1999 Volkswagen Passat complaints

ABS, BRAKE, AND OIL LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. IT STARTED TODAY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE FROM MY RESEARCH IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL I SPEND CLOSE TO 2K ON AN ENTIRE MODULE WHEN ONLY ONE SMALL CHIP SOLDER FAILED. *TR

1) WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY I-10 AT THE SPEED OF 50 MILES/HOUR, THE CAR IS SHAKING AND THEN AFTER A MINUTES. 2) THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLOWED OUT AND HITS A HOLE IN THE CAR. AT THE SAME TIME, REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. 3) I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRE IN THE HIGHWAY AND DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, I CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE. MY MECHANIC FIXED THE REAR BUMPER, AND HE TOLD ME THAT ONE OF MY BRIDGESTONE TIRES INSIGNA 195/65 IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT (ACTUALLY THE TIRE SHOWS TIRE TREAD SEPARATION), THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF TREAD LEFT ON ALL OF 4 TIRES, 'CAUSE I JUST DRIVE OCCASIONALLY. ONE OF 4 TIRES FOUND OUT. *TR

ABS MODULE FAILURE NOTHING LEAD UPTO THE BEEPING AND FLASHING OF THE ABS LIGHT (SOLID LIT) AND BRAKE LIGHT (FLASHING). OCCURED AFTER ROUTINE DRIVING, SIMPLY PULLING INTO WORK PARKING LOT AS USUAL, AFTER SHORT TRIP TO EATING. AFTER SOME SEARCHING AND BROWSING ONLINE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED AS ON MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI MODELS. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE. REMANUFACTURING OF MODULE IS AROUND $200 AND OEM DEALER REPLACEMENT IS SAID TO BE WELL OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. *TR

DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES UPON ENTERING A REDUCED SPEED ZONE. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS TO SUGGEST A PROBLEM. DRIVER PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT HITTING TRAFFIC AHEAD AND SPUN 180 DEGREES ACROSS TRAFFIC SLAMMING INTO A CURB. WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AT THE CRASH SITE AND THE PEDAL OFFERED NO RESISTANCE FOR HIM. POWERING THE CAR ON AND OFF; BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VW DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS HAULED TO CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE BRAKES CHECKOUT NORMAL. DEALER HAS GIVEN LITTLE SENSE OF SECURITY TO MAKE DRIVER WANT TO GET IN THE CAR AGAIN. SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT CHECKS OUT FINE. ONE MECHANIC SAID HE HEARD OF A CASE WITH TIRES CONFUSING THE ABS WITH DIFFERENT WEAR. FRONT TIRES ARE >95% AND THE REARS ARE 75%. NOBODY WOULD DOCUMENT THIS THEORY HOWEVER AND REPAIR WILL NOW LEAVE CAR WITH 3 BASICALLY NEW TIRES WITH ONE REAR AT 75%. *JB UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING; BEEPS INITIALLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON. AFTER HAVING SERVICE CENTER REPLACE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED TO BE FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. NOT AWARE OF THIS OCCURRING IN ANY OTHER MAKES, AND LEARN FROM COMPLAINTS WITHIN AND FROM FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1999 VW PASSAT. OIL LIGHT, NOW, ALSO COMES ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, BUT GOES OFF WHEN PEDAL IS RELEASED. OIL PRESSURE & PUMP OKAY, AS IS OIL LEVEL, BUT SOURCE OF OIL LIGHT/BRAKE PEDAL ISSUE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY 1999 VW PASSAT'S ABS LIGHT LIT UP AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOLLOW BY 3 LOUD BEEPS. I LATER BRING IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY ABS MODULE DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WITH VW ABS SYSTEM. *TR

MY 1999 PASSAT 1.8L HAS ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE CHIME COMING ON OCCASIONALLY. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO DEGRADATION OF BRAKING BUT NOT SURE IF ABS IS WORKING OR NOT. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF, BUT THEN RESTARTS AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. *TR

1999 VW PASSAT 1.8 ABS LIGHT STAYS ON.

I HAVE A FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT THAT I UNDERSTAND COULD BE A RESULT OF THE ABS MODULE FAILURE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ABS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON AND EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

ABS LIGHTS ON, OIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. *AK

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT GO ON AND OFF WITH NO RHYME. DEALER HAS QUOTED ME $1500 TO REPLACE. IT SEEMS THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH SO MANY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL SEND TO HAVE IT REBUILT THEN QUICKLY SELL CAR AND NOT PURCHASE VW AGAIN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 00V414000 NOR # 99V248000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,800.

CAR ABS BRAKE MODULE QUITE WORKING CAUSING TIRES TO LOCK UP AND LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

REFER TO NHTSA RECALL # 99V248000. 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TIE RODS OR STEERING LINKAGE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM 3 TIMES AT $1500.00 TO $2000.00 EACH TIME SINCE 2005. SUNCOAST VOLKSWAGEN IN SARASOTA FL REPAIRED IT 2 TIMES, MOST RECENT IN 10/06. NOW, NORTHTOWN VOLKSWAGEN IN AMHERST NY WAS REPLACING THEM AGAIN. I REFERRED TO THIS RECALL AND VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID VIN DID NOT FALL WITHIN THEIR RECALL NUMBERS. YOUR RECALL INFORMATION CLAIMED THE EXTENT OF MODELS AFFECTED WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER GAVE ME EXCUSES EACH TIME. *AK

1.) NORMAL USAGE 2.) FAILURE OF LATCH THAT SECURES THE REAR, FOLD DOWN PASSENGER SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO OBJECT IN CARGO AREA IMPACTING THE SEAT DURING DECELERATION CAUSING SEAT LATCH TO FAIL AND THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE INTO SEATED PASSENGER. PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE IN WAGON MODELS WHERE LARGER CARGO ITEMS CAN BE STORED. 3.) WE HAD SEAT LATCH RELEASE MECHANISM REPLACED. (FAILED PART IS NOT AVAILABLE). *TR

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON - ABS NOT WORKING. *JB

THIS REGARDS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T WAGON @ 97,500 MILES. BEGINNING 03/20/2007 THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS. THE ABS AND BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY, BUT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY CAUSING THE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF. THE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF AGAIN AT LEAST ONCE DAILY, SOME DAYS REPEATEDLY AND AT RANDOM. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE IS $900. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVES THAT THIS IS QUITE A PROBLEM WITH PASSAT AND COMPARABLE AUDI VEHICLES, MANY WITH MUCH LESS MILEAGE. I HAVE PLACED A CALL WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE MODULE. THE COST IS QUITE EXCESSIVE FOR A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUOUSLY CAUSES CONCERN FOR THE DRIVER AND IS A PURE ANNOYANCE. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION? *TR

ABS MODULE FAILURE. ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING AND 3 BEEPS INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR AWHILE IT MAY NOT COME ON FOR SEVERAL MILES THE NEXT TIME. BRAKING HEAVILY CAUSES THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND SKID. ALSO WHAT I THINK IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IS WHEN BRAKING HEAVILY WITH THE ABS LIGHT OFF CAUSES THE CAR TO SKID AND AT THE SAME TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT AND STALLS. IF ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED THIS COULD BE DEADLY. THE REPAIR WILL BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC MODULE. ADD ME TO THE LIST OF MANY WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WANT TO GET A RECALL INSTITUTED ON THIS MODULE. *AK

BEEP SOUND ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN WENT OFF.*AK

1999 VW PASSAT, 1.8T ENGINE: IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 76,000 MILES.*AK

1999 VW PASSAT. ABS LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON. BRAKE LIGHT ALWAYS FLASHING IN DASH, 3 BEEPS EVERY FEW MINUTES. NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM 2 DEALERS. I WILL NOT ACCEPT TRIAL BY ERROR DIAGNOSIS AT MY EXPENSE. I STRONGLY URGE VW TO ATTEND TO THIS OVERWHELMINGLY COMMON PROBLEM. MY LOVE OF DRIVING THIS CAR IS GONE.*AK

1999 PASSAT WAGON. ABS MODULE FAILURE

1999 PASSAT 4 CYL. TURBO ABS MODULE FAILURE. DIAGNOSED AT DEALER. $3200 TO REPLACE. WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION IN CURRENT CONDITION.

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY BRAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO WEAVE IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07.*J

I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT WITH A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. VW RECENTLY RECALLED 790,000 CARS (BUT NOT THE PASSAT MODEL) FOR FREE REPLACEMENT. MY REPAIR SHOP AND SEVERAL WEB SITES VERIFY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE PASSAT ALSO. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT FUNCTION WHICH COULD LEAD TO A REAR IMPACT CRASH. I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED AT A COST OF $110. I FEEL VW SHOULD EXTEND IT'S RECALL TO ALL MODELS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED. *JB

ABS INDICATION LIGHT WAS ON CONSISTENTLY. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINT EXISTED REGARDING THE ABS CONTROL UNIT BUT NOT YET HAVE THE VM/AUDI RECALL ACTION ACTIVATED. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND NOTED "FOUND NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED". WAS CHARGED FOR OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND IT IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THE CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. *NM

WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO (NOT AT MY VW DEALER), I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIE ROD ENDS WERE "LOOSE" AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THREE WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO MY DEALER TO HAVE THE CV JOINTS REPLACED, AND TO HAVE THE TIE ROD ENDS INSPECTED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS, ADDING THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE NOW "DANGEROUSLY LOOSE." I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $700 INCLUDING THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT THAT NECESSITATED. I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS HAD HAD TWO RECALLS FOR MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME UNEQUIVOCALLY "THERE WAS NO RECALL" ON MY TIE ROD ENDS FOR THIS VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE REVEALED THAT MY VIN NUMBER FALLS SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGES COVERED BY THE TWO RECALLS. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND AS A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE, IT SEEMS UTTERLY UNREASONABLE FOR SUCH A CRITICAL (STEERING) COMPONENT TO HAVE FAILED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A REVIEW OF THE FACTS INVOLVED IN THE ABOVE RECALLS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT VW'S DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE FOR THE RECALL CLASS, AND CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE REMAINED DEFECTIVE ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL VIN RANGE COVERED UNDER THE RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY, I FAILED TO HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE ME WITH THE REPLACED COMPONENTS. *NM

THE BRAKE LIGHT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO PASSAT MODELS (OURS IS 1999). WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON, TRIGGERING THE ABS LIGHT TO COME ON ALSO. AFTER 3 ACE MECHANICS REVIEW THE PROBLEM, THEY ISOLATED IT TO THE SAME PROBLEM THAN THE RECALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCED TODAY. THIS PROBLEM WAS ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 3 MONTHS AGO AND WE DON'T KNOW IF A BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURRED HOW IT WILL SHOW SINCE THE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES IN JUNE 2006 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, HE HEARD A RAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO A REPAIR FACILITY, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CEASED. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 150000.*AK

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006 I PURCHASED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM SUBURBAN COLLECTIONS AT THE TROY MOTOR MALL IN TROY, MICHIGAN. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I EXPERIENCED SEVERE PROBLEMS AS I WAS ON MY WAY INTO WORK. MY CAR TOOK ON A MIND OF IT'S OWN. AS I TURNED THE CORNER ONTO W. 13 MILE ROAD IN ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE RATHER QUICKLY. BEFORE I KNEW IT WAS GOING 60 MPH, WITHOUT EVEN HITTING THE GAS AT ALL. THE MOST FRIGHTENING PART OF ALL OF THIS WAS THAT MY BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK DO TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATING. AS I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND PUT THE CAR INTO PARK THE RPM'S IMMEDIATELY RED LINED AND THE ENGINE WAS REVING. NEEDLESS TO SAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AT THE TROY MOTOR MALL. THE DEALERSHIP TWO DAYS LATER THEN TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. ODDLY ENOUGH, AFTER THIS OCCURRED TWO HOURS LATER MY CAR WAS FINISHED? I PICKED THE CAR UP THAT FRIDAY AND DROVE IT FOR EXACTLY ONE WEEK WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS. WELL, I GOT INTO MY CAR ON FRIDAY AS I USUALLY DO AND ONCE AGAIN MY CAR BEGAN TO FUN BY ITSELF. I WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED DRIVING DOWN ROCHESTER ROAD GOING 70 MPH WITH NO AVAILABLE WAY TO STOP MY CAR. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY AND CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN. THE STRANGE THING IS THAT THE SAME DAY I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL ON FRIDAY SAYING THAT MY PART (THROTTLE BODY) WAS IN AT THE DEALERSHIP READY FOR REPLACEMENT. SO ALL IN ALL, THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP PRESENTED ME WITH

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASAAT WITH 113000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 75 MILES. THE CONTACT RODE THE BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES, THEN NOTICED A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT WAS JAMMING ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP , AND THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED TWICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING HIGH. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO PULL UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THAT WAS THE REMEDY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO IDLE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK

1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T SUFFERED SUDDEN TIMING BELT FAILURE AT ONLY 54,000 MILES. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-70) IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS, LEAVING ME BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE TO COAST UPHILL TO A NARROW SNOWY SHOULDER, WHERE WE WERE FORCED TO CALL 911 AND WAIT FOR ALMOST 45 MINUTES IN A COLD VEHICLE, IN CONSTANT DANGER OF BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY SEMI/TRACTOR TRAILERS. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND ENDANGERED MY FAMILY, AND IF IT WERE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE PURSUING THIS ISSUE AS I DID MISS THE 40,000 MILE SERVICE WHEN A BELT INSPECTION WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PERFORMED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BASED UPON MY DISCUSSIONS WITH INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND THE INTERNET, AND LED TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OF AUDI AND NOW (ONGOING) VW. IN THE MEANTIME, VW APPEARS TO BE DENYING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE, AND REFUSES TO HONOR ITS EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY UNLESS IT HAS BEEN VERY STRICTLY FOLLOWED. DUE TO THE SYSTEMATIC FAILURE WITH THIS CRITICAL ENGINE PART, USUALLY OCCURRING WELL BEFORE VW'S OWN RECOMMENDED BELT CHANGE INTERVAL OF 105,000 MILES, I BELIEVE THAT VW SHOULD BE REPAIRING/RECALLING THESE VEHICLES FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE BELTS AND TENSIONERS. SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL; IN MY CASE THE REAL DANGER WAS THE LOCATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. IT APPEARS VW IS FOLLOWING THE SAME

ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 25, 2007 I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN WHEN I RELEASED PRESSURE FROM THE GAS PEDAL. IT THEN BECAME APPARENT TO ME THAT THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE TACHOMETER SHOWED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING IN THE 5,000 RPM RANGE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL, THEN SHIFTED TO PARK. I ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR, BUT EACH TIME THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP TO THE 5,000 RPM RANGE AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED. AFTER ABOUT 4 ATTEMPTS OF SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE FINALLY IDLED AS IS SHOULD UPON START UP AND I WAS ABLE TO FINISH MY DRIVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *JB

1999 VW PASSAT 1.8 TURBO. ABS LIGHT CAME UP ON 74000 MILE FOR NO REASON. LIGHT WAS COMING AND GOING. NOW IT IS ALWAYS ON. READING CODES SAYS: "NO COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN CONTROL MODULE AND COMPUTER. DIAGNOSE WAS: BAD CONTROL MODULE. MODULE COST $700 US DOLLARS, AND DEALER IS ASKING FOR $700 TO REPLACE( FOR ME IT WILL TAKE 15-20 MIN). STILL, THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR BAD DESIGNED AND IN A WRONG SPOT PLACED MODULE. *JB

FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND OUTER TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME AT 55,552 MILES AND SECOND TIME AT 75,959 MILES. THAT'S ONLY 20,407 MILES DIFFERENCE FOR THE $1200.00 REPAIR TO BE DONE AGAIN. ABSURD. CALLED THE VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE IN ANY WAY STATING THE 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THIS DEFECT WOULD NEVER FALL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE. I ALREADY ABSORBED THE COST FOR THE 1ST REPAIR SO IN ALL FAIRNESS THEY SHOULD COVER THE 2ND TIME. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY $1200 EVERY 20,000 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. I WILL GO LEGAL AND FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO CONSUMER REPORTS, THE BBB, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. *JB

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON TO WARN ME SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD COST ME $1500 TO REPAIR. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH PASSATS - IN PARTICULAR ABS BOSCH 5.3 ,5.4, 5.7 CONTROL MODULES. *JB

OVER TIME LEAVES COLLECTED IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT OF MY '99 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THIS LED TO RAIN WATER LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CORRODING THE ECU UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE ALARM AND LOCKS STARTED WORKING ON THEIR OWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE INITIAL REACTION FROM VOLKSWAGEN WAS TO "CHEAPLY FIX" AND THE SELL THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE LIFELONG PROBLEMS WITHOUT A "PROPER FIX" WHICH WOULD COST MORE THAN THE CAR WAS WORTH (~$6-$8K). *JB

99 VW PASSAT'S OIL PUMP FAILED. **CC THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THREE OIL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT VW IS AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH OIL SLUDGE IN VW'S BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS 105000 MILES.

THE CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT INTERSECTIONS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN JUST RELEASING FOOT OFF OF ACCELERATOR. *NM

SOLID ABS LIGHT/FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. *JB

1999 PASSAT ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO A OIL PUMP FAILURE. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL LEAK REPAIRED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS A FAULTY DRIVE SHAFT, RIGHT CV JOINT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH, THE CONTROL KNOB FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT, ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, WATER PUMP SEAL RINGS, A POWER STEERING LEAK WHICH WAS HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, THE COOLANT PUMP, O-RINGS AND THE OIL PUMP AND PUMP ROD BEARINGS. THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL, OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVERS. *JB

1) CAR STALLS OR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. 2) CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND OTHER UNSAFE PLACES. 3) FUEL PUMP IS FAILING AND WILL BE REPLACED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS SEEN. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN, LACKED LUBRICATION, WERE RUBBING INTO THE FRONT TIRES, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V414000, REGARDING THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 1/31/2007 - *NM

CHRONIC OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS (DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP) STARTING AT 73000 MILES LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF OIL PUMP AT 100000. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID ($1250). I HAVE OLD PARTS. *NM

ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. *JB

I AM ONE OF AN ALREADY LARGE AND CONSTANTLY GROWING NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S AND AUDI'S WHO HAVE ABS (AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS) THAT HAVE STOPPED WORKING AFTER ONLY A MERE 60-70,000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND EACH TIME THEY (DEAL) SAY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. WITH MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING NOW AND MORE TO JOIN IN AS THE DAYS GO BY, ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LARGE QUANTITY OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SNAFU. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT VW/AUDI APPEARS TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. LATELY, SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS GENERALLY BEING CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IN THE ABS MODULE. YET AT THIS POINT, VW AND AUDI ARE HAVING USERS REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT. THIS COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY OF US ($2000 UPWARD IN MY CASE). IN THE MEANTIME, MANY OF US ARE HAVING TO DRIVE WITH FAULTY ABS SYSTEMS, WITH RESULTANT SAFETY PROBLEMS: FOR ME, THE ABS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GO ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE BRAKES ON MY CAR GRAB AND ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TOO. I FEAR THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GROWING WORSE. THE MORE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT ALL OF THESE CARS LACK THE ABS DURING CRUCIAL TIMES OF DRIVING ON ICY OR WET PAVEMENT. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE ABS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE (SINCE IN MANY C

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE THE DEALER NOTICED THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V414000, REGARDING THE STEERING; LINKAGES; ROD; RELAY; CONNECTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH A FAILED ABS MODULE AS IT COMMUNICATES WITH OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR. THE DEALER CHARGED $912.08 FOR THE REPAIR. A MONTH LATER THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, AND THE DEALER IS ASKING $2372 FOR THE PART ITSELF. I SEARCHED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO ARE PLAGUED BY ABS-RELATED FAILURES. DRIVING WITH NO ABS IS NOT SAFE IN A CAR THAT IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. *JB

IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, 2006, MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS, WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MY FAMILY, BEGIN EXHIBITING SOME TROUBLING BEHAVIOR. THE BEHAVIOR CONSISTS OF THE TACHOMETER CEASING TO FUNCTION AS BOTH THE "BRAKE" AND "OIL" DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASH WITH ACCOMPANYING WARNING TONES AND THE "ABS" DASHBOARD LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND REMAINS ON. WHEN THE "ABS" DASHBOARD LIGHT IS ON, MY CAR'S ABS DOES NOT FUNCTION. AT FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT EVENTUALLY BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND HAS NOW REACH A STATE OF PERSISTENCY. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON VOLKSWAGENS VEHICLES SINCE I WAS A CHILD AND, GIVEN MY IMMEDIATELY FAMILY HAS OWNED OVER TEN VOLKSWAGENS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS ALONE, THE REST OF MY FAMILY HAS AS WELL; INCLUDING A SECONDARY RELATIVE WHO OWNS A VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR BUSINESS IN AMESBURY, MA. GIVEN THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROBLEM IS COMMON AND WELL DOCUMENTED, THE DIAGNOSIS OF A FAULTY BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER WAS STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAS LOGGED OVER 50 COMPLAINTS ALONE WITH MANY HUNDREDS MORE BEING AFFECTED. ALL INSTANCES ARE CONSISTENT WITH MY OWN. REVIEW OF THE INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONIES AS LOGGED BY THE NHTSA MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF A KEY COMPONENT OF ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS. THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF REPAIRING THIS ITEM AND THE REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM COMPONENT AS DEFECTIVE AND ELECTIVELY RECALLING IT AMOUNTS TO NEGLIGENCE AND RECKLESS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS, OIL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THEN FLASHED. THERE WAS A BEEPING NOISE AS A WARNING SIGNAL PRIOR TO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS, OIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TACHOMETER ALSO FAILED. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND WORSEN OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THERE WERE NO CODES AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THEY RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE OWNER MANUAL, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A WARNING STATEMENT THAT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COULD RESULT IN THE LOCKING UP OF THE REAR BRAKES UNDER HARD BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO HARD BRAKING WHEN THIS OCCURRED.