Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1999)

664 consumer complaints on file.

#10096384October 25, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
OUR 1999 PASSAT WITH THE 1.8 LITER ENGINE STALLS REPEATEDLY WHEN DECELERATING, THIS IS DANGEROUS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAD A PROBLEMS BEFORE 20,000 MILES. VW CANNOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK VW TO THE BBB SINCE THEY WERE VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM, AND THEN THEY CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY. THEN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW YEARS AND IS NOW BACK AND VW AGAIN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR FIX IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096111October 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WITH A BLINKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEN THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT QUIT BLINKING AND IT WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. I ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR WHEN IT SURGED. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093833October 8, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT V6. I HAD NOTICED THAT NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, AND RECENTLY STEERING FELT A LITTLE FUNNY. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND FOR THE STATE INSPECTION, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF MAKING DRIVING THE CAR QUITE DANGEROUS. I HAD THEM BOTH REPLACED AT A STEEP COST. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING TO THIS ISSUE. I CALLED VWOA TO INQUIRE WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT THEY DECLINED. CONTROL ARMS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL EASILY, CERTAINLY NOT HAVE JOINTS BLOWN UP AS IN MY CASE. ALMOST ALL OF MY MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HITTING POTHOLES OR DRIVE OFF-ROAD FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM SURPRISED NHTSA HASN'T INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE OR ORDER A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM IN PASSATS, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SO HIGH, AND A FAILURE COMPROMISES ROAD SAFETY SIGNIFICANTLY (FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND LEAD TO CRASH OR EVEN DEATH). *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093751October 7, 2004
SUSPENSION
THE EVENT THAT LED UP TO THE ISSUE, WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO COMPLETELY SWAY TO ONE SIDE. THE CAR ALMOST SEEMED AS IF IT LOST ITS ALIGNMENT IMMEDIATELY. I BROUGHT IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY IMMEDIATELY INFORMED ME THAT THE CONTROL ARM ON THE UPPER RIGHT SIDE WAS SHOT. I HAD TO THEN TAKE A USED CAR THAT WAS PURCHASED LESS THAN SIX MONTHS OLD TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE PART AT A PRICE OF 1100 DOLLARS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093306September 29, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINT FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT UNDER 50K MILES. PURCHASED CAR NEW . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094249September 24, 2004
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. AS A RESULT, AIR BAGS BECAME INOPERATIVE, AND WOULDN'T DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHYICLE AT LEAST 10 TIMES, AND LATELY DEALER CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER EVERY TIME VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM.*AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092944September 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL IT WAS DOWN A QUART OF A QUART OF OIL. A QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED. OIL LIGHT COME BACK ON AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHIN SECONDS OF RESTARTING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD SHUT AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AT 58, 510 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE WERE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM, BUT CHANGED THE OIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090985September 14, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
80330 MILES ON CAR. ENGINE LIGHT STARTING FLASHING AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. CAUSE WAS FAILURE OF IGNITION MODULE P/N 4D0-905-351 WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSED REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND DANGER DRIVING TO REPAIR SHOP APPROX. 10 MILES. PARTS WERE REPLACED.....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090980September 14, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
50993 MILES ON CAR. ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLALSHING AND ENGINE IS RUNNING ROUGH: CAUSE WAS FAILURE OF IGNITION MODULE P/N 4D0-905-351 WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSED REDUCED ENGINE SPEED AND DANGER DRIVING TO REPAIR SHOP APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES. PARTS REPLACED BY VW AFTER 2(TWO) WEEKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090987September 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
82290 MILES ON CAR. CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RUN. TURNING ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, BLOWING MY HORNS AND THEN RAPIDLY EXITING THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO AVOID GETTING REAR-ENDED. CAM BELT IS BROKEN AND THEN CAUSES ABOUT $3500 IN DAMAGE TO THE TOP-END (BEND VALVES,ETC.) OF THE CAR CAR IS CURRENT IN THE VW REPAIR SHOP AWAITING $4650 IN TOTAL TO REPLACE CAM BELT AND DAMAGED TOP END. NOTE: CAM BELT MAY HAVE BEEN STRESSED DUE TO IGNITION MODLULE FAILURE AT 80330 DOCUMENT ON 10090985.....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073414September 14, 2004
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATED . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER WANTS THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091577September 8, 2004
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND SHOOK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090537September 7, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1.CAR WAS DUE FOR 30K MAINT. AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CALLED DEALER, WAS TOLD APPOINTMENT UNAVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS. WAS TOLD CAR WAS OK TO DRIVE. 2.DAY BEFORE APPOINTMENT ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING, CAR WAS TOWED IN, DETERMINED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLIPPAGE OF INTERNAL TIMING CHAIN. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TENSIONER CAM LOOSENING BECAUSE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED FROM LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. OIL WAS SLUDGY AND BURNED.*AK 3.VW SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALER WAS RUDE FROM THE GET GO, VW REFUSED TO HONOR RECIEPTS OF OIL CHANGE FROM A QUICK LUBE AND WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED BY VWOA. THEY STATED THE AUTO HAD NOT BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. THE CAR HAD 32000K MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED SINCE 2001 AND MY CLAIM HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY DENIED BY VWOA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090432September 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
VEHICLE IS AT 40,000 MILES. AT 40000 SERVICE, DEALER REPORTED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS ARE FAILING AND MUST BE REPLACED. BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THE CONTROL ARMS TO COMPLETELY FAIL, LEADING TO A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH, I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF MY POCKET FOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONTROL ARMS REPORTED OVER INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS VWVORTEX.COM AND CLUBB5.COM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087106August 30, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
THE LOWER FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE STARTING TO MAKE NOISE, AND WILL POTENTIALLY FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *AK THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088464August 24, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO, THE ABS/BRAKE WARNING LIGHT HAS DISPLAYED. AT FIRST,T WAS ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT WOULD SOME ON AND STAY ON FOR MINUTES. IT NOW DISPLAYS WHENEVER THE CAR IS RUNNING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A COMMON MODULE FAILURE IN LATE MODEL VW CARS AND RELATED AUDIS. IT WILL COST ME $1500 PLUS LABOR TO REPLACE THIS WARNING SYSTEM. UNTIL IT IS FIXED, I HAVE NO ABS BRAKES WORKING. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT VW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL OR PAY FOR THESE FAILURES. THEY DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY OTHER THAN THEIR STANDARD WARRANTY. IN THE DETAILS AREA, I WROTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 30 FAILURES BECAUSE THE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING EVERY DAY I DRIVE THE CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089301August 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE MERGING OFF THE HIGHWAY, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL LINKAGE HAD BROKE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PART. THE FAILURE HAS RECURRED 3 ADDITIONAL TIME ON THE OTHER CONTROL ARMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088237August 19, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED IN 1999 PASSAT V6. ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT BEEPING SOUND. REPAIR ESTIMATE $1500-2000. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO COMPLAIN AFTER READING ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BOSCH PART. VW OF AMERICA TOLD ME THEY COULD/WOULD NOT HELP WITH REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088114August 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT END IS "CREAKY." THERE IS CONSIDERABLE NOISE, USUALLY WHEN TURNING. I SUSPECT THAT THE BUSHINGS IN THE MULTI-LINK FRONT SUSPENSION ARE WORN. I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FROM THE DEALER ON 7/18/2003 OF $1020 TO FIX IT. I CHOSE NOT TO FIX IT AT THAT TIME. OVER THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS STORIES OF PASSAT AND AUDI A4S THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM SO I WANT TO ADD ANOTHER COMPLAINT TO THE FILE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087746August 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LOST OIL PRESSURE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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