Trunk emergency escape/entrapment prevention handle not working due to defective trunk wiring harness. Only applies to vehicles with automatic trunk.
The worst 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Body2
- Suspension2
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Steering1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Body2
- Suspension2
- Electrical1
- Engine1
- Steering1
- Transmission1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton 173
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
- Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Update model year applicability to include 2023.
- Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger
- This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.
- Tool number added to table
- Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
- Update model applicability to MY 2020.
- Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards.
What 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
2004 volkswagen phaeton with faulty torque converter. *kb the consumer stated he had to pay for a $3,00 dollar repair on the driver's side fender which was caused by the hesitation of the converter engaging. The consumer stated he experienced problems with the vehicle for three years and never could find out what the problems were caused by. He finally had an independent electronic check done and the problems were as follows; the check engine light was on at all times. The oxygen sensors were replaced, but the light illuminated again. The esp light illuminated after about 10 minutes of driving and the esp switch would not turn off the light. He also complained for years, that when he turned left or right too fast or from a complete stop, the engine would hesitate . The consumer was told that was normal between first and second gears. The internal oil seal failure caused the problems. A service bulletin was issued, but the consumer was never informed of the problem. The right rear upper control arm was replaced. The steering wheel had to be re-aligned. Coolant was leaking from the radiator. *jb updated 06/08/10.
Control arm gaskets corroded on all upper and lower control arms leading to metal on metal.
2004 vw phaeton trunk wire housing - the sleeve over the wire housing came off and then the plastic tube that covers the wires broke away from the joint that enables the wires to compress back into the trunk lid when it is closed. When having my tires rotated the service department closed the trunk lid but the plastic tube was caught between metal and rear glass shield. The glass broke and was replace. 2 weeks later, while having the 80,000 mile service the technician closed the trunk and again the plastic piece was caught and the rear glass broke. Dealer estimate to "fix" is $1,300 but it seems like a product defect. Internet blogs and posting suggest a widespread problem and vw issued a technical bulletin to dealers on how to "fix" - technical bulletin (tb) number 97-04-07.
Compare the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
Other model years
Questions about the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton
Is the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton reliable?
Owners have filed 4 complaints about the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton, 2.0 times a typical Phaeton model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Body and structure, with 2 complaints. Next is suspension (2).
How many recalls does the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton have?
No recalls on record.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history