Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1998)

331 consumer complaints on file.

#8014937July 29, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD GONE OUT, NOTHING IN VEHICLE THAT WAS ELECTRICAL MOVED AT ALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT VEHICLE.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION STEERING LOCK. ONE TIME SINCE THE REPAIRS THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STOPPED WORKING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. ALL COMPONENTS ARE OPERATING FINE NOW. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764843July 28, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARMS CREAK - CAUSE FOR A SAFETY CONCERN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764310July 16, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
IT IS VERY COMMON WITH THE PASSATS 1998'-1999', THAT ALL THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS FAIL WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS WITH AUDI A4, BECAUSE THEY BOTH SHARE THE SAME SUSPENSION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, AND ISSUE A RECALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764168July 13, 2002
SUSPENSION
CREAKING CLUNKING IN FRONT END, WILL PROBABLY REPLACE MOST SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ON THIS CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764179July 13, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SEVERAL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT WITHIN 70,000 MILES. NONE HAVE YET BEEN CATASTROPHIC. BUT POSSIBLY BECAUSE AS A CAR GUY I AM ABLE TO DETECT THEM EARLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763938July 8, 2002
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SWAY BAR LINKS FAILED AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. THIS SEVERELY REDUCES STEERING CAPABILITIES AND POSES AN IMMINENT THREAT. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS REDESIGNED THE ARMS IN LATER MODEL PASSATS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763893July 7, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION MADE VERY ANNOYING CREAKING SOUND. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763874July 6, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
PLEASE INVESTIGATE 1998-2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS FOR CONTROL ARM ISSUES IN FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAD TO REPLACE MINE AT ONLY 45000 FOR OVER $1,000!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763714July 1, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
SUSPENSION WAS CREAKING FROM THE FRONT. PULLED WHEEL OFF OF CAR AND DISCOVERED THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS DESTROYED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERHSHIP AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#8010224May 21, 2002
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHEN TURNING WHEEL THERE WAS NOISE AT THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATES HE REPLACED THE TIE ROD END. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761947May 15, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
THE AUTHORIZED VW DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ON 03/23/2001 AND RECOMMENDED 2 UPPER CONTROL ARMS BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED VW WITH THIS INFORMATION DURING THIS TIME (VW CASE CASE# 10272316). INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS VW REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CAR IS STILL IN NEED OF UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND VW WILL NOT COVER IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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