I had my car diagnosed at the VW dealer, and they said there are emission problems related to the recall I recently found on my car, when I called the number on the recall, VW customer service insisted I was not included because my VIN number hadn't been included in the recall. This car regularly smokes, lets off huge smog clouds when I put gas and is a fire risk according to their recall. I don't drive it because I'm afraid it is going to explode into flames.

- Diamond Bar, CA, USA

Winter 2008-2009 had several times when car would accelerate on it's own. Brakes did not help. Only way to stop is to apply brakes with both feet and slow down enough to pull over and put in neutral, which makes tac go over 7000 RPM's. had throttle body cleaned and reset in spring of 2009 but problem recurred again this year. On Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 temperature was in low teens. Warmed car for approx. 7 min. Drove slowly due to bad road conditions and at approx. 3 miles into drive car started accelerating again on its own and no place to pull off. Had to stop in extremely dangerous position and pray I wasn't hit before I could safely start car again. Finally able to restart engine after approx. 5 min. Without revving problem but approx. 2 miles later car again accelerated on it's own. Took to dealer and they did a general diagnosis which showed nothing. This is an extremely dangerous situation and makes me extremely nervous to drive my car. VW of America states that my car was not in any recall and they are unaware of any problem with my car and could not divulge if they received any other complaints.

- Smithsburg, MD, USA

I was driving approximately 25 miles a hour by my house while I was driving a big click noise sounded on my front right wheel the car swerved and fell in a ditch the police came and the car was towed to a mechanic and he told me it was your tie rod and axle broken I had to change them. Plus my ABS system is not working and it needs a new module and it seems like every Passat out there have no problem and the dealer wont help or VW hotline plus my two front windows just fell and the windows need a whole new actuators and on the internet alot of the Passat have that problem and the dealer wont help there is five recalls on Passat and the dealer don't want to do but 1 of them so please help me.

- Ocean Pines, MD, USA

The contact owns a 1999 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 08V156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). The dealer stated that in order for the recall repair to be performed, they would need to perform $800 worth of repairs first. The contact stated that the notice does not clearly state that, which it should. The manufacturer was called and explained that the additional charges may apply if the recall repair needs to be performed. The contact stated that it should be clearly stated in the notice that additional charges may accrue. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 70,000.

- New Freedom, PA, USA

1. unknown 2. visible gas leak, intermittent. Recurred approx. 1 year after initial visible leak to an extent I was able to trace. 3. replace cracked rubber hose connected to fuel filter. (part is not available but I have photos).

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Electrical problems from the start, melting of plastic, lights in the car working sporadically at best. Oil, drain, oil pump, camshaft, all blamed on lack of verifiable oil changes. Timing belt - let go on highway at 85000 miles (warranty for 1999 Passat, 100,000 miles) blamed on oil changes. 82 days in shop steering goes during this time and I'm told I need an altenator [ 3rd one ] the story goes on and on......

- Westwood, MA, USA