Volkswagen · Model Report
Showing safety data for the 1998 model year only.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L VR6 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PUBLISHED ON THE LABEL FOR TIRES OF THE SIZE 205/50 R15 86H IS 0.1 BAR (1.45 PSI) TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).
HEADLIGHTS AND AC INTERMITTENTLY WENT OFF COMPLETELY AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT DIDN'T GO AWAY ON DASHBOARD; MECHANIC DETERMINED A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WAS THE CAUSE. *JB
No injuries · No fire · No crash
THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN MORE THAN 40 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
No injuries · No fire · No crash
ELECTRICAL DEFECT: WHEN TURNING IGNITION ON AND ENGINE RUNNING, I EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, A/C FAN MOTOR, DEFROSTER, DRL, FOG LAMPS, REAR-WINDOW DEFOGGER, AND HEATER. (ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CONTINUE FUNCTIONING.) SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHERE EVERYTHING FUNCTIONS; MOST OF THE TIME NONE OF THESE UNITS FUNCTION ELECTRICALLY. ADDITIONAL NOTE: THE "BRAKE" LAMP GLOWS ON IN THE DASH WHEN THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OCCURS. (EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED.) CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. VOLKSWAGON WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR.*AK
No injuries · No fire · No crash
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE CAUSES SWITCHED DEVICES TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE DEVICES I HAVE PERSONALLY IDENTIFIED THAT LOOSE POWER ARE: HEADLIGHTS, DRL, ABS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR FAN, FOG LIGHTS. WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, IT IS POSIBLE TO ROTATE IT SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND TURN THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEVICES OFF WHILE THE CAR CONTINUES TO RUN. THIS CAN EASILY HAPPEN (AND DOES HAPPEN) WHILE DRIVING. SEARCHING YOUR DATABASE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS WHICH PROBABLY USE THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH REVEALS 15 SWITCH FAILURES (865957, 897162, 876280, 899086, 608861, 609016, 758101, 888070, 8014837, 733016, 607392, 8021547, 869601, 750653, 743422) AND 5 POSSIBLE SWITCH FAILURES (733430, 9002207, 861456, 754763, 750545). THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS RECURRANT ENOUGH BY MEMBERS OF WWW.VR6.ORG FOR ONE MEMBER TO ISSUE A STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I FEEL THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS TURN COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING (INCLUDING DRL'S) RENDERING THE DRIVER BLIND AT NIGHT. IF FAILURE OCCURS DURRING DAYLIGHT, THE FAILURE IS NOT AS OBVIOUS BUT RENDERS THE ABS SYSTEM DISABLED AND COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL IF REQUIRED TO STOP QUICKLY WHILE THINKING THE CAR IS EQUIPTED WITH AN ABS SYSTEM. VOLKSWAGON USA HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THIS VIA THEIR WEBSITE AND I AM WAITING FOR A REPLY. OTHER MEMBERS OF WWW.VR6.ORG AND SIMILAR SITES ARE BEIGN ENCOURAGED TO FILE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING GAS TANK SENDER REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL (01V-157). AFTER RECALL WAS DONE IT FAILED AGAIN. *YH *NM
No injuries · No fire · No crash