1998 Volkswagen Passat complaints

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE DUE TO LATCH FAILURE. *AK

DEALER STATE; WATER LEAK FROM FIREWALL FROM DRAINS IN COWLPANEL BEING CLOGGED, SHORTING OUT TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE 1,200 IN REPAIRS OWNERS RESPONSIBLE, BUT MANUAL DOESN'T INCLUDE IN MAINTENENCE. MANUFACTURER DEFECT OF A DENIED CLAIM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE DUST COVER FLEW OFF, THIS HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED, THE ENGINE DUST COVER HAS FLEW OFF A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. *CJ

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POWER STEERING LEAKING FLUID THROUGH IT. ALSO ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR. FUEL TANK HAD COLLAPSED & WAS NOT ACCEPTING ANY FUEL. *AK

WHEN THE ENGINE DUST COVER LOOSENS AT HIGH SPEED IT'S LIKE AN EXPLOSION OCCURS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER OIL CHANGES AT 3 DIFFERENT VW SERVICE CENTERS IN HOUSTON. I ADVISED GERD KLAUSS, PRES. VW ON 11-27-00. HIS ASSOCIATE JOE BERTRAND CALLED TO SUGGEST I ASK A VW SERVICE MANAGER WHAT WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM - IT'S THEIR DESIGN THAT'S FAULTY AND DANGEROUS.

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY ROAD DAMAGE. VERIFIED BY DEALER!*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR THEN 50,000 MILE SERVICE, THREE OF THE CONTINENTAL CONTI TOURING CONTACT RADIAL TIRES 195/65 R15 TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, PRIOR TO THIS THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT IN JANUARY 1999 DUE TO POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE TREAD ALSO. *MJS

LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS WORN OUT, AND FRONT END NEEDS TO BE REALIGNED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK CONTROL ARMS WORN OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS. *SLC

LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, REPLACED RECK. *CJ

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. NLM

CONTACTED THE DEALER AT FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY HAD NO TOOLS TO REPAIR THE TIE RODS. ALSO CONTACTED THE VOLKWAGEEN OF AMERICA. THIS ITEM HAS A RECALL ON MY CAR. BUT, MY CHASIS IS NOT ONE OF THE 51,000 VEHICLES ON THE LIST, BUT MY CAR IS A 1998 VW PASSAT. I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW TO HAVE MY CAR PLACED ON THE RECALL LIST SO THAT THE DEALER CAN RE-PLACE MY FAULTY TIE ROD ON MY CAR. *AK

THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THE DEALER FILED THE BRAKES AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY, THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES AND THE ROTORS. *SLC

4 MOS. AFTER HAVING SUNROOF ADJUSTED, SUNROOF CASSETTE OR FRAME NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOLD THAT FRAME WAS CRACKED OR DAMAGED. *AK

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS W/THIS VEHICLE (SUSPENSION, TEMP SENSORS) BEFORE PROBLEMS WERE "KNOWN". THIS LATEST INCIDENT IS NOW @APPROX $1000 FOR DIAGNOSING AND THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DISCOVERED

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMING ON, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE BRAKES WERE OK, LATER DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS WERE WORN AND THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *SLC

FUEL GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL OF 99 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION.*AK THE CAUSE COULD BE A LOOSE WIRE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER. *YH

TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM TIRE CASING ON ALL FIVE TIRES, STEEL BELT IS SHOWING THROUGH, TIRE'S ARE VERY DANGEROUS!, GIVES NO INDICATION WHEN TIRES SUDDENLY DEFLATE! I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRES IN QUESTION( DOT NUMBER: LMPC PXBU TIRE SIZE: 195/65R 15 )

LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION/RUST EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD! MAKES HORRIBLE CREAKING/GRINDING SOUND. DEALER/SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WOULDN'T AFFECT MY DRIVING AND WAS SAFE BUT AFTER READING INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS I'M NOT SO SURE. READ THAT THIS IS A FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PART AND I SHOULD THINK THAT VW WOULD REPLACE IT WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY $300 PER ARM!

STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

SIDE DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATED WITHOUT COLLISION. BECAUSE OF DEBRIS LODGED UNDER THE FRONT CARRIAGE FROM SOMETHING I MAY HAVE RUN OVER, VW REPAIR TECHNICIANS SUGGEST THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE AIRBAG MECHANISM. THIS SEEMS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG AND WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL LOOK AT THE CAR SOON.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING CRUNCHING NOISES, ESP. AT LOWER SPEED. THE RIGHT STEERING CONTROL ARM WAS CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY AND SQUEEKING NOISES DISSAPPEARED, BUT STILL VERY NOISY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE STATION, BUT DIFFERENT FROM DEALERSHIP. *AK

SUSPENSION NOW MAKES LOUD NOISES, INDICATING IMMINENT FAILURE. *AK

SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH NO ENGINE SYSTEMS AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. SAFTEY CONCERN FROM REAR END ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND NO AVOIDANCE CONTROL. ALSO, REGULAR LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID REQUIRES CONSTANT MONITORING.

VWOFA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON BOTH AUDI A4 AND VW PASSATS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN/WORKMANSHIP. NO SAFETY DEFECT.

THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL FOR ALL AUDI A-4'S (SAME AS VW PASSAT) AS WELL AS FOR MANY PASSATS. MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL #'S. WILL SOON, I FEEL CONSTITUTE A DANGER ON THE ROADWAYS.*AK

A CREAKING NOISE THAT HAS STEADILY BECOME WORSE. I WAITED UNTIL MY 25K MILEAGE CHECKUP FOR DEALER TO LOOK AT IT,AND HE INFORMED ME OF THE WEAKENED LOWER CONTROL ARMS. MECHANIC TELLS ME IT WILL STEADILY GET WORSE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST $940. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 24K MILES AND 5/30/00. I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN AT 24,498 MILES ON 6/7/00..AGAIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM (THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE) AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN EASY FIX AT THE 25K CHECKUP. DEALER WILL NOT COVER COST UNLESS VW AMERICA AUTHORIZES IT SINCE IT IS 'OFFICIALLY' PAST THE WARRANTY DATES & MILEAGE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER '98 PASSAT OWNERS ON THE INTERNET (VW VORTEX FORUMS) AND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG MANY OWNERS. I PLAN TO CALL VW AMERICA TO LOBBY AN EXCEPTION TO MY WARRANTY. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED , CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STARTING UP. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. ALSO, POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER CONTACTED VW, DEALER NOTED THAT TIE ROD END AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, RECALL 99V248000/ TIE RODS DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING TIE RODS ARE MAKING NOISE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD SEAL NOT BEING PROPERLY APPLIED. RECALL 99V248 DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. ALSO, REPLACED THE STRUTS. DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD SEALS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON/OFF FOR 3 MONTHS, & I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, HE IS ALWAYS GIVING A TEMPORARY FIX, AFTER 2 OR 3 DAYS THE PROBLEM AGAIN POPS UP.I REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER TOO. ONE MORE THING I WANT TO MENTION HERE, ONCE I MET WITH AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH BOTH THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.BUT THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED WELL. MORE OVER I AM GOING OUT OF WARRENTY NEXT MONTH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THIS PROBLEM COMES UP AFTER THAT. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS REGARD. *AK

CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS FAULTY CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR EACH RECOMMENDED 5000 MILE SERVICE. ON TWO OF THE FIVE OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE COVER HAS COME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DISTRESS. IT IS MY AND OTHERS VIEW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

CAR LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID. VW TOLD ME I NEED A NEW STEERING RACK AT A COST OF $681. *AK

OIL PUMP WENT OUT AS WELL, TOO MANY PROBLEN IN TWO YEARS!

CAR OWNER HAS CALLED 3 DEALERS AND VOLKSWAGAN CONSTANTLY SINCE OCTOBER 99.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

CURIOUS IF ROTOR DEFECT IS INHERENT IN ALL VW PASSATS. *AK

AT APPROX. 30,000 MILES, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING BEGAN TO INTERMITENTLY EMIT A DRY, DRONING, WHINING SOUND. SOUND BECAME LOUDER AND MORE REGULAR OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. AT 37,000 MILES, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS INFORMED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS WORN OUT. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE. I DON'T FEEL THAT A WHEEL BEARING SHOULD FAIL AFTER JUST 37,000 MILES. THE OTHER THREE WHEEL BEARINGS SEEM TO BE FINE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF JUST ONE OF FOUR BEARINGS FAILS, IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT BEARING IS DEFFECTIVE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45 MPH DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

RECALL # 99V248000 VW/TIE RODS; OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALER/ MANUFACTURER TWICE ABOUT RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER OR DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. DEALER TELLS OWNER TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER, IN TURN, TELLS OWNER TO CONTACT DEALER. OWNER RECEIVED NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 1999. *AK

LOOSE SHIFTER CAUSING SPORADIC SHIFTING FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION CONTROL. NLM

VW HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSATS ELECTRICAL. VERY DANGEROUS. CAR STALLS INTERMITTENT. ALMOST GOT HIT MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLED. ALMOST LOST CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN CAR LOSS ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENGINE. *AK

ONGOING DISPUTE WITH VCI AND VW OVER LEASE PAYMENTS AND RECALL AND DAMAGES. NO SAFETY DEFECTS MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AN HIT CONSUMER ON FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS NOW AT BODY SHOP. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARM WHICH BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, PRIOR TO INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR NOISE, NO REPAIR MADE AT THAT TIME, RECALL CAMPAIGN (99V-248)WAS NOT COMPLETED, WHICH WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE PREVENTED THE INCIDENT. *MJS

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 99V248000. CONTACTED DEALER , NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR 6 CYLINDER VEHICLES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKE BOOSTER, INTAKE AIR SCREEN AND TIE ROD END UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER RECALLS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM (98V-134,99V-131, 99V-248)

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE ARE NO POWER ASSIST BRAKES, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD, WHICH ISN'T STOPPING THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY. NLM

# 4 MISFIRE CAUSING LOSS OF OPERATION. *ET