Volkswagen has announced that the automaker is going to issue a recall of every 1999-2005 VW Passat.
Every gasoline powered Passat is being recalled because of a heat shield issue. The shield near the catalytic converter on Passats with automatic transmissions may be damaged. VW wants dealers to inspect them and add additional shielding if it is necessary.
In addition VW has also found some faulty fuel lines on Passats with the 1.8L engine. Also some of the all-wheel-drive models may have damaged fuel tank ventilation valves.
VW is going to begin to notify owners on May 30th.
Full Story: Autoblog
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Comments (23)
I have a 2003 W8 I wish they'd recall the transmission too.
Posted by I love bacon | April 5, 2008 9:34 PM
Posted on April 5, 2008 21:34
I have a 2003 W8 I wish they'd recall the transmission too.
Posted by I love bacon | April 5, 2008 9:35 PM
Posted on April 5, 2008 21:35
VW is a POS! We had a 2001 1.8T GTI, and currently a 2004 1.8T Beetle Convertible, and this POS have seen service department more than the road.
I would never, ever buy a VW again! Overpriced and below PAR Quality. :-(
Posted by vpkb | April 5, 2008 9:53 PM
Posted on April 5, 2008 21:53
When will VW get their head out of their arse and crank up the reliability.
Posted by Al | April 6, 2008 2:18 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 02:18
Hey, don't blame VW - blame those dumbass Mexicans they employ.
Posted by Von Wagner | April 6, 2008 2:33 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 02:33
Blame the dumbass execs of VW that don't control the quality of products coming out of THEIR factories, regarldless of where they are or who makes them.
I wonder if this will make VW reconsider pulling out of the US market?
Posted by Gary | April 6, 2008 3:01 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 03:01
blame the dumbass customers that dont know how to drive
Posted by the dork retort | April 6, 2008 4:21 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 04:21
Its the American customers that dont know how to drive, they are americans after all and americans only make cars for straights and blah blah blah (HP/Displacement) (Interiors) and blah blah blah...
We just have to make an "America" thing out of this too right?? LOL!
Posted by America-Obsessed | April 6, 2008 9:05 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 09:05
"blame the dumbass customers that dont know how to drive"
What does this have to do with any of the above recalls? Nothing.
If you think a few snippy comments about VW is bad, see what happens when there's a recall on a domestic. To draw a parallel, it would be like everyone comes in and bashes Germany as a country just because some VWs (regardless of where they were built) had some issues. Does that sound fair? No, but it happens almost every time there's a post about a domestic. It doesn't even have to be a negative post like a recall. It can be a press release or something.
Posted by Alexvrb | April 6, 2008 9:16 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 09:16
WOW!
It only took about 6 comments for the America bashers to add their two-cents worth. I guess they can now go back to whining about their personal failures and blaming it on those who are more successful.
Posted by bubba551 | April 6, 2008 11:16 AM
Posted on April 6, 2008 11:16
oooohhh, is this an america-only recall???
I thought it was global....dont they have heatshields in Europe?
Posted by Marc | April 6, 2008 12:04 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 12:04
@Marc:
VW removed the heatshields in Europe in an attempt to increase the temperature of their seats to control sperm counts, so that European sprawl can be slowed.
Posted by Gary | April 6, 2008 12:11 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 12:11
Stop to blame VW please!... These cars are very good cars!...
Posted by paul | April 6, 2008 12:31 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 12:31
@Paul:
VWs aren't good cars - like most cars, they're merely mediocre. The issue here isn't bashing... people are just commenting on the staggeringly large recall - 410,000 cars is a pretty large number, after all.
This recall will cost VW somewhere around 200 million dollars (US). Please keep in mind that for a manufacturer to VOLUNTARILY recall this many cars, it must estimate that the liability from the defect will cost more than the recall.
VWs haven't been considered reliable for quite some time. So, add to the measurable cost of the recall the immeasurable cost of consumer confidence erosion, and I think VW will have a huge problem.
Posted by Chris O. | April 6, 2008 2:07 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 14:07
Blame it on VW's cut backs, because that's what it boild down to.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | April 6, 2008 4:56 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 16:56
bubba551:
WOW!
It only took about 6 comments for the America bashers to add their two-cents worth. I guess they can now go back to whining about their personal failures and blaming it on those who are more successful.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wrong. No one mentioned America until America-Obsessed (an obvious American auto fanboy) posted his nonsense here. Only you were foolish enough to respond to the troll.
Posted by facts | April 6, 2008 8:07 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 20:07
This year's issue of Consumer Report's auto magazine rated both Mercedes and VW as the two most least reliable cars, despite having decent test performance scores. Having good test scores are good but without corresponding good reliability, then they're really worth the money unless the cars are being used as status symbols for whatever reason.
Don't get me wrong. I think German cars are very cool--esp BMW--but in terms of value and reliability, they still need much improvement compared to imports from Japan and even S. Korea now. What a shame it would be if the Chinese cars that are projected to be sold in the US within the next two years have better value and reliability than German cars.
Posted by Optimummind | April 6, 2008 10:38 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 22:38
i had a passat 1.8t with a auto tranny and the trranny went out on me i was so screwed by that i had to buy a 4 banger pickuptruck and drive that for a few years till i could save up the money i lost on the VW. what a peice of junk i would never recommend it to anyone...
i hate wedubs
Posted by dennisil | April 7, 2008 10:48 AM
Posted on April 7, 2008 10:48
" Marc:
oooohhh, is this an america-only recall???
I thought it was global....dont they have heatshields in Europe?"
In response to this, our VWs are not built in the same Mexican factory................. enough said. :)
Posted by Greg | April 8, 2008 4:49 AM
Posted on April 8, 2008 04:49
" Optimummind:
This year's issue of Consumer Report's auto magazine rated both Mercedes and VW as the two most least reliable cars, despite having decent test performance scores. Having good test scores are good but without corresponding good reliability, then they're really worth the money unless the cars are being used as status symbols for whatever reason.
Don't get me wrong. I think German cars are very cool--esp BMW--but in terms of value and reliability, they still need much improvement compared to imports from Japan and even S. Korea now. What a shame it would be if the Chinese cars that are projected to be sold in the US within the next two years have better value and reliability than German cars."
Yep, they are great driving machines that look good, but they are just not very good in the quality dept. Especially compared to some of the asian brands.
But apparently it is just the ones we get in the US.
The Euro german cars are all Uber and shit! LOL!
Posted by zippy | April 8, 2008 6:29 PM
Posted on April 8, 2008 18:29
German engineering? Wonder if the comrades building the VeeDubs ever worked for Ford, GM, or Chrysler. Hillary Clinton's autobiography is more reliable than these pieces of Scheiße.
Now I wonder if this car was ever in Bosnia, driving around under sniper fire..........
Posted by Rich | April 9, 2008 7:54 PM
Posted on April 9, 2008 19:54
in my VW / audi experience, if you maintain the car properly, abnormal things don't go wrong. most people don't know how to drive and don't properly maintain their vehicles. as much as i would like to jump on the "hate VW" bandwagon [because i dislike most of their cars], i think they are made very well, styled nicely [the one i have at least], and damn fun to drive.
FYI: when check engine lights come on... bring your car in for service. you would be surprised how many idiots keep driving their cars thinking everything will be okay.
Posted by s a r | May 16, 2008 4:21 PM
Posted on May 16, 2008 16:21
in my VW / audi experience, if you maintain the car properly, abnormal things don't go wrong. most people don't know how to drive and don't properly maintain their vehicles. as much as i would like to jump on the "hate VW" bandwagon [because i dislike most of their cars], i think they are made very well, styled nicely, and damn fun to drive.
FYI: when check engine lights come on... bring your car in for service. you would be surprised how many idiots keep driving their cars thinking everything will be okay.
Posted by s a r | May 16, 2008 4:21 PM
Posted on May 16, 2008 16:21