Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1998)

331 consumer complaints on file.

#753033October 9, 2001
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS AND MOVES WHILE CAR IS MOVING. MANUFACTURING COMPANY SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS AND THAT ITS "NORMAL". THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND ITS DANGEROUS. IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE IT IS MOVING! THE NTSB BOARD HAS A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER DRIVERS, SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS NEEDS THE COMPANY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND CORRECTION. IT SHOULDN'T DO THIS FOR ANY REASON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752345September 18, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING CAR WOULD MAKE A LOUD GROANING NOISE. WENT TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND THAT STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT A COST OF $930.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751515September 1, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751492August 31, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
COST OF REPAIRS = $729.08. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751362August 29, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURES ARE VERY COMMON ON THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE HANDELING. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS. THEY HAVE RELEASE UPDATED PARTS AND A TSB ON THIS ISSUE, YET REFUSE TO PAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750590August 16, 2001
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF MECHANISMS FRACTURED. SUNRROF STUCK OPEN IN RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WOULDN'T REPAIR FOR TWO WEEKS. TOOK CAR TO AUTO GLASS COMPANY TO HAVE SUNROOF CLOSED. MECHANIC SAID CAUSE OF BROKEN SUNROOF MECHANISM WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT - HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE SUNROOF MECHANISMS BROKEN ON PASSATS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750041August 8, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PASSAT OWNERS, VW HAS FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A CLEAR WORKMANSHIP FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO VW AND NO RESOLVE HAS BEEN TAKEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749646August 2, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHEEL BEARINGS MALFUNCTIONED, REQUIRING NEW PARTS - PREMATURE WEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749493July 31, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
CONTROL ARM: NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE LOWE RCONTROL ARM/ BALL JOINTS. LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN, WHO COVERED COST OF PARTS BUT NOT LABOR. AFTER REPAIR LEARNED THAT A FRIEND HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN A 1999 PASSAT AT ALMOST THE IDENTICAL MILEAGE. THEN SAW ON THIS WEBSITE THAT ABOUT 17 OF 160 COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE 1998 PASSAT ARE FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. VW SHOULD REPLACE THIS PART FOR ALL PASSAT OWNERS AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED. SUNROOF: SUNROOF OPENS SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN SWITCH IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION. PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED ON WARM DAYS WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN OVER SHARP BUMPS. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS ALARMING TO DRIVER AND COULD POSE A SAFETY RISK. OBSERVED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHERS ALREADY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749399July 29, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
AFTER SPEAKING WITHTHE SERVICE MANAGER, PARTS MANAGER, AND TECHNICIAN AT DOVER VW IN DOVER, DELAWARE-THEY ALL AGREED THAT THE POWER STERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BATTERY ACID DRAINING ONTO THE POWER STEERING RACK. THEY ALL AGREED THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED IN A VEHICLE THIS NEW AND RE-ROUTED THE DRAIN OUTLET FOR THE BATTERY SO THAT THIS DAMAGE COULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. THEY ALL AGREED THAT THE DRAIN WAS POSITIONED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND TRIED TO ASSIST ME IN WORKING WITH VOLKSWAGON AMERICA TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR, $920.16. AFTER MUCH DEBATE WITH VW AMERICA, THEY WOULD ONLY OFFER 50% OR $460.08 SUPPOSEDLY MAILED TO ME 7/26/01. I BELIEVE ALONG WITH VW'S OWN TRAINED PERSONNEL AT THE DEALERSHIP, THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY VW, AS IT IS THE WAY THEY DESIGNED THE BATTERY DRAIN TO DRAIN AWAY FROM THE BATTERY. IT IS MY INTENTION TO RAISE THIS CONCERN THAT IN THE EVENT YOU CAN RECOVER THE BALANCE OF THE REPAIR, THAT WOULD BE PHENOMENOL. I ALSO WANT TO ALERT OTHER OWNERS THEY MAY HAVE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR LURKING UNDER THE VEHICLE'S HOOD. BECAUSE TE ACID DRIPPED ONTO THE STEERING RACK, IT CAUSED A HOLE IN THE PART, WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE ALL OF MY POWER STEERING FLUID, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED ME TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH VW AMERICA 800 822-8987 (3)THEY SAY THEY REVIEW THESE MATTERS INTERNALLY, BUT REFUSED TO LET ME KNOW IF THERE WERE OTHER REPORTS ALTHOUGH NO " CAMPAIGNS " WERE EVER ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747393June 26, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
QUADRA-LINK SUSPENSION PRODUCES METALIC RUBBING NOISE WITH VEHICLE MOTION. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS QUADRA-LINK SUSPENSION FAILURE BASED ON INSPECTION AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT LEFT SIDE IS ALSO LIKELY TO FAIL AND THAT ANY REPAIR DOES NOT GUARANTEE A RECURENT FUTURE FAILURE. VW CORPORATION HAS REFUSED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING PROBLEM. NHTSA LISTS NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. CUSTOMERS POSITION IS THAT A PART AS BASIC AS THIS SHOULD NEVER FAIL AND THIS REPRESENTS A FAULTY ORIGINAL DESIGN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746807June 13, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT
SQUEAKING NOISE FROM FRONT END. OUT-OF TOWN VW DEALER SAID "BALL JOINTS" $800 TO REPAIR. "DANGEROUS TO DRIVE". CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID IT MUST BE CHECKED BY DEALER USED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THAT DEALER SAID "LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACING" "SAFE TO DRIVE" $1200 TO REPAIR. TOOK TO 3RD MECHANIC, WHO SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, "JUST NOISY". IT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE, AND I AM CONCERNED WITH SAFETY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746129May 30, 2001
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE A/C VENTILATION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED SUCH THAT IT PROMOTES THE GROWTH OF BACTERIA WHICH CAUSES AN AWFUL ODOR WHEN TURNED ON. I WOULD GUESS THAT IT AEROSOLIZES THE BACTERI AND OR FUNGI AND SPRAYS THEM AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THE VENTILATING SYSTEM OUTLETS. I DO NOT KNOW BUT WONDER WHAT POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK THIS POSES TO CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PEOPLE OR OTHERS WITH CHRONIC RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SUCH AS ASTHMA AND COPD. FINALLY, I WONDER IF THERE IS A THEORETICAL OR REAL RISK OF LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE SINCE THE SAME RISK FACTORS FOUND IN AIRCONDITIONERS AT HOTELS AND BUILDING MAY BE REPLICATED IN THIS AUTOMOTIVE FORMAT. I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT OF RISK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889255May 29, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
VEHICLE HAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM SUSPENSION WHEN STEERING OR GOING OVER BUMPS OR BRAKING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS FAILURE OF THE BUSHINGS IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888756May 21, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A METAL-TO-METAL SQUEAKING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR EXAMINATION. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888489May 17, 2001
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE STEERING COLUMN WAS MAKING SOME NOISE. DEALER SAID CONTROL ARMS AND TIE ROD END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WHEELS NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745311May 14, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, INTERIOR LIGHTING, SUSPENSION, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED EARLY ON IN OWNERSHIP. WATER PUMP, OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT REPLACED TWO MONTHS AGO. TURBO REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DEFECTIVE. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, HEATED SEAT, TRUNK LIGHT. SUSPENSION SYSTEM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT @ ONLY 56,000 MILES. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED EARLY ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886548April 23, 2001
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ELECTRICAL SHORT HAD AFFECTED WINDOW REGULATOR AND CLIMATE CONTROL. A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886373April 20, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A CREAKING SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CREAKS ARE ALSO HAPPENING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886374April 20, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THERE IS A CREAKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL BOTH DIRECTIONS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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