Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1998)

331 consumer complaints on file.

#10014539April 8, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10014156April 8, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I AM GETTING CONSIDERABLE CREAKING NOISES FROM MY CONTROL ARMS IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR ABNORMALLY OR HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH IT. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015270April 4, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015109April 3, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 248 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009880March 24, 2003
SEATS
THE SEAT BROKE FROM THE BASE. THE CONSUMER HAD LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL OF THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS/OTHER CHARGES FOR THE INCIDENT. SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010427March 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR DIED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9. MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT. APPARENTLY THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE AND DAMAGE CYLINDER HEADS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE PART. I HAD THE PART INSPECTED AT 55,000 MILES BY MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THE PROBLEM OR ADVISED TO REPLACE THE PART. AT 66,000 MILES, THE PART FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AS I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010044March 6, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DID NOT CLOSE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007671February 17, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND LOWER INK ARM-N AND LOWER CONTROL ARM-N CAUSED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION AND MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004605January 24, 2003
STEERING:COLUMN
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE ROD ENDS BEING DEFECTIVE. ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE NOW BUT THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT HIS VIN #. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002615January 13, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT
STARTER COIL FAILURE - FOR OVER A MONTH THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE THE MUFFLER FELL OFF, BUT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPLAINABLE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001169December 18, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL SWITCH. ENGINE WORK VERY SLOWLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769507November 9, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS THAT MY CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. I HAVE A STOCK CAR, WITH STOCK SUSPENSION. THIS IS MIND-BOGGLING THAT CONTROL ARMS ON A 1998 CAR WOULD FAIL TWICE IN 1 YEAR. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. PLEASE, MY WALLET AND MY KIDS CHRISTMAS BEGS YOU, RECALL THESE CONTROL ARMS. PLEASE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA 4 TIMES ON THIS AND THEY DO NOT CARE. I HAVE WRITTEN VW IN GERMANY, ALL I GOT WAS A GIFT CERTIFICATE. PLEASE, DO SOMETHING!! DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567315September 4, 2002
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT SIDE CV BOOT AND OUTER CV BOOT DUE TO THEM BEING WORN, AND ALSO THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766577September 2, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSIONS IS VERY NOISY OVER BUMPS, INCLUDING JUST PUSHING DOWN ON THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. AFTER TAKING THIS TO OUR LOCAL VW DEALER HERE IN FORT COLLINS WE WERE TOLD THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS AT A COST OF $750. I CALLED VW OF NORTH AMERICA TO COMPLAIN SAYING THIS WAS WAY BELOW INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR DURABILITY OF THIS TYPE OF COMPONENT. VW'S RESPONSE WAS SORRY IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE SINCE DONE A SEARCH ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THE PASSAT. VW SHOULD RECALL THE PART & PROVIDE AN IMPROVED REPLACEMENT THAT MEETS INDUSTRY STANDARDS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8017581August 29, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD SHEARED OFF WHILE COMING TO A STOP, AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766232August 26, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. ALSO GENERAL LOOSENESS IN STEERING THAT WAS NOT THERE WHEN CAR WAS NEW. CAR HARD TO STEER STRAIGHT AND VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CROSS WINDS AND TURBULENCE. DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566919August 7, 2002
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING HOT AIR. AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDS REPLACING. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015452August 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8015454August 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
WHILE AT DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER REPAIRS MECHANIC NOTICED EXTREME HEAT FROM TURBO CHARGER CAUSED DAMAGE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD. UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566875August 2, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VECHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, CONSUMERS WIFE FOUND WATER IN THE CAR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE, AND THEN TRIED TO START THE IGINTION, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT START, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOK AT ALL REPAIR WAS PAID PULL. *MJ *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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