Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10137320September 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NO ABNORMAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE, JUST A NORMAL COMMUTE ON RESIDENTIAL ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS INDICATED BY THREE LOUD ELECTRONIC BEEPS AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE "ABS" LIGHT (STEADY) AND "BRAKES" LIGHT (BLINKING) ON THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER. CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE IS LOSS OF ABS OPERATION. NO REPAIR EFFECTED AS YET, DIAGNOSIS SHOWS FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC ABS MODULE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137258September 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS COMPUTER UNIT FAILED. WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, THEN STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. ABS NO LONGER WORKS. ODB-II COMMUNICATION FAILURE, PROHIBITS SMOG CHECK HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137076September 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I OWN A '99 VW PASSAT GLS AND HAVE ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. I GET A SOLID DASHBOARD ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BLINKING DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WHEN I START THE CAR. BOTH LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE BLINKING LIGHT CAUSED MY CAR TO FAIL INSPECTION. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SUCH COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THIS IS A $1500 - $4000 REPAIR, ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS DEALER ESTIMATES I'VE READ. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WELL-DOCUMENTED MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. MY VW SERVICE CENTER ACKNOWLEDGED THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HOW MUCH TO CHARGE FOR IT (~$2400), BUT BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET. PLEASE TAKE ACTION! BOTH THE ABS SYSTEM AND IGNITION SYSTEM USE BOSCH PARTS, WHICH HAVE DOCUMENTED FAILURES. THIS SHOULD BE A NHTSA RECALL ITEM!!! MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND NOT JUST AT BENTLEY, BUT ALSO THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM/CONSOLE.ASP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136970September 19, 2005
SEATS
WHEN GETTING IN TO MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THE SEAT BASE CAME LOOSE AND TIPPED ME AND THE SEAT BACK AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS WARNING WITH THE SEAT SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING OR ANY CREAKING NOISES. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED WITH THE SEVERE RECLINE OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF I'D EVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BREAKAGE. "NO" WAS MY RESPONSE. THEIR BILL FOR A REPLACEMENT WAS FOR OVER $800 SO I CALLED VWOA AND SPOKE WITH ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMER CARE PERSONNEL ABOUT THE HIGH PRICE AND IF THEY'D HELP WITH ANY OF THE COST EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "NO". THE CAR WAS REPAIRED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND A NEWER MODEL SEAT BASE WAS INSTALLED THAT WAS OF AN OBVIOUS REDESIGN. (I GUESS THEY THOUGHT THE OLD ONE WAS INFERIOR BUT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE TO LET ANYONE KNOW ABOUT.) *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136265September 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILURE OF BOSCH ABS 5.3 CONTROLLER LEADING TO WARNING TONES AND LIGHTS AND LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS FUNCTIONS, A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM AS VW AND AUDI CARS GET OLDER DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE BOSCH HYBRID MODULE. SINCE THE CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, VW AND AUDI ARE NOT COVERING REPAIRS WHICH COST $1400 OR MORE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135993September 9, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL 99V248000 CONCERNING TIE RODS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THERE WAS 21,604 MILES ON THE CAR THEN. SHE TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT'S SERVICE SLIP DID NOT SHOW ANY REPAIRS. SHE WAS REALLY NOT SURE WHAT WAS DONE CONCERNING THE RECALL. ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AGO, SHE HEARD A RUBBING, SCREECHING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. HAD THE FRONT TIE RODS REPLACED ON 8-30-05. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD MADE A DECISION NOT TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON VEHICLE, WHICH HA 74,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135899September 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
ON 9/7/05 IN THE AM, I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE HERZOG-MEIER DEALERSHIP IN BEAVERTON, OREGON TO BE SERVICED FOR A RADIATOR ISSUE. AROUND 2 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, I RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE FROM THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATING THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUE I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR, THE MECHANIC HAD INDICATED THE FRONT TIE-RODS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE SERVICE REP BACK TO GET MORE INFORMATION. IN THE INTERIM, I RESEARCHED AND FOUND MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR TIE-RODS, INDICATED AS YOU CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS OF 99V248000 AND 00V414000. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. VW CUSTOMER CARE WOULD ONLY TELL ME THERE WAS "NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS". WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH THE SERVICE REP, HE TOLD ME THESE RECALLS HAD BEEN PERFORMED BACK ON 3/13/01. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO ASK THEM TO RE-REPAIR THESE TIE-RODS BECAUSE THE PARTS INSTALLED FROM THE RECALL HAD FAILED. VW HAS SAID THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIR THE TIE-RODS THE 1 TIME AND FELT NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR AGAIN. THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT IS THE PARTS INSTALLED AFTER THE RECALL HAVE FAILED. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY $500 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO FIX. ADDITIONALLY, VW HAS NO RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OR MAINTENANCE FOR TIE-RODS LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE OR IN MY OWNERS MANUAL FOR MY VEHICLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135381September 6, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
99 VW PASSAT. ABS BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. IT SEEMS THE ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT 1500+ AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134688August 30, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES
REGARDING A CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V414000 FOR THE STEERING LINKAGES ON THE 99 VW PASSAT. I REQUESTED THE DEALER TO CHECK MY VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE FACT IT HAS DAMAGED TIE RODS. THE MANUFACTURE CLAIMS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN BUT THE DEALER HAS INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL BUT THE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ASSIST. WHAT CAN I DO ? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134674August 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BELT TIME DAMAGE, CONSEQUENCES ENGINE REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133807August 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS UNIT FAILURE ON 199 VW PASSAT 1.8 LITRE TURBO WAGON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133615August 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1) ABS/BRAKE LIGHT WARNING CAME ON WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 30 MPH 2) ABS FAILURE 3) REPLACE THE ABS MODULE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133294August 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A JERKING OF THE CAR AS IF THE TIRE WAS FLAT. PULLED OVER , INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOR A FLAT AND NONE WAS FOUND. CONSUMER GOT BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE MALFUNCTION ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. AT THIS POINT CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE DOWN THE SERVICE ROAD OF THE HIGHWAY OF ABOUT 15 MPH. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING, NO SMOKE WAS SEEN. THIS SMELL WAS LIKE BURNED RUBBER. CONSUMER CALLED VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT IF THE MALFUNCTION ENGINE"LIGHT WAS BLINKING TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER PULLING OVER, CONSUMER CALLED TOW TRUCK. TOW TRUCK ARRIVED , INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THERE WAS FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE ITSELF. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TRIED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE WITH WATER AND LATER A FIRE EXTINGUISHER-THIS DID NOT PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED.,IN THE MEANTIME THE FIRE GREW LARGER. AT THAT TIME, FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT FIRE OUT. FIRE CREW NOTED THIS WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, PERHAPS DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE HEAT FROM SUMMER AND A MIX OF ELECTRICAL WIRING STARTED THE FIRE. THE CAR WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY LOT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. CURRENTLY, THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS H HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 60,500 MILES. THE WAS THE FIRST PROBLEM EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133191August 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS BRAKE CONTROL UNIT OF MY 1999 PASSAT HAS FAILED. DEALER QUOTES COST IN EXCESS OF $1000. TO REPLACE A PART THAT COSTS LESS THAN $100 TO MANUFACTURE. I FOUND A CAR FORUM WHERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE TALK OF THIS BOSH PART AS FAILING IN THEIR PASSATS AND AUDIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132665August 12, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I HEAR THREE BEEPS, THE ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHERE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS. I HAVE ALREADY FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS RECURRING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132110August 9, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM ONE A LARGE AND GROWING NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S AND AUDI'S WHO HAVE ABS (AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS) THAT HAVE STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 40,000 - 50,000 MILES. THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS CAN BE DISCERNED BY A WEB DISCUSSION GROUP DEVOTED TO PEOPLE WITH THIS SOLE PROBLEM (BENTLEY PUBLISHERS AT HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?FORUMNAME=VOLKSWAGEN.B.B5&THREADID=6316 ). WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVING FOUND THE WEBSITE, ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LARGE QUANTITY OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SNAFU. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT VW/AUDI APPEARS TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. LATELY, SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS GENERALLY BEING CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IN THE ABS MODULE. YET AT THIS POINT, VW AND AUDI ARE HAVING USERS REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT. THIS COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY OF US ($2600 IN MY CASE). IN THE MEANTIME, MANY OF US ARE HAVING TO DRIVE WITH FAULTY ABS SYSTEMS, WITH RESULTANT SAFETY PROBLEMS: FOR ME, THE ABS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GO ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE BRAKES ON MY CAR GRAB AND ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TOO. I FEAR THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GROWING WORSE. THE MORE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT ALL OF THESE CARS LACK THE ABS DURING CRUCIAL TIMES OF DRIVING ON ICY OR WET PAVEMENT. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE ABS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE (SINCE IN MANY CASES, THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ON THROUGHOUT). AT THIS POINT, I'M FEARFUL WHENEVER I DRIVE MY CAR. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132134August 9, 2005
EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE BESIDES REGULAR USE OF THE VEHICLE PASSAT 1999. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT PERIODICALLY HAS COME ON AND LENGTHENED IN DURATION UNTIL IT STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. THE BRAKING IS STILL NORMAL, BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WENT OUT ON MY PASSAT 1999. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OUT. I COASTED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF ITS TENDENCY TO FAIL. I HAD TO REDO ALL OF MY RODS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PART IN MY POSSESSION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132012August 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A NEW 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM THE DEALER IN 10/99. APPROX 2 YEARS AGO THE INTERIOR ROOF STARTED LEAKING THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE WELLS WERE CLOGGED. APPROX 1 YEAR LATER I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS TOLD THE WELLS WERE CLOGGING AGAIN. I REPAIRED IT AGAIN. JULY 05 THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED CYCLING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING, THE TRUNK WOULD OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH PERIODICALLY WHILE PARKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE REMOTE TO OPEN/LOCK THE DOORS OR ACTIVATE THE ALARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT IS CORRODED. WATER HAS BEEN POOLING THERE WHEN IT RAINS. THE DEALER OF PURCHASE & REPAIR IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THAT VEHICLE MODEL FOR THAT YEAR AND THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR FOR LABOR & PARTS IS APPROX $500.00. VOLKSWAGON'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THIS POINT IS NOT WILLING TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST IN REPAIR. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $700.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132336August 3, 2005
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
PETITION (2CYS) FOR EXTENSION OF THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RECALL ON PASSAT VEHICLES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TIE RODS TO COVER HER VEHICLE A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON.*MR (99V248000) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130607July 29, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ABS, BRAKE AND OIL LIGHT ALL COME ON (OIL WILL FLASH) WITH SPORADIC IRREGULARITIES IN THE TACHOMETER. THE TACHOMETER WILL SOMETIMES DROP TO ZERO. ALL THIS HAPPENS WITH 3 DISTINCT BEEPS WHENEVER I USE THE BRAKES. COLDER TEMPERATURES CAN LESSEN THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAYS THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. I HAVE NOT YET APPROVED THE REPAIR ON THE CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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