Water & Electric Damage - Should I buy this Passat?

[NYPassat-Bkln]

Would you by this car if this had happened to yours?

We are leasing a 2004 Passat Wagon, our second Passat (so we really liked the first one, a 2001). Lease is up mid February and we were considering buying it this time. It has 53,000 miles so is out of warranty.

Dec 23 or so we are traveling, having gotten into the middle of nowhere, 200+ mile radius of nowhere and son says "Dad, there is water on the floor. My feet are all soaked." The turn signals had been acting up on the trip too. OK I think you know where this is going. Lots of water inside, turn signals alternating whether they are on or off or even work, alarm horn tooting occasionally at random, trunk not closing and locking, and the weird water.

Got it towed to the out of state VW Dealer next day d.o.a. because of lights not going off. Yes, water and electric problems caused by plugged pollen filter, clogged drains, which corroded electronics under the floor and allowed the water to pour into the interior of the car.
(Where is the "Plenum Plate" anyway? I do clean leaves off of the car under the wipers)

We spent $1,300 and change to fix the electronics and unplug the drains.
(List of repairs below*)

NOTE: says "Removed as much of the water as possible" on the repair sheet.

Now, is this car alright?

What experience have you had if you had similar problems, had the car fixed and kept it for a few years?

We have gone back and forth, it is a car that we know and we put $$$ into it, but also not sure the long term issues around this kind of of damage.

The guy who did some body work on the car today just said we were crazy to consider it, that rain water has salt in it (?) that water when drains are plugged can run who knows where, and is impossible to pick up all of the areas it might still be. That corrosion, because of possible water still in the car, is possible down the road on other electronic parts, and salt left in can also corrode. That though the rug is dry, the under-mats rarely dry completely and can cause similar problems again, and can rot out the floor. He just shudders when transmission issues are mentioned as a possibility and does not think we dodged the bullet on that one.

What say?

Repairs as listed, by VW Dealer:
(1 year warranty)

1 Contr Unit
1 Housing
1 Housing (2)
30 Wires
10 Wires (2)
1 Sensor Or
1 Nar Sealg Cord
28 Connectors
10 Connectors (2)

Verified Concern, Water on Driver's side floor board found corroded wiring and comfort module sitting in 2 inches of standing water on teh driver's floor board. Found Drains clogged. Replaced Pollen Filter Seal, cleared drains, removed as much of the water as possible [!]. Repaired wiring on driver's side floor board and replaced the comfort control Module. Also replaced the driver's side crash sensor. All functions are operating as designed at this time. We recommended to customer to replace carpet and padding. Customer did decline that replacement.[they suggested we could take it to an interior specialist when we got home, to completely dry out the carpet. New carpet and padding for your info, runs another $1,800.]
Latch motor for rear hatch is not operating. Motor is locked and will need replaced. We left cable disconnected, per customer authorization, so that they would be able to latch trunk shut [we would have had to have waited several more days for this motor]

- end of dealer report -

[Mike]

I have just had the leak issue happen with my VW 2001 Passat. This is brutal. I have had 41 issues go wrong with this car in the last 4 years. This has been an absolute waste of time. The first two years were under warranty, so in 4 years I've had to put in $3500 in the last 4 years. Which I guess isn't horrible if you consider, new tires, brakes, oil changes, other wear and tear items. But this leak issue is complete crap...it is a design flaw that VW is unwilling to acknowledge. There are many issues that VW is unwilling to acknowledge. I also have had the ABS module break down on this vehicle. Which I am going to get fixed at a cost of $1500. This is worst performing car I have ever had. DON'T BUY A PASSAT!!!!!!!!!!

[Jimmy]

Mike wrote:

I also have had the ABS module break down on this vehicle. Which I am going to get fixed at a cost of $1500.

Don't get it fixed at the dealer!!!
The ABS Module is rebuildable for about 300$, just type "Abs module passat" in ebay and you'll see. If not just do a google search.
I did mine last year and all i had to do was remove the abs module and ship it to the rebuilder and got it back in 2-3 weeks. It is relatively easy to remove. If you absolutely don't want to do it yourself go see a mecanic. It takes like 30 min to remove it.

[Bruce Baird]

Look up "Plenum Filter Clog" Our 2004 Rife with electrical problems. Turns out many electronics are under floorboards (great German engineering) and some unaccessible filter called the "plenum" filter clogs causing this area to fill with water. Known issue among Passats. I was woken up this AM to the alarm screaming in 1" water on backseat floorboards. Also, Volkswagon sold us Onstar and the service was discontinued 2 years later. Great $800 option.

Never buy this car!

[Von]

Yes, I just found out today June 23, 2008 concerning water that's been coming into the rear driver side floor soak and wet as well as inside the engine on both sides of the wells. I was told by a passat dealer about the clogged drains,and electric problems caused by plugged pollen filter, which corroded electronics under the floor and allowed the water to pour into the interior of the car. however I was also told to get rit of this car ASAP. Because of Unknown future problems it will cause. I still have a balance on this car.