2004 Volkswagen Passat Body & Structure Problems

I NOTICED THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CARPETING. I CHECKED ALL DRAINAGE LOCATIONS FOR BLOCKAGE (I.E. PLENUM, SUNROOF). ALL WERE CLEAR. THE WATER FOUND IT'S WAY INTO THE VEHICLE BY WAY OF A FAULTY (DISINTEGRATED) SEAL BENEATH THE POLLEN FILTER HOUSING. THE CAR HAD 92,000 AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE ACTION P9/66C8 APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE FOR WHICH I WAS TO BE NOTIFIED BY VW IN 2008. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND RESIDE IT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE 1978. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD DIRECTLY TO ME BY A VW DEALER BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 2004 AND REGISTERED TO ME AT MY HOME ADDRESS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION NOTED ON THE P9/66C8 INCLUDED DIRECTING THE DEALER TO "INSTALL AN IMPROVED SEAL FOR THE POLLEN FILTER". I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SERVICE ACTION EXISTED AND CONSEQUENTLY THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THEM TO CONTACT ME IN 2008. THEY LIED AND I HAVE A DAMAGE VEHICLE THAT GETS FLOODED WHENEVER IT RAINS. I WAS COMPELLED TO MAKE THE IMMEDIATE REPAIRS AT MY OWN EXPENSE SINCE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) IS LOCATED BENEATH THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT OF THIS CAR. SHOULD THE WATER GET INSIDE, IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, A POTENTIAL FOR PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS EXISTS ALONG WITH ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF. VW HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECT KNOWN TO THEM. VW HAS INSTEAD CHOSEN NOT ONLY TO HOLD ME FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECT OF THEIR PRODUCT BUT TO ALSO EXPOSE ME (AND OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE) TO POTENTIAL HAZARDS AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH A FLOODED TCM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER IT RAINED, WATER BEGAN TO BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR BOARD BEHIND THE DRIVERS BACK SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

WATER INTRUSION IN PASSENGER SIDE REAR FOOTWELL. ANYTIME IT RAINS. I HAVE CLEANED SUNROOF DRAINS, BATTERY COMPARTMENT DRAINS, CABIN FILTER AREA AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *TR

HAVE A WATER LEAK IN MY 2004 VW PASSAT. AFTER A HEAVEY RAIN I WAS CLEANING THE INSIDE OF MY CAR AND NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE REAR FLOOR BEHIND PASSENGER'S SEAT. I THEN SOAKED UP ALL OF THE WATER AND AIR DRIED MY MAT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE FOR VW OWNERS AND WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS IMMEDIATELY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *NM

2004 VW PASSAT 4-MOTION PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR A DRAINAGE CLOG RELATED TO THE SUNROOF. THIS CAN OCCUR EVEN WHEN THE SUNROOF IS IN THE DOWN OR CLOSED POSITION. THE LEAK WILL CAUSE WATER TO POOL IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FLOOR AND CAN CAUSE MOLD AND A VERY SMELLY AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITION FOR THE COMFORT AND BREATHING OF ALL PASSENGERS. HAVING ATTEMPTED REPAIRS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT VW IS ADEQUATELY ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM; IS ATTEMPTING TO MINIMIZE OR CONDUCT SUB-STANDARD REPAIRS; AND ARE RETURNING VEHICLES WITH MOLD TO CONSUMERS WHILE STATING THAT THERE IS NO MOLD. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT CANNOT BE FIXED. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT WAGON. WE WERE IN THE LAKE TAHOE REGION LAST WEEK DURING A RAIN AND SNOW STORM. WE GOT IN THE CAR ONE MORNING TO FIND INCHES OF WATER IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR AND TO DISCOVER OUR TRANSMISSION WAS SHORTED OUT. HAD IT TOWED 100 MILES TO SACRAMENTO, WHERE IT SAT FOR A WEEK BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS PINE NEEDLES IN THE DRAIN BELOW THE BATTERY WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET IN THROUGH THE VENTING SYSTEM. VOLKSWAGON CLAIMS THAT THIS ISSUE DOES NOT FALL UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE - YET NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO REGULARLY CHECK AND CLEAN THE THIS DRAIN AS IT'S NOT PART OF NORMAL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. WE KNOW AT LEAST THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOX IS FRIED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA IF/WHAT ANY OTHER DAMAGE MAY BE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL TO TELL ONE TO CHECK FOR THIS ISSUE. I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WILL BE A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. BESIDES THE ISSUE OF WATER GETTING INTO THE CAR, WHY IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL PLACED IN NON WATERPROOF LOCATION UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT THAT COULD BE PRONE TO GETTING WET? THERE IS A FORUM IN WHICH MANY OTHER VW OWNERS SPEAK OF THE SAME ISSUE - HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=12789 I CANNOT ACCEPT VW'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS.

WHEN IT RAINS, WATER LEAKS INTO AND FLOODS THE FOOT WELL ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. *NM

DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FOOT REST AND CLUTCH ARE DESIGNED POORLY. WHEN TRANSFERRING FEET FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER CONSUMER'S FOOT WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN THE PEDALS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE FOOTREST TO THE LEFT OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. CONSUMER'S FOOT HAS GOTTEN CAUGHT ON SEVREAL OCCASIONS. DEALERSHIP REMOVED FOOTREST. *TT