We bought a 2007 Volkswagen Passat in July of 2006 and we have had nothing but problems with it since. The car has been in the shop a total of seven times over 16 days, or an average of once per month and two days per visit all for warranty work (we took it in […]
Written by randomfool on February 22nd, 2007 with
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We bought a 2007 Volkswagen Passat in July of 2006 and we have had nothing but problems with it since. The car has been in the shop a total of seven times over 16 days, or an average of once per month and two days per visit all for warranty work (we took it in once for regular non-warranty service). Problems range from very disturbing issues like malfunctioning airbags and brakes and high idle to annoying problems like a rattle, a piece of trim under the driver seat that keeps breaking off and a key that will not eject.
The biggest single problem is with the high idle. That problem, which the dealer (Timmons of Long Beach; more on them later) cannot ever replicate causes the car to lurch forward from a stop when the brakes are released. We have had the car in to repair the idle problem four times.
When we bought the car, it already had about 4,000 miles on it. We thought we received a good deal because a manager at Timmons had been driving it as a demo. However, we should have realized a problem early on because there was an airbag light on the night we bought the car and they wouldn’t let us drive it home. We later found out that the manager who was driving the car before we bought it had also noticed the high idle and had turned the car in to get fixed! So, Timmons sold us a car with an airbag problem and a high idle, the latter of which they did not disclose to us and then they lied to us about
We took the time to compile all of our records and sent a letter to Volkswagen requesting a repurchase of the car under the California Lemon Law. They wrote back that they evaluated our claim and rejected it for settlement. The letter was dated the day after our 7 page letter with 15 pages of exhibits was received. Volkswagen clearly did not bother to investigae our claim and just rejected it upon receipt.
We have discussed our case with a Lemon Law lawyer who we are about to retain to handle our case. He tells us that (a) Volkswagen is one of the worst manufacturers to deal with on Lemon Law claims and (b) that the Passat is known as a very poor quality model.
So, what we have learned is:
Finally, regardless of the make and model that you are considering, do yourself a favor and spend a few minutes on the Internet to check the reputation of the make and model among buyers who have experienced problems. Expect your dealer to lie to you, expect your manufacturer to abdicate its responsibility to stand behind its product and expect to be caught up in the emotion of buying a car. Had I spend a little time on the Internet before we bought the Passat, I never would have bought it. For example, check out these links:
Written by randomfool on February 22nd, 2007 with
no comments.
Read more articles on General Folly and Companies & Products I Can't Stand.
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