Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10075922June 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM OILS FROM THE ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074928June 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
BUSHING HAS DRIED OUT ON LOWER CONTROL ARM ON ONE SIDE RESULTING IN FREQUENT LOUD CREEKING / SQUEEKING NOISES. WHEN MAKING APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD I RUSH THE CAR IN. THEY SAID "NO, IT'S PROBABLY JUST A DRY BUSHING" AND SCHEDULED ME FOR 10 DAYS LATER. WHEN I LEARNED OF THE $1200 REPAIR COST AND THE NEED TO KEEP THE CAR OVERNIGHT, I HAD TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT. AGAIN, ANOTHER 12 DAYS WAIT (YET TO COME). IF THIS IS TRUELY NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN FINE, BUT INFO ON THIS SITE IS TO THE CONTRARY. BESIDES, WHY DO SUPPOSE THEY CALL THEM "CONTROL ARMS?" IF THEY MAL FUNCTION COULD THAT MEAN LOSS OF CONTROL? HMMM. 85K MILES ON THIS CAR, BUT IN RETROSPECT, THE NOISE STARTED A LONG TIME AGO AND THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED IT TO LACK OF STEERING FLUID. THE NOISE RETURNED AND CAME BACK. THIS CAR HAS A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. I'LL BET THE FAILURE IS TIME BASED RATHER THAN MILAGE BASED. THESE RUBBER BUSING CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS. VW - CHANGE THE MATERIAL FOR YOUR BUSHINGS, RIGHT!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074888June 6, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
CONTROL ARM'S OF '1998-'2000 PASSATS ARE FAILURE PRONE MUCH EARLIER THEN THE NORM FOR PASSANEGER AUTOMOBILES. (A FACT THEY RECOGNIZED BY A REDESIGN OF THE CONTROL ARMS ON '2001 AND UP PASSAT'S. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 7/99. I DRIVE 70 MILES A DAY, MOSTLY FREEWAY, WHICH AS ALL KNOW IS ACTUALLY VERY EASY ON AN AUTOMOBILE. YET WITH-IN 2 YEARS (40K) MY FRONT SUSPENSION WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF PREMATURE WEAR. I GET MANY "CREAKS" AND "CLUNKS" THAT ARE EASY TO HEAR AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER RESEARCHING IN POPULAR INTERNET FORUMS FOR THE CAR,(WWW.CLUBB5.COM , WWW.VWVORTEX.COM) I FOUND OUT THIS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE. VMOA (VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA) HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET (EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS) AS OF THIS LATE DATE. (6/04) THE RESPONSE FROM VWOA AND YOUR DEALER NETWORK HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT, TO SAY THE LEAST. SOME DEALERS WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR, SOME WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, AND SOME WILL SAY THAT IT IS THE CONTROL ARMS, BUT WILL NOT HELP OUT THE OWNER WHEN THE TIME COMES TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AT VWOA . VWOA IS NOT MUCH MORE HELP, PROMISING TO GET ON THE PROBLEM AND TELLING YOU THEY WILL CALLBACK, ONLY THEY DONT. OR IF THEY DO ,IT IS, SORRY WE CANNOT HELP YOU.. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT MANY OF THE OWNERS THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, MUST PAY FOR A COSTLY REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. A REPAIR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. (I HAVE NEVER HAD CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE IN MY PREVIOUS 13 AUTOMOBILES!) REPAIR COSTS RUN OVER $700 FOR PARTS, AND THE SAME AMOUNT IN LABOR. I AM PURCHASING MY CAR FROM THE BANK SOON. OVERALL IT IS A GREAT CAR. I MUST REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS VERY SOON. I DONT LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AND THE HIGH COST IT WILL RUN ME. I WISH FOR VMOA TO TREAT ITS CUSTOMERS LIKE A MODERN CUSTOMER FOCUSED COMPANY. BAD DESIGNS HAPPEN. THEY OWE IT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS TO MAKE IT RIGHT. THANK YOU. JOHN E. TAMI. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075847June 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ON 1999 PASSAT. *MR THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 23500 MILES AND THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THERE WERE EARLIER PROBLEMS BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNERS. THE SUSPENSION PART WERE DESIGN DEFECTIVE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075821June 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TIMING BELT ON VEHICLE BROKE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE VALVES. *MR THE NEWER EDITIONS OF THE PASSAT HAVE REDESIGNED TENSION SYSTEMS FOR THE TIMING BELT. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074678June 2, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS LIGHT TURNED ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074612June 1, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
AT ABOUT 68,000 MILES THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, IN MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T. THEY HAVE REMAINED ON, EXCEPT FOR BRIEF OCCASSION. THE WARNING SIGNAL GOES OFF AS WELL. LYNCH IMPORTS, DAYTONA BEACH, WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS INFORMATION THROUGH DIAGNOISTIC TESTING. I HAVE NO ABS AND THEY ANTICIPATE A HIGH COST TO EVEN FIND THE PROBLEM, ($78 PER HOUR TO MANUALLY GO THROUGH SYSTEMS) LET ALONE REPAIR IT. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073823May 18, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, A TAPPING/RATTLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE TIE ROD RECALL 00V414000, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072730May 17, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE DEPT. I FOUND THAT MY POWER OUTPUT STAGE HAS FAILED AND TIE ROD ENDS ARE BLOWN OUT ON 1999 VW PASSAT AT 39,990 MILES. NOT TO MENTION THAT MY POLLEN FILTER HOUSING IS LEAKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072733May 17, 2004
STRUCTURE
1- NOT KNOWN. 2- THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PLASTIC UNDERCARRIAGE ENGINE COVER BROKE WITHOUT APPARENT WARNING. THIS LED TO EXPOSURE OF PART OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE A LARGE PART OF THE COVER DRAGGED ON THE PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING. *AK 3- SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072487May 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS/BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ABS MODULE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072385May 11, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CREAKING AND GROANING NOISES WERE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (1999 PASSAT STATION WAGON WITH 43,000 MILES) WHILE SLOWING AND TURNING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER CONFIRMED LOOSE SWAY BARS/CONTROL ARMS AND ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN UP, BUT NOISE PERSISTED FOLLOWING SERVICE. AT THE NEXT SERVICE THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS (CONVERSION KIT) AND LINKS. VW CUSTOMER CARE (?) CENTER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR PARTS, CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND IS BEYOND WARRANTY COVERAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072425May 11, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
(1.) NO EVENTS INDICATING APPROACHING FAILURE. (2.) ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED THEREFORE I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEY, I HAD TO POP START IT. (3.) REPLACED CONTROL MODULE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073403May 10, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068442May 7, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS MAKING GRINDING NOISE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068299May 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AT AROUND 60,000 ABS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES ABS USELESS WHEN LIGHT IS ON, IT WORKS OTHERWISE. WHEN LIGHT IS ON BRAKES LOCK-UP. ABS MODULE COSTS $1010 + LABOR 405 = $1415 TO FIX THIS. SPOKE WITH DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF ABS CONTROL MODULES GONE BAD PASSATS. THIS COULD BE A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE IT AFFECTS BRAKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071965May 3, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN TIE ROD RECALL 00V414000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068203May 3, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES
I AM CONCERN WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY CAR. I TOOK IN THE CAR FOR AN 80,000 MILE VOLKSWAGEN RECOMMENDED CHECK UP. I EXPLAINED TO SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FROT SUSPENSION. THAT NOISE HAD BEEN THERE SINCE I GOT THE CAR AT AROUND 65,000 MILES. I EXPLAINED TO THE TECHNICIAN THAT I HAD CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA BECAUSE THROUGH CARFAX I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FRON SUSPENSION OF THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAN 1.8 TURBO GLS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. SO I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK FOR ME AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED TO THE FRON SUSPENSION. HE SAID NO AND HE MENTIONED THAT TO FIX THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION STEERING LINKAGES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. HE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX AT AROUND $1200.00 DOLLARS. 2 WEEKENDS AGO I WENTO TO A VOLKSWAGEN SWAP MEET AND FOUND OUT THAT A FEW OTHER PASSAT DRIVERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR SUSPENSIONS. I HAVE BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN DRIVER FOR 17 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY SUSPENSION PROBLEMS OF THIS KIND WITH ANY OF THE VOLKSWAGEN CARS I OWNED. I TRUELY BELIVE VW HAS RELEASED CARS WITH MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENTS AND THEY WANT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY EAMIL AND LOOKING IN TO THIS MATTER FOR THE SAFETY OF VW DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS A LIKE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068221May 3, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH PERIODICALLY AND WILL STALL OUT, MOST RECENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO COMPUTER CODES OR OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR CONDITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067948April 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SUDDENLY ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTS FLAHING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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