Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#763738July 2, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE COMPUTERIZED CONTROL MODULE. DEALERSHIP CLAIM PROBLEM IS DUE TO RAIN AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. (POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES, AND CARE ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763626June 29, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
THE CONTROLE ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO GO AT 5500. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THIS NEW, AND DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID SO TOO. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PASSAT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO MAKE VW OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763595June 28, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763586June 27, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
FRONT SUSPENSION BEGINS SQUEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS WHICH ARE INTEGRAL WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS DEFECT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ARM. I'VE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 99 PASSATS. IT IS UNHEARD OF FOR THESE TYPES OF COMPONENTS TO FAIL SO EARLY BEFORE 50,000 MILES BUT THEY DO ON THESE PASSATS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763357June 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
1) COOLANT TEMP. SENSOR FAILED AT @47422 MILES 2) CHAPLINS CHECKED CAR BECAUSE I REPORTED NOISE IN FRONT WHEEL AREA. THEY SAID BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING AND REFUSED TO COVER THE COSTS. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDANT VW SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. COST WAS $466.79. VW STILL REFUSED TO ASSIST. 2 INDEPENDANT VW SPECIALISTS REPORTED VW HAS A "BAD WHEEL BEARING DESIGN". 3) REPLACED ORIGINAL TIRES WITH EXACT BRAND AND STYLE OF TIRE THAT WAS ORIGINSAL TO CAR. TIRES FELT ODD, I HAD THEM CHECKED BY 2 TIRE RETAILERS AND DID OWN PRESSURE CHECKS TWICE MONTHLY. AFTER 15,804 MILES ON TIRES LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763311June 21, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SYPMTOMS ARE CREAKING, GROANING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#565989June 5, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FIRE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO SEIZE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762497May 31, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762480May 30, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
INCREASING "GRINDING" SOUND AND INCREASED "PLAY" AND MOVEMENT IN FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BY FAILING CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS-DIAGNOSED BY DEALER (STATED IT WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM). 2ND. VW PASSAT WITH SAME PROBLEM ('98 MODEL AND '99 MODEL) REPAIR PARTIALLY COVERED BY VW ON '98 MODEL OUTSIDE OF ORIGINAL WARRANTY. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AS BUSHINGS CONTINUE TO WEAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762014May 17, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE, CAUSING ERRATIC HANDLING, DEGRADED SINCE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8009740May 13, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF WHEEL ATTACHMENT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761651May 7, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
HAVE CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED FOR COVERAGE SINCE THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM ON PASSAT. HOWEVER, VW REFUSED TO COVER, NOT EVEN HALF THE COST! OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE AT LEAST GOT ALL PARTS COVERED BY VW! THE TOTAL COST SUM UP WITH UP TO $1000. THE MAIN PROBLEM HAPPENING IS BASICALLY I HEARD CONSISTENT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING UNDER LOW SPEED, GOING OVER A BUMP, AND OCCASIONAL BRAKING. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE HEARD, THIS IS CALLED THE "LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE" AND THERE'S A BULLETIN IN VW THAT THIS IS RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE INFOMED TO INSTALL PARTICULAR COMPONENTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS QUITE A CRITICAL PART FOR THE CAR AS WE DON'T WANT THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL EXPECIALLY TURNING. AND THE MOST THING THAT PISSED ME OFF IS THAT VWOA REFUSED TO COVER SOME COSTS! I KNOW AT LEAST AN OWNER GOT IT ALL COVERED BY CONTACTING VWOA! THE FIRST NOTICING OF THE NOISE WAS AT AROUND 40000 MILES BUT SUNNYVALE VW REFERRED THAT THIS IS A NOISE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE PUMP WHICH IS LEAKING AT THAT TIME. NOISE OF COURSE DIDN'T RESOLVE AND I DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO ASK AS THEY CAN'T DETECT IT. HOPEFULLY, I CAN GET SOME HELP FROM NHTSA. THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761328April 29, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS DETERIORATING. COMMON ISSUE. BUSHINGS DRYING OUT AND DISINTEGRATING. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE CREAKING AND CLUNKING AT LOW SPEEDS. VW IS STARTING TO PAY 50% FOR SOME PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NO MORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8008433April 23, 2002
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760668April 13, 2002
SEATS
WHILE COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN AND GOING ON AN UPHILL GRADE SEAT FAILED BY DROPPING TO FLOOR AND SLIDING ALL THE WAY BACK, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760530April 10, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIS-ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE APPROACHING TOLL BOOTH, BY TAPPING BRAKE, VEHICLE SUFFERED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WORKED AS ADVERTISED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ENTER 360 DEGREE SPIN AND CROSS 6 LANES OF TOLL BOOTH TRAFFIC ENDING UP ON RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RE-STARTED AND BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. MEHCANIC AT INDEPENDENT SHOP CANNOT DUPLICATE FAILURE AND SYSTEM TESTS OK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760465April 9, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760337April 6, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760321April 5, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
CAR HAS HAD TIE RODS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL ,BOTH C.V.JOINTS REPLACED PLUS A WHEEL BEARING FIXED WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR.DON 'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAME UP SO EARLY IN CAR SERVICE LIFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760273April 4, 2002
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER OVER 12 TIMES FOR CLUTCH RELATED PROBLEMS. CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR, SLAVE CYL LEAK, CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE AND SLAVE CYL REPLACED THREE TIMES. LEAK DESTROYED INSIDE DASH, DEALER REF TO FIX. ELECTRICAL PROBS IN DASH, CRACKLING NOISE HEARD. BRAKE LINE AND SLAVE CYL PROBLEMS. PERSUING LEMON LAW (SUIT FILED).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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