Denial of Claim
I have an 18 month old Passat. The lights reading STOP MOTOR turned on the other day. I immediately stopped the car. The car was towed and I found out that there was “sludge” in the oil screen. 1200 dollars later, VW denied my claim under the warrenty because I have had only 4 oil changes in 18 months.
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297 Said,
June 18, 2005 @ 1:02 am
Denial of Claim – That makes no sense.
What year/model Passat?
How many miles?
bruce Said,
June 20, 2005 @ 1:22 am
Denial of Claim – exactly like paul said. how many miles. in 18 months you should have ahd 3 oil changes based on time. or every 5000 miles. the key is mileage. and also where did you get the oil changed at? hopefully you either took it to the dealer or kept the receipts to prove proper service history
tsg895 Said,
June 27, 2005 @ 9:20 am
Denial of Claim – I have a 2003 Passat and the exact same thing happened to me last year. The dealer had my car for a month and fought with me about getting it fixed under warranty and refused to give me a loaner the entire time they had the car. They did finally fix it (put in a new engine) and three days ago, the light came on again (turn engine off now, etc).
297 Said,
June 27, 2005 @ 11:36 am
Denial of Claim – I still don’t see anything about mileage and service history.
Roger Pratt Said,
July 5, 2005 @ 1:38 am
Consumer Reports Article: Engine Sludge – There is an article in this months issue of Consumer Reports that deals with this topic and references a Passat–along with some other cars. In the Passat case, VW finally broke down and paid for the repairs. Perhaps you can reference this as a precedent. It’s worth checking out. I also found another interesting article at:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/vw_sludge.html
I hope this is helpful.
297 Said,
July 5, 2005 @ 5:14 am
Denial of Claim – This is provided that your oil service intervals are well documented. If not, you are at the mercy of the dealership.
thomas_mck Said,
August 27, 2005 @ 2:22 am
DON’T BUY A VW!!!!! – Have had nothing but problems with this lemon. 2003 VW Passat
* 500 miles cruise control fails, has to be replaced.
* 16,000 miles Ignition coil fails, replaced coil and Mass air flow sensor.
* 28,000 miles Fan in dash diagnosed as faulty and needing to be replaced. Parts ordered, never installed. (they used them in another car….)
* 40,000 miles oil pump and oil hoses are replaced due to oil pressure failures. Car broke down on road.
* 44,159 miles oil pressure switch replaced due to oil pressure failures.
* 46,000 miles fuel pump failure, replaced under warranty. Car broke down on road.
Volkswagen has a problem with these cars and “”oil sludge”". VW refuses to fix my car under warranty. Last word was “”we reserve the right to refuse any warrany claim, regardless of documentation of oil changes.”"
I’ve talked to several dealerships and it’s a #1 problem with these cars comming in for ruined engines and oil sludge. VW is refusing to pay for fixing the problems in most cases.
thomas_mck Said,
August 28, 2005 @ 6:32 am
And? – And? If this terrible company doesn’t stand behind their product, why buy any of their products?
Boycott VW, put them out of business and solve this problem once and for all.
297 Said,
August 28, 2005 @ 12:20 pm
Denial of Claim – Note: the oil sludge problem is for 1.8T Passats only (plus Audi A4 1.8Ts).
297 Said,
August 29, 2005 @ 11:27 am
Denial of Claim – And it’s a NOTE, as in, if anyone else is worried about this problem then it’s good to know who is affected.
I would add that boycotting should not be used to put VW out of busines — if that is your goal, then 1. it is extremely far-fetched, and 2. the company itself has recognized many of its internal issues and in the last few months has made significant changes to its leadership and goals. In other words, they are trying. However, a boycott is useful to make a company change. This should be the goal.
This may be too late for you, and if so feel free to never buy another VW again.
I’d like to know why VW refused to honor your warranty. Care to relate the entire story?
edit: I want to hear the entire story, period. It is in no way an accusation that you are at fault. It is for information that can benefit anyone who visits this site.
Post edited 08/29/05 1:44 PM by paultakeda
ablanscet Said,
September 12, 2005 @ 1:14 am
Notice Concerning Audi A4 and Volkswagon 1.8 Liter turbo engines – We have a client for whom we are investigating the design defects of the Audi A4 1.8 turbo that resulted in oil sludging and related engine failure.
We are interested in hearing the details of anyone elses experience, including any dealings with Audi in connection with its extended warranty offer.
Andrea L. Blanscet
Paralegal to Randal R. Kelly
Irwin & Boesen, P.C.
501 S. Cherry St., Suite 500
Denver, CO 80246-1327
Phone # 303-320-1911
Fax # 303-320-1915
E-Mail: ablanscet@irwin-boesen.com
Web site: http://www.irwin-boesen.com
297 Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 2:10 am
Denial of Claim – Some dealerships refuse to honor a warranty for dubious reasons, but neglecting an oil change is not a dubious reason. Still, some dealerships are nice enough to go ahead with warranty work regardless, but that’s being nice.
Can you honestly think of any car dealership that would honor a warranty if you neglect a service?
YupOldBull Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 2:42 am
Sounds normal to me – Normal people, with normal oil change intervals, going to normal oil change shops, getting normal oil put in by normal technicians, filling to normal levels, driving under normal conditions, are getting catastrophic engine failure.
This recall wasnt for those that abused the system. The recall was for all those that had absolute documentation and still got engine failure. What right do they have to duck all those in the gray area? Poor design (heat) is a constant.
Maybe what we need is a normal class action suit.
Beck Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 2:57 am
Denial of Claim – I think it’s Volkswagen HQ that driving all these denials of claims, the dealers are just tools to do it.
Heck, I think 5000 miles on synthetic oil is just unreasonably short anyway.
What ever happened to the typical intervals that start at 7500 miles.
It’s a fragile engine that’s not designed to take typical everyday driving conditions.
In short, a poor design…….and they have the nerve to charge so much for their cars these days.
We here are not trying to kill Volkswagen, if anything, they’re killing themselves.
Now they let Len Hunt go and put a Bentley “”fancy boy?”" in his place.
Unfortunately, Volkswagen might still be having illusions about competing in the ultra luxury car market.
297 Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 3:46 am
Denial of Claim – Clarification on my part: I personally think dino oil can last 7500 and synthetic up to 15000 or even more miles. And yes, the engine failure you suffered should not be because you failed to service the car at 51k. But when dealing with warranties or insurance, failure to meet a service schedule is grounds for voiding your policy. This is not whether or not the engine is a problem, but whether or not you have a leg to stand on with regards to the fine print of that policy.
As for your engine failure, there is a recall/TSB out for fixing longitudunal 1.8T cars like your Passat. Was the recall performed? If you find out the dealership:
1. did not send you a letter informing you of the recall
2. did not perform the recall when you took it in for repairs on that oil pump or on any other service
3. your car VIN is registered as part of the recall list
Then you just may have a leg to stand on after all, perhaps even two.
YupOldBull Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 4:12 am
OEM oil type….. – What was the OEM oil “”type”" at the time of delivery?
Has the oil recommendation been changed for the 1.8T since then?
Why? Was it a running change? Customer notification?
Poor design? Wrong oil? Too much heat? Poor notification?
Very good claim denial.
Post edited 09/15/05 2:26 PM by YupOldBull
V-dubber Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 5:09 am
Oil – The 1.8T oil issue makes me sick.
I have a friend with an A4, and his dealer notified him last year that there could potentially be an issue and said Audi is “”recommending”" he switch to synthetic, and I think they shortened the interval from 7500 to 5000 miles. He was a bit pissed because he just doubled his maintenance costs. Since it is a known design flaw, common sense would be to keep customers happy…guess it is cheaper to buy new customers through marketing than retain customers….at $5k an engine, it just may be!
jib007 Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 11:35 am
sounds very familiar – 2002 passat, 1.8 turbo, purchased new for my daughter for college. at 46k the oil pump was replace, now ( sept 14, 2005) has 54k, and the engine is gone. vw will not honor their warranty ( 5 year 60,000 powertrain)… said the car should have had an oil change at 51k which it didn’t, now 3k beyound ol change and the engine is gone.
Sounds like vw is having a ton of problems with this engine and is doing everything they can to not honor the warranty. Well, i’m a car dealer, and i’m going to do everything i can to make them, regardless of the cost of the fight!
Beck Said,
September 14, 2005 @ 11:54 am
Denial of Claim – Good luck with your fight to get VW to fess up on the design problems with that motor and give the poor owners the compensation they deserve!
I hope this helps make Volkswgagen to finally re-think their approach on designing, selling, and warrantying their nightmares on wheels.
With the high exposure you can attain, being in the car selling business, is there a way for you to help get the word out to finally pull in the States and/or Federal Government to start an investigation on VWoA’s business practices?
Maybe you might be the ant that VW cannot stomp on.
jorgab Said,
September 15, 2005 @ 4:00 am
Denial of Claim – 501.00 is acceptable for the 1.8t jetta or beetle. 502.00 has always been the standard for the 1.8t in the passat and A4.
297 Said,
September 15, 2005 @ 4:25 am
Denial of Claim – Useful to remember.
jorgab Said,
September 15, 2005 @ 7:10 am
Denial of Claim – lets clarify the notification in regards to oil. the oil that has ALWAYS been recomended for the 1.8t engine for the passat and for the A4 has been an oil that is certified vw 502.00. currently the only oil that meets that requirement is synthetic oils. unfortunately most dealers or quick lube oil changes did not follow this. now as a manufacture vw is not even requiring you to prove that you did use this type oil to qualify for a repair if needed. they are however requiring you to provide documentation that you did perform your maintences on a timely basis. is this too much to ask??? toyota had a similar issue with is 3.0 v6 not too long ago and were a lot stricter when it came to proving you did your oil changes every 3000 miles. so does this make toyota an evil company as well?
Post edited 09/15/05 7:10 AM by jorgab
297 Said,
September 15, 2005 @ 12:40 pm
Denial of Claim – I thought it was 501.00.
yep1000 Said,
September 19, 2005 @ 6:36 am
Oil Change – You should really be changing your oil every 3000 miles. Many mechanics recommend it. I’m not saying vw or the people who changed your oil don’t have anything to do with it, but it could have cut down on the amount of sludge in your engine quite a bit.
YupOldBull Said,
September 19, 2005 @ 7:34 am
Sludge Zone – This is how another company handled a sludge issue.
http://yotarepair.com/Sludge_Zone.html
Post edited 09/22/05 7:17 PM by YupOldBull
thomas_mck Said,
September 26, 2005 @ 4:16 am
Lawsuit information – Notice Concerning Audi A4 and Volkswagon 1.8 Liter turbo engines
We have a client for whom we are investigating the design defects of the Audi A4 1.8 turbo that resulted in oil sludging and related engine failure.
We are interested in hearing the details of anyone elses experience, including any dealings with Audi in connection with its extended warranty offer.
Andrea L. Blanscet
Paralegal to Randal R. Kelly
Irwin & Boesen, P.C.
501 S. Cherry St., Suite 500
Denver, CO 80246-1327
Phone # 303-320-1911
Fax # 303-320-1915
E-Mail: ablanscet@irwin-boesen.com
Web site: http://www.irwin-boesen.com
amyers Said,
October 8, 2005 @ 1:14 am
oil sludge Passat – I am another denial for engine sludge. 2001 Passat with 60 thousand miles. Cost of replacement engine 9,000. I am lacking proof of two oil changes. I am filing arbitration claim now and would appreciate advice from anyone who has undergone this situation.
amyers Said,
October 8, 2005 @ 1:16 am
VW engine sludge – Maybe if enough of us fight the situation we can get some action. It sure sounds like the problem is with the Passat 1.8 turbo engine not the consumer.
jasenm Said,
October 11, 2005 @ 3:36 am
oh boy – they are gonna be all over this one….guys, its a paralegal, not an attorney, so dont get all juicy.
YupOldBull Said,
October 24, 2005 @ 8:03 am
Learn to think more positive….. – I would rather think of it this way…..
If you schedule your maintenance properly, keep your reciepts, then your engine will be fine, and VW won’t have to pay for anything.
If you don’t schedule your maintenance properly, don’t keep your reciepts, then your engine won’t be fine, and VW won’t have to pay for anything.
Let’s not discuss which oil was in the vehicle when it was delivered new.
Let’s not discuss larger oil pans in the newer models.
Let’s not discuss a running change to a higher grade oil.
Let’s not discuss larger oil filters.
Try to be more positive.
bdublu218 Said,
October 24, 2005 @ 11:29 am
Same Problem – I have the same problem. First occurance was 3200 miles ago. Took it directly to my garage (not the dealership) and had the oil changed. The problem stopped until last Tuesday on my way to work. Took the car directly to a garage around the corner from my office. Service manager told me about the horror stories with the 1.8T engine. He said they are using synthetic oil and an oversized oil filter. He did the oil change for me($60!!) and reccomended that I contact the dealer immediately as my 2002 was still under warranty. Dealer admitted the problems with this engine and said there was an extended warranty. He needs to replace the oil pump and some hoses ($1,000) but may need to replace the engine ($7,000). I was required to scramble around to come up with receipts for 4 oil changes which I was able to do only to be told that I needed one more. I found one more and VW has agreed to do the warranty repair or engine replacement if needed. My question is if there is an inherent problem with this engine why do they need all of these receipts? I had to call all of the places that I had the oil changed and took the afternoon off to have them print off the receipt of service. I didn’t save them.
This is my second Passat, no problem with the first one, and will also be my last.
So, save all of your receipts if you don’t want to spend big $$$ for these repairs that need to be done.
Post edited 10/24/05 11:31 AM by bdublu218
bdublu218 Said,
October 25, 2005 @ 8:45 am
Positive
Positive – Here is another view of Positive:
I am positive that VW is now using a synthetic oil belnd.
I am positive that VW is now using larger oil filters.
I am positive that VW is making $1,000 warranty repairs to the 1.8T engine including replacing the oil pump.
I am positive that VW is replacing engines.
I am positive that these problems are occuring in well maintained engines like mine.
I am positive that VW would not be going to these lengths if there were not an inherent problem with the 1.8T engine.
I am positive that VW is attempting to cut their losses by limiting those repairs to customers with “”proper”" record keeping.
Post edited 10/26/05 8:17 AM by bdublu218
bdublu218 Said,
October 28, 2005 @ 4:13 am
Update – Just an update on my situation. My VW dealer made the warranty repair yesterday to replace the oil pump and breathing tubes, etc. This was approved after I had supplied receipts showing at least 4 oil changes sive I have owned the car. I have 32K mileage. Whether the repair solves the problem remains to be seen. The dealer did say that they have done “quite a few of these repairs” and that none of the cars that were repaired have returned with the same oil pressure problem.
thomas_mck Said,
October 28, 2005 @ 11:33 am
Then he lied… – Then he lied to you…..they all come back with it. It does NOT solve the problem at all.
Motorrad Said,
November 12, 2005 @ 6:15 am
1.8T Sludge – I always see the 1.8T Passat and A4 referenced as being at risk for engine sludge, but what about my ‘02 1.8T GTI? I’ve always assumed I’m also at risk. I’m using synthetic oil (at $75 – $80 per change), but is there anything else I can do? A prophylactic engine flush perhaps?
thomas_mck Said,
November 12, 2005 @ 6:57 am
Yes… – Yes….buy a Toyota and trade in the VW as soon as possible..
297 Said,
November 14, 2005 @ 12:12 pm
Denial of Claim – No, your GTI is not at risk. Read the thread you started for details.
YupOldBull Said,
December 21, 2005 @ 9:33 am
Picture showing old and new filter……. – Came across this picture the other day…….
Picture showing new filter vs. old filter……