Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10110271February 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I AM WRITING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE REGARDING A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2003 AT 29,000 MILES AND THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 77,000. VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT STATES (TO SOME DEGREE) THAT IF THE ENGINE FAILS DUE TO SLUDGE AND IS UNDER 80,000 MILES THE OWNER WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR ENGINE REPLACED, 'IF' THEY HAVE RECORDS OF ALL OIL CHANGES (OF NOT MORE THAN 5,000 MILES). MY COMPLAINT IS THIS, I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE RECORDS SINCE ONE OF THE LOCATIONS THAT I WENT TO NO LONGER HAS A RECORD OF OIL CHANGES DUE TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN'S 'CUSTOMER ADVOCATE' THEY INDICATED THAT THE DECISION IS REALLY UP TO THE AREA SERVICE MANAGER WHO CAN ARBITRARILY DECIDE TO REPAIR OR NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THUS, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THAT THEIR ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THEM SEND ME A COPY OF THEIR WARRANTY INDICATING THIS, BUT WANTED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T WITH THE HOPES OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ENGINE AND WHETHER IT IS FAULTY. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110004February 7, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAIL IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT HE CAN FIX THE 'PROBLEM' FOR AROUND $2,000. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE POST INTERNET MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULES FAILING ON THEIR VW PASSATS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT VW WOULD ALLOW SUCH A THING WITHOUT ISSUING A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110845February 4, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THEN, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, ONCE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, TO 72 MPH.. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FORTY MINUTES, AND PROCEEDED HOME. THE NEXT DAY, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERS FOR INSPECTION, WHERE IT REMAINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109288January 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108029January 27, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
RECALL FOR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ONLY EVEN THOUGH IN MOST CASES THE UPPER CONTROL ARM NEEDS REPLACEMENTS. HECK THE FORUM HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1745481. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111046January 26, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT, STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD, AND ONE CV BOOT FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 1999 VW PASSAT AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE CONSUMER CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED WHEN REQUIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128033January 19, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
COMMENTS CONCERNING RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V414000 ON THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT REGARDING THE STEERING LINKAGES (TIE RODS). HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING FEELING LOOSE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106523January 18, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN APPROX. OCTOBER, 2004, ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS NOT REPEATABLE, BUT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND FOR RANDOM DURATIONS. ABS APPEARS TO BE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, ABS LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106460January 17, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN STOPPED, CAR WILL REV UP OVER 3000 RPM WITHOUT MY TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. FEELS LIKE CAR IS GOING TO TAKE OFF, RIGHT INTO AN INTERSECTION. HAVE HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION TO AVOID A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY ACCELERATES WHILE DRIVING EVEN ONCE MY FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND NOT IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094353January 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
SUBMISSION OF COMPLAINT RE VW OF AMERICA FEEL HE HAS BEEN OVER CHARGED FOR NUMEROUS & EXTENSIVE REPAIR BILLS FOR HIS 1999 VW PASSAT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE FRONT STABILIZER WAS REPAIRED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN. THE FRONT DOORS CREAKED WHEN OPENED. *JB THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE OF ALL THE MATTERS. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107135January 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE GASKET. THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106011January 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
1999 VW PASSAT WITH 67,000 MILES IN OTHERWISE GOOD CONDITION THAT HAD UNDERGONE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS EXPERIENCED COMPLETE AND ABRUPT ENGINE SEIZURE ON THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2005. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105967January 8, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY
SHORTLY AFTER BOUGHT CAR, HAD MANY MAKEUP PROBLEMS: TRIM PANEL FALLING OFF, 3 OUR 4 WINDOWS HAVE BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. CANNOT HAVE TRIM FIXED UNLESS DO WHOLE CAR, WHICH IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND I DIDNT PAY ALL THAT MONEY FOR A CAR TO HAVE DISH OUT MORE MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE ALL THE WINDOWS FIXED EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME, I JUST WILL NOT DO IT. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING FOR THESE PROBLEMS TO BE OCCURING. ALSO, THE TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. LASTLY, STEERING/SUSPENSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. ALL THESE PROBLEMS TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105758January 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, AT FIRST INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. SINCE THEN, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND A AUDIBLE WARNING SOUNDS AT EVERY START-UP. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO WILL PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. ALL FOUR ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. THE MECHANIC HAS A NEARLY IDENTICAL CAR WITH AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM AND HAS DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ABS MODULE, A $950 PART PLUS LABOR CHARGES. SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET SHOW ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODELS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBE DANGEROUS BRAKE FAILURES, INCLUDING LOCK-UP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104824December 31, 2004
TIRES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DURING AN EMERGANCY BRAKING PROCEDURE THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TIRES LOCKED UP, AND THE ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WENT OUT SECONDS LATER. BUT THE FRONT TIRE LOCKED UP WHEN I NEEDED THE ABS TO WORK. THE LIGHT NOW COMES ON AND OFF AT WILL. THE BRAKE PADS FRONT AND REAR HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. THE LIGHT TENDS TO COME ON ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM BUT I NO LONGER TRUST THE ABS TO WORK EVEN IF THE LIGHT IS OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104703December 29, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING LIGHT BLINKED INTERMITTENTLY OVER MANY WEEKS. I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT THE ABS WAS WORKING OKAY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHT. A DIRECT TEST OF THE BRAKES ON A SLIPPERY ROAD PROVED THAT THE ABS WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. A SECOND VISITS TO VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER RESULTED IN DIAGNOSIS OF FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE, REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $1500. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111178December 23, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RECALL CAMPAIGN 00414000 DEALER NOTICE TOO MUCH PLAY IN UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN# 99V248000. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE VIN RANGE. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS WITH THE OUTPUT STAGE CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER AND SHUDDERING. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109334December 21, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1999 PASSAT UPPER CONTROL ARM RECALL HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY. *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN RESPONSE TO A RECALL, THE WERE NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUT THE TIE RODS HAD TOO MUCH PLAY, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101966December 21, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATED TIE ROD WORE OUT PREMATURELY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103066December 16, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1999 VW PASSAT ON12/15/04 AND 12/16/04 SUDDENLY INCREASED SPEED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DRIVER PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. ON 12/15 WHILE DRIVING WB ON I-80 IN PENNA AROUND THE 278/279 MILE MARKER WITH THE VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR ITSELF INCREASED TO NEARLY 90 MPH WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INTERVENTION, I PUSHED BRAKE TO GET CRUISE TO RELEASE WHICH DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, I TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL ON TURN SIGNAL ARM WITH NO SPEED INCREASE STOPPAGE, I REACHED DOWN TO BE SURE THE FLOOR MAT WASN'T STUCK AND CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO BE PUSHED AND IT WASN'T. I FINALLY WHY STANDING WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES GOT THE VEHICLE TO SLOW ENOUGH TO SAFELY PULL OVER AND I TURNED IT OFF. I THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE ON TWICE AND THE RPM'S PEGGED IMMEDIATELY TO 5000-6000 RPM'S AND I TUNRNED THE CAR OFF AT ONCE. ON A THIRD TRY THE CAR TURNED ON IN IT'S NORMAL MODE AND IDLED OKAY. I THEN DROVE THE REMAINING APPROX 15 MILES TO WORK ON THE PA TURNPIKE AND PA RTE 115. I DROVE THE CAR HOME THE EVENING OF 12/15 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS BUT, DID NOT ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. ON THE MORNING OF 12/16 WHILE ON WAY TO WORK AT APPROX THE 114 MILE MARK OF THE PA TURNPIKE NB THE CAR DID THE SAME AS IT HAD DONE THE PEVIOUS MORNING AND STARTED TAKING OFF ON IT'S OWN AGAIN, HOWEVER, THIS DAY JUST LIKE THE RETURN TRIP HOME THE NIGHT OF 12/15 I DID NOT HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. ON 12/16 I GOT THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND WHILE BRAKING AND GETTING THE CAR TO AROUND 35-40 MPH I TURNED IT OFF AND CAME TO A STOP. ON THE FIRST RESART THE CAR AGAIN PEGGED RPM'S UP TO AROUND 5000-6000 AND I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WITH THE SECOND RESTART OF THE CAR IT RAN NORMAL AND I COMPLETED THE REMAINING 4-5 MILES TO WORK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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