Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10067850April 26, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I BEGAN TO NOTICE AN OCCASIONAL CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO . ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE NOISE BECAME BAD ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE. I DESCRIBED THE NOISE IN GREAT DETAIL. SERVICE DEPT SAYS THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, BUT THAT THE NOISE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO MY BRAKE PADS BEING WORN DOWN SO FAR I HAD METAL AGAINST METAL. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS: $1250. CHA-CHING.*AK NEXT DAY DRIVING TO WORK I STILL HEAR THE CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, VERY IRATE. THEY SAY THEY'LL DRIVE IT AGAIN AND GIVE IT ANOTHER LISTEN. THIS TIME THEY DO HEAR SOMETHING AND INFORM ME THAT IT'S "JUST A LOOSE CONTROL ARM, " THAT IT'S "EXPENSIVE TO FIX" AND THAT "[THEY] DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PARTS ON HAND." BUT THE GUY ASSURES ME THAT THE NOISE IS ONLY AN ANNOYANCE ISSUE AND NOT A SAFTY CONCERN. THE NOISE IS CONSANT NOW AND VERY, VERY BAD. I WAS ACTUALLY GETTING A TOASTY, SMOKY ODOR COMING FROM THE CAR WHEN DRIVING ACROSS TOWN THE OTHER DAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066556April 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
"99 VW PASSAT VIN [XXX] HAS LOUD CREAKING SOUNDS FROM RIGHT-FRONT SUSPENSION. TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACE IN EARLIER RECALL. BALL JOINTS ARE NOT WORN. LUBE OF CONTROL ARM AND OTHER BUSHINGS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. VIBRATION CORRESPONDING TO CREAKING CAN BE FELT IN LOWER CONTROL ARMS. UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067236April 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066037April 13, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE TIMING BELT ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T BROKE, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO COME OFF. AS A RESULT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065975April 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE "ABS" AND "BRAKE" LIGHT FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. ACCORDING TO METROPOLITAN VOLKSWAGEN IN JERSEY CITY, NJ THE BRAKES WORK, BUT A SENSOR IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, THE QUOTED COST IS $1500 FOR THE MODULE + LABOR TO INSTALL IT! APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1998 AND 1999 VW PASSAT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065249March 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE 1999 PASSAT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FROM EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,WATER PUMP DEFECTS, FRONT END ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. (NAR) *PH *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064165March 30, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL SLOWLY FADES OUT (OCCASIONALLY) WITHOUT WARNING, EXCEPT THE SIGHT OFAN ENORMOUS TRUCK GRILL IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. NONE OF THE LOCAL VW DEALERS COULD FIX IT, NOR WOULD THEY REPLACE IT. VW ZONE MANAGER TOLD ME TO FORGET IT. CAR IS 1999 PASSAT WAGON, 4-CYL. IS THIS COMMON?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062406March 17, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO FAULTY LUBRICANT BOOTS RESULTING IN ERRATIC CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MODELS SIMILAR TO MINE WERE RECALLED BY VW, BUT NOT MINE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE PARTS ARE IDENTICAL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062214March 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. NO WARNING IS DESCRIBED IN OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. ENGINE FAILED AT 91000 MILES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, REQUIRED SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060732March 8, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
GRINDING SOUND WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. WAS TOLD THAT BOOTS ON TIE ROD ENDS WERE PERFORATED ALLOWING WATER AND DIRT TO DAMAGE TIE ROD ENDS. ALTHO VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED A RECALL THEY REFUSE TO MAKE THE FREE REPAIR. RECALL # RECALLUL. SEP 99. TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT. NHTSA RECALL # 0014/VWOA.RECALL # UL/KW. DID NOT RECIEVE ANY RECALL NOTICE ON THIS ITEM! FOUND ON INTERNET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060645March 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060149March 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
MY VW PASSAAT DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE PLAY AND NOISE IN STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION. CAR WOULD WANDER ON ROAD AND WOULD NOT TRACK STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY LOCAL VW DEALER SAID TO BRING CAR IN IMMEDIATELY. DEALER SAID 4 CONTROL ARMS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $1400. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND DRIVEN GENTLY PREVIOUSLY. DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060203March 2, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT 48,000 MILES AND FOR MY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. SINCE I HAD JUST BEGUN HEARING NOISES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I ASKED THAT IT BE LOOKED INTO. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR, ALBEIT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED THE CAR COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED (RECALL UL) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. BUT, THAT FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VW AND THEY CONCURRED BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNETHICAL, BUT VW IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH CARS THAT THEY KNOW HAVE A SERIOUS DEFECT. NOT ONLY DIDN'T VW COVER ALL THE APPLICABLE VINS IN THEIR RECALL, BUT THEY DID NOT INFORM THEIR CONSUMERS OFTHE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS PROBLEM, IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF THE CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT HIGH SPEED. VW WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE NOTED ONCE AGAIN, THAT THIS DEFECT IN THE CONTROL ARMS OCCURED AT ONLY 48,000 MILES. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO PAY $1200 FOR A SERIOUS, AND ACKNOWLEDGED, DESIGN DEFECT, BUT THE REPAIR PARTS THAT WERE INSTALLED ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE POORLY DESIGNED ONES. THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR EVEN KILLED. VW REFUSES TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THEY STOCK THE FRONT END REPAIR KIT. IF IT IS SO COMMON WHY AREN'T ALL THE APPLICABLE VINS COVERED?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057440February 26, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, ONE FOOT WAS LIFTED FROM THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACK TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT CEASE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL PLACED INTO NEUTRAL,TURNED OFF, AND HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058844February 24, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SEALS LEAKING AND VW WILL NOT HONOR THEIR REPLACEMENTS UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059344February 19, 2004
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, POWER TRAIN
WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT A BOLT SHEARED OFF INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058127February 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION COILS FAIL ON MY 1999 PASSAT V6 2.8L ...VW CONSUMER OFFICE CLAIMS THAT ONLY 2001 AND 2002 VEHICLES WERE PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN...BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER VW'S OUTSIDE OF THESE YEARS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM...PROBLEM: POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD...I REPORTED TO VW AND HAD THEM NOTE IT IN MY CASE FILE FOR MY VEHICLE...COMPLAINT IS THAT VW SHOULD COVER THE CHARGE OF IGNITION COIL REPLACEMENT FOR CARS EXPERIENCING THESE TYPE OF POWER FAILURES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055950January 28, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE BRAKING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055003January 27, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE CONTROL ARMS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED AND THE CAR COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN ARE NOT RECEPTIVE TO PAYING THE REPAIRS OR A DISCOUNT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054330January 17, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
MY ABS MODULE FAILED ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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