1999 Volkswagen Passat complaints

OIL FILTER LINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE AROUND CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THIS CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT THE METAL OIL LINE. FLOW OF OIL TO THE TURBO-CHARGER WOULD BE STOPPED. ALSO, ENGINE BEARINGS BURNED UP & TURBO-CHARGER DESTROYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK. *AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AT LEAST 4 TIMES, EACH TIME WHILE DECELERATING/BRAKING ON HIGHWAY EXIT RAMP AFTER CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED EARLIER. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS TO RESUME AND RESET. DEALER RESET READINESS CODES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS UNTIL PROBLEMS CAN BE CONFIRMED. *ML THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CRUISE- SET BUTTON WAS SO STIFF THAT BRUSHING IT WOULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO SWITCH ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. *YH

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V2480000 CONCERNING INNER TIE ROD. CONTACTED THE DEALER NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS,AND VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. *AK

GAS TANK RUPTURED. NLM

CRUISE CONTROL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND IT WILL ENGAGE WITHOUT APPLICATION. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WORKED ON THREE TIMES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *ML

THE CAR HAS A PRONOUNCED GROAN WHEN TURNING AND THE DEALER SAYS ONE OF THE TIE RODS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT FOR CARS MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO MINE-IT WOULD SEEM THAT THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, IT WAS MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THEY ORIGINALLY THOUGHT OR MY CAR WAS CONSTRUCTED USING THE PREVIOUS PARTS. THE LOCAL DEALER REFERRED ME TO VW WHO SAY THEY CAN NOT "PARTICIPATE" OR "ASSIST" WITH THIS REPAIR. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

GAS GUAGE INDICATE THERE IS GAS IN VEHICLE. BUT, VEHICLE WOULD STOP RUNNING DUE TO AN EMPTY GAS TANK. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND CANNOT FIND SOLUTION. *AK

THIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN INTO THE DEALER SHIP 4 TIMES TO REPAIR A PERSISTENT WATER LEAK FROM A POLLEN FILTER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS LEAK CAUSES WATER TO POOL UP TO APPROX ONE INCH IN THE RIGHT REAR FOOTWELL.

RECALL COMPONENT ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED, OWNER IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURE. (99V-131) *MJS

GAS TANK RUPTURED. *SLC

RECALL REPAIRS DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (99V-131 AND 99V-248). *MJS

NHTSA RECALL NO:99V131001 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO:UH CONCERNING BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CALLED SEVERAL TIMES OTHER DEALERS, AND NO ONE HAS THE PART. *AK

CONSUMER DENIED RECALL REPAIR (99V-131) DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *MJS

RECALL REPAIR CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. (99V-131) *MJS

SEAT HAS BEEN COMING APART FROM THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED THE FRAME OF THE SEAT, AND NOW THE SEATBACK IS NOT ADJUSTING PROPERLY. REGIONAL MANAGER WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THE CONSUMER, AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. BUT, WOULD FIX IT FOR HER. SEAT IS STILL LOOSE, AND HAS BEEN TAKING BACK MANNY OTHER TIMES. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD BEFORE IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL 99V131001. CONTACTED DEALER ON 15-NOV-99 AND STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE. ISSUE HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *ML

THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND W/OIL LEAK SINCE 5000MILES. 4 TIMES WAS THE VEHICLE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE FOR OIL LEAK. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO SERVICE LAST ON 1/3/00. IT IS ESTIMATED ON 2/20/00 THE CAR WILL HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED, DUE TO PIN-HOLE IN ENGINE BLOCK. I HAVE LOST THE USE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE 1/3/00.

WE WERE NOTIFIED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES ON OUR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THEY COMPLETED HAVE THE WORK ON THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE THE JOB ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PARTS ARE COMING FROM GERMANY. AS OF 1/18/00 WE WERE TOLD THE COMPANY IS HOLDING BACK THE PARTS. AS AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONISTS AND A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL, I FIND THIS EXPLANATION UNACCEPTABLE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT COMPLING WITH RECALL NOTICE ISSUED BY YOUR AGENCY. *AK

RECALL # 99V131000 VW/BRAKE BOOSTER; DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON OCTOBER 6, 1999. OWNER HAS CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS. OWNER HAS ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT 6 OR 7 TIMES, AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER 98V248000. CONTACTED THE DEALER, NO PARTS WEREAVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR 99V-131 COMPLETED DUE TO PARTS NOT BEING IN STOCK. *NLM

STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND ALWAYS HAS, MOSTLY DURING BRAKING, THE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES ARE AT 20%, STEERING PROBLEMS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE FAULTY ROTORS. *SLC

VERY LOUD (LIKE A HELICOPTOR) INTERIOR NOISE WHEN WINDOW OR SUNROOF IS OPENED *AK

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE OFTEN DROPS TO 400 RPM. THIS CAUSES STALLING. IF THE GAS PEDAL IS TAPPED WHEN THE IDLE IS ERRATIC, THE IDLE COMES BACK TO NORMAL, BUT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC SINCE IT CAUSES FORWARD MOVEMENT. IF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT TAPPED, THE CAR CAN STALL OUT. (THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE WITH THE 5-SPEED TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION). *AK

FROM STOPS, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCES HESITATION IN ACCELERATING. REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5-10 TIMES. IT OCCURS ONLY FROM A STOP.

BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM AND TIE ROD ON RECALLS,BUT RECALLS REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED ON APPOINTMENT DAY BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. (99V-131 AND 99V-248) YH

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH NOTICED AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS COMING ON. THIS WAS THE 3RD TIME. CONTACT DEALER, AND HE REPLACED AIRBAG SENSOR, AND FLIPPED A SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE AREN'T ANY BRAKES. *AK

WHILE MAKING A STOP VEHICLE WOULD IDLE INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, JUST AT THE POINT OF COMING TO A STOP, IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. HAPPENS IN BOTH HOT AND COLD WEATHER. *AK

COLD ENGINE HESITATION CAUSING CAR TO DOWNSHIFT, AS IF YOU WERE APPLYING BRAKES, FORCING YOU TO ACCELERATE

STEERING WHEEL IS MAKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. IT ALSO ACTS AS IF STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK OR GIVE WAY. DEALER CLAIMS POWER STEERING PUMP IS LEAKING, AND RACK AND PINION. PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

REAR VIEW PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS ARE TOO SMALL AND INADEQUATE CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO BLIND SPOTS. MJS

PASSENGER'S RIGHT SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR IS TOO SMALL TO SEE VEHICLES. THE BLIND SPOT HAS BROADENED WITH THIS MIRROR. DEALER SAYS CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DESIGN. *AK

RECALL 99V-131000 VW/ BRAKE BOOSTER: RECEIVED THIS MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. NOTIFIED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED TO DISREGARD NOTICE BECAUSE IT DID NOT EXIST. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS AND EXPLAIN IF THIS MFR. RECALL EXISTS ON MY VEHICLE, OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING BUT NOW ARE RUBBING,GRINDING,GROANING AND BRAKING ROUGH. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE NORMAL BRAKE SOUNDS AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALTHOUGH ON THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THEY DID "SOMETHING DIFFERENT" TO THE ROTORS THIS TIME. AFTER AT LEAST 6 VISITS, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND AM BEING TOLD TO SEEK A SCOND OPINION. *AK

CAR IS LEAKING OIL. ATTEMPTED REPAIR THREE TIMES. CAR WAS SMOKING FROM BENEATH PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

TRANSMISION FAILS TO SHIFT FROM LOWER GEARS, CAUSING CAR TO LOOSE SPEED AND BREAK PEDAL GETS EXTREMELY HARD, I HAVE MADE OTHER VEHICLES MAKE SUDDEN STOPS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING, I CAN ONLY DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I CAN'T KEEP RISKING MY LIFE, I NEED YOUR ADVICE.

WHILE DRIVING REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. PIECES FROM THE TIRE HIT THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT ON AN EXTREMELY HOT DAY. VEHICLE DESIGN USES A FRAMELESS GLASS WINDSHIELD WHICH I BELIEVE DOES NOT ADEQUATELY SUPPORT GLASS, THEREBY RESULTING IN WINDSHIELD STRESS CRACKS WHICH OBSCURE OUTWARD VISIBILITY AND PRESENT SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATE VOLKSWAGEN'S USE OF FRAMELESS WINDSHIELD GLASS AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF WINDSHIELD FAILURE IN VOLKSWAGEN (AND COMPANION AUDI) VEHICLES. *AK

CLUTCH SYSTEM UTILIZES A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OF PRESSURE WHICH IS SHARED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESERVOIR, VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITH A LEAKING SLAVE CYLINDER AND FAULTY PRESSURE LINE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CLUTCH OPERATION AND BRAKE FLUID LOSS. MJS

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A 180-DEGREE TURN, COMING FROM A PARKED POSITION ON THE STREET, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR AND HUNG AT A 90-DEGREE ANGLE. THIS CAR IS DANGERSOU WHEN SUPER-EXTENDING THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BECAUSE A HOLLOW KNUCKLE IS USED IN THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM.

ACCELERATING, COULD NOT STOP AUTO WITH BRAKES. SHIFTED AUTO TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE REVVED, PRESSED ACCELERATOR, ENGINE WENT TO IDLE.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 60 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S OR SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY. NO ROAD HAZARDS OBSERVED. WHEN TIRE BLEW OUT IT CUT INTO THE WHEEL WELL LINING AND THEN CUT INTO THE SIDE WALL OF THE FUEL TANK,RUPTURING THE TANK AND CAUSING A FUEL SPILL ONTO THE HOT TIRE AND WHEEL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: M3TA TIRE SIZE: 195/65R15 )

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 60 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD IS OPTICALLY DISTORTED. *AK