2007 Volkswagen Passat engine and engine cooling problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, A SPEED WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HANLEES HILLTOP VOLKSWAGEN (LOCATED AT 3255 AUTO PLAZA, RICHMOND, CA 94806, (510) 283-6300), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,700. *BF CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG SIGN IS ON WAS TOLD NEEDS $2,000 REPAIRS CATALYTIC CONVERTER NOT ABLE RE PAIR $2500 REPAIRS THE BRAKE SYSTEM ALWAYS ON. NOT ABLE TO SUSTAIN REPAIRS ON THE CAR AND FEEL MY SAFETY IS IN DANGER.*JB”

“I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS INDICATING IMPENDING FAILURE. ME AND MY CO-PASSENGER ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE TODAY. FURTHER WE ARE LUCKY WE DIDN'T CRASH INTO A PUBLIC BUS PULLING IN AT THE BUS STOP AS WE VEERED TO THE RIGHT TO BRAKE AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE ITS ACQUISITION AND AT THE 65,000 SERVICE IT WAS GIVEN AN EXCELLENT BILL OF HEALTH. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS UNUSUAL ENGINE FAILURE.”

“VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AIR CONDITIONER QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHERE ALL THE SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY CALL AND TELL ME THAT THE COMPRESSOR HAS GONE BAD, AND WHEN IT FAILED IT CONTAMINATED THE WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDE THE EVAPORATOR, COMPRESSOR AND FLUID AND THAT THEY ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED AND SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED. OUR CAR HAS ABOUT 43000 MILES AND HAS BEEN "IN SERVICE" FOR 4 YEARS AND 3 MONTHS, WHICH IS THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THESE REPAIRS. I THINK IT IS WAY TO EARLY FOR THESE COMPONENTS TO FAIL. MY TRUCK IS 10 YEARS OLDER AND STILL HAS ALL THE ORIGINAL AIR CONDITIONING PARTS AND WORK PERFECTLY. I THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE COMPRESSORS AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR”

“EXCESSIVE EXTERNAL CAR NOISE WHILE IDLE. LOUD NOISE IN MOTOR AREA WHEN STARTING CAR. NOTHING CAN BE DONE ACCORDING TO REYDEL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND SHREWSBURY VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE AND HAS NOT BEEN HANDLED BY VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATION. *KB”

“I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE HESITATION (OR MISFIRE ISSUE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP) AND LOSS OF POWER AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION # EA11002. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS TO TRY AND CORRECT THE ENGINE FAULTS.”

“FALSE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. WHEN CHECKED BY DEALER, THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND ONLY SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NEEDED. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A SOFTWARE GLITCH THAT WILL AFFECT THE CORRECT FUNCTIONING OF THE VEHICLE.”