1999 Volkswagen Passat complaints

CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE COMPUTERIZED CONTROL MODULE. DEALERSHIP CLAIM PROBLEM IS DUE TO RAIN AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. (POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES, AND CARE ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES).*AK

THE CONTROLE ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO GO AT 5500. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THIS NEW, AND DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID SO TOO. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PASSAT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO MAKE VW OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT SUSPENSION BEGINS SQUEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS WHICH ARE INTEGRAL WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS DEFECT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ARM. I'VE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 99 PASSATS. IT IS UNHEARD OF FOR THESE TYPES OF COMPONENTS TO FAIL SO EARLY BEFORE 50,000 MILES BUT THEY DO ON THESE PASSATS.*AK

1) COOLANT TEMP. SENSOR FAILED AT @47422 MILES 2) CHAPLINS CHECKED CAR BECAUSE I REPORTED NOISE IN FRONT WHEEL AREA. THEY SAID BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING AND REFUSED TO COVER THE COSTS. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDANT VW SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. COST WAS $466.79. VW STILL REFUSED TO ASSIST. 2 INDEPENDANT VW SPECIALISTS REPORTED VW HAS A "BAD WHEEL BEARING DESIGN". 3) REPLACED ORIGINAL TIRES WITH EXACT BRAND AND STYLE OF TIRE THAT WAS ORIGINSAL TO CAR. TIRES FELT ODD, I HAD THEM CHECKED BY 2 TIRE RETAILERS AND DID OWN PRESSURE CHECKS TWICE MONTHLY. AFTER 15,804 MILES ON TIRES LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH.*AK

SYPMTOMS ARE CREAKING, GROANING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FIRE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO SEIZE. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INCREASING "GRINDING" SOUND AND INCREASED "PLAY" AND MOVEMENT IN FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BY FAILING CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS-DIAGNOSED BY DEALER (STATED IT WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM). 2ND. VW PASSAT WITH SAME PROBLEM ('98 MODEL AND '99 MODEL) REPAIR PARTIALLY COVERED BY VW ON '98 MODEL OUTSIDE OF ORIGINAL WARRANTY. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AS BUSHINGS CONTINUE TO WEAR.*AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE, CAUSING ERRATIC HANDLING, DEGRADED SINCE.*AK

RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF WHEEL ATTACHMENT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH.*AK

HAVE CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED FOR COVERAGE SINCE THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM ON PASSAT. HOWEVER, VW REFUSED TO COVER, NOT EVEN HALF THE COST! OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE AT LEAST GOT ALL PARTS COVERED BY VW! THE TOTAL COST SUM UP WITH UP TO $1000. THE MAIN PROBLEM HAPPENING IS BASICALLY I HEARD CONSISTENT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING UNDER LOW SPEED, GOING OVER A BUMP, AND OCCASIONAL BRAKING. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE HEARD, THIS IS CALLED THE "LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE" AND THERE'S A BULLETIN IN VW THAT THIS IS RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE INFOMED TO INSTALL PARTICULAR COMPONENTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS QUITE A CRITICAL PART FOR THE CAR AS WE DON'T WANT THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL EXPECIALLY TURNING. AND THE MOST THING THAT PISSED ME OFF IS THAT VWOA REFUSED TO COVER SOME COSTS! I KNOW AT LEAST AN OWNER GOT IT ALL COVERED BY CONTACTING VWOA! THE FIRST NOTICING OF THE NOISE WAS AT AROUND 40000 MILES BUT SUNNYVALE VW REFERRED THAT THIS IS A NOISE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE PUMP WHICH IS LEAKING AT THAT TIME. NOISE OF COURSE DIDN'T RESOLVE AND I DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO ASK AS THEY CAN'T DETECT IT. HOPEFULLY, I CAN GET SOME HELP FROM NHTSA. THANKS

SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS DETERIORATING. COMMON ISSUE. BUSHINGS DRYING OUT AND DISINTEGRATING. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE CREAKING AND CLUNKING AT LOW SPEEDS. VW IS STARTING TO PAY 50% FOR SOME PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NO MORE.

RACK AND PINION STEERING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *AK

WHILE COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN AND GOING ON AN UPHILL GRADE SEAT FAILED BY DROPPING TO FLOOR AND SLIDING ALL THE WAY BACK, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIS-ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE APPROACHING TOLL BOOTH, BY TAPPING BRAKE, VEHICLE SUFFERED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WORKED AS ADVERTISED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ENTER 360 DEGREE SPIN AND CROSS 6 LANES OF TOLL BOOTH TRAFFIC ENDING UP ON RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RE-STARTED AND BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. MEHCANIC AT INDEPENDENT SHOP CANNOT DUPLICATE FAILURE AND SYSTEM TESTS OK.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CAR HAS HAD TIE RODS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL ,BOTH C.V.JOINTS REPLACED PLUS A WHEEL BEARING FIXED WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR.DON 'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAME UP SO EARLY IN CAR SERVICE LIFE.

CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER OVER 12 TIMES FOR CLUTCH RELATED PROBLEMS. CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR, SLAVE CYL LEAK, CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE AND SLAVE CYL REPLACED THREE TIMES. LEAK DESTROYED INSIDE DASH, DEALER REF TO FIX. ELECTRICAL PROBS IN DASH, CRACKLING NOISE HEARD. BRAKE LINE AND SLAVE CYL PROBLEMS. PERSUING LEMON LAW (SUIT FILED).

VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT 20,000 MILES AND AT 40,000 MILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARSHLY AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL??? AND IF I WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT IT, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT UP-FRONT, AND THAT THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT ONLY IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG. THE SUNROOF HAS A "BROKEN TRACK" AFTER 40,000 MI. IT COSTS MORE TO FIX IT THAN IT DID TO BUY IT! IS THIS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT ALL VW'S?

AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIRBAG SENSOR IS BAD. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, WITH THE EXECPTION OF PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TRIM REPLACED AFTER ADHESION FAILED. THE RADIO HAS POOR FM RECEPTION AND NO AM RECEPTION. I ONLY INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE ANOTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINT (ODI ID: 840263) HAS INDICATED SIMILAR SYMPTOMS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING SOUND WOULD COME FROM FRONT WHEELS WHENEVER VEHICLE RAN OVER A SLIGHT BUMPS OR POTHOLES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

CLUNKING IN FRONT END GOING OVER IMPERFECTIONS IN ROAD AT LOW SPEED. SEEMS LIKE POSSIBLE CONTROL ARM FAILURE.*AK

CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE FAILING ON THE AUDI A4, THEY SHARE THE SAME FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LOWER CONTROL ARMS DID NOT "FAIL" BUT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY WORN AT 21000 MILES AND THEY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT`. VW COVERED 100% OF REPLACEMENT COST. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER*****757901. *AK *JB

THIS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IS GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY THIS IS VERY SERIOUS WVOA WAS CONTACTED THEY JUST BLEW US OFF. *AK

LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED IN LESS THEN 30,000 MILES. A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR IS POSSIBLE.*AK

VERY COMMON PROBLEM. SUGGEST INVESTIGATION/RECALL.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

SUSPENSION CLUNKING NOISE - TAKEN TO DEALER 5+ TIMES, NO RESOLUTION. *AK

07/21/01 SCHEDULED SERVICE FOR CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION OVER SMALL ROAD IMPERFECTIONS AND SECONDLY TIE ROD RECALL. MECHANIC REPLACED TIE RODS, BUT SAME CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISE OCCURS UPON DEPARTURE. DEALER ORDERED SWAY BAR LINKS, REPLACED ON SECOND VISIT. RATTLING NOISE STOPS, BUT SHORTLY AFTER REPAIR, SHARPER CLUNKING RESURFACES, TURNS INTO ALSO SCRAPING/SQUEAKING NOISE ON SHARP TURNS LEFT WITH TIME. WEBSITE AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH INDICATES MANY INSTANCES OF IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS IN SAME MODEL OF CAR LEADING TO POSSIBLE WHEEL DETACHMENT IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. OTHER DEALERS INDICATE TSBS ISSUED, BUT NO REMEDY FOR REPAIR COST ON THIS RELATIVELY LATE MODEL CAR. BALL JOINTS ONLY COME WITH KIT PRICED AT APPROXIMATELY $600 FROM DEALER. AFTER READING NUMEROUS WEBSITE POSTS, I'VE BECOME VERY CONCERNED ON SAFETY OF CAR AS CLUNKING/KNOCKING/SQUEAKING/SCRAPING NOISES HAVE GROWN LOUDER WITH MY VEHICLE. I'D FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE KEEPING/SELLING THIS CAR WITHOUT THE PROBLEM REMEDIED. I STRONGLY SUPPORT A VW OR AT WORST CASE NHTSA INITIATED RECALL ON THIS APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT TO PREVENT RECURRING PROBLEMS.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS OF 25-65 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 10-15 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK THE MIRROR SWITCH IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE. THE DRIVER SEAT WARMER WAS INOPERATIVE. ENGINE HAS A BURNING SMELL DUE TO OIL LEAK. VEHICLE MADE NOISE IN FRONT END ON LEFT TURNS DUE TO A STABILIZER BAR CLAMP BEING LOOSE. FRONT BRAKES MAKE NOISE. STEERING MAKES NOISE AND LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING COLUMN SLIDING COVER CRACKED. *YH

AIR BAG INDICATION LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHIILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK WHEN IT IS RAINING, DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE WIPER MOTOR, THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY THE IDLE WILL DROP FROM 750 TO 400 WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAPPENS USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS WARMED UP AND I'VE MADE A FEW COMPLETE STOPS AFTER DRIVING INTERMITTENT DISTANCES. THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT WILL STALL, AND MAKES THE DRIVER WANT TO HIT THE GAS, WHICH WOULD BE UNSAFE AT A FULL STOP. HAS BEEN IN TO DEALER 2 TIMES FOR THIS, DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE, THEREFORE CANNOT FIX.*AK

CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR REPAIRING DEFECTIVE TIE ROD - ONCE FIXED THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND TIRES HAVE GONE BAD AND THE DEALER ESTIIMATES $ 1500 FOR REPAIRING TIRES. MANUFACTURER IS ADAMANT AND OBNOXIOUS AND THINKS THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BASED ON TELEPHONE CONVERSATION. AT 38,000 MILES FRONT END FAILURE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

APPROXIMATELY SIX TO EIGHT TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT, AS THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP THE ENGINE RACED WITH THE TACHOMETER RISING TO ABOUT 2200, AND IT REQUIRED MAXIMUM FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING INTO A STOPPED CAR AHEAD OR INTO A BARRIER OR INTERSECTION. IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL, THE TACHOMETER SWUNG UP INTO THE RANGE OF 6000 TO 7000, AND THEN DROPPED BACK TO ITS NORMAL IDLING SPEED OF 750. ONLY THEN DID THE CAR STOP PULLING DANGEROUSLY. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND ON ONE OCCASION HE HELD IT FOR THREE DAYS, HOPING TO HAVE A MECHANIC EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM OCCURS TOO INFREQUENTLY TO REPRODUCE IT. THE DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY REPAIR, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, OCURRING MOST RECENTLY ON 10/1201. *AK

I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THESE PARTS FAILING ON AT LEAST 100 VW PASSATS 1998-2001. I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL OR REDESIGN PARTS MADE AND SUBSTITUTED.*AK

TWICE, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON MY 1999 PASSAT, BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS AUDI A4 AND VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES. THE COST TO REPAIR THE CONTROL ARMS IS IN EXCESS OF $1200 AND VW HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY PITIFUL TO DEAL WITH AND HAVE NO REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS AS TO WHY THESE PARTS ARE FAILING. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. IN A CAR THAT COSTS OVER $25,000 THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

TIRE SHREADED, 5 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER PULLING OVER, TIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DID 3700 DOLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.

RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MECHANISM WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (2 YEARS/20,000 MILES) TWICE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO (CAR ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY) LEFT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. TODAY RIGHT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. I DRIVE CAR 99% OF TIME. NO ONE IN BACK SEAT, SO NO KIDS PLAYING, ETC. THE REAR POWER WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS NOW 3-4 MONTHS & 2,370 PAST TWO YEAR/20,000 MILE WARRANTY. I REQUEST THAT THESE REPAIRS BE COVERED BY MAUFACTURER AS THE PROBLEMS FIRST OCCURRRED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CONTINUE. APPEARS TO BE DESIGN DEFECT. WINDOWS WIL ONLY RETRACT 1" AND THEN FAIL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER AND SAW BURNING LIQUID COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. PLEASE ADD FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

KNOWN ISSUE WITH VWOA, ALSO HAPPENS ON AUDI A4/A6. VW REFUSES TO REPAIR PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE A REPAIR KIT FOR THE CAONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS AND BALL-JOINTS

I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER AND I IMFORMED THEM ABOUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE AND THERE WAS TSB CALL FOR THE ITEM THEY TOLD ME THAT I DONT QUAILIFY FOR THAT PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEIR A BUSHING FAILURE ON BOTH SIDE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM IT MADE IT LOOSE AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN THE WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL. IT WOULD BE A EASY FIX IF THEY JUST REPLACE THE BUSHING BUT THEY DONT JUST SELL THE BUSHING THEY SELL THE WHOLE LOWER CONTROL ARM. I HAVE TECHNICAL KNOWLEGDE ABOUT THE CARS AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ANYONE. IF THE PERSON DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GOING ON. THEY WILL CONTINUE DRIVING THEIR UNSAFE CAR. THE SUSPENSION TEST ON THE INSPECTION STATION WILL NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. IT WILL AFFECT THE ALIGNMENT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT AND STEERING.*AK

BEING A MEMBER OF A VW PASSAT FORUM, I KNOW MANY OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME FAILURE. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

THE R/F AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED DUE TO AN UNDERSIDE IMPACT, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE SIDE IMPACT BEAM OR ANYWHERE ON THE STRUCTURAL FRAME. NLM

CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPED, RUNS POORLY, A/C DOES NOT COOL. SHOP CAN NOT FIX. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED HOT STEAM COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD, AND NOTICED COOLING HOSE WAS CUT BY ENGINE COVER FROM VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK