine light. Every time I had it checked, it coded something different (po455, po171, po441) with these results: fuel cap light came on, high pressure fuel pump, evaporative emission control system , and lean bank 02 censor before the catalytic converter. It became hard to crank, and once shook when it did crank. The steering wheel module and comfort control module were replaced in 2008 under warranty after I took volkswagen to small claims court. I took the car to a dealership in atlanta (there isn't one close to where I live) and they completed the following repairs: code po444, the evaporative emission system purge control valve circuit; code po193, fuel measuring system 2 abnk 1; and p2187 system too lean at idle. Total= $884.84 ($619.95 labor; $204.31 parts; $43.25 waste disposal charge; and $17.33 tax). At no charge, they checked the passenger headlight which I had to replace @ twice a year and inspected high pressure pump, gff guided functions and a courtesy visual service inspection.

Filed Jun 2, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · NC

I've had my 06 passat for little under 2 years now, it was bought used from carmax and it has been horrible from the start. As other consumers have noticed I have a big problem with the key getting stuck in the ignition to the point that I have to start and stop the car at least five or more times before it will dislodge. Also, if the key isn't stuck the engine itself won't crank, also taking at least five tries before the engine will start. I have to take the car to a dealership regularly, about once every two to three months, fixing the same problems repeatedly. The check engine light is constantly on and no matter how many times I change the headlights they never last. My most recent problem has been the noises my car is making. It's like a rattling, knocking noise that has only gotten louder since taking it to the shop. The mechanic has said it would take around 3 to 4 thousand dollars to fix, which is only a small amount less than I've put into buying the car, not including the money I've been pouring into constant repairs. This is a horrible car and now that I've done some research and seen just how many other people have had the same problems I have (and more severe, potentially deadly problems in some cases) I make it my business to make sure everyone knows what a dud this car is and how vw does not care about its consumers by not doing anything to fix these ever prevalent problems.

Filed Dec 14, 2009 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 17,815 miles · CA

'07/19/2006: purchased a brand new 2006 volkswagen passat '04/13/2007: radio will not eject cd- the stereo system had to be replaced due to faulty radio '12/06/2007: car will not start ' called tow company, upon arrival checked battery and it was not the problem; tow company could not get the car to start; car was towed to lasher volkswagen '12/14/2007: car will not start again, same issue as before on 12/06/2007; called the tow company and had it towed to lasher dealership; after numerous calls back and forth, vw dealership and manufacturer cannot figure out the problem nor have they fixed the vehicle yet '01/12/08: picked up the vehicle from lasher vw ' seemed to work okay '01/14/08: while driving home from work, door locks began to unlock and lock by themselves and while driving on the freeway; also, suddenly light indicators (blinkers) did not work, high beams did not work, windshield wipers did not work, steering wheel indicator light came on, tire pressure light came on, cruise control light came on; this was an extremely dangerous situation '01/17/08: while driving to berkeley, on the freeway, the blinkers stopped working, and could not get the windshield wipers to work; locks began to lock and unlock while driving; telephone call again, to lasher vw to express great concern and worried about being stranded; was told to bring it in on friday 01/1/08 at 7:30 am; once we arrived in berkeley, we parked the car and turned off the ignition ' the radio was still on and the headlights did not shut off; we started up the car again and the same thing happened; when locking the car with the alarm, the doors locked but the alarm did not turn on; lights remained on for about 20 minutes, fearing that the battery would run low and we would be stranded '08/05/09: took the car to elk grove vw and told that warranty will not cover any of the repairs '10/24/09-12/14/09: the car has not been able to start since 10/23/09 and sitting in our garage & now at neillo vw.

Filed Mar 1, 2009 · Lights · CA

Headlight system continuously fails. Has been repaired over five times.