Faults:

March 2006 - 31K Miles - CV Boots replaced - $900.

August 2006 - 35K Miles - Coolant temp sensor went out - $155.00.

October 2006 - Heater Core went out - coolant leaked into front passenger floorboard - $1,400 - without a car for 6 days.

November 2006 - Cam Shaft Seal and Valve Cover Gasket bad. Engine is leaking oil. Replaced on both sides of engine cam shaft seal and valve cover gasket. 2 Days without a car.

9/14/07 - 46,500 miles - Pollen Filter Seal Recall - left motor mount hydraulic bracket is leaking and seeping out plus the serpentine belt which is the drive belt that runs the alternator is worn and starting to crack - $655.00.

2/14/08 - 50K servicing - Hood Latch Needed to be Replaced - $380.

6/26/08 - 53,057 Miles - heat shield recall. Right CV Outer Boot is torn and leaking grease. CV boots were just replaced in March of 2006 at 31K miles and should last 100K+ miles. Only got 22K miles off of the CV boot that was replaced in 2006. $372 for CV boot.

6/26/08 - also found Coolant Reservoir Bottle dirty and contaminated due to cap leaking coolant. They changed the reservoir and did a coolant system flush. Cost for CV boot and coolant flush $700. Just had 50K servicing done in February.

7/2/08 - 53,100K Miles - Stop light came on and said check coolant. Opened the hood and hardly any coolant in reservoir and they just did a coolant system flush a few days ago. As I was driving home, the sensor lights on the instrument panel blew out. Checked coolant when I got home and it was bubbling. I will be taking my car into the dealer again tomorrow morning. The saga continues...

I drive my car 7 miles to work and back, perform all of my servicing through the dealership as required, go in for oil change every 3K - 5K miles. You figure it out.

General Comments:

The only thing good about this top of the line 2002 GLX Passat is how it handles on the road and the stereo system. It is definitely a money pit and spends more time at the dealership being fixed than driven. This was my very first brand new car at $32,000+ and has been a lemon from the time it turned 30K miles. I have owned a Lexus, Toyota Camry and Honda and have never experienced any of the problems with any of those cars that I have experienced with this Volkswagen.

Can someone please explain to me what is going on???

Faults:

My check engine light and EPC light comes on. There have been several times I tried starting my car and it won't start. It turns over, just won't fire up. Then when it does start, it won't rev whatsoever. I can put it in gear, press the gas pedal to the floor and the car won't move one bit. Then I turn the car off, wait a minute, and turn the car back on and it starts like normal.

Then when I'm driving and start slowing down or coming to a stop, the car drops idle, like it wants to die out, for a second and the back to normal when I pick up speed.

I found a leak in one of my vacuum hoses and repaired that. The EPC light went off, but only comes on if the car has a hard time starting. I know that the hose was the problem for the EPC because that light is constantly on and now goes off.

As for the check engine light, I don't know what to do...

Any suggestions...