2003 Volkswagen Passat service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE VIBRATING CONTINUED. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD DINGING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,452. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 12/19/2011 *LN”

“2003, VW, PASSAT: A.)TIE ROD AND B.)BRAKE VACUUM VIN: [XXX] 2006 VW RECALLS 06V472000 & 05V540000 ARE SUSPICIOUSLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY 2003 PASSAT. LAST TRIP TO SERVICE DEPT REVEALED BOTH PROBLEMS. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY TO DATE. *TR”

“I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN 2/07'. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH I BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LAUNDRY LIST, STARTING WITH THE BRAKES, INCLUDES A LEAK IN THE TRUNK, ENTIRE BRAKE REPLACEMENT WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, SEVERAL RECALLS, BATTERY REPLACEMENT, CRACKED VALVE COVER, PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE COOLANT TEMP SENSOR, FAULTY IGNITION COILS CAUSING SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE 'SHAKING' WHILE ON & POTENTIAL TO STALL AT ANY GIVEN TIME, A RECENT MASSIVE WATER LEAK INSIDE INTERIOR OF VEHICLE CAUSING INTERIOR WATER DAMAGE AS WELL AS A BUILD UP OF MILDEW AND POSSIBLY MOLD AS WELL AS NOW CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP CONSTANTLY DUE TO MOISTURE UNDER FLOOR MATS, PROBLEMS WITH LEFT BLINKER, TROUBLE STARTING, SEVERAL CURRENT ENGINE LEAKS TO THE EXTENT OF A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, AUTOMATIC WINDOW PROBLEMS, WORN CV BOOTS CURRENTLY MAKING A CLICKING NOISE; THIS BEING THE MAJOR THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED TO DATE. IN GOOD FAITH, AFTER A VERY SCARY RIDE THIS LAST JANUARY, I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA IN AN ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE SITUATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NEW PAIR OF RARE BRAKES FAILED ON HER VEHICLE AFTER 14,952 MILES. SHE USUALLY GETS OVER 36,000 MILES ON A PAIR OF BRAKES. SHE STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ROTORS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE PADS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN 14,000 MILES. SHE ALSO FEELS THAT THE DEALER SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE NEW PADS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,100. UPDATED 04/21/09. *LJ THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS CRACKED, THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW, THE VC BOOT AND HOOD STRUT WAS REPLACED.. UPDATED 04/21/09.*JB”

“I OWN A 2003 VW PASSAT. RECENTLY. I TOOK MY CAR FOR REPAIR AS MY BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING ON TURNS. THE VW DEALER INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE "ABS CONTROL MODULE" IS NOT COMMUNICATING FOR SOME REASON. THEY SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR AROUND $2,216 I CALLED VW AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE AND SEE IF THEY CAN COVER THE EXPENSES OF THE REPAIR SINCE THIS IS NOT A NORMAL TEAR AND WEAR ISSUE. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT SINCE THE CAR IS NOT WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY CANNOT COVER THE EXPENSES OF THIS REPAIR. I FEEL THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW OF AMERICA NEEDS TO COVER THE REPAIR FOR. IN FACT I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRO-ACTIVE AND INVESTIGATE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IN MY CARE AFTER THEY REPLACE IT TO SEE IF THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT CAN RESULT IN A RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS NOT WITHIN WARRANTY; BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I THINK VW SHOULD COVER IT AND PAY THE REPAIR COST. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE BRAKES. WHEN HE TOUCHED THE WHEELS, THEY WERE EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE HAD STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS. ALL FOUR BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH ANOTHER LIGHT (HE DID NOT REMEMBER WHICH LIGHT). AFTER HE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN INDIANA AND WAS INSTRUCTED ON WHERE TO FIND THE FUSE TO DEACTIVATE THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STABILITY CONTROL. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN AUDIS EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND FEATURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.”