Volkswagen Passat Complaints (1998)

331 consumer complaints on file.

#10201992September 5, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING> UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON SEVERAL VARIOUS FORUMS ON THE NET. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMONLY DEFECTIVE PART ON SEVERAL MODEL YEARS FROM 98-01. THE OLDEST POSTING I FOUND WAS DONE IN 2000 AND THE VEHICLE WAS A 99. FROM RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS EVEN VW DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO GET CORRECT PROBLEM CODES ON THIS ISSUE. I SAW POSTINGS FROM MANY OWNERS STATING THEY WERE TOLD EVERYTHING FROM ABS MODULES NEEDING REPLACED TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS TO WIRING ISSUES. IT APPEARS NO ONE IS ABSOLUTELY SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS AS SOME OWNERS AFTER THE DEALER RECOMMEND REPLACEMENTS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IN THE SHORT TIME I LOOKED INTO THIS I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE IT. I SAW LITERALLY YEARS WORTH OF POSTINGS A ON THIS ISSUE ON BENTLEY PUBLISHERS WEBSITE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT DID NOT DO ANY RESEARCH ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199445August 13, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. MODULE SCAN SHOWED: 01203 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 03-10 - NO SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192334June 3, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
STEERING: CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 34K MILES. SERVICE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY OWNER AND/OR INDEPENDENT REPAIR. AT APPROXIMATELY 50K OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE THAT BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER CHOSE NOT TO DO THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME. DURING 2005 OWNER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT A RECALL ON THE AFFECTED PART(S). TWO LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE BUT DENIED TO DO THE WORK UNDER THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. BOTH GAVE JUSTIFICATION THAT BECAUSE THE OWNER COULD NOT DOCUMENT SERVICE CHECKS AT THE RECOMMENDED FACTORY INTERVALS THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY WOULD NOT PAY FOR PARTS OR SERVICE. OWNER CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY DIRECTLY AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE VERIFIED THE POLICY. OWNER HAS SINCE REPLACED ONE CONTROL ART, HOWEVER THE OTHER SIDE ALSO NEEDS REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191302May 21, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN REVERSE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SLAMMED TO THE GROUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE LOWER RIGHT CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT HAS THE FAILED COMPONENT ALONG WITH PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 197,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190232May 8, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1998 DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE ABS BRAKES FAILED. REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED AT APPROX $1,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184625March 9, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NON-FUNCTIONING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182626February 15, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. ABS WARNING LIGHT .*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178188January 9, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, PARKED IT, AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE HOOD LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177136December 27, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND EALRY '00S, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174018November 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS LIGHT CAME ON WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. FOR 4 YEARS, THE VW DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE OVER $1,800 TO REPLACE THE ABS PUMP. LAST YEAR THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $2750. AFTER SEEING ON INTERNET THREADS THAT THE COMMON CAUSE IS ONLY THE ABS MODULE, I CONFRONTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAI IT WOULD $650, AND IT HAS WORKED FINE SINCE. I FEEL VW DEALERS ARE NOT FORTHRIGHT IN TELLING CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE LESS EXPENSIVE SOLUTION, AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT, SINCE IT IS A KNOWN COMMON DEFECT, AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE PULLING THE BULB OUT, AND BUYERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THE ABS DOESN'T WORK. UNTIL ITS TOO LATE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173914November 20, 2006
SEATS
WHILE STARTING OFF FROM A STANDSTILL, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND I FLEW BACKWARDS IN MY SEAT. APPARENTLY THE SEAT FRAME MECHANISM FOR MY DRIVERS SEAT FAILED. THE METAL OF THE FRAME, AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED, FAILED FROM METAL FATIGUE. WHEN IT DID, THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING THE FRONT OF THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I FLEW INTO THE BACK SEAT, MY HANDS WERE RIPPED FROM THE WHEEL, AND I COULD NO LONGER REACH THE PEDALS. I STRUGGLED TO MANEUVER MYSELF BACK INTO A POSITION WHERE I COULD REGAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR. THANKFULLY, IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS LOCATED CLOSE TO MY CAR. AS OF THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE CAR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170178October 6, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
FAILED ABS UNIT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169832October 3, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
(1) ABS WARNING/BRAKE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE THEN, BRAKING BECAME UNRELIABLE (LONG BRAKING DISTANCE. THE CAR WOBBLES ON A HARD BRAKING). (2) THE ABS CONTROLLER MODULE (PART #: 8E0 614 111 P) FOUND TO BE FAULTY, RESULTING IN NO ABS. (3) THE ABS CONTROLLER IS TO BE SENT FOR A REBUILD SERVICE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168810September 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1998 VW PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS $1000 PART SEEMS TO BE A VERY CONSISTENT FAILURE AT VOLKSWAGEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167384September 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED PREMATURELY AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 105,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 91,000 MILES AT THE TIME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE WHEN TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT. UPDATED 09/19/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166448August 24, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAIL. WARNING LIGHT AND BUZZER COME ON. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $2800 TO FIX. AFTER TELLING DEALER THAT 99% OF ABS FAILURES IS THE ABS ELECTRONICS MODULE, AND NOT THE ABS PUMP, DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE MODULE FOR $600. I FEEL THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM, AS THIS PROBLEM IS NOTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. IN ADDITION, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTING THEIR WARNING LIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEIR CAR. THIS COULD BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT BUYER WHO DOESN'T KNOW THEIR ABS ISN'T WORKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162450July 15, 2006
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
3 OF THE 4 SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS HAVE FAILED DURING THE PAST YEAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161240July 2, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VIN #[XXX], WHICH HAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE TIE ROD ENDS. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER(S) HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE FRONT TIE RODS DO NEED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE SAFETY RECALL. THE REASON IS THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICE CHECKS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS BY A COUPLE OF INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, HOWEVER, I CANNOT PRODUCE THE PAPER WORK FOR THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE CHECKS BETWEEN 35,000 MILES AND 60,000. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS A SAFETY RECALL, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE REPAIR UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE PROOF OF COMPLIANCE. THE SYMPTOMS HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES FOR 3/4 YEARS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING MY CURRENT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155582April 18, 2006
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
BEGINNING IN JUNE 2002, I BEGAN REPORTING TO VW SERVICE CENTERS ISSUES WITH THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN. MOST OF THESE ISSUES WERE REFERENCED BY THE NHTSA (SEE 99V248000). ON JANUARY 25, 2005 I WROTE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DETAILING THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN ISSUES, INCLUDING REFERENCING THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBERS AND PROVIDING VOA WITH COPIES OF MY SERVICE RECORDS. VOA SUBSEQUENTLY RESPONDED BY SENDING ME A CHECK FOR $692.13, WHICH WAS OSTENSIBLY PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE LETTER I SENT. YESTERDAY, I WENT TO A VW SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OUTBOARD CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (VW PART NUMBER 8D0498099BX). WHILE WAITING IN THE SERVICE CENTER LOUNGE, I NOTED THAT TWO OTHER CUSTOMERS, ONE OF WHOM ALSO HAD A 1998 VW PASSAT, WERE TOLD THAT THEIR CV JOINTS AND OR BOOTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE TODAY AND HAVE FOUND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT A PROPERLY MAINTAINED CV JOINT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REGULARLY INSPECTED EVERY 50,000 MILES. I HAVE COMBED ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS AND NOT ONCE WAS THIS EVALUATION EVER PERFORMED. IT APPEARS THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS DEFECT OR FLAW IN CERTAIN VW PASSAT MODELS AND BECAUSE IT HAS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT BEING INVESTIGATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155413April 15, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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