Volkswagen Passat Complaints

7,897 consumer complaints on file.

#763669June 30, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE CONTROL ARMS. THE FIRST ONE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ONE WAS NEVER RECREATED AND ACCEPTED BY THE DEALER UNTIL A YEAR OR SO AFTER IT WAS REPORTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1999. THE MANUFACTURER WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS. THE ISSUE WITH THE CONTROL ARMS FAILURE IS IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN AN ALIGHNMENT AND CAUSES THE CAR TO WANDER ON THE ROAD. *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
#763544June 27, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
DESIGN FLAW IN TIE ROD ENDS AND PROTECTIVE BOOT. EXCESSIVE WEAR AND FAILURE OF JOINT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER. THIS MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND VEHICLE DAMAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763560June 27, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. NOISES, CREAKING. COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO RECALL THE PARTS INVOLVED.*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
#763356June 23, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AFTER STARTING CAR, THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. IT WAS A HOT SUMMER DAY. NO AIR CONDITIONING OR FAN. ALSO FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT "SET". DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER WHO WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE 8 MONTH OLD CAR FOR 2 WEEKS.*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
#763314June 21, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE RECALLED BY MFG. FOR FREE REPLACEMENT - SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763235June 19, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES-CHECK WWW.CLUBB5.COM. LOTS OF THESE ARE BEING REPLACED OUT OF POCKET BY OWNERS. PLEASE HELP US AND ORDER A RECALL ON THESE. MY FAMILY'S LIVES DEPEND ON IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566129June 18, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING GAS TANK SENDER REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL (01V-157). AFTER RECALL WAS DONE IT FAILED AGAIN. *YH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011834June 14, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES
LEFT LOWER ARM LINK IS BROKEN AND CAUSES SOME NOISE WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009373June 13, 2002
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY NAME IS [XXX], I AM IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY STATION IN STUTTGART, GERMANY. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING A 1998 VW PASSAT FROM MILITARY SALES, IN MANNAHEIM, GERMANY. I HAVE ADVISED THEM OF RECALL LIST BEFORE PURCHASING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST VW DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FROM READING INFORMATION FROM THE PAST OWNERS, THEY EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS. SINCE, I AM STATIONED IN GERMANY COULD I TAKE MY 1998 PASSAT TO GERMANY VW DEALERSHIP IN STUTTGART TO REPLACE ALL RECALL PARTS? I DO BELIEVE REPLACEMENT OF RECALLED PART. I STILL HAVE MY 1986 JETTA GL TODAY FROM YOUR PAST INFORMATION. HOWEVER, HERE'S THE INFORMATION: NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *TS *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***763021 PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011815June 13, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD AT AN ACUTE ANGLE HAS A DISTORTION OR LOSS OF CLARITY. BLUR STARTS IN CORNERS AND EDGES OF GLASS ONE END TO THE OTHER. PROBLEM IS VERY NOIICEABLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762977June 12, 2002
INTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION:FRONT
1)TRUNK LIGHT STOPPED WORKING JUST PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD, WIRING PROBLEM, COST TO REPAIR $200. 2)ABS LIGHT FLASHES CONTINUOUSLY, ABOUT 1 YEAR NOW,DEALER GETS 3 PAGES OF DIAGNOSTIC ERROR MESSAGES. CAN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM WITH LIGHT BUT ABS IS SUPPOSEDLY WORKING. COST: 3DAYS CAR RENTAL, AND $300 OUT OF POCKET. 3)FRONT END SUSPENSION: CRUNCHING NOISE AND BOUNCE. BOUNCE CORRECTED-DEALER REPLACED STABLIZER BAR, $284. NOISE CONTINUES(6 MONTHS), DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM. GETTING WORSE, AFRAID FRONT END WILL CRASH INTO GROUND. 4)TIMING BELT BROKE, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE AT NO COST. 5)ENGINE REPLACEMENT CAUSED PROBLEM WITH RADIO. RADIO WILL NOT ACCEPT CODE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 6)REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN WHEN INDICATED, FALLS DOWN A FEW MINUTES LATER. ALSO, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WHEN UNLOCKED. 7)SOMETIMES THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT TURN WHEN STARTING CAR.*AK
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
#762344May 28, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
BOTH FRONT BALL JOINT/LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 33000 MILES, WHICH IS FAR EARLIER THAN IT SHOULD BE. IT'S ALSO AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1998 PASSATS. ASIDE FROM THE $900 COST TO REPLACE THESE COMPONENTS, THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY WOULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IF THE CAR WERE IN MOTION. ALTHOUGH VW HAS REDESIGNED THESE COMPONENTS FOR LATER MODEL YEAR PASSATS, THEY'VE DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH 1998 MODELS. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED ON THESE COMPONENTS SO NOBODY DIES DUE TO THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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