Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1998)

331 consumer complaints on file.

#735221October 26, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES
CONTACTED THE DEALER AT FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO TOOLS TO REPAIR THE TIE RODS. ALSO CONTACTED THE VOLKWAGEEN OF AMERICA. THIS ITEM HAS A RECALL ON MY CAR. BUT, MY CHASIS IS NOT ONE OF THE 51,000 VEHICLES ON THE LIST, BUT MY CAR IS A 1998 VW PASSAT. I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW TO HAVE MY CAR PLACED ON THE RECALL LIST SO THAT THE DEALER CAN RE-PLACE MY FAULTY TIE ROD ON MY CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#556846October 24, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE DEALER FILED THE BRAKES AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY, THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733596October 6, 2000
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
4 MOS. AFTER HAVING SUNROOF ADJUSTED, SUNROOF CASSETTE OR FRAME NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOLD THAT FRAME WAS CRACKED OR DAMAGED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733463October 4, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS W/THIS VEHICLE (SUSPENSION, TEMP SENSORS) BEFORE PROBLEMS WERE "KNOWN". THIS LATEST INCIDENT IS NOW @APPROX $1000 FOR DIAGNOSING AND THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DISCOVERED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555277September 29, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMING ON, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE BRAKES WERE OK, LATER DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS WERE WORN AND THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#870899September 19, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL OF 99 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION.*AK THE CAUSE COULD BE A LOOSE WIRE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731876September 19, 2000
TIRES
TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM TIRE CASING ON ALL FIVE TIRES, STEEL BELT IS SHOWING THROUGH, TIRE'S ARE VERY DANGEROUS!, GIVES NO INDICATION WHEN TIRES SUDDENLY DEFLATE! I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRES IN QUESTION( DOT NUMBER: LMPC PXBU TIRE SIZE: 195/65R 15 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731921September 19, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION/RUST EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD! MAKES HORRIBLE CREAKING/GRINDING SOUND. DEALER/SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WOULDN'T AFFECT MY DRIVING AND WAS SAFE BUT AFTER READING INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS I'M NOT SO SURE. READ THAT THIS IS A FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PART AND I SHOULD THINK THAT VW WOULD REPLACE IT WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY $300 PER ARM!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868521August 24, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726934August 7, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SIDE DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATED WITHOUT COLLISION. BECAUSE OF DEBRIS LODGED UNDER THE FRONT CARRIAGE FROM SOMETHING I MAY HAVE RUN OVER, VW REPAIR TECHNICIANS SUGGEST THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE AIRBAG MECHANISM. THIS SEEMS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG AND WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL LOOK AT THE CAR SOON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726502August 3, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING CRUNCHING NOISES, ESP. AT LOWER SPEED. THE RIGHT STEERING CONTROL ARM WAS CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY AND SQUEEKING NOISES DISSAPPEARED, BUT STILL VERY NOISY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE STATION, BUT DIFFERENT FROM DEALERSHIP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725971July 25, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SUSPENSION NOW MAKES LOUD NOISES, INDICATING IMMINENT FAILURE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725121July 8, 2000
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH NO ENGINE SYSTEMS AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. SAFTEY CONCERN FROM REAR END ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND NO AVOIDANCE CONTROL. ALSO, REGULAR LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID REQUIRES CONSTANT MONITORING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724506June 25, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VWOFA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON BOTH AUDI A4 AND VW PASSATS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN/WORKMANSHIP. NO SAFETY DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723983June 13, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL FOR ALL AUDI A-4'S (SAME AS VW PASSAT) AS WELL AS FOR MANY PASSATS. MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL #'S. WILL SOON, I FEEL CONSTITUTE A DANGER ON THE ROADWAYS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723732June 8, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
A CREAKING NOISE THAT HAS STEADILY BECOME WORSE. I WAITED UNTIL MY 25K MILEAGE CHECKUP FOR DEALER TO LOOK AT IT,AND HE INFORMED ME OF THE WEAKENED LOWER CONTROL ARMS. MECHANIC TELLS ME IT WILL STEADILY GET WORSE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST $940. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 24K MILES AND 5/30/00. I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN AT 24,498 MILES ON 6/7/00..AGAIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM (THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE) AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN EASY FIX AT THE 25K CHECKUP. DEALER WILL NOT COVER COST UNLESS VW AMERICA AUTHORIZES IT SINCE IT IS 'OFFICIALLY' PAST THE WARRANTY DATES & MILEAGE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER '98 PASSAT OWNERS ON THE INTERNET (VW VORTEX FORUMS) AND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG MANY OWNERS. I PLAN TO CALL VW AMERICA TO LOBBY AN EXCEPTION TO MY WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863064June 6, 2000
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED , CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862336May 22, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STARTING UP. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861861May 15, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. ALSO, POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER CONTACTED VW, DEALER NOTED THAT TIE ROD END AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, RECALL 99V248000/ TIE RODS DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860780April 24, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
WHILE DRIVING TIE RODS ARE MAKING NOISE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD SEAL NOT BEING PROPERLY APPLIED. RECALL 99V248 DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. ALSO, REPLACED THE STRUTS. DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD SEALS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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