Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10086617August 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS LIGHT COMING ON ONCE IN A WHILE. NOW STAYS ON PERMANENTLY AND BEEPS. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF BRAKES. COST TO REPAIR $1600. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083196August 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I BOUGHT MY 1999 PASSAT IN MARCH 2002, AND HAD THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE DATE LISTED BELOW, MY MILEAGE WAS ONLY 60K AND MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2000. I HAVE READ AND SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. IS THERE ANY WAY THIS CAN BE RECALLED OR CAN ANYONE HELP US WHO DOESN'T HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT AMOUNT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT OR SPEAK TO PEOPLE WHO HAD THESE PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE WEBSITE IS WWW.TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM AND IT IS UNDER VW PASSAT ABS LIGHT PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082802July 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS MODUAL ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT(58000 MILES)HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFTY PROBLEM.VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SAYS THEY CANT HELP WITH THE $2000 REPAIR.FAR TOO MANY ARE IN THIS POSITION.THERE MUST BE A RE-CALL REGARDING THIS POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING MATTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082596July 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SOME MONTHS AGO ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON INFREQUENTLY. ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THEN THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON MORE FREQUENTLY. NOW THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. ODDLY, THE LIGHT WAS OFF ON TWO CONSECUTIVELY EVENINGS AND THE ABS WORKED WHEN THE LIGHT WAS OFF. HOWEVER, SINCE THEN THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON CONSTANTLY. HAVE BEEN TO TWO DEALERS WHO SUGGESTED REPLACING ABS CONTROL MODULE FOR $1400.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE IN VOLKSWAGONS AND AUDIS. DATE GIVEN BELOW IS APPROXIMATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082443July 22, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE CONTROL ARMS IN THE 1999, 2000, AND 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS ARE DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IF THESE ARE NOT REPAIRED ONE CAN LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS IN MY 1999 PASSAT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2003 AND NOW THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN 1999, 2000, AND 2001 PASSATS, AND I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SAFETY HAZARD WARRANTS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082358July 21, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
AS A RESULT OF A PERSISTENT RATTLING IN THE FRONT RIGHT END OF MY 4 CYL. 1999 VW PASSAT, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR INVESTIGATION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS THAT BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR AS WELL AS THE TIE ROD ENDS MUST BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1200. IF THEY ARE NOT REPLACED, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT ONE COULD BREAK AND I WOULD HAVE NO STEERING. OBVIOUSLY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS OR DEADLY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH VW AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUING A TSB ON THIS DEFECT, THEY REFUSE TO COVER ITS REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE IN THIS AREA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081335July 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1999 PASSAT ARE WEARING OUT AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY VW SINCE IT PLACES PEOPLE IN DANGER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080782July 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY 1999 VW PASSAT WAS PURCHASED ON 6/16/04. IT WAS A USED VEHICLE WITH 59,000 MILES ON IT. 6 HOURS AFTER DRIVINGOFF THE LOT THE ABS LIGHT FLASED AND THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED AND FOUND THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. THIS PART ALONE COSTS OVER $1200.00 TO REPAIR. THERE ARE MANY VW SITES OUT WHERE I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD GONE OUT. THIS PART IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY. I BEIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHOULD THIS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080672July 9, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENGINE BEGAN TO SERIOUSLY MISFIRE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE -- DANGEROUR LACK OF POWER REPLACED IGNITION CONRTOL MODULE INTERNET IF FULL OF DESCRIPTIONS OF THIS KIND OF FAILURE -- VW DOES NOTHING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073567July 6, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TIE ROD AS THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079239July 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS MODULE 8E0614111B FAILED ON 1999 PASSAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WARNING LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENT MEANING THE FUNCTION OF THE ABS SYSTEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079199July 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I'VE HAD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AND THAT THERE IS A TSB ON SUCH. THIS IS A COMMON WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND POSES A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078721June 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
IN MID MAY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY 1999 PASSAT GLS (ONLY 49K MILES), THE ABS LIGHT CAME ONE, THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AND IT STARTED TO BEEP. THIS PROBLEM THEN WENT AWAY AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM THEN STARTED TO RECCUR WITH GREATER FREQUENCY, FROM ONE OR TWO TIMES A WEEK, TO NOW SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. DURING MY RECENT 50K MILE SERVICE, THE DEALER (SUNNYVALE VW) DETERMINED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAILED ABS CONTOL MODULE. THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS OVER $1700. AS I CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A REDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, I AM NOW DRIVING A CAR WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FURTHER I DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM AFFECT 1998 - 2000 VW PASSATS, AS WELL AS 1997 - 2000 AUDI A4 AND S4 AUTOS. SEARCHING THIS SITE FOR PAST COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE I FOUND 50 COMPLAINTS. MORE TROUBLING, HOWEVER, IS THAT WHEN I SEARCHED DISCUSSION FORUMS OF WEB SITES DEDICATED TO THE B5 PLATFORM VW PASSAT AND AUDI A4 I FOUND OVER 1500 (ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED) POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE MANUFATURED BY BOSCH. THE DEFECT IS DUE TO EITHER POOR ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING. I'VE ALREADY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND THEY REFUSE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE IN MY CAR. I WILL BE SENDING A LETTER TO THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND DEMAND THAT THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY DEFECT BE REMEDIED. MY HOPE IS THAT MY COMPLAINT, IN COMBINATION WITH THE DOZENS OF OTHER FORMAL COMPLAINTS TO THE NHTSA, AS WELL AS THE HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE WILL RESULT IN VW ISSUING A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074080June 23, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD TO CHECK THE OIL AND THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY CAME DOWN. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067385June 23, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT LOOSENED, FLAPPED UP, AND SEVERED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A ROUGH IDLE AND RATTLED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, PER DEALERSHIP. *AK THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE TIMING BELT BROKE AFTER THE TENSIONER SHREDDED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK WHILE IN MOTION. THE POWER BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 52,515 MILES AND THE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED. LESS THAN 4K MILES LATER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078448June 18, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH VW AND AUDI. RIGHT NOW THE BRAKES WORK BUT ABS DOES NOT...SO THE WHEELS CAN LOCK UP. ONCE IN A WHILE, THE ABS LIGHT TURNS OF AND ABS STARTS WORKING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS OR SO. AGAIN, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH VW AND AUDI.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078401June 17, 2004
SUSPENSION
PURCHASED MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON IN AUGUST, 2002. IT HAD APPRX. 53,000 MILES ON IT. BY SEPTEMBER, 2003, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SQUEAKING, CREAKING, GROANING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. AT THAT TIME, CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY. 75K MILES. DIAGNOSIS WAS FRONT END SUSPENSION PARTS INCLUDING CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, BUSHINGS WERE DANGEROUSLY WORN AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VW DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DATED MAY 31, 2001. IT CALLS FOR INSTALLATION OF PARTS IN REPAIR KIT NO 3BO498 798A. BECAUSE OF EXISTENCE OF THE TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY (WYNN'S WARRANTIES) REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. REPAIRS STILL NEEDED TO TUNE OF $1100. FRONT END IS NOW SO LOOSE FOR SAFETY REASONS I WILL HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS IMMEDIATELY AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079331June 16, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CONTROL ARM MADE A CLUCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE NOISE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE, AND IF THIS PART FAILED, THE BALL JOINTS COULD BREAK WILL DRIVING. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075354June 14, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ON 6/10/2004, I HAD MY VW PASSAT REPAIRED AT MITCHELL VOLKSWAGEN, CANTON, CT, FOR ROUGH IDLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER FOUND SCAN CODES FOR CYLINDER #2 MISFIRES AND RANDOM/MULTIPLE MISFIRES. DEALER REPLACED ICM IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND CLEARED FAULT. THEN DEALER ATTEMPTED TO SET BASIC SETTINGS AND A NEW PROBLEM WAS GENERATED, THROTTLE BODY WOULD NOT ADAPT. I NOW HAVE A CONTINUOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY THEY TRIED TO SET THE BASIC SETTINGS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ICM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THE BASIC SETTINGS ARE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY A MALFUNCTION TO THE THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CAN OCCUR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE SELF CORRECTING. IF IT DOES CORRECT ITSELF, I NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR APPROX. $500.00. I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $539.00 TO HAVE MY ICM REPLACED AND NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM. NOW I AM TOLD "MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY TO CORRECT, WILL NOT CAUSE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH, MAY CAUSE SURGING AT IDLE OR SLIGHT HESTITATION ON ACCELERATION, PART NEEDS TO BE ORDERED. IT MAY CORRECT ITSELF IN 200 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT'S OK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HESTITATION AND SURGING). I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREE WITH THE DEALER. I THINK THIS IS A MANUFUCTURE'S DEFECT IN DESIGN AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH HESTITATION AND POSSIBLE SURGING, THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES. THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT GIVE ME SOMEONE ELSE AT VW TO EXPRESS MY SAFETY CONCERNS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075381June 14, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
BOTH CONTROL ARMS FAILED ON 1999 PASSAT GLX @ 60000 MILES ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. REPAIR COVERED BY VW EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE TUNE OF $689 PER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THESE CONTROL ARMS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING! STEERING, CONTROL, AND TIRE WEAR SUFFER SERIOUS IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF THESE FAILURES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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