2013 Volkswagen Passat: engine failure

Filed Sep 4, 2020 · Engine · 103,000 miles · KY

Four days from having my oil changed, the engine seized while driving on the interstate.

Filed Dec 18, 2019 · Engine · 130,000 miles · FL

Since I bought the car I've always had issues with the oil consumption. I was told it was 'normal' to loose up to 8 courts of oil in-between my oil changes. The dealership told me this!! The car has been very well taken care of, I get oil changes every couple thousand miles instead of every 10,000 like vw recommends. If I did this my engine would quiet literally blow up. I've been told repeatedly by multiple foreign repair shops (non vw dealership) that this is a common issue with this motor but for whatever reason the 2013 cc models were not recalled. By the sounds of it's a repair that vw refuses to acknowledge or fix. I'm upside down on the loan & have been told I basically need a whole new engine. Now, every time I refuel I have to add a quart of oil otherwise my check engine light comes on or I receive a 'check oil pressure. Engine off' message. I might be a female but I'm not that stupid to know that this isn't normal! This is a constant issue!

Filed Jan 24, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · ME

My car is a 2013 passat purchased by me in 2014, I have always taken my car to be serviced with all required service maintenances since purchase date (services done all at volkswagen dealerships). The next service was not due. I have this all documented by the dealerships. My car has approx. 94,000 miles on it. The check engine light started to come on intermittently. Today volkswagen dealer (following diagnostic testing) told me the head gasket needs to be replaced but that this is a risky repair as the primary problem is the engine. The volkswagen dealership is telling me the engine needs to be replaced. The volkswagen dealer is telling me today that this is not a usual problem with this vehicle. I called volkswagen to ask for financial assistance or buy back plan for this and was told there is nothing that can be done.

Filed Nov 30, 2018 · Engine · 105,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen passat. While driving various high speeds in cold climates, the engine failed. The contact stated that there was an excessive vibration in the engine compartment when accelerating. Volkswagen of ocala (5135 sw college rd, ocala, florida 34474, (352) 387-1330) was made aware of the failure and reprogrammed the engine in october of 2017. After the engine was reprogrammed, several other failures occurred. The coolant lines failed and were replaced and an oil leak developed in the main seal in the front of the vehicle. Initially, the dealer could not duplicate the failures, but later replaced the faulty main seal. Also, the water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. As a result, the timing belt was replaced on the vehicle. Furthermore, the high pressure fuel lines fractured and fuel entered into the fuel filter of the vehicle. The contact stated that fuel spilled onto the highway while driving due to a coolant leak from the oil cooler. The contact stated that the fitting on the fuel line related to the fuel line assembly was also replaced. Lastly, while driving 80 MPH, the check engine indicator illuminated without warning. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and provided case number: 181530876. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Filed Mar 27, 2018 · Airbags, Steering · 80,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen passat. The contact stated that while making a turn, the steering wheel made a clicking noise as the steering wheel seized. The air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the ray brandt volkswagen dealer (504‑349‑7272, 4050 lapalco blvd, harvey, la 70058) where it was diagnosed that the air bag clock spring needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Filed Feb 15, 2016 · Engine · 75,000 miles · MD

The turbocharger blew up while I was driving on the interstate. Prior to the turbocharger blowing up, there were no indications from the car's performance or indicator lights that there was a problem. When the turbo seized up the pre-glow indicator light came on shortly followed by the engine malfunction indicator light. I pulled the car off to the shoulder and was towed to the dealership. The dealership immediately accused me of not maintaining the vehicle and asked me if I purchased an extended warranty. The dealership drained the oil from the engine and sent it to their lab and had a vw rep come out to validate their claim that the car was not maintained. At no point in time did the dealership tell me that vw had extended the warranty to 10 years or 120k miles. My passat has 75k miles and has been maintained, including the most recent oil change at 63k miles. The dealership told me that the turbocharger was not covered by the warranty based on their assessment that the vehicle was not maintained so I had to pay for the repairs to the tune of $2.3k. My perception from the very beginning of my relationship with the vw dealership was they were building a case. I called vw of america and confirmed that my vehicle is covered by the extended warranty. I filed a claim with vw of america to recoup the entire $2.3k charged to my credit card and disputed the charge with amex. The burden of proof for denying the extended warranty coverage for the turbocharged is on vw. This is known issued that vw has acknowledged and underwritten with the extended warranty coverage. The fact that there no indications of failure only makes the situation worse. Fortunately, there was no accident caused by car's sudden deceleration. I will hear back vw today with regard to compensation. That said, I expect ntsb to apply pressure on vw to stand behind their warranty coverage.

Filed Dec 3, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 41,176 miles · VA

Car was set on cruise control and engine revved up , cruise control shut off and loss of power to the motor. Tried to reset cruise control to a lesser speed and would not set. Car felt like it would not shift gears (acted like it was a manual drive being wound to tight). Drove for several miles then the warning light came on (glowplug indicator). Parked in a safe location and stopped car. After about 10 minutes I restarted the car and no warning flashed so I began to drive car...would not accelerate. Warning light came back on. Had car towed to dealership got repaired (replaced turbo charger along with oil feed and return lines). Picked car up on 11/26/14 drove for less than 30 miles and got a engine oil light and warning message: engine off manual. Had car towed to dealership. Dealership stated that they talked with manufacturer and they are going to give me a new turbocharger and new engine. The car is still in the shop and repairs have not been completed at the time of this writing.

Filed Jun 3, 2014 · Engine · 18,500 miles · UT

There was a whine by the turbo then black smoke. I called roadside assistance and they took the car to the dealer. The turbo went out and the engine blew. No warning lights. The car had oil. Vw says pay 12k for a replacement engine and turbo. They will not cover under warranty because I missed the 10k service. We live in a remote area but I had added approved factory oil. I don't know what an oil change has to do with a turbo?

Filed May 2, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 35,457 miles · NC

Started hearing a whistling type of sound and noticing that the vehicle was not accelerating when I pushed on the pedal. As I tried to pull off the road the vehicle stalled and I could not get it started to get out of the road. Very scary. It finally started long enough to get to the side of the road and it stalled out again. There was smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The vehicle would not start again. The vehicle was towed to the dealership where I purchased it and have it serviced. The service department called to tell me it was the turbo and that the vehicle needed a new engine. I will be going to the dealership on monday to pick up the vehicle but will have a list of questions on what exactly has been replaced and what type of warranty this new engine has.

Filed Apr 10, 2014 · Engine · 6,467 miles · NY

While driving at 55mph, the vehicle lost power and the "glow plug" light on the dashboard illuminated. The vehicle nearly stalled on the expressway while in traffic, and then would not operate above 25-30 MPH. I had the vehicle taken by flat bed tow truck to the vw dealer, where it was diagnosed as "turbine shaft seized" and repaired under warranty. Review of public data reveals this to be a common occurrence with the passat equipped with the diesel engine.