engine problem
8.6
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$2,977.00
Average Mileage:
68,210 miles
Number of complaints:
21 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace engine (8 reports)
- not sure (4 reports)
- vw to pay for $8000 for a new engine (4 reports)
- class action law suit (2 reports)
- had to pay dealer $2000 to fix, but no garantees! (2 reports)
- had car fixed at a vw specialist instead of the dealership (1 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2003 Volkswagen Passat engine failure from oil sludge
2008Jul 24
Passat
- Automatic transmission
- 41,200 miles
I'm back........., and let me tell you. They charged me $1008.79 to fix what they already knew was a problem. I definitely feel cheated. Whats more,they also told me that the repairs were not guaranteed. Riiiiiiiiiip-off. Volkswagen! You ought to be ashamed. I'm done.
2008Jul 24
Passat
- Automatic transmission
- 40,000 miles
ON JULY 24, 2008 I WAS PROCEEDING DOWN I-76 IN PHILA. ATTEMPTING TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM THE AIRPORT. WHEN AN ALARM SOUNDED IN MY 2003 VW PASSAT! WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON? IMMEDIATELY! I PULLED OVER FEARING THE WORST. MAYBE, EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO MAINTAIN MY CAR IMMACULATELY. JUST MAYBE, I HAD NO OIL. I JUMP OUT OF THE CAR AFTER POPPING THE TRUNK BECAUSE I KEEP X-TRA OIL THERE. (SYNTHETIC). TRUCKS AND CARS WHIZZING BY. I POP THE HOOD AND CHECK THE OIL. FULL! IN A STATE OF PANICKED BRILLIANCE, I POUR IN ANOTHER QUART OF OIL (SYNTHETIC) THINKING I SOLVED THE PROBLEM I JUMP BACK INTO THE CAR START IT UP AND PROCEED ON MY WAY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THE "STOP ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON. I EXIT THE HI-WAY AND GO TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OFF RAMP. WHERE II ADD 2 MORE QUARTS OF OIL. I GET BACK ON THE HI-WAY. AGAIN!, THE "STOP ENGINE" LIGHT COMES ON. I EXIT THE HI-WAY AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY VW DEALER I CALL FIRST, AND INFORM THEM OF THE PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. BUT, VOLKSWAGEN KNOWING THE PROBLEM HAS SET UP AN 8 YEAR PROGRAM DESIGNED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE IF YOU PROVIDE RECEIPTS OF ALL YOUR OIL CHANGES.NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT, MY NEPHEW WHO IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND WHO OWNS HIS OWN REPAIR SHOP AND GAS STATION CHANGES, MY OIL AND DOES OTHER MINOR REPAIRS TO MY CAR. I TELL HIM WHAT I NEED,HE FIXES IT I PAY AND GO ON MY WAY. RECEIPTS........MY ASS! VOLKSWAGEN KNOWING THE PROBLEM IS AS SERIOUS AS IT IS, FOUND A WAY TO NOT RECALL ALL THE CARS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. WHICH COULD POSSIBLY AFFECT ALL VW'S ON THE ROAD NOW.IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THE COSTLIEST REPAIRS TO CARS WITH HIGH MILEAGE THEY IMPOSED A RESTRICTION THAT COULD ALLOW THEM NOT TO HAVE TO FIX YOUR CAR.....RECEIPTS FOR ALL OIL CHANGES NOT PERFORMED BY THEM........NO RECEIPTS NECESSARY IF SERVICED BY THEM FOR OIL CHANGES. SO I SUBMIT RECEIPTS FROM MY NEPHEW THE SERVICE STATION OWNER. REJECTED.!!!!!!!!!( TO BE CONTINUED SOON)
2007Dec 27
Passat GLS 1.8turbo
- Automatic transmission
- 65,000 miles
My husband and I were driving back from Indiana to Iowa in December 2007 when the car began alarming and the "STOP ENGINE, DO NOT CONTINUE DRIVING" sign came on! (We were on I-80 in the middle of Illinois when this happened.) We pulled over,and checked the oil level. It appeared to have plenty of oil but we added some anyway. We decided to continue driving however 10 minutes later, the same alarm came on as well as the STOP ENGINE" light. We then called our VW dealer in Des Moines who stated we should not continue driving. We had to have it towed to the Quad Cities and make other arrangements to get home. My husband then had to get a ride back over to the Quad Cities a week later, amidst bad weather and snow, to get the car. They felt it was a "sensor" problem so we paid $200 and thought the problem was resolved. We drove the car for a few more weeks and then the same thing happened again. We then took the car into the dealer who said it was a "sludge problem" because we hadn't used synthetic oil for our oil changes (however, no one had ever told us we were supposed to use synthetic oil and had always gotten the oil changed from 3,000-5,000 miles). Volkswagen did end up paying for the engine repairs. The whole experience was a real hassle and we're looking to trade...we don't feel we can trust a VW engine anymore.
2008Mar 09
Passat GL 1.8L Turbo
- Automatic transmission
- 58,000 miles
Yes, yes, another oil sludge engine destruction complaint.
The day after my VW Passat Wagon was serviced, at the dealership, which charged my, btw, $200 for a new battery on top of an oil change, I was driving with my kids for a much needed vacation and the oil light came on. Hmm, I thought, how odd, just had the oil changed. I pulled over, checked the oil and it was fine. I continued on and a giant red "STOP DRIVING" message came on the dashboard. Alarmed, I got off the hwy and to the nearest garage. Oil checked again, and the level was fine. I checked the owners manual, which advised me in no uncertain terms to not drive under these conditions. I called VW roadside assistance, which was NO HELP at all. I ended up having to have my car towed 200 miles to my idiotic dealership, Lewis Motors of South Burlington, VT. (Stay Away.) They said offhandedly, "Oh, yeah, oil sludge problem," and since I'd had my car serviced there every time they agreed to fix the problem without charge. But they kept my car a week and didn't offer me a free rental or even an apology for the stupid car's stupid oil sludge problem--they'd seen it so much that it was no big deal to them.
I'd loved my car until then, but I got it back on a Friday afternoon and traded it in for a Volvo Saturday morning.
If you own one, you know it's fun to drive, it's euro-stylin', it's fun to drive, etc. But what you might not know, yet, is this car will TURN ON YOU. Remember my words of warning and sell it NOW to an unsuspecting dupe.
2008Jan 18
Passat
- Automatic transmission
- 79,000 miles
I hate my car, do not ever by a Volkswagon. I have had thousands of dollars of engine problems and it only has 80,000 miles! I will warn you, if you buy one and when you are driving down the highway and the entire dashboard starts blinking "Pull Over Immediately, Engine Failure", you can think to this post and think that crazy lady told you so!
2007May 03
(reported on)Passat GLX 1.8L TURBO
- Automatic transmission
- 50,103 miles
At 50,103 miles, oil pressure light came on. 2 minutes later, a series of loud, obnoxious beeps occurred, then engine light came on and flashed "STOP ENGINE". 30 seconds later, and after I had pulled over on a busy interstate (I-10 in San Antonio, TX) the engine light beeped again and this time read "STOP ENGINE NOW!" with exclamation point and all! I called a tow company, which towed my Passat to Ancira VW on Bandera Rd. Charge, $135 for tow. Service dept was very cordial, friendly and nice. Head of service dept told me "oil sludge" just from my description alone (before any diagnostic test). In the mean time, I have rented a car for $38/day.... at my expense. Next day, diagnosis proved him right, he took me to the side and recommended he fix it then for me to sell the car ASAP. Wow! Told me he sees this issue w/ the 1.8L Turbo 2003 Passat a few time a month. Wow! Again, I appreciated the honesty. Then told me, repairs would not be under warranty since I had not kept all my oil change receipts, but gave me VW headquarters PH# to call them. They told me the same, no coverage w/out those receipts. I had purchased the car used, but "certified preowned" at 7500 miles from local Lexus dealer and had purchased from Lexus an extended warranty 100K miles and 6 yrs for additional $1400. I called the extended warranty company, and was told issue would not be covered under the warranty! I had Ancira go ahead and "clean up the gunk. They had to replace 28 engine parts and I do have a receipt to prove it. I had to pay for 3 days of car rental on top of the $135 tow charge and $2000 repair bill. How angry would YOU be as a consumer who had covered his ass every way possible to prevent something like this from happening, yet it still happened? Well, now you know I must be very upset. Every time I drive my car, my anxiety level is through the roof, wondering if the engine will seize again. I will never own another VW and I have told my story to everyone I know. This story must be told. I have created an email that I am about to send to everyone in my email address book and I will ask those 250 people to forward the email to their 10 closest compadres and we'll see how many people in the end this will affect.... millions, I hope. So long and thanks for listening.
Mark M PS. VW, get a life!
2008Feb 28
Passat GL 1.8t
- Automatic transmission
- 121,000 miles
I had the oil pump replaced about 2 years ago, (oil sludge, oil pump clogged, 2000 dollars), OK cars back on the road. Then out of nowhere the engine light comes on. The vehicle begins to sputter and I pop the hood to find the turbo and catalytic converter glowing red. When the oil pump was replaced VW told me that the oil had not been replaced enough, that I should have used synthetic oil, and that they needed all of my receipts for the oil changes. Then my turbo blows up. Oh and by the way I too had an extended warranty, but could it be used?, nooo.. because I didn't have all of the receipts. All right so what I am going to do? First I bought a new car, Second I will donate my half running car. Third I will make it life mission to stop anyone that I know, (even if I don;t care about them), from buying a VW. If VW can't back their product and I stop 3 people from buying a VW, then I figure I made my money back by keeping it from VW.
2007Dec 09
Passat
- Manual transmission
- 64,106 miles
After having purchased this vehicle in a short period of time the car broke down and would not start we had it towed to a volkswagon dealership where we found out that the fuel pump was in recall and that was part of the problem. Luckily it was still under warranty because there were other problems that were electrical in nature,water had gotten in around the door seals and had caused problems with the electrical connections under the carpet. Now that most of he warranty has expired the engine is blown because of this oil sludge problem. The car is still under finance contract.
2006Sep 10
Passat 1.8L
- Manual transmission
- 32,000 miles
2 years ago, my wife was out of town and I was taking my two young sons to a train museum about an 45 minutes away from my home. When we were almost there, I got a warning light telling me to stop the car (it had been running completely normal up to that point). I just happened to be passing a gas station, so I pulled in. All fluid levels checked out and the gauges were completely normal. When I restarted the car, it still sounded completely normal and the light was no longer on. I drove the rest of the way to the museum with no issues. On the way back, I again got the "stop" light again and pulled the car over immediately. This time I looked it up in the manual (which I'll admit I should have done the first time) and it said the car should not be driven and needed to be towed in for service. So there I was, stranded on the side of a busy highway, a few miles from the closest town, 40 minutes from home, with two young boys in the back seat and a wife who was a few hours away! ( fyi, several months before this happened, we had received and complied with a notice from vw that recommended we switching to a synthetic oil during our next oil change.) The VW dealer told me that the turbo "runs a little hotter", turning the oil into sludge quickly. (Something they didn't mention when they recommended the oil upgrade). The sludge had clogged the oil pick up tube and burned out my oil pump. Because I had not had the oil changed in about 5500 miles, VW consider me a "negligent" owner and would not cover the repairs on a car that should have still been under warranty. (At that time the car was 2 1/2 years old!!!,) They told me it was going to run $3500 for parts and labor. After several arguments over the phone, threats to contact the BBB and a promise never to buy a vw again, I had the car towed to a shop that specializes in VW's (oh, by the way the VW dealer also charged me $200 just to look at the car) The service center felt that the dealer was recommending replacing more than was necessary. In the end I walked away with a fixed lemon and $1700 less in my pocket.
2007Dec 31
Passat GLS 1.8t
- Tiptronic transmission
- 71,000 miles
Okay guys, here goes! I am not sitting on my butt about this problem and whether or not VW of America is going to replace my sludged up engine, I am not taking this sitting down. My 2003 Passat, bought new and regularly maintained with synthenic oils every 3000 to 5000 miles blew on New Year's Eve. Oh yes, VW is giving me a run for the money alright even with every oil change for the last 25,000 miles as they requested. So, I contacted the law firm of Green Wellings, LLP of San Francisco, CA and I encourage everyone who has had the same problem to register the complaint with them. I am providing the link to their site : http://www.classcounsel.com/contact.html copy it and paste it into your browser and register with them. I am hoping to get just more than satisfaction from this action. I will post at a later date, the outcome of my car's repair.
2007Sep 19
Passat
- Automatic transmission
- 133,000 miles
Everyone should report their 2003 VW Passat Complaints to the Better Business Bureau. The more complaints they see of the same problem, maybe some kind of compensation can come towards all of us. The BBB requests alot of information so have all your paperwork. These complaints will be shown to anyone looking up VW in the BBB and hopefully discourage them from purchasing! It's like a hit on a credit report! They deserve it. I've never been treated so horribly and basically told too bad for you, your problem. Well, it's not and everyone I know that has had VW's, all have had issues and are reporting them to the BBB. Good Luck!
2007Apr 18
Passat 1.8t
- Automatic transmission
- 54,000 miles
IF ANYONE IS OPENING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST VW, PLEASE COUNT ME IN. 1 YEAR AFTER WE PURCHASED, THE CAR FAILED DUE TO OIL PRESSURE FAILURE. IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS SEPTEMBER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE ENGINE FAILED AS WELL. VW ASKED FOR ALL OUR OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, WHICH I PROVIDED, AND STILL DENIED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE CLAIMING THE CAR HAD HIGH MILEAGE AT 133,000 MILES. IF A VOLKSWAGON, WHO CLAIM TO BE HIGH LINE, IS GOING TO FAIL THAT EARLY ON, I DON'T RECOMMEND A VW TO ANYONE. I ASKED FOR ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR THE FIRST REPAIR AND I GOT SOME EXCUSE ABOUT THAT DEALERSHIP BEING SOLD OFF AND THE ORIGINAL OWNER TOOK ALL PAPERWORK. SOUNDS LIKE A COVERUP TO ME. I WAS SO UPSET AS I AM STILL PAYING THE LOAN FOR THE VW AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR YET.
2007May 10
(reported on)Passat GLS 1.8T V6
- Tiptronic transmission
- 80,000 miles
The dealer sends me to the credit group who then sends me to VW of America; Neither the dealer or VW credit have address information on VW of America; in addition the dealer has messed up my front end and it is not attached correctly, the fuel pump failed, the cv joints had to be replaced. This is the worst 3 year old car I've ever owned. total repairs rental cars and travel cost over $8,000
2007Aug 24
Passat GLS 1.8L
- Manual transmission
- 59,000 miles
last august 24 when i was driving to the airport, the stop sign start blinking and the car just died on me within seconds. it was the worst day in my life. I took the car to a VW and they told me thats an oil sludge that caused the problem and they needed all the receipts of oil change. I cannot believe that they asked me that , its like asking me to give them all the receipts of my groceries that i have done for the last 4 years, i dont have it.
Well, i had no choice but to take it to a mechanic, it cost me $4500 dollars it was supposed to be more but i had to shop for the engine myself.
If anybody has a problem like this please report it, hopefully it will be a lemon law that give me my money back because i'm in lots of debt, my life is not the same.
2007Oct 09
(reported on)Passat
- Automatic transmission
- 57,000 miles
I already had the transmission replaced under warranty and now they want my oil reciepts. I don't save them. Volkswagen has a problem and they should fix it. Does anybody know of a class action suit going for this?
2007Sep 18
(reported on)Passat 1.8L
- Tiptronic transmission
- 83,000 miles
I've had my 2003 Passat for 4 years. Prior to purchasing the Passat, I owned a 1994 Volkswagen Jetta. The 94 Jetta was a fabulous car. With regular maintenance the car ran like a dream. The car was 10 years old when I got rid of it and the only major problem I had to repair was for the AC. Granted the paint job was looking shabby but it was still on the road!
On August 10th the battery of my Passat died and I had the battery replaced. The following weekend, something cracked the windshield of the car and I had it replaced. The same weekend I had some routine maintenance completed, oil change, new windshield wipers, all fluids checked. Before leaving for vacation, the transmission goes out on my car. The car is barely 4 years old and it only has 83,000 miles. And of course my warranty ended 2 months earlier (not that the transmission would have been covered). I paid nearly $3,000 for a new transmission.
10 minutes after leaving the repair shop my check engine light pops on and the oil light came on. I took the car back to the repair shop and they informed me that the oil pump had failed and would need to be replaced. I had another mechanic look at the car and he informed me that the engine needed to be replaced.
Volkswagen knows that they have created a bad product. No matter how regularly you service your car, this frequently reported engine/oil problem is going to happen. I would glady join anyone prepared to start a class action law suit against Volkswagen!
2007Aug 14
(reported on)Passat GLS 1.8 T 1.8L T 4CY
- Automatic transmission
- 63,000 miles
Driving on I-65 on a very hot August 13, 2007 day, a warning came came on the dash board and an alarm signaled to "STOP" ... "DO NOT DRIVE". I pulled into a VW/Audi dealership in Mobile, Alabama.
I was told there was no oil pressure due to oil sludge and there were two resolutions suggested by Volkswagen; 1. a de-sludge proceedure or 2. a new engine.
I was asked to find all oil change receipts since the car was new and told that the dealership would consult VW on how to proceed.
The service assistant told me this was a common problem on this engine in VW and Audi models. He told me that he once changed three engines in one month due to this problem.
I called VW at 800-822-8987 and was told there is an extended 8 year warranty on the problem and to gather oil change receipts.
The dealership told me that it would take between one week to one month to resolve the problem.
The express oil change place where I have my car serviced in Atlanta was very helpful and faxed copies of oil changes to the dealership.
The oil change place in New Orleans was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina so there are no records available.
I had the car in the Atlanta dealership at 49,000 +/- miles and no mention was made of this issue.
I had to rent a car and am awaiting resolution.
2007Jun 17
(reported on)Passat 1.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 88,000 miles
I was returning from a vacation when my STOP engine light came on. Turned out to be sludge. We contacted VW and they refused to help. denying it was a problem of the engine. They also stated that they sent out letters saying that we needed to use synthetic oil in the car. I never received such a letter. So after months of stalling on VW part I am having the engine replaced myself and I will never own a VW again. Can't recommend them to anyone either. How can you spend a so much money on a car with no back up support from the company when it's their faulty design.
2007Jun 28
(reported on)Passat 1.8T
- Automatic transmission
- 57,000 miles
My problem is as other 2003 Passat owners. Oil strainer fills up from sludge. Loses oil pressure. Car is in VW Dealer at this time. This is the fourth trip same problem. I'm looking for a current Class Action Law suit that is currently in process. I've read so many complaints from this problem. I'm currently contacting the Consumer Agency to see if and why they have not gotten involved with this scam. You should also contact them by internet to complain. This is the only way we can deal with this injustice.
2007Feb 04
(reported on)Passat DL 1.8T
- Automatic transmission
- 72,000 miles
Apparently, from web searches I've done too late, this is a rampant problem on Passat turbo engines. VW allegedly sent out letters in 2004 extending warranties to 8 years, but they require ALL receipts of oil changes per their maintenance schedule at "authorized" facilities. Missing one receipt, you're out of luck. Allegedly they also sent out letters increasing the frequency of oil changes, stating turbo engines should switch to synthetic oil, and they had dealers use a larger oil filter; none of this was communicated to me. Now I have a worthless dead car with a fried engine and who knows what else from the engine seizing up, have had to lease another car, and have no justice.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your engine problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Oct 24
Passat GLS 1.8L Turbo
I FEEL THAT THE SALESMAN AT OUR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SAW A SUCKER WHEN I CAME IN TO LOOK FOR A CAR. I THINK IT'S POSSESSED! TWO DAYS AFTER I GOT IT SOMEONE REAR ENDED IT. AND NOW, THREE YEARS LATER, IT'S DEAD. THE OIL GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWED THAT WE HAD ENOUGH OIL IN IT BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WASN'T GETTING TO THE ENGINE. SLUDGE! THE SERVICE MAN SAYS IT WILL COST $1000 TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND THEN IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE THAT THE ENGINE STILL WORKS, THAT'LL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER $5000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE TWO MORE YEARS TO PAY ON THIS CAR. WHAT DO I DO?
kathleenm
Rome, NY, USA
SEND A COMMENT »