Car continues to stop while being driven.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

2006 VW Passat 3.6L 4motion, 81K miles. Check engine light (cel) and electronic power control (epc) lights came on at cruising speed. Codes pointed to a cam/crank timing issue. Access to timing chain on this model/trim requires removal of transmission. Upon removal, technician discovered that the oil pump bolt had completely sheared off which could have led to complete engine failure; the only thing keeping the oil pump assembly in place was the cover. The oil pump bolt for this model/trim appears to be defective.

- Corvallis, OR, USA

On hot day (90 degree +/-) the 3.6 engine will suddenly begin to idle at 1000 RPM after being driven for a while. In my latest episode, I had been driving in stop and go city traffic for 30-45 minutes when the engine suddenly began to race. The first notice is when you are stopping or stopped. When stopped it takes extra brake. Pressure and concentration to keep the car braked. This has happened a number of times but, I only recently linked the car's behavior with the high air temps. Dealer was unable to duplicate and did not detect any error codes when the car was taken in for service.

- Lakeville, MA, USA

Failure of bolt for oil pump and timing chain caused sudden loss of power. Car currently at dealer awaiting parts including new reinforced bolt. This is a common problem with this make and model of vehicle and has lead to catastrophic engine failures due to loss of oil pressure. According to dealer parts are restricted due to the frequency of this problem.

- Evergreen, CO, USA

Over the past 2 years of leasing my new 2006 VW Passat, from time to time when the car down shifts to first gear it makes a very noticeable "hard" down shift. The noise associated with the hard down shift is very startling -- it sounds like something is coming through the floorboard. I'm not aware of any particular condition that causes the car to do this...it seems random..it always seem to happen when I'm slowing down to stop for a traffic light. I took my car to the VW dealership in dulles, va and they said they can't fix the problem unless they can experience the problem.

- Reston, VA, USA

Vehicles throttle- by- wire system creates unsafe delay in acceleration and an exaggerated lunging effect when unexpected. Unsafe in the event of an evasive maneuver, merging, passing and stop and go traffic.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

My wife and I leased a 2006 Passat value edition on 06/24/06 for this company. It came to my wife's attention on 07/20/06 while at work that the car is leaking oil. She called me and I called the dealer. Paul auerbach of mountain states informed me that they would fix the problem. I scheduled the appointment for my wife at 6-6.30pm since she uses the vehicle. Their service department closes at 7.00pm. He also advised me that they might have to keep the vehicle depending on the problem so they would give us a loaner if necessary. My wife took the car in at around 5.40pm on 07/20/06. When she got there someone told her that she would have to wait til 07/21/06 to have it looked at.this was not the agreement. My wife called me when she got to the dealership and I told her to tell them that we weren't going to pay for the repair. She told paul that in the presence of the sales guy who sold us the car(kenny). Then paul went to the serivce guy and he informed him that the damagae was not covered under warranty. I accept that, but this paul a sales manager specifically told my wife that they would repair it at no cost to us. Unless he and kenny are willing to call my wife a liar I consider that a verbal contract. They want us to pay $506 to have it fixed. Now my wife and I have owned a few vehicles in our life and never had a problem like this. I think that this is a manufacturing defect and the dealer should fix it at no cost to us because they said they would, seeing that the car is barnd new. Also the sales guy, kenny was nto forth coming with us when he told us that the car takes any type of fuel. Grade 87 or higher of course. That in it self is ture, but he failed to mention that it was highly recommended to use only premium fuel. No problem.

- Denver, CO, USA