Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1998)

331 consumer complaints on file.

#760921April 19, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ERRATIC AND NOISY. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND WITH AUDIS ON THE SAME (B5) PLATFORM. I CANNOT BELIEVE IF THIS IS AS SERIOUS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WAS LED TO BELIEVE, THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THESE PARTS OR A REDESIGN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8008032April 19, 2002
SEATS
CONSUMER STATES AFTER AJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE DRIVER SEAT, IT WOULD COME DOWN WHILE DRIVING.THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760827April 17, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8007804April 17, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING, THERE IS A LOOSENESS IN THE FRONT END, CONSUMER COULD HEAR KNOCKING NOISE LIKE METAL BANGING AGAINST SOMETHING, TOOK TO A MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED STRUTS ON THE LEFT SIDE BOTTOM OF FRONT END. THEN 2 WEEKS LATER MECHANIC CHANGED RIGHT SIDE BOTTOM, 3 WEEKS LATER THE TOP STRUTS WERE LOOSE. CONSUMER FEELS VERY UNSAFE.*AK CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760683April 14, 2002
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDOW TRIM CAN FAIL, LEADING TO "LOOP/NOOSE" WHICH CAN KILL CHILDREN/PASSENGER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#760614April 12, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
HEAD GASKE LEAKING OIL CAN CAUSE SLICK FREEWAYS CAUSING ACCIDENTS. LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH OF VEHICLE IN MOTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758951March 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILS CAUSING THE BELT TO BECOME LOOSE AND FAIL PREMATURELY. VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE IN FACT ISSUED AN UPDATED PART THAT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER I KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS GOINGT O COST ME MORE THAN 1,500 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS AND I AM DOING IT MYSELF. IF I WERE TO HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WOULD BE DOUBLE THAT. WHEN THE BELT FAILS THE VALVES GET BENT. I LOVE THIS CAR, BUT HTIS IS A JOKE. THE WHOLE REASON I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS SO I WOULD NOT NEED TO WORK ON IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758391February 18, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL GUAGE INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYS INCORRECT LEVELS. FOR INSTANCE, WILL ONLY SHOW 3/4 FULL AFTER FILLUP. ALSO, WILL SPORATICLY JUMP BETWEEN 1/4 FULL AND FULL ON OCCASION. DEALER STATES "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. HAVE ALMOST RUNOUT OF GAS ON 4 OCCASIONS DUE TO PROBLEM. HAVE TALKED TO OTHER PASSAT OWNERS, AND MANY REPORT SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. CONCERENED ABOUT RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AND BEING STRANDED OR, MORE SERIOUSLY, FIRE HAZARD. PROBLEM FIRST STARTED TO OCCUR AROUND 45K MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757984February 8, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
REAR BRAKES MAKE LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM MOMENT BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND SAID BRAKES/PADS ARE OK. DEALER DEGLAZED PADS WHICH FIXED NOICE PROBLEM FOR APPROX 2 WEEKS AND THEN IT RETURNED. PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVED. PROBLEM STARTED AT 20K, VEHICLE JUST HAD 40K MILE SERVICE-DEALER SAID BRAKES OK STILL. SAID FRONT BRAKES WILL NEED REPLACEMENT AT NEXT SERVICE. I FEEL DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT MANUFACTURER HASN'T PROVIDE DEALER WITH ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON PROBLEM RESOLUTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757481January 29, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757409January 27, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
I HEAR THE NOSIE BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRE AND I CAN'T TELL WHAT THAT WAS. SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK AND THEY SAID THE COMPUTER SHOW NOTHING WRONG. BUT THE NOISE STILL THERE AND THEY KNEW THAT BUT THEY SAID IF THE COMPUTER SHOW NOTHING WRONG, THEY CAN'T HELP ME FOR THAT. UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY SAID IS COMING FROM LOWER ARM CONTROLLER(LEFT & RIGHT). IT COSTS $800-900+ TO REPLACE. I FEEL THAT THEY KNEW ALL ALONG AND USE THAT COMPUTER TO AGAINST ME. OF COURSE IT OPERATE OK BUT THAT NOSIE IS SO BORDER ME. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT PARTS RECALL. I ALSO TALK TO VW HEADQUARTER AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I DO HAVE THAT RECORD DURING 40+ MILES AND I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULDN'T PAY FOR THAT REPLACEMENT. PLS HELP- MY EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756094December 27, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE 1998 VW PASSAT HAVE FAILED, SOMETHING THAT WAS KNOWN UNDER A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON MAY 31, 2001 (TSB: C 40-01-01). VOLKSWAGEN HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ME AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL PAY FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM IN THEIR VEHICLES YET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755183December 2, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
AFTER APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FAILED. SYMPTOMS OF THE FAILURE ARE SQUEAKING AND/OR CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. MY DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS ON BOTH FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAD FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF BOTH CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS APPROXIMATELY $900. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE NOT NORMAL WEAR ITEMS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED CARS AND PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755026November 28, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AFTER 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. VW HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS THAT COVERS THE PAYMENT IF UNDER WARRANTY, OTHERWISE VW WOULD PAY 50% OF THE JOB. HOWEVER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM IS NOT COVERED IN THE TSB. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE IF BOTH CONTROL ARMS FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754722November 20, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS YOUR CAMPAIGN ID#99V248000. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR BUT VW IS SAYING THAT WHEN THEY PUT THE VIN NUMBER IN IT'S NOT COMING UP ON THEIR SYSTEM WITH A RECALL. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA SHOULD CONSIDER THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM GOES FURTHER BACK AND NOT DISMISS IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER STATED THAT THE CAR NEEDS FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.IF I GOT THE INFORMATION CORRECT MY CAR WAS MFG 11/97 WHICH IS EARLIER THAN THE RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED THE SAME. THEY ARE SAYING THAT IF ITS NOT ON THEIR COMPUTER IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. I THINK THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHAT CAR DO YOU KNOW THAT THE TIE RODS WEAR AT 56,000 MILES. THEY ALSO HAVE STATED THE THE FRONT CV BOOTS ARE TORN. I WANT VW AMERICA TO FIX THE TIE ROD PROBLME UNDER THE RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754567November 15, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDOW GLASS WAS BROKEN BY A ROCK. PROBLEM EXISTS IN SIZE AND SHAPE OF TEMPERED GLASS CRUMBS. LOTS OF TINY SHARDS, LESS THAT 1MM, VERY SHARP AND DANGEROUS. EXTRA EXPENSE INCURRED IN CLEANING INTERIOR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#754200November 7, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
CREAKING/GRINDING FROM FRONT END. VW SERVICE DETERMINED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING(S) ARE FAULTY. $950 TO REPAIR. CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AFTER INVESTIGATION, VW TO PAY 1/2 OF PARTS AND LABOUR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753993November 1, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY AND STARTED BANGING AGAIN AFTER THIRD REPAIR. PART PREVIOUSLY ON RECALL BUT NEW PART ALSO DOES SAME PROBLEM. MANY PASSAT OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754004November 1, 2001
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
LOOSE STEERING THERE IS NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATE ALSO WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS.THE BUSHING OF THE ALL THE CONTROL ARMS ARE GONE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785727October 10, 2001
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED. YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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