1995 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Recalls, Complaints & Safety

BACKUP LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ACCENT LIGHTS (LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES, WINDOW, A/C & HEATER CONTROLS AND LOCK BUTTONS ETC.) WOULD TURN ON. ALSO IF THE CAR IF THE KEYS WERE TURNED TO THE FIRST NOTCH (STEERING WHEEL UNLOCK) AND THE HEATER VENTS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT NOT BLOWING (DUE TO NO POWER) WHEN YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AIR WOULD START BLOWING... I TRACED IT DOWN TO AN IGNORANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING THE CAR. THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE LOOMED ON TO THE TRUNK ARM, EVERYTIME THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED IT BENT THE WIRE CAUSING THE WIRE TO BREAK AND SHORT OUT OVER TIME, I FIXED THE WIRE AND REROUTED IT LOW AND BEHOLD THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE ACCENT LIGHTS AND THE A/C & HEATER CONTROLS CAUSING THOSE TO MALFUNCTION IF THE REVERSE WAS SHORTED, MY GUESS IS THEY MUST ALL SHARE A COMMON GROUND. *TR

5SP VRG PASSAT. EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE WHEN APPLIED UNDER 40 DEGREES STICKS ON CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO DRAG DOWN THE ROAD FOR UP TO A MILE BEFORE THEY BREAK LOOSE AGAIN AND MOVE FREELY. *TR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILS TO OPEN 75% OF THE TIME, YOU HAVE TO YANK THE HANDLE MULTIPLE TIMES FOR IT TO OPEN, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE, THE OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR THE REAR PASSENGER DOORS LOCK MECHANISM SLOWLY RISES TO THE UNLOCKED POSITION. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANY TIMES FAIL TO CLOSE. WHEN YOU CLOSE THE DOORS THEY FLY BACK OPEN EITHER IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING OR WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. **THERE IS A SIMILAR COMPLAINT MISPLACED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONER SECTION BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.** *TR

HEATER CORE "DOORS " MELTED FROM THE R TYPE ANTIFREEZE BREAKING DOWN TO AN ACID. THIS CAUSE THE HEATERCORE TO BREAK, ANTIFREEZE ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS AND ALSO ODDLY ENOUGH FILLED THE GAUGE CLUSTER WITH STEAM FOGGING THE CLUSTER. IT'S $800 FOR A REPLACEMENT SO I BOUGHT A FITTING AND SOME HOSE CLAMPS AND BYPASSES THE HEATER CORE SO I COULD STILL OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WASN'T TOO COLD. HOWEVER WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN COLD WEATHER ALL THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE DOWN DUE TO YOUR BODY HEAT CAUSING ALL GLASS IN THE VEHICLE TO FOG. REPLACED THE HEATER CORE IN JANUARY, FLUSHED THE RADIATOR AND INSTALLED REGULAR TYPE 50/50 ANTIFREEZE AND NOT THE VW R-TYPE FLUID TO PREVENT BREAK DOWN INTO ACID AGAIN. *TR

BACKUP LIGHTS DIDN'T TURN ON, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE ACCENT LIGHTS (LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES, WINDOW, A/C & HEATER CONTROLS AND LOCK BUTTONS ETC.) WOULD TURN ON. ALSO IF THE CAR IF THE KEYS WERE TURNED TO THE FIRST NOTCH (STEERING WHEEL UNLOCK) AND THE HEATER VENTS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT NOT BLOWING (DUE TO NO POWER) WHEN YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE AIR WOULD START BLOWING... I TRACED IT DOWN TO AN IGNORANT ELECTRICAL ENGINEER DESIGNING THE CAR. THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE LOOMED ON TO THE TRUNK ARM, EVERYTIME THE TRUNK WAS CLOSED IT BENT THE WIRE CAUSING THE WIRE TO BREAK AND SHORT OUT OVER TIME, I FIXED THE WIRE AND REROUTED IT LOW AND BEHOLD THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE APPARENTLY TIED INTO THE ACCENT LIGHTS AND THE A/C & HEATER CONTROLS CAUSING THOSE TO MALFUNCTION IF THE REVERSE WAS SHORTED, MY GUESS IS THEY MUST ALL SHARE A COMMON GROUND. *TR

THE HEATER CORE FAILED ON OUR 1995 VW PASSAT WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING IT. WITHOUT WARNING IT FAILED AND POURED 190 DEGREE ANTIFREEZE OVER HIS ANKLES. FORTUNATELY HE WASN'T SEVERELY BURNED OR CRASHED THE CAR, BUT IT WAS SERIOUS ISSUE. WE SPOKE TO VW BUT THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE HEATER CORE. MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE CORE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE RANDOMLY SELECTED. I HAVE READ ON THE FORUMS OF THIS HAPPENING OFTEN AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS RECALL THAT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

1 injured

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND IS WORSE WHEN IN HIGH GEAR. PART OF THE FAN FRACTURED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 95V178000, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN. THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

1995 PASSAT SIDEWALL BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. *TS THE TECHNICIAN WHO PERFORMED THE INSPECTION POINTED TO CRACKS WHICH WERE NEAR THE RIM LINE. *JB

95 PASSAT HEATER CORE RUPTURE FILLING THE VEHICLE CABIN WITH HOT RADIATOR FLUID AND STEAM. WINDSHIELD BECAME COATED WITH ANTI-FREEZE SOLUTION THAT JUST SMEARED AND COULD NOT BE WIPED OFF. VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD INTO THE DITCH. I WILL BYPASS THE HEATER CORE FOR I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. CONTACTED VWOA AND NO SPECIFIC RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED.*JB

Crash

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THE VENTS STARTED STEAMING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTICS TEST, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE HEATER CORE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

DT: CALLER CAN NOT OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. SHE HAS TO USE THE HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF ALL THE DOORS EXCEPT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. DEALER SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP HER.*AK

1. NORMAL DRIVING ON A SURBURBAN ROAD AT ABOUT 45MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, SMOKE/STEAM FROM THE VENTS, A COMPLETELY FOGGED WINDSHIELD, A SWEET SMELL, AND SCALDING HOT COOLANT ONTO MY FEET, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT A PEDESTRIAN WALKING ALONGSIDE THE ROAD. 2. IT WAS THE HEATER CORE. A VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO 80'S AND 90'S VW PASSENGER CARS. SO NOW I HAVE NO WORKING HEATER (LUCKILY ITS SUMMER) AND MY CAR WONT REACH ITS MAX COOLING CAPACITY. THUS, CAR RUNS HOT. 3. BECAUSE I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND CANNOT AFFORD A $1200USD FIX, I HAVE BYPASSED IT WITH A COPPER U-PIPE. THE PART IS AVALIBLE, AND VWOA HAVE DONE A MASSIVE NUMBER OF 'GOOD-WILL' FIXES. I'M STILL TALKING WITH THEM TO COME OF WITH A RESOLUTION.

1 injured

HEATER CORE ON THE VR6 POWERED VEHICLES IS THE VALEO BRAND, KNOWN TO FAIL. IT JUST BLEWS COOLANT THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ALL OVER THE COUPE INSIDE.*AK

1 injured

ABS LIGHT FAILURE - CONTINUE LIGHT ON AND POSSBILE BRAKE FAILURE

HEATER CORE EXPLODING, NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS I WAS SIMPLY GOING FROM A STOPLIGHT WHEN SMOKE STARTED POURING IN THROUGH THE VENTS AND ENGINE COOLANT GOING EVERYWHERE. I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING YET, BUT THE HEATER CORE IS DESTROYED.

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. AS RESULT STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. HOWEVER TCONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. *AK

TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND VALVES WENT AGAINST PISTONS. ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME. IGNITION SWITCH FAIL AND LIGHTS GO OFF. RIGHT WINDOW DOESN'T WORK. IGNITION COIL IS DEFECTIVE.

I WAS STARTING MY 1995 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VR6 (MANUAL), AND IT STARTED UP JUST FINE, BUT AS I STARTED TO GET GOING, THE CAR DIED. I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CAR INITIATED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH, INCLUDING POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING, AND HEADLIGHTS. I FOUND OUT THAT MY IGNITION SWITCH HAD MALFUNCTIONED. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA (1-800-822-8987), AND THEY TOLD ME THAT A RECALL WAS OUT FOR THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO MODEL YEARS AND MY MODEL YEAR IS THE SWITCH IN THE ON BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FROM OBD 1 TO OBD 2. I KNEW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE SAME FOR ALL 1995 TO 1997 PASSATS, BUT JUST TO BE SURE, I CALLED STEVENS CREEK VOLKSWAGEN PARTS DEPARTMENT (1-408-492-1200). THE GUY THERE TOLD ME THAT PART NUMBERS MATCHED THROUGH ALL 3 YEARS, AND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNTCIONS AN ALL 3 MODEL YEARS INCLUDING 1995. SO, I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AGAIN, AN ASKED THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T RECALL MY MODEL YEAR. THEY STATED THAT "VW COULD HAVE RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM" WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN ALL 3 PART NUMBERS ARE THE SAME. THEY THEN SAID THAT THEY WOULD LAUNCH THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO IT, AND TOLD ME TO CALL NHTSA. MY FINAL SAY ON THIS MATTER IS THAT IT DEFINITELY IS LIFE THREATENING, BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ELECTRICAL, AND CAN MALFUNTCION AT AND TIME, CAUSING YOU TO LOSE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND LIGHTING ON THE ROAD. I WAS LUCK BECAUSE I JUST GOT GOING, AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR BACK BY MY HOUSE. MEANWHILE, VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS CUTTING CORNERS TO SAVE MONEY BY ONLY RECALLING THE MODEL YEARS THAT YOU HAVE TESTED, EVEN THOUGH THE MALFUNCTIONING PART IS THE SAME INALL 3 MODEL YEARS: 1995, 1996, AND 1997. AS A MEMBER OF A VW VORTEX FORUM, I WILL TELL OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM TO WRITE IN TO YOU. *AK

FRONT END WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. ALSO, RADIATOR OVERHEATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

REAR DOOR LATCH IS MALFUNCTIONING. LATCH RELEASES WHEN DRIVING

1995 VW PASSAT. DOOR LOCKS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY AUTHORIZED VW DEALER AND REPAIR SHOP. DOORS DO NOT OPEN IN COLD WEATHER DESPITE CAR BEING IN HEATED GARAGE.*AK

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON MY 1995 PASSAT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSIS INDICATED I NEEDED A NEW ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT AT A COST OF $1,768.00. I CONSIDER THIS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM. I CONTACTED VWOFA CORPORATE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *LA

IN FEBRUARY OF 2003 ON ONE OF THE COLD DAYS, THE FAN SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK AND AS A RESULT CAR OVERHEATED AND BLEW OF THE HEAD GASKET. TOTAL COST TO FIX $2000. SMALL RECALL OF COOLING FAN COST ME $2000 AND IN SPITE OF CALLS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, NO COST WAS BORN BY THE COMPANY. *NLM

COOLANT LEAKING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH. MORE THAN LIKELY IT IS THE HEATER CORE. NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS SOON, CAR IS ONLY YEARS 8 OLD.*AK

THE HEATER CORE RUPTURED. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO GO HIGH THEN LOW, THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED REGISTERING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED. PH

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE PLASTIC LENS THAT COVER THE HEADLIGHT CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT TO BECOME DARK SO NO LIGHT COME THROUGH DIM AND DARK. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS *TR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK IS MALFUNTIONING CAUSING THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR NOT TO OPEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMER NOTICE IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE TO UNLOCK VEHICLE DOORS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMER STATES WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. CONSUMER CAN NOT SHIFT THE CAR OUT OF PARK. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED CONSUMER FELT THAT VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY REPLACED A PART. CONSUMER IS NOT AWARE OF WHICH PART WAS REPLACED PROBLEM STOPPED. CURRENTLY, SUNROOF AND REAR SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 NOT IN THE DIMS SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE IGNITION AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE.TS *JB

FOUR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE, ONLY FROM INSIDE. DOORS ARE POWER OPERATED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

TRANSMISSION COOLANT IS LEAKING OUT ON TO GROUND, AND COOLANT IS RUNNING INTO CYLINDER BLOCK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

RECEIVED A SAFETY ADVISORY LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN REGARDING FUEL TANK SYSTEM AND RIGHT REAR TIRE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE LETTER SHOULD BE CALLED A RECALL. PEOPLE MIGHT IGNORE IT BY BEING CALLED A SAFETY ADVISORY. PLEASE ADD VIN #*AK

THE REAR POWER WINDOW MOTORS HAVE FAILED TO OPERATE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER REMOVING THE DOOR PANELS AND CHECKING THE WIRING FOR GOOD CONTACTS, THE WINDOWS WILL OPPERATE FOR A SHORT WHILE. I SEE THIS AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT ONE MIGHT BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE AND UNABLE TO ESCAPE BY OTHER MEANS THAN THE WINDOW. IF YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOW, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE. MY KIDS RIDE BACK THERE.*AK

ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. VEHICLE BROUGH TO AUTO-GLASS SHOP TO REPAIR. INTERIOR DOOR PANEL REMOVED FOR REPAIR. CAUSE OF DAMAGE WAS A WIRE BUNDLE THAT HAD RUBBED AGAINST A SHARP METAL EDGE ON INTERIOR OF DOOR. TWO WIRES WERE EXPOSED AND WERE ARCHING TO THE DOOR WHEN THE WINDOW BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THESE SPARKS ARE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK

CONSUMER WINDOW MECHANISMS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE, FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE, AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS EITHER DO NOT MOVE UP/DOWN OR COME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

ABS DASH WARNING LITE FIRST INDICATED IN APR 2000. OWNERS MANUAL CALLS FOR SERVICE AT AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE. INITIALLY NOTIFIED VW CONSUMER AFFAIRS AS LOCAL GERMAN CAR SHOP REPAIR ALERTED ME TO POSSIBLE RECALLS. VW CONSUMER AFFAIRS (800) 822-8987 INDICATED NO OPEN RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. GERMAN CAR EXPERT REPAIR, LASLO'S AUTO REPAIR-WOODBRIDGE, VA ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLE SHOOT VIA ONBOARD COMPUTER BUT NO DEFECT CODES WERE DISPLAYED. LASLO'S CLEANED ALL ABS WHEEL SENSORS AND DID FRONT BRAKE JOB TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. ABS LITE REMAINED ON. AGAIN CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO REPORT CONCERN, THEY REFERRED ME TO KAREN RADLEY VW, WOODBRIDGE, VA. RADLEY SERVICE ADVISOR HAD TECHNICIAN CHECK FOR ON-BOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM FAULT CODES RELATIVE TO THE ABS BUT NONE WERE FOUND. RADLEY TECH RESET COMPUTER BUT ABS WARNING LITE AGAIN ILLUMINATED ON DASH. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 2000. AS ABS LITE HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, I AGAIN REQUESTED VW OF AMERICA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE. STILL NO WORD ON OPEN SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS AFFECTING THE ABS SYSTEM. THROUGH THE CONTINUED EFFORTS OF THE KAREN RADLEY DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP, MR MATT BUCKLEY, VW REGIONAL SENIOR TECHNICAL SPECIALIST (OTS IN VW-SPEAK)CALLED IN FOR ASSISTANCE. I LEFT VEHICLE @ RADLEY FOR ONE DAY--4JAN01, HOWEVER, VW REGIONAL OTS WAS A "NO SHOW". I RESCHEDULED THRU MR BUCKLEY AT RADLEY FOR JAN 29, 2001. OTS CHECKED ALONG W/ RADLEY TECH BUT COULD FIND NO FAULT. EVENTUALLY, AFTER THREE MORE DAYS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEMS, THE TECH NOTES THAT ONE OF THE ABS SYSTEM VALVE IN INOPERATIVE AND THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. AS THAT MODULE WAS REPLACED THE ABS DASH BOARD LITE IN NOW OFF. MY CONCERN IS THE LACK OF ASSISTANCE FROM VW OF AMERICA, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. IT SHOULD BE APPARENT THAT THE ABS SYSTEM, BEING A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE CAR'S OVERALL SAFETY SYSTEMS, SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY MATTER. VW NEVER ONCE INITIATED CONTACT WITH ME, ALL COMMUNICATI.

OUTDOOR LATCHES BROKE, MUST ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN DOORS TO GET IN.*AK

WHLE DRIVING DOWN A HILL BRAKES FAILED DUE TO AN UNCLEANED SENSOR. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING, AND IT WAS A FAILED/ SAFE SYSTEM, REGUALR BRAKES DID NOT KICK IN , TOTAL FAILURE OF ALL BRAKES. *AK

HEATER CORE IS DEAD CARE SMELLS LIKE ANTIFREEZE. DRIVER'S DOOR NO LONGER OPENS FROM OUTSIDE, AND OTHER DOORS ARE STARTING TO DO THE THE SAME. CAR CAN'T BE SHUT OFF FOR SHORT STOP OR IT WILL NOT START AGAIN. A/C WENT OUT 2 YEARS AGO CONTACTED VW OF AMERICAN NO HELP.