Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10331880May 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, BLINKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY ON. I CAN HEAR BEEPING AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT TURNS OFF (BUT THE FAN STILL RUNS) WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP, THEN THE OIL LIGHT STOPS BLINKING THEN WHEN ACCELERATING, I CAN HEAR THE AC UNIT CLICK BACK ON AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AGAIN. MAJOR RECALL NEEDED FROM OTHER SIMILAR RESPONSES ONLINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326420April 19, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS MODULE FAILED ON 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ABS NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318490March 10, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED AT THE VW DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE ARE EMISSION PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL I RECENTLY FOUND ON MY CAR, WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE RECALL, VW CUSTOMER SERVICE INSISTED I WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER HADN'T BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS CAR REGULARLY SMOKES, LETS OFF HUGE SMOG CLOUDS WHEN I PUT GAS AND IS A FIRE RISK ACCORDING TO THEIR RECALL. I DON'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE INTO FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308700February 11, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WINTER 2008-2009 HAD SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. BRAKES DID NOT HELP. ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO APPLY BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND PUT IN NEUTRAL, WHICH MAKES TAC GO OVER 7000 RPM'S. HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND RESET IN SPRING OF 2009 BUT PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN THIS YEAR. ON MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2010 TEMPERATURE WAS IN LOW TEENS. WARMED CAR FOR APPROX. 7 MIN. DROVE SLOWLY DUE TO BAD ROAD CONDITIONS AND AT APPROX. 3 MILES INTO DRIVE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AGAIN ON ITS OWN AND NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. HAD TO STOP IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION AND PRAY I WASN'T HIT BEFORE I COULD SAFELY START CAR AGAIN. FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE AFTER APPROX. 5 MIN. WITHOUT REVVING PROBLEM BUT APPROX. 2 MILES LATER CAR AGAIN ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY DID A GENERAL DIAGNOSIS WHICH SHOWED NOTHING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS TO DRIVE MY CAR. VW OF AMERICA STATES THAT MY CAR WAS NOT IN ANY RECALL AND THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND COULD NOT DIVULGE IF THEY RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297852January 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2PM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH PERFECT DRIVING CONDITIONS.... DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH DOWN CITY SURFACE STREET - WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED TO 60MPH - VERY SCARY - 1999 VW PASSAT GLX CAR IS A BIT OVER 115K MILES IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. CAR WAS PULLED OVER AFTER BRAKING AND PULLING UP EMERGENCY BRAKE - CAR CONTINUED REVVING UNTIL CAR WAS QUICKLY TURNED OFF. POPPED HOOD - LET ENGINE COOL FOR 10 - 15 MINUTES - TRIED TO RESTART BUT CAR REVVED AGAIN SO SHUT IT OFF AND WILL HAVE REPAIR SHOP RETRIEVE IT & BRING TO SHOP TO GET LOOKED AT. TOO SCARED TO DRIVE AGAIN. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED SINCE PURCHASING CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294299December 2, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN HE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE ENTIRE WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK INSIDE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THE WINDOW WITH THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292073November 13, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE, I BOUGHT 4 NEW CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCO TIRES IN JUNE 2009 FOR A 99 VW PASSAT. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 7K MILES, WHILE TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY ABOUT 65 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED INTO 3 PIECES. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT I KNOW OF AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS SIMILAR TO A TRUCK RETREAD TIRE THAT SEPARATES AND YOU SEE ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME. CONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE TIRE BUT QUITE HONESTLY I DON?T TRUST THEIR PRODUCTS AT THIS TIME. IF THIS OCCURRED ON A FRONT TIRE, I WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291862November 11, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT. I HAD MY BRAKE PAD REPLACED IN MARCH 2009, SINCE THAT TIME MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN CHECKING REPORT FOR RECALL NOTICE. I SEE WERE NHTSA.DOT.GOV.HAS A REPORT DATE AUGUST 2009, CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH LONG-TERM EFFECT OF ABS IN PASSENGER CARS AND LTVS. IT WILL COST ME $200. AND SOMETHING DOLLARS ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278728July 29, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE ENGINE IN MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T APPEARS TO BE DEAD. OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T GO OFF. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE THAT THEY PROVIDED BAD INFORMATION ON OIL CHNAGE INTERVALS FOR THIS CARS, BUT STILL INSISTS OWNERS HAVE DOCEMENTS FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE EVER ON THE CAR. AS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PROVE. ALSO, I CHANGE MY OWN OIL, AGAIN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE THE INTERVALS TO THEIR SATISFACTION. MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT AT MINIMUM, THEY HAVE TO PULL THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP, BUT THAT THE ENGINE IS LIKELY SO FULL OF SLUDGE THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $8000. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS THEIR FAULT, LOOK FOR A MEMO TITLED: AUGUST 2004 SUBJECT: WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEDAN OR WAGON EQUIPPED WITH TURBO ENGINE NOTE THAT AFTER REPAIR THE OIL SPEC HAS CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL AND THE INTERVAL BETWEEN CHANGES IS SHORTER - AN OUTRIGHT ADMISSION THAT THEY DESGINED THE ENGINE INCORRECTLY IF EVER I'VE SEEN ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277530July 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS MODULE FAILURE, RANDOM DRIVING STYLE/CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275498July 1, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FAULT FOUND WITH AIRBAG. CLOCKSPRING LOCATED IN STEERING WHEEL HAS CONNECTION FOR AIRBAG. IGNITER COULD CORRODE AND CAUSE AIRBAG TO FAIL IN EVENT OF HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269345May 19, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STEERING, POWER TRAIN
I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN WHICH THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND BUSHINGS ARE FAILING. BASED ON SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR SIMILAR MAKES, MODELS, AND YEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY DAY, AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED, RESULTS IN SAFETY PROBLEMS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. PARTS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED, IF IT IS FEASIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269435May 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS, BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT INDICATORS ON - APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PASSATS. FAULTY ABS MODULE ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, $900 PART. VEHICLE HAS 67,000 MILES AND DEALERSHIP SERVICED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267752May 5, 2009
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS THEN SERVICED BY AN AUTO DETAILER. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH RESISTANCE IN THE WIRING FOR THE AIR BAGS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR AIR BAGS: TWO IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TWO IN THE SEAT BACKS. THE COST TO REPAIR THEM WOULD BE $600 PER AIR BAG. THE CONTACT REFUSED THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267572May 3, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
OUT OF THE BLUE, MY CAR STARTS "DINGING" AND I LOOK DOWN TO SEE THE ABS LIGHT ON, ALONG WITH A FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. I DID A SEARCH AND THE FIRST THING I SEE IS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK THE SENSORS AT EACH TIRE. THIS MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT JUST BEFORE MY PROBLEM OCCURRED, I HAD JUST HAD MY TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE THE SENSORS HAD BEEN DAMAGED/BROKEN WHEN THOSE THINGS WERE REPLACED, BUT WHO KNOWS. DOUBTFUL THAT THE MECHANIC THAT DID THAT WORK WOULD OWN UP TO THAT ANYWAYS. UPON MORE RESEARCH, EVERYONE IS POINTING TO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND QUOTING ANYWHERE FROM $100-600 FOR REBUILT MODULES TO $1500-3500 FOR BRAND NEW ONES. MY HUSBAND WANTS ME TO DROP THE MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED TO WORK. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THOUGHT I'D ADD TO THIS WITH MY OWN COMPLAINT. I'M CALLING VOLKSWAGEN MONDAY TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263975April 2, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY AN INCH TO 1.5 INCHES OF WATER. SHE NOTICED THE ISSUE APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES WITHIN ONE MONTH, ESPECIALLY IN RAINY CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SUNROOF, ALTHOUGH THE SUNROOF WAS NEVER WET AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. SHE WAS UNSURE IF THIS FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WATER ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,320 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,115.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262734March 23, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
ABS BRAKE MODULE DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10262020March 16, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS CONTROL MODULE: THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO MY 1999 VW PASSAT TURBO. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261044March 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY, WHEN THE ABS LIGHT ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THINKING MY BRAKES ARE WORN OUT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE PERFECT AND THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS NOT WORKING. I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR A REASONABLE PRICE TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260227February 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN A 1999 VW PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING, I HAD TO TOGGLE THE FAN SWITCH TO GET THE FAN TO TURN OFF. THIS SLIGHT MALFUNCTION WAS FOLLOWED BY A PUFF OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE CENTER DASHBOARD VENT, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY MORE AND MORE SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AT A AUTO DEALERSHIP/SERVICE STATION AND ASKED EMPLOYEES FOR ASSISTANCE. BY THE TIME THEY BEGAN SPRAYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER INTO THE VENTS (ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER THE INITIAL PUFF OF SMOKE), FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE CENTRAL DASH VENT. THE FIRE MELTED THE A/C BLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLY, 3 ELECTRICAL PIGTAILS AND SOME CONNECTORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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