1998 Volkswagen Passat complaints

LIKE MANY, MANY OTHERS, MY 1998 VW PASSAT 2.8 LITER WITH TIPTRONIC (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) ABS LIGHT ON (ABS NOT WORKING); 2) BRAKE LIGHT ON (BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER ALL ROTORS & PADS WERE REPLACED AND FLUID CHANGED); 3) TACHOMETER NOT WORKING; 4) OIL LIGHT ON (BUT OIL LEVEL AND PRESSURE ARE OKAY). THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR BUT IS NOW ALMOST CONSTANT. ALL PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY A BAD ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS ALSO USED IN AUDI A4 MODELS (PART # 8E0 614 111R). VW DEALERSHIP QUOTES OVER $1000 FOR THE PART ALONE. SOMETIMES, IF THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW DAYS OR IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON AND THE TACHOMETER WORKS CORRECTLY FOR AWHILE. THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROBLEMS HAPPEN. OR, I WILL BE DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE PROBLEMS, THEN THE TACH JUMPS TO LIFE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OUT. AS I SAID BEFORE: THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (NO ABS COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS) AS WELL AS A QUALITY ISSUE: ABS CONTROLLERS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO FREQUENTLY ON SUCH RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLES. A RECALL SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROLLERS IN THEIR 1998-ON PASSAT AND 1996-ON A4 MODELS. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I OWE A 1998 VW PASSAT GLS( 77,000 MILES). ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON A MONTH AGO. I CONTACTED VW DEALER AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR IN. BUT BEFORE I DID THAT I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THAT CAR BECAUSE OF THE ABS PROBLEM. IT WAS RAINING AND I HAD TO BRAKE SO THE ABS TURNED ON. IT BLOCKED BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR KEPT SLIDING. ABS WAS CLEARLY NOT WORKING. THE CAR KEPT SLIDING FOR ABOUT 30 YARDS AND I ALMOST RAN TROUGH THE RED LIGHT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD SHUT ITSELF DOWN. SEVEN MONTH PREGNANT WIFE AND MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE WITH ME IN THE CAR AND WE ALMOST LOST OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS MODULE MUST BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $2000.00. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND I FOUND THAT THERE IS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY VW OF AMERICA DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.MYVWLEMON.COM/UBB/FORUM2/HTML/000120.HTML. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BECAUSE BEFORE YOU HEAR ABOUT DOZENS OF PEOPLE LOOSING THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THIS. THANK YOU, ENES SKOPLJAK. *JB

FAILURE OF COMPUTER MODUAL FOR ABS (AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM). ABS SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS.*AK

EARLIER THIS MONTH (10/2004), THE ABS BRAKE FAILURE WARNING (LIGHT AND SOUND) ON OUR 1998 VW PASSAT GLS STARTED COMING ON SPORADICALLY.*AK ON OCT. 20, I TOOK THE CAR TO WHEATON SERVICE CENTER, A VW-ONLY INDEPENDENT SHOP. THEY HOOKED THE UNIT UP TO THE DIAGANOSTIC COMPUTER AND GOT NO SIGNAL. THEY ALSO GOT NOT SIGNAL WHEN THEY TRIED TO ACCESS TO ENGINE COMPUTER, INDICATING THAT THE ABS COMPUTER HAS A SHORT (THE ENGINE COMPUTER WORKED FINE AFTER THEY DISCONNECTED THE ABS COMPUTER.) I CONFIRMED THIS DIAGNOSIS OVER THE PHONE WITH FTIZGERALD VW IN FREDERICK, MD. I LATER TESTED THE BRAKING ON A WET ROAD -- THERE WAS NO ABS, ALTHOUGH THE CONVENTIONAL BRAKES WORKED FINE. THE 1998 CAR, WHICH WE HAVE OWNED SINCE NEW, HAS BEEN SCRUPULOUSLY MAINTAINED, AS THE REGIONAL VW FACTORY REP CAN ATTEST (FROM A DRIVETRAIN WARRANTY REPAIR DONE 5,000 MILES AGO). THE CAR NOW HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT. THE WSC MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THEY SEE NUMEROUS ABS FAILURES IN LATE '90S PASSATS, THE WEB SEEMS TO CONFIRM THIS. THE WIDESPREAD, PREMATURE FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEMS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE THE REPAIR COSTS $2,500, MANY OWNERS WILL SIMPLY DISCONNECT THE ABS COMPUTER TO AVOID THE ANNOYING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS, AND AVOID THE EXPENSIVE FIX. HAVING BECOME ACCOSTOMED TO ABS, HOW MANY WILL ADJUST THEIR BRAKING ACCORDINGLY, ESPECIALLY THE NEED TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO AVOID SKIDDING?

ON MY 1998 PASSAT WITH 86,000 MILES THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ABS DOES NOT WORK. THE DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS MODULE 8E0-614-111-Q WHICH WILL COST $2,036 PLUS LABOR OF $111. UPON RESEARCH, A LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

(1) WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER AGAIN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY MECHANICS GARAGE. (2) MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT THAT WENT, AND THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAD REMANUFACTUERED THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY FOR WHAT EVER REASON. AFTER BUYING NEW PARTS AND REBUILDING THE HEAD BECAUSE THE VALVES WERE DESTROYED UPON CONTACT WITH THE PISTONS( NATURALLY). AFTER PUTTING THE ENGINE BACK TOGETHER WITH THE NEW PARTS AND REBUILT HEAD, THE CAM SEIZED UP AND BLEW THE MOTOR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TIMING BELT FAILED. VEHICLE LOST POWER AND IT VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE ON 1998 VW PASSAT. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS ABS UNIT FAILURE AND SAID REPAIR WOULD COST $2500. SEARCH OF INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS INDICATES THAT THIS AN INCREASINGLY COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

OIL PUMP FAILED. WHILE DRIVING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, PREVENTING ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR AN ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *AK DETERIORATE /SEIZE BECAUSE OF SLUG BUILT UP. THIS FAILURE CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO FAIL WITHOUT SLUG BUILT UP.

THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *JB

AT 105,000 MILES THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT. I TOOK IT TO A VW MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. REPLACED CLUSTER FOR $600, DIDN'T RESOLVE BRAKE PROBLEM. RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM TO LIKELY BE ABS PUMP ELECTRONIC SYSTEM (INTEGRAL TO ABS PUMP). THE INSTALLED PART IS 8E0614111P, VW PRESCRIBES REPLACING WITH 8E0614111Q (UPGRADED PART). LIST PRICE FOR THE "Q" PART IS $2400. COMPLAINING BECAUSE: 1) PROBLEM IS LIKELY FAILED ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WHICH ARE SOLD ONLY INTEGRAL TO MECHANICAL PUMP, THEREBY GOUGING PURCHASERS, 2) RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DISCUSSIONS WITH PART DEALERS AND SERVICE SHOPS INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AND BASIC TO PASSATS AND AUDIS; VW SHOULD EITHER PAY THE TOTAL COST OR MAKE IT CHEAPER TO REPAIR. SEE: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=0&TSTART=0. *AK

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING. BRAKES WORK BUT ABS MAY NOT. DEALER QUOTES $1450 FOR REPAIR PART ALONE, PLUS LABOR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS AND VW REFUSES TO EITHER RECALL OR COVER REPAIR COST.*AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM BROKE AND IT WAS NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDER RECALL BEFORE THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING. *AK *SC *JB

ABS CONTROLLER FAILED ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 70K MILES ON IT. THIS APPARENTLY IS QUITE A COMMON FAILURE ON THE VW/AUDI VEHICLES. *JB

1998 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT 1.8 TURBO 39, 250 MILEAGE. FRONT END NOISE, REDUCED CONTROL IN HANDLING, RESULTED IN THE REPLACEMENT OF ALL CONTROL ARMS & TIE ROD ENDS ON DRIVER SIDE- THE LOWER FOUND TO HAVE CORROSION IN THE SOCKET.*AK

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY INDICATING ABS FAILURE.DEALER SAID IT IS A BAD ABS COMPUTER $1500+ 2 TO 3 HOURS OF LABOR. THIS STARTED THIS MONTH AND GOES ON AND OFF .*AK

1998 VW PASSAT: HEARD LOUD CLANKING NOISES ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING VEHICLE. REPORTED TO VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT LOCAL DEALERSHIP. ADVISED THE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM JOINT IS WORN AND NEED REPLACEMENT. FURTHER, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS ARE TOTALLY SHOT AND NEED REPLACING. CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THE TIE ROD PROBLEM WAS RECALLED BY NHTSA SEP. 1999 (99V-248) BUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. DO NOT KNOW WHY AS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS THE SAME. ADDITIONALLY, NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN NOTED ON THIS SITE, YET VW OF AMERICA, WHO ADVISED ME ARE AWARE AND SENSITIVE TO THE PROBLEM, REFUSED ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE RECALLED TIE RODS REPLACEMENT WAS REFUSED TO BE FIXED BY THEM. PLEASE FOLLOW UP AND INVESTIGATE VW OF AMERICA FOR THESE VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUES SINCE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DRIVER ACCIDENTS. I AM ALSO WONDERING WHY THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT WHEN NEW BRAKES WERE INSTALLED. DO NOT TRUST VW TO BE A SAFE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK

I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE DONE ALL [EVEN MORE THAN] THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE ON THE PASSAT. I HAD THE CONTROL ARMS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY 2 YEARS AGO [NOT UNDER RECALL OR REIMBURSED FOR THIS PROCEDURE]. I AM ONCE AGAIN GETTING CONSIDERABLE CRAKING NOISES FROM MY CONTROL ARMS IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION. I DO NOT DRIVE MY PASSAT ABNORMALLY NOR HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH IT. I FEEL THAT THIS HAPPENING TO MY PASSAT IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE, BUT SOMETHING ELSE - BAD DESIGN OR MATERIALS? *LA

CONTLOR ARMS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN DAMAGED. THE RUBBER USED TO PRODUCE TIE RODS IS TOO SOFT AND THE CAR MAKES NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. THE FAILURE ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW TO PERFORM ALIGMENT ON MY VEHICLE UNTIL FIXED. COST OF REPAIR OVER $600.*AK THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE SUSPENSION FOR VW, AUDI AND CAR OWNERS.

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 1998 VW PASSAT SEDAN WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT IN 2002 WHICH WAS A GREAT DEAL!! OR SO I THOUGHT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE STARTED HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE.. OR SUSPENSION .. LIKE A CREAKING, CRUNCHING, KNOCKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO A VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL ARMS ON THE RIGHT AND THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I FOUND OUT THAT THE TIE RODS HAD BEEN RECALLED AND THE ONES ON MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER THAT RECALL IN 2001, BUT HAD AGAIN WORN OUT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT TIE RODS WOULD WEAR OUT OVER A 3 YEAR PERIOD SINCE THE CAR BARELY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE VIEWED THIS WEBSITE AND FOUND OVER 200 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND AM CURIOUS WHAT VW PLANS TO DO.. WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES WHEN A CONTROL ARM SNAPS? VW NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ITEM NOW!*AK

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, VEHICLE LOST POWER. SIMULTANEOUSLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS APPARENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.*MR CUSTOMER CARE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN COULD NOT BE PERFORMED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE PARTS AND REPAIR TECHNICIANS WERE NOT OBTAINABLE BY ANY DEALERSHIPS OUTSIDE THE U.S. *JB

OUR 1998 PASSAT HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND YET ALL OF THE EXPENSIVE FRONT CONTROL ARMS ARE STARTING TO GO BAD. THEY ARE GETTING PLAY IN THE BALL JOINTS, WHICH ARE ONLY REPLACEABLE BY REPLACING THE WHOLE CONTROL ARMS. SINCE THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 8 CONTROL ARMS, THE COST OF REPAIR IS POTENTIALLY VERY HIGH. AND IF THEY ARE NOT REPLACED, THE POTENTIAL FOR HAZARD AND INJURY BECOMES VERY GREAT IF THE JOINTS GET SO SLOPPY THAT THEY AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE CAR AND EVENTUALLY COME APART. VW SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH BUILDING SUCH AN UNDER-ENGINEERED SUSPENSION SYSTEM.*AK

I HAVE HAD 2 TIRES SEPARATE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. PRIOR TO THIS RECENT EVENT I HAD ANOTHER TIRE SEPARATION AND WAS GIVEN REPLACEMENT TIRES INSTEAD OF A REFUND. THE LAS EVENT HAS LEFT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE BOTH OF THE OLD TIRES AND PICTURES OF MY CAR DAMAGE. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AN*AKD HE IS THE ONE THAT INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU. *AK

ABS LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ALONG WITH BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH, TOOK IT IN TO VOLKSWA GEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY TOLD ME "THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND PUMP FAILED. THERE IS NO SIGNAL BETWEEN THE CONTROL MODULE & PUMP WITH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. THE MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO SEND BACK A SIGNAL SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE OR TELLING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT IN MY CASE, THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION AT ALL. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THAT SHOULD 'MOST LIKELY' SOLVE THE PROBLEM." AND THE ESTIMATE - $1885 - ABOUT $1500 FOR THE PART AND ABOUT $300 FOR THE LABOR - PLUS TAX. VWOA REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH COSTS, EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE 67, 000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT AND THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION. NOT SURE WHAT JUSTIFIES A RECALL, BUT IF THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WHO HAVE PAID FOR A CAR WITH ABS BRAKES, WHY SHOUDL WE HAVE TO COUGH UP THAT KIND OF MONEY TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FAULTY JUST TO GET OUR ABS WORKING AGAIN?*AK

THE OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE#99V 248 000/TIE RODS FROM THE MFR. IN SEPTEMBER,1999. THE WORK WAS DONE IN DECEMBER 1999. LESS THAN 30,000 LATER THE TIE RODS FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HE MFR. WHO INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE FULFILLED THERE COMMITMENT AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY WILL DO. *NM

ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR 1400.00 PLUS LABOR *SC *JB

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. THE TIE RODS WERE GOING BAD AND THE MFR WAS CALLING FOR A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

THE FRONT OF MY CAR CONSTANTLY GROANS WHEN I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (WHILE DRIVING OR NOT) AND IF I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (NOT VW) WHO SAID THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE STRUTS, TIE RODS, OR SOMETHING IN THAT AREA. HE RECOMMENDED I TALK TO VW TO SEE IF THE ITEM IS RECALLED OR COVERED BY WARRANTY IN ANY WAY. I CALLED VW GAVE MY VIN AND IT IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL REGARDING TIE RODS. I BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST 1998 VW PASSATS OF THE B5 SERIES.*AK

MY 1998 VW PASSAT HAS A LOUD GRINDING, RUMBLING SOUND AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CROSS LINK ARMS AT A COST OF APPROX $300. I ALSO HAD THE TIE RODS REPLACED UNDER RECALL. BUT NOISE/VIBRATION STILL THERE. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME IT MIGHT BE BUSHINGS ON EITHER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM OR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, EACH COSTING ABOUT $1300 TO REPLACE. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A NORMAL REPAIR ITEM, THEY SAID "SURE", YOUR CAR HAS 90K MILES ON IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A WELL BUILT, SAFE CAR WOULD HAVE THIS TYPE OF EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK

ABS LIGHT IN MY 1998 PASSAT GLX WILL COME ON INTERMITTANTLY ALONG WITH THE BRAKE AND LOW OIL LIGHTS. WROTE PRESIDENT OF VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HELP. THEY WANT TO REPLACE ABS MODULE AT $2200. THE WEB IS FULL OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART MUST BE DEFECTIVE...THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VOLKSWAGEN HAD NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO PERFORM THREE RECALLS ON 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. LETTER ANSWERED BY MR. ALBERTO JIMENEZ VIA EMAIL. *PH *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT THE RIGHT OUTER AND INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MECHANIC IS TELLING ME ALL FOUR TIE ROD ASSEMLBIES AND CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN HEARIN A LOUD CRUNCHING NOICE EVERYTIME I GO OVER A SMALL BUMP OR TURN A CORNER. *AK

MY 1998 VW PASSAT HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT AND A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON STEADILY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES WITH AN AUDIBLE FOUR-CHIME TONE. THE VW DEALER TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT I NEED A NEW ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR IS $1900. . VW OF AMERICA DECLINED TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB

MY 1998 VW PASSAT HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT AND A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON STEADILY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES WITH AN AUDIBLE FOUR-CHIME TONE. THE VW DEALER TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT I NEED A NEW ABS PUMP/CONTROL. THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR IS $2,100. SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH IT FROM REPLACING THE TURBO CHARGER TO A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT-END SUSPENSION TO NAME A FEW. VW OF AMERICA DECLINED TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. I USED TO OWN A TOYOTA WITH 250,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I SOLD IT AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT LIKE I HAVE WITH THIS CAR.*AK

VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER ON FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LINKAGE TO TIMING BELT MALFUNCTIONED @ 100,710 MILES. FOUND OUT THAT BOTH TIMING BELT AND LINKAGE ARE NOT DUE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 105,000. FAULTY PRIOR TO VW'S SPECIFICATIONS. *JB

1998 VW PASSAT 20V GLS SEDAN VIN: [XXX] ABS FAULT INDICATED BY ABS AND BRAKE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS FLASHING AND INSTRUMENT ALARM SOUNDING. 1 FAULTS FOUND: 01203 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 03-10 - NO SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE. SAFETY ISSUE - ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL: "IF ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT LIT UP TOGETHER, IT IS POSSIBLE REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK-UP EARLY UNDER HARD BRAKING. THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY BE DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION NOT FUNCTIONING. HAVE YOUR VEHICLE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY BY AN AUTHORIZED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER OR A QUALIFIED INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP" MODULE IN CAR: [XXX] CURRENT VW REPLACEMENT MODULE: [XXX] I HAVE CALLED AROUND TO AT LEAST 6 DEALERS, "LIST" PRICE RANGES FROM $1500 - $1900 FOR THE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE "Q" MODULE. MY LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAD STOCK AND LIST PRICE WAS $1000, BUT WHEN THE PART WAS DELIVERED THAT PRICE HAD CHANGED TO $1600 LIST. I SURELY WOULD NOT HAVE ORDERED THE PART IF IT I HAD BEEN QUOTED THAT PRICE! PART WAS REFUSED, HOWEVER ACCORDING TO THE PARTS DRIVER I TALKED TO A YEAR AGO (AND AS RECENTLY AS THIS FALL) THE PART WAS $1000 LIST, AND LATELY THEY HAVE BEEN DELIVERING 4 - 5 OF THEM A WEEK TO INDEPENDENT SHOPS DOING THESE REPAIRS. FROM VARIOUS FORUMS (VWVORTEX, CLUB B5 PASSAT, AUDI WORLD, BENTLEY TECHNICAL WEB, VAG COM TECH FORUM) I HAVE LEARNED THE FAILURE RATES FOR THE 97 - 2000 MODEL YEAR B

CAR WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. FINALLY AFTER TRYING AGAIN IT DID AND BROUGHT TO MECHANIC. PROBABLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TOWED TO DEALER. FROM THEN ON ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN), JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY GET A CALL THAT SOMETHING ELSE NEEDS REPLACING. WAS TOLD THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW CENSOR NEEDED REPLACING AND WAS COVERED. GAVE APPROVAL. WEEK LATER GOT CALL THAT ITS NOT COVERED (ANY OTHER STORE WOULD HAVE TO HONOR THE INCORRECT PRICE TAG AND EAT THAT COST-NO-NOT THE DEALER!). ALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ERROR CODE FLAGGED 10 PROBLEMS WHEN ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IN. OUTER CV BOOTS WORN, HARNESS (SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL WIRING GOING TO CENSOR), COOLANT HOSE, 2ND AIR HOSE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THAT CAR HAS BEEN INFERIOR SINCE DAY ONE. HOSES AND PARTS REPLACED WITHIN FIRST MONTH OF OWNING NEW CAR. INFERIOR ON VW AND AWFUL RESPONSE FROM VW. HAD RECALL ON FILTER LEADING TO AIR FLOW CENSOR. SEEMS TO ME THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW CENSOR IS ALSO PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE UNDER RECALL. HAVE READ PRIOR COMPLAINTS ON THIS YEAR/MODEL AND SEEMS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ITSELF IS MAJOR PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE DRIVERS COAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

I TOOK MY CAR TO JIM ELLIS VOLKSWAGEN OF ATLANTA TO GET THE TIE RODS REPLACED AS PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ON MY 98 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN MARKED AS COMPLETED IN THEIR SYSTEM BY ANOTHER DEALER . I HAVE NEVER TAKEN MY CAR TO THE OTHER DEALER. PLEASE ADVICE.

THE CAR IS A 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8. THE CAR HAS 61,000 MILES. ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT INCLUDING THE WARNING CHIMES TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE ALARM TURNS OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND THEN GOES AGAIN. MY MECHANIC TESTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $1,800. NO OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED WITH ABS HAS EVER HAD THIS KIND OF FAILURE. *LA

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF SPORATICALLY ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT. DEALER SAYS ABS CONTROL UNIT (VW PART NO. 8E061411Q) HAS GONE BAD. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO COVER IT EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT COST IS ABOUT $2500.00. *AK

PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIRS APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED.*MR (NAR) *CB

WORN TIE ROD ENDS, RESULTING IN VAGUE STEERING ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT (ORIGINAL OWNER) AND REQUIRED. TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUED ON 1998 PASSATS, BUT DEALER AND VWOA ADVISED ME THAT MY VIN WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL.*AK

THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE DANGEROUSLY WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 59,000 MILES. THE VIN FOR THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN THOSE INCLUDED IN AN EARLIER RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE SAME. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE TIE ROD ENDS TO WEAR OUT THAT EARLY UNLESS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND APPEARS TO RESULT FROM FAULTY PARTS.

A SQUEAKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE OR WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TIE RODS WERE FOUND TO BE WORN OUT ALSO, POWER STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE ADDED ABOUT EVERY 60 DAYS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE RACK AND PINION. *AK

UPPER CONTROL ARM FAILURE ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT. DEALER QUOTED ME $1200 REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT THE CAR "CERTIFIED". MY PASSAT HAD ONLY 55,XXX MILES ON IT AT TIME OF FAILURE. MY CONCERN IS THE REPAIR- I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, SO THE PARTS WEAR MORE AND MORE BECOMING MORE AND MORE UNSAFE. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *NLM

CAR CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER STEERING FLUID. PRIOR TO REALIZATION TO CHECK IT WITH EVERY GAS FILL UP CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER, ALMOST CAUSING A SERVERE ACCIDENT.*AK