Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10145505December 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144844December 9, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT V6. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROX 67,975 MILES. FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE TO THIS CURRENT DATE, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SUNROOF OPENING ON IT'S OWN DURING WINTER MONTHS. THIS SUNROOF HAS A MANUAL DIAL CONTROL, AND THEREFORE IT MYSTIFIES ME THAT THIS CAN OCCUR. MY RATE OF SPEED HAS NO IMPACT ON THE OCCURANCE, SINCE I COULD BE MERELY TRAVELLING AT 45 50 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENS. I'VE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER,BUT OF COURSE IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPLICATED WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS CONSIDERED NON-EXISTENT (IN THEIR OPINION). I AM TIRED OF THE MULTIPLE PREMATURE COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE AND AT THIS POINT, I'M CONSIDERING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS WHAT MY TIME LINE LOOKS LIKE: 48,824 MILES REPLACED ALL UPPER LINKS REPLACE V BELT 49,576 MILES REPLACED WATER PUMP AND BATTERY 53,629 MILES REPLACED CV BOOT JOINTS AND BOTH FRONT AXELS 57,512 MILES REPLACED UPPER LINKS AGAIN 61,972 MILES, BEING TOLD THAT ALL GASKET SEALS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I'M CURRENTLY DRIVING WITH THE FOLLING CONDITIONS: NO HEAT AT MY FEET IF MY HEAT SETTING IS FOR BOTH BODY AND FEET. MY KEY KEEPS COMING APART AND GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. MY SUNROOF OPENS ON ITS OWN WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. MY LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WOULDN'T LOCK WHEN I LOCK THE CAR. THE TRUNK LIGHT COMES ON WHEN IT FEELS LIKE. I HAVE TO FILL UP ON COOLANT EVERY 700 MILES OR SO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144447December 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TOXIC FUMES IN VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TURBO, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP TO ELIMINATE THE FUME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THEY INSISTED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND ALL OF THE SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144111December 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1999 1.8T GLS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144173December 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT AND HAD TO HAVE MY ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED IN JULY OF 2005 AT A COST OF $1,300. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULE GO BAD AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT. SINCE THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART AND FINANCIALLY REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE ABS. IT IS A VERY COSTLY EXPENSE AND WAS SURPRISING TO ME THAT IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 75,000 MILES, IN MY CAR'S CASE. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143971November 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT BROKE WITH NO WARNING BEFORE THE 90,000 MILE SUGGESTED CHECK WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 4000 TO REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143978November 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROLLER ON MY VW PASSAT 1999 FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143004November 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON PERIODICALLY WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND NO APPARENT CAUSE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PASSATS AND AUDI A4S. I FOUND AROUND 40 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED TO RESULT IN LACK OF ABS AND INACTIVATION OF THE NORMAL BRAKING DISTRIBUTION MECHANISM. THE LACK OF ABS, WHILE SERIOUS, ONLY REDUCES BRAKING TO THAT OF MANY OTHER VEHICLES. THE ALLEGED EFFECT ON DISTRIBUTION OF BRAKING POWER IS A POTENTIALLY MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM, AS IT COULD RESULT IN POOR PERFORMANCE OF EVEN THE CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141996November 7, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE STEERING ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH TIE RODS. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THE ABS WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE TO THE POINT IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OF FROM THE FRAME. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141379November 1, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
1 - NORMAL USE - ONLY 55,000 MILES 2 - FAILURE OF LOWER CONTROL ARMS - MUST REPLACE 3 - REQUIRED TO REPLACE AT COST OF $400.00
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140797October 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T ABS MODULE FAILURE. APPEARS MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS EXPENSE SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE. VW IS IGNORING THE ISSUE STATING THERE IS NO HISTORY OF FAILURES OR SERVICE BULLETIN 0517. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1750 TO REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140523October 23, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I OWN A 99 VW PASSAT WHICH HAS A FAILED ABS SYSTEM. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR PROBLEM, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION WITH VW AND AUDI OWNERS. APPARENTLY, VW OFFERED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INCLUDE PRE-2001 VEHICLES. A DEFINITE INDICATOR OF THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES. WHEN THIS SYSTEM FAILS, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS UP, HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN DURING 100% OF MY DRIVE TIME. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND WILL LIKELY CAUSE A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT, SINCE WHEN LIT I HAVE NO ABS. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY COMPLAINT AND HOLD VW LIABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH THIS ABS SYSTEM. THE COSTS OF REPAIR ARE EXORBITANT AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED BY THE CONSUMER. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139992October 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN T DEALER, SERVICED AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED ON SCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ON 9-30-05 THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED AN OVERHAUL, AND THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE VALVE RINGS/O-RINGS). THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IF THIS WAS NOT DONE OIL WOULD LEAK , AND THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAS A FRIEND WHO TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 PASSAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE WARRANT EXPIRED, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO SHE CALLED BBB AND FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN. *AK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140033October 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - IN RE: THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. A WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON ALONG WITH A BEEPING SOUND. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PASSAT. THE CONSUMER RESEARCHED THIS MATTER AND REALIZED THAT THERE WERE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THEE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAD NOT FIXED IT AS OF YET. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OTHER PROBLEMS EXCEPT WITH THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE BEEPING SOUND. *AK (12/08/05) THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED DAILY. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139645October 14, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS GO BAD ON MY VEHICLE. IF THE CONTROL ARMS AREN'T REPLACED, IT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISMS. BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AND I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139688October 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY ON. ERROR CODE 17544 BANK 1 SYSTEM TOO LEAN (P1136) LONG TERM FUEL TRIM. I HAD MY MECHANIC FIX ALL VACUUM LEAKS, LOW FUEL PRESSURE, EXHAUST LEAKS, INJECTORS AND SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM. HAD THE MAF SENSOR REPLACED AND STILL HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139524October 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T GLS. AT 69,000 MILES, "ABS" AND "BRAKE" DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, INDICATING FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE, AND LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139283October 11, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY VW DEALER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138852September 28, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING FAULTY WINDOW REGULATORS. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATORS TWICE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137604September 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; CITY AS WELL AS HIGHWAY DRIVING. 2. RANDOM, INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON DASHBOARD. LIGHTS ARE: ABS - SOLID YELLOW. BRAKE - FLASHING RED. 3. NOTHING HAS BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS THE DEALER WANTS BETWEEN $1,500 -$2,000 TO FIX THE ABS MODULE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: VISITED VARIOUS VOLKSWAGON MESSAGE FORUMS. MANY VOLKSWAGON OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE EARLY 2004. HERE IS A LINK TO ONE SUCH SITE: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Passat