Volkswagen Passat transmission failure problems

Filed Jul 7, 2025 · Transmission · MI

Vehicle in question has a dual-clutch automatic transmission with 103,000 miles on the odometer. Transmission failed without warning while turning left onto a major highway from a standing stop -- stuck in 1st gear, it was dangerously slow to get out of other drivers' way, creating a serious road hazard concern. Vehicle had been maintained since new with fluid changes as required but still failed prematurely and without warning of any sort. Dealer inspected the car and stated the transmission needs to be replaced.

Filed Aug 12, 2023 · Transmission · MT

I had just had the engine replaced on my 2014 Volkswagen Passat TDI 13 miles previously and on my first drive upon getting my car back I had an error code “transmission overheated” and I lost power while driving and the check engine light also illuminated. The transmission cut out almost immediately when the overheating message illuminated on the dashboard. It then illuminated a wrench where the drive indication is not the dashboard and would not allow selection of any gears. I had the transmission inspected by the dealer and they aren’t sure what happened and that it does indeed need a new transmission. The fact that I lost the ability to drive the car immediately after the light came on while driving seems dangerous to me and a transmission with 63,000 miles and 64 degrees F shouldn’t overheat. It is a DSG transmission and I have read online of several other owners experiencing similar situations of the transmission having faulty parts and overheating. I also reached out to Volkswagen of America and they said there isn’t anything they can do as the car is out of warranty (I believe the warranty for the transmission was 60,000). I had pointed out to Volkswagen that the transmission is cooled by the engine so a brand new engine 13 miles ago and then the consequent overheating and terminal failure seems rather odd to me. Had I been driving on the freeway instead of 40 mph the situation could have ended significantly different then it did.

Filed Apr 27, 2022 · Acceleration, Seat belts · FL

My seat belt unfastens whenever it wants and my cruise control doesn’t work any longer. I also have an issue with the 4th injector which causes the car to accelerate and I had to replace the transmission as well

Filed Jul 23, 2021 · Transmission · VA

The 2018 vw Passat se is only 3 years old and the transmission went out. The mileage was just a little over 98,000. The car has been kept up with as far as oil change, routine maintenance, and extras, such as tires and brakes. We have been given no reason to why the transmission would have went out like it did. But we are stuck making payments on it and the cost of repair from the dealership itself is $4,500

Filed Jun 5, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · SD

So we just payed off our car and the problems started, first the car wouldn't go in reverse it acted as it was in neutral then it started doing in when driving so we took it in and they said we need a new transmission after that the A/C stopped working and we started getting a loud ticking noise so we took it in again to the dealership this time they tell us the timing chain needs to be replaced , a seal for the transmission is leaking also, we have done alot of research online and have seen this has been happening to alot of people if the timing chain breaks it can seize the whole motor! I paid roughly 22k for the car it has less then 70k miles and they want around 9k for the repairs there has to something done about this they should not get away with ripping people off

Filed Jan 25, 2018 · Airbags · 21,000 miles · MO · crash · fire · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 volkswagen passat. While driving approximately 20 MPH, another vehicle drifted into the contact's lane. As a result, the contact crashed into a cement divider. The air bags deployed and a white, powdery substance flew into the eyes of the contact and his wife, followed by metal fragments. The contact also stated that the passenger side air bag caught fire. The contact extinguished the fire. The contact's wife sustained injuries to the hip and stomach, which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where it was diagnosed that a new transmission, front driver's side wheel arm, and air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was then taken to joe machens volkswagen (1200 vandiver dr, columbia, mo 65202, (855) 301-6700), but the nature of the diagnostic and repairs could not be provided. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 21,000. *tt *tr consumer stated customer exited to a rest area, missed a turn and at last minute attempted to make turn, hitting a curb. Both tires on driver's side blew out and airbags deployed. Updated 10/1/18

Filed Oct 5, 2014 · Transmission · 7,055 miles · AZ

Traveling eastbound on interstate #10 at circa az milepost 180 the car without any warning suddenly slowed from 75 to 40 MPH and the RPM went into the red line zone <6000 RPM. The sensation within the car was as if the brakes were being applied in a full panic stop. Since the were no brake lights activated or other indication to fast moving motorists, I only avoided an accident (being plowed into from behind) by pulling off on to the shoulder. Any hesitation on my part or had I been in a middle lane would likely have resulted in a multi car/truck pile up. This was an extremely dangerous vehicle failure. Once on the shoulder I consulted the owners manual. The warning light indicated dsg (direkt-schalt-getriebe, I.e. The transmission) overheated. The manual said to let the transmission cool down before restarting the vehicle. In all it was over 6 hours that the transmission was given to cool down to no effect. (this includes the time I waited then after I called for a tow, waited on the tow, and was towed 140 miles to tucson) the problem did not resolve. It was left late that night at a vw dealer in tucson. Late the following afternoon the dealer service department informed me that the car would need a new transmission, that it would have to come from germany and not be available to install for 7-10 days. Germany? The car was purported to have been manufactured in kentucky. This, on a car I have owned for only 90 days with only 7000 miles! This is a catastrophic failure that could easily place the occupants of the vehicle and other motorists and their passengers in mortal danger.

Filed Nov 19, 2012 · Body, Transmission · 114,000 miles · FL

Power train issue: bad torque converter (tc). Why a safety issue? It can fail while on the highway sending debris into the transmission causing a catastrophic failure. Caused by a bad seal gasket. Technical bulletin # 2011908 address the issue in 2007. But the tdis were not included in the tb [same tc & transmission], and this is a very common problem in many vw, audi and bmw vehicles, including tdis. E.g. Vw & audi: http://kansascitytdi.com/audipassat-p0741-17125-code/ bmw: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1601642 with a p0741 error: dtc results: 17125 p0741 003 torque converter clutch circ. Performance or stuck off intermittent if you do a web search for: p0741 error code transmission torque converter the results are startling, it seems that vw, audi and bmw all have the same issue with tcs, "my understanding is the internal tc seals were not up to the task on the original tcs of that era. ...including audi". Http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3036384&postcount=5 "if the problem is not addressed then the transmission will over heat due to the slippage and you will need to replace the transmission." http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3038540&postcount=11 it seems that this should of been fixed under warranty, there was a recall for non-diesel vehicles service bulletin: 2011908. The tc is the same in all b5 models. Http://www.importdrivetrain.com/autotranscrossref.html#volkswagen so why was the tdi s not covered? ------------------------------------ body: doors: won't unlock from outside by remote or unlock button from inside.

Filed Jul 27, 2012 · Transmission · 530 miles · PA

As I was driving my new 2012 volkswagen passat from my house to my destination, my transmission fluid began to leak out onto the street. I had purchased the car eight days earlier which was a new car from the dealership which only had 2 miles on the car. The amount of miles I had put on the car was 500 miles and the transmission fluid leaked because of a malfunction inside of it. The car was under warranty and they dealership had to put a new transmission into my car because of the old one had defected parts inside.

Filed Oct 28, 2011 · Transmission · 35,000 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 volkswagen passat. The contact was traveling 30 MPH and heard a scraping sound whenever he shifted gears. The contact also stated that the transmission was manual. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on several occasions, but the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was never repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The contact expressed concerns over a possible transmission failure in the future. The failure mileage was 35,000.