Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#8023025November 20, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769060October 29, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE SHORTLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE HOUSE. THE FIRE WAS WITNESSED TO ORIGINATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE HOOD. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#768674October 21, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BUSHING FAILURE ON ALL 4 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THESE BUSHINGS GRADUALLY BECAME LOOSE AND BEGAN SQUEAKING, ACCOMPANIED BY CLUNKING OVER LOW-SPEED BUMPS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. VW HAS REFUSED TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT AND DO A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE PAYING FOR PART OF THE COSTS FOR SOME PEOPLE'S REPAIRS AND THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE BUSHINGS IN QUESTION. FURTHERMORE, THE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE BUSHINGS CAN BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE CONTROL ARM, BUT DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO DO THAT, INSTEAD TO FORCE MOST CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY. THESE BUSHING FAILURES POSE A DANGER IF THEY FAIL SEVERELY ENOUGH. THE ONLY REASON THEY AREN'T CAUSING WRECKS IS THAT THE FAILURE IS GRADUAL AND MOST OWNERS REPLACE THEM BEFORE THE BUSHINGS GET TOO BAD. BUT THIS IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE REPAIR IS HARDLY OPTIONAL. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768369October 12, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSING POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT AND SEVERE INJURY. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT CLUTCH HYDRAULIC HOSE ON THE V6 PASSAT IS INSTALLED SUCH THAT IT RESTS ON AN ADJACENT HOSE. THIS CAUSES ABRASION TO THE HOSE AND ULTIMATELY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A DESIGN / WORKMANSHIP DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#786475October 10, 2002
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE VEHICLE DROPPED FROM THE HOIST WHILE BEING SERVICED, THE GM OF THE DEALERSHIP ATTRIBUTED THE ACCIDENT TO TOO MUCH ANTI-CORROSION COMPOUND BEING APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020149October 3, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE REAR COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767658September 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE LEAK DETECTION PUMP IS PART OF THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL ON THIS CAR. WITHIN 2 DAYS OF BUYING IT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE PUMP BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON NEXT DAY. SAME PUMP REPLACED AGAIN. SEARCH ON INTERNET AND DISCUSSION W/DEALER INDICATES THIS PART (MADE BY SIEMENS) IS A COMMON FAILURE AND WARRANTY ONLY 24,000 MILES. COST WAS $275 FOR ME TO HAVE FIXED. IF NEW ONES COMMONLY FAIL AND THIS IS EMISSIONS RELATED, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE TO REPORT THIS? NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018688September 16, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNIING, IT FORCES ANTIFREEZE DOWN WIRING HARNESS, AND SHORTS OUT COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE AND STALL OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018521September 12, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH GEAR WILL AUTOMATICLY GO INTO NEUTRAL AND SUDDENLY WILL SWITCH BACK INTO A LOWER GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TRHEE DIFERENT TIMES TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017760September 3, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
WHILE DRIVING THERE'S A SQUEAKING AND POPPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED THREE CONTROL ARMS. A SHORT TIME LATER POPPING STARTED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER NEEDED A FOURTH CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL. CURRENTLY, ALL EIGHT CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016791August 20, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 6000 MILES, AND SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE FOR THE SAME REASON VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED RECALL 99V131001. BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765690August 15, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY THE RADIO LOCKS DOWN TO PREVENT THEFT. LOCK OUT RESET CODE FAILS AND STEREO CAN NOT BE RESET FOR USE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015872August 8, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ACID START LEAKING FROM THE BATTERY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE INVOICE STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ACID DOWN ON TO THE POWER STEERING RACK CAUSING THE BOOT TO SPLIT, THROWING FLUID OUT OF THE RACK. ALSO THE DIP STICK PLASTIC WAS BROKEN. *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765044August 1, 2002
TIRES
I OWN A VEHICLE THAT IS SUBJECT TO RECALL PROGRAM 02V026000, WHICH I LEARNED ABOUT FROM CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM VOLKAGEN , SO I CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE (800-822-8987). I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL. THEIR SPOKESMAN SAID THEY ARE JUST INFORMING CONSUMERS NOT TO DRIVE ON A FLAT TIRE AS POSSIBLE DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. HE SAID THERE WOULD BE NO FUEL LEAK OR OTHER DANGER. IS THIS AN ACTUAL RECALL, SHOULD I TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND SHOULD VW PAY FOR THE CORRECTIVE ACTION?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764618July 23, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED-COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 VW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8014282July 18, 2002
SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAUSES KNOCKS IN STEERING COLUMN. THIS AFFECTS CONSUMERS ABILITY TO PROPERLY CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TIRE RODS CHANGED, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764247July 15, 2002
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING WITH BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DOWN. (FRONT AND REAR). WHEN I PUSHED THE DRIVER CONTROL TO RAISE THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW ALSO RAISED AT THE SAME TIME, CRUSHING MY WIFES ARM. THIS PHENOMENON IS REPEATABLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#764038July 10, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY YOUR RECALL CAMPAIN ID#01V157000. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764043July 10, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARM ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAS BEGUN CREAKING VERY LOUDLY AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ABOUT TO FAIL. ON MOST CARS THE CONTROL ARMS ARE BUILT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, SO AT ONLY 60,000 MILES THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS VERY COMMON IN RECENT MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS, AND THAT A RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED IN GERMANY WHERE THEY HAVE STRICTER AUTOMOTIVE REGULATIONS. ALSO, THE PART WAS RE-ENGINEERED FOR 2001 MODEL PASSATS, INDICATING VOLKSWAGEN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IF THIS PART IS FAILING ON BASICALLY ALL 98-2000 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS, IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSES AN ACCIDENT, UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED ON ANY POSSIBLE RECALL INFORMATION. THANKS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763728July 2, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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