Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10130624July 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
COMPLETE FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE ON A 99 VW PASSAT WAGON WITH 99,000 MILES. CAR REVERTED BACK TO REGULAR BRAKING SYSTEM...NO ABS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130067July 26, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARMS RECALL VM. WANTED TO CHARGE ME 325.00 FOR THE RECALL. VW DEALERHIP SAID THE RECALL WAS NOT VALID UNLESS 40K SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. DO NOT SEE THE CORRELATION WITH HAVING SOME FILTERS AND FLUIDS CHANGED (40K SERVICE) WITH A SUSPENSION RECALL. PRIOR TO 40K I HAD CVS CHANGED AND HAD FILTERS AND FLUIDS CHANGED. MY CAR HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT AND WAS WORKED ON BY VW DEALERSHIP OVER 20 TIMES BETWEEN 32-49K. I WAS TOLD THE 40K SERVICE WAS NOT NEEDED BECAUSE OF WORK DONE AT 36K. WAS TOLD $240.00 ON 40K SERVICE CHECK WAS NOT NEEDED BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS WORK AND WAS OVER PRICED NOT NOT SMART TO DO. IF THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE CAR, AND THEIR IS A RECALL, THE OWNER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IF THEIR WAS DECENT LOGIC FOR ME PAYING FOR THIS RECALL I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I CANNOT FIND IT. IT JUST SEEMS A LOOP HOLE FOR ME TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S POOR WORKMANSHIP. THIS LOOP HOLE SHOULD BE CLOSED, THERE IS A LOT OF EXCEPTIONS TO WHY 40K WAS NOT PERFORMED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130000July 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS LIGHT APPEARED INTERMITTENTLY, AUTHORZIED VW DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $100 DIAGNOSIS FEE AND SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE MY CONCERN ON 10/11/04, 12/03/04,AND 03/05/05. ON 12/03/04 THEY WANT ME TO PAY $1365.83 + TAX TO REPLACE ABS HYDRAULIC PUMP AND CONTROL MODULE ASSY, I DECLINED REPAIR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129633July 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS CONTROLLER IS EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE SYMPTOM IS WHEN I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES OR WHEN IT IS HOT, THE BRAKE/ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON. A MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME PERMANENT FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROLLER. REFER TO NHTSA OID COMPLAINT # 10106162 AND 10120717 FOR FAILURE OF SAME ABS CONTROLLER ON 1999 AUDI A4. THE PART NUMBER OF THE ABS CONTROLLER IN MY 1999 PASSAT IS 8E0-614-111-B. I AM INVESTIGATING OPTIONS FOR REPAIR, EITHER NEW PART FROM DEALER ($1500) OR REBUILD ($600). THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM (MANY COMPLAINTS ON CONSUMER WEB SITES). THE FAILURE IS REPORTED TO BE FAILING SOLDER JOINTS ON A CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE CONTROLLER THOUGH I CANNOT VERIFY THIS PERSONALLY. VW AMERICA WILL NOT ADMIT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE (THEY ONLY DISCUSS RECALL OR WARRANTY ISSUES).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128290July 11, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL WITHIN THE DOOR YESTERDAY AS I WAS PUSHING THE BUTTON TO BRING IT DOWN. (THE SAME THING HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE BACK DOOR. VW REPLACED IT AT NO COST ONCE I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE SILENT RECALL. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO CHARGE ME $350.) THIS TIME, THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS PAST THE TIME FRAME. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN I INITIALLY BROUGHT IT IN, BUT DID NOT FIX ALL OF THE WINDOWS THAT IT SHOULD STILL BE COVERED. THEY DISAGREED. IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A WINDOW TO FALL IN ON A 6-YEAR OLD CAR. PLUS, TO HAVE IT HAPPEN 2X IN ONE CAR!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129132July 8, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAD BOTH INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSENING.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127766July 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASH BOARD, CAUSING MY ABS SYSTEM TO NOT FUNCTION AND I HAD IT CHECKED OUT, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BUSTED ABS MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127804July 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN
FOR: 99 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT WAGON WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE PARKING IN FRONT OF A BANK, IN A SUDDEN THE CAR SHOKE VIOLENTLY; WE STOPPED WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF... THE CAR WAS SHAKING VERY HARD STILL. WE THEN HAD THIS CAR DIAGNOZED AT A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER NEARBY. AFTER A DAY, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THERE'S MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 2, AND IT'S COMMON THING IN PASSAT (I DID NOT KNOW THIS UNTIL THEN), BUT VW NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. SO THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE THE CAR FOR AN EXTRA DAY SO THEY COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER DAY PASSED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME; THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE COIL, IT'S STILL MISFIRING, AND THEY MENTIONED MORE TRIALS, BUT THOSE WERE NOT GOOD TOO. THEY SUGGESTED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONE HOUR BEFORE I WROTE THIS TO NHTSA, I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND I FOUND SIMILAR OCCURANCES OF MISFIRING FROM CYLINDERS, AND A FEW HAS THE SAME TYPE: 99 PASSAT. HERE IS WHAT I HAD FOUND: 1. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_COILS.HTML 2. HTTP://EXPERTS.ABOUT.COM/Q/801/4003867.HTM 3. HTTP://WWW.TOPGEAR.COM/CONTENT/FEATURES/STORIES/FAQ/01/MODULES/02_ENGINE/17/ 4. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM/TOPIC291366.HTM 'BOSCHMANN' "NORTH AMERICAN MODELS HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CRACKS FORMING IN THE IGNITION COIL." 5. HTTP://INMYEXPERIENCE.COM/ARCHIVES/000213.SHTML VERY RESOURCEFUL, MORE PEOPLE WRITE THEIR CONCERNS OF MISFIRING. 6. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_23919.HTML .... AND MORE. WHEN THE FIRST IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT WE JUST HIT AND RAN OVER SOMETHING... I WAS ALREADY IN THE PARKING LOT OF A BANK. STO I PARKED AND LOOKED 30 FT AWAY TO WHERE THE FIRST SHAKE HAPPENED... NOTHING THERE. THEREFORE, I WOULD REQUEST NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION FOR THIS MATTER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, I WILL BE BEST TO BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL. SINCERELY, EDWARD YAHYA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127649July 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS AND ASR (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 71,000 MILES. IT ALMOST COST ME WHEN MY LIFE WHEN THE ABS DID NOT KICK IN AND STARTED SLIDING ON A RAINY DAY. IT COST $1,400 AT THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM; THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS COMMON. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE COMPUTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127382July 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE SERIAL 8EO 614 111P 1999 PASSAT WAGON, 1.8T 4CYL. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHING. QUOTED $3150 FROM VW TO REPAIR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126865June 28, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR LOCK EQUIPMENT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE PROBLEM FIRST EXHIBITED TO THE CONSUMER WHEN THE DOOR AJAR ALARM WOULD GO OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED. IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE CAR AND PREVENT THE ALARM FROM GOING OFF THE CONSUMER HAD TO REMOVE TWO FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS FAULTY DOOR LOCKS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125865June 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE FAILED AT 80,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT SAME TIME. CURRENTLY, REAR WINDOW IS FALLING INTO DOOR (83,000 MILES). THIS IS A PRE-OWNED AUTOMOBILE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125910June 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT (1.8). AT APPROX 75K MILES, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED. I HAVE REVIEWED THE VW FORUM ON EDMUNDS.COM AND FIND THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE - WE DESERVE TO HAVE THE PART FIXED NO MATTER WHAT MILEAGE WE HAVE ON THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126868June 16, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER REQUESTED INCLUSION IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V248000 FOR THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE TIE RODS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENEGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE A PROBLEM. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124573June 8, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE - MODULE FAILED AT ROUGHLY 80,000 MILES. MANNY, MANY, MANY SILIMAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124402June 6, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT WAGON. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECALLS ABOUT THE FRONT END. I DID HAVE IT CHECKED AT LEAST TWICE BY MY DEALER WHO SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK. AS I WAS NEARING MY HOME TODAY AT ABOUT 25 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SUDDENLY COLLAPSED UPWARD INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND THE CAR STARTED SKIDDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. BECAUSE I WAS GOING RATHER SLOW I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT IT AND STOP IT BEFORE IT WENT OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN GOING 65-70 NEXT TO OTHER CARS ON THE INTERSTATE OR EVEN 40 ON A TWO LANE AROUND TOWN I'M SURE THINGS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN QUITE SO BENIGN AND WE (MY FAMILY AND I) MAY ALL HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WORSE! WHEN THE WRECKER LIFTED IT THE DRIVER AND I BOTH LOOKED AT THE A ARM AND THE ENDS WERE CRACKED OR SHEARED OFF. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING BEFORE IT HAPPENED, AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WHILE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. EVEN IF I HAD IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE INSPECTION BY THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FOUND IT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURERER PROBLEM AND IT IS WAY TOO SERIOUS TO SAY THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE. THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A DEATH CONNECTED WITH THE FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSING WHEN YOU CONSIDER LOST OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123799June 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY '99 PASSAT BUT SUDDENLY THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED TO COME ON. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THEY NEED TO CHANGE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH WILL COST $3500. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE PASSAT MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122222May 26, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AT 50K MILES THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CONTROL MODULE WHICH COST ME $ 1500 IN REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120932May 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT (INCLUDING MINE), USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. THE VW COMPANY HAS PROVIDED ABSOLUTELY NO ASSISTANCE IN HELPING OWNERS DESPITE KNOWING OF HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE TYPES OF FAILURES AS EARLY AS 30K MILES. SERVICES THAT CHARGE ~$300.00 TO REBUILD THE FAILED ABS MODULE ARE UNRELIABLE AND CAUSE DRIVERS TO WORK ON THEIR CARS WITH NO MECHANICAL SENSE BECAUSE OF THEIR DESPERATION. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120901May 13, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS MODULE ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FAILED. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE AS I'VE FOUND ON VW CHAT BOARDS, CONVERSATION WITH OTHER VW OWNERS, AND COMMENTS FROM VW REPAIR SHOPS. NOT ONLY DOES THIS VEHICLE PART HAVE A PROPENSITY TO FAIL, IT IS MORE COSTLY THAN MOST VEHICLE PARTS. THE DOLLAR FIGURE TO REPLACE THIS PART PLACES IT OUT OF REACH FOR MOST PEOPLE, RESULTING IN MANY VEHICLES OPERATING WITH A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM RATHER THAN SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THE ITEM. WHILE MORE AFTERMARKET VEHICLE PARTS CAN BE REMANUFACTURED, THIS PARTICULAR PIECE IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED AS A REMANUFACTURED ITEM. THIS IS MOST LIKELY BECAUSE OF; 1) THE PROPENSITY FOR THE ITEM TO FAIL AND 2) THE COST OF THE ITEM TO REPLACE. BASICALLY, MANY FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND LIKELY THE VEHICLE DEALER MAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PROFIT FROM THIS NECESSARY ITEM. DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS SAFETY FEATURE, THAT BEING A WORKING ABS SYSTEM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR MANDATORY RECALL AND REPLACEMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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