Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#753682October 25, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
TWICE, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON MY 1999 PASSAT, BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS AUDI A4 AND VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES. THE COST TO REPAIR THE CONTROL ARMS IS IN EXCESS OF $1200 AND VW HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY PITIFUL TO DEAL WITH AND HAVE NO REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY THESE PARTS ARE FAILING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IN A CAR THAT COSTS OVER $25,000 THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004827October 15, 2001
TIRES
TIRE SHREADED, 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER PULLING OVER, TIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DID 3700 DOLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752892October 3, 2001
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MECHANISM WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (2 YEARS/20,000 MILES) TWICE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO (CAR ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY) LEFT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. TODAY RIGHT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. I DRIVE CAR 99% OF TIME. NO ONE IN BACK SEAT, SO NO KIDS PLAYING, ETC. THE REAR POWER WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS NOW 3-4 MONTHS & 2,370 PAST TWO YEAR/20,000 MILE WARRANTY. I REQUEST THAT THESE REPAIRS BE COVERED BY MAUFACTURER AS THE PROBLEMS FIRST OCCURRRED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CONTINUE. APPEARS TO BE DESIGN DEFECT. WINDOWS WIL ONLY RETRACT 1" AND THEN FAIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751713September 5, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
KNOWN ISSUE WITH VWOA, ALSO HAPPENS ON AUDI A4/A6. VW REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE A REPAIR KIT FOR THE CAONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS AND BALL-JOINTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895742September 5, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER AND SAW BURNING LIQUID COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751444August 31, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER AND I IMFORMED THEM ABOUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AND THERE WAS TSB CALL FOR THE ITEM THEY TOLD ME THAT I DONT QUAILIFY FOR THAT PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEIR A BUSHING FAILURE ON BOTH SIDE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IT MADE IT LOOSE AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL. IT WOULD BE A EASY FIX IF THEY JUST REPLACE THE BUSHING BUT THEY DONT JUST SELL THE BUSHING THEY SELL THE WHOLE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I HAVE TECHNICAL KNOWLEGDE ABOUT THE CARS AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ANYONE. IF THE PERSON DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GOING ON. THEY WILL CONTINUE DRIVING THEIR UNSAFE CAR. THE SUSPENSION TEST ON THE INSPECTION STATION WILL NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. IT WILL AFFECT THE ALIGNMENT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT AND STEERING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751384August 30, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
BEING A MEMBER OF A VW PASSAT FORUM, I KNOW MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME FAILURE. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562490August 13, 2001
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE R/F AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DUE TO AN UNDERSIDE IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE SIDE IMPACT BEAM OR ANYWHERE ON THE STRUCTURAL FRAME. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749441July 30, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPED, RUNS POORLY, A/C DOES NOT COOL. SHOP CAN NOT FIX. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892354July 10, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED HOT STEAM COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD, AND NOTICED COOLING HOSE WAS CUT BY ENGINE COVER FROM VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892356July 10, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
WHILE TRAVLING NOTICED HOT STEAM COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDERS AND NOTICED COOLING SYSTEM HOSE WAS CUT BY ENGINE COVER WHEN VIBRATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891667June 29, 2001
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER HAS REPLACED AIRBAG SENSOR 5 TIMES. DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN REP HAD DEALER REWIRE ENTIRE VEHICLE. AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COMMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747366June 25, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES STICKING TO DRUMS AND NO BRAKE LIGHT WARNING OF PENDING STOP. PROBLEM NEVER ADDRESSED BY VW, THE DEALERSHIP OR CORPORATE. THE PROBLEM CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND PREMATURELY CAUSED WEAR ON ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE IN 40,000 MILES. THE MOST RECENT AT 12,000 MILES USAGE. VW SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#561645June 15, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO STEERING/SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED RECALL SERVICE WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION WHICH COST THE CONSUMER ADDITIONAL MONEY AND REPAIR WORK, CONSUMER IS VERY UNSATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DEALERSHIP WHILE REPAIRING VEHICLE AND REQUEST ASSISTANCE. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561603June 13, 2001
AIR BAGS
AFTER PURCHASE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR OF THE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT SIGNAL OR SYSTEM, REPAIR COMPLETED ON THE SPIRAL RING ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CONTINUED TO INDICATE PROBLEMS, SEVERAL OTHER REPAIRS UNTIL THE FINAL REPAIR OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM FOR REMEDY DUE TO NEGLIGENCE AND REPAIR ISSUES. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745401May 16, 2001
AIR BAGS
SRS INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT REMAINS ON. CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. CAR OWNED LESS THAN 24 MONTHS BUT SRS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SIMPLY DUE TO MILEAGE BEING OVER 24,000. IF SRS IS SAFETY RELATED WHY DOESN'T THE GOVERNMENT HOLD MANUFACTURERS MORE RESPONSIBLE AS WITH EMISSIONS? THERE SHOULD BE A SEPARATE GOVERNMENT STANDARD, AS WITH EMISSIONS. HOLDING MANUFACTURERS MORE ACCOUNTANTABLE FOR SRS WITH STRICTER REQUIREMENTS, AS WITH EMISSIONS, WILL HELP ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. I TOOK THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR (STEERING TIE-RODS) AND NO SOONER THAN A WEEK LATER, THE SRS LIGHT WENT ON AND NOW I MUST PAY TO DETERMINE WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS RATHER UNFAIR FOR A NEW CAR LESS THAN 24 MONTHS OLD. AND SINCE THE WORK PERFORMED WAS IN THAT QUADRANT OF THE CAR WHERE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, I AM WONDER IF THIS IS SOMEHOW RELATED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#887840May 9, 2001
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 5-10-MPH, JUST MOVING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND CLUTCH WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. DEALER DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH WAS BAD, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#887313May 2, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAD A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. , EITHER TIRE OR ROAD HAZARD DAMAGED FUEL TANK, AND CAUSED IT TO CRACK. FUEL TANK WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886882April 26, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 85 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES. IT TOOK 1-2 MILES FOR VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN, AND ENGINE TO STOP REVVING. VEHICLE STILL AT DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886481April 23, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A 25 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE GOING OPPOSITE DIRECTION LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ FISHTAILED, HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE TWICE. DUAL FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

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