1999 Volkswagen Passat complaints

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY. DEALER CLAIMS ABS MODULE($1600). AFTER RESEARCHING, FOUND HUNDREDS OF VW PASSAT OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM VW DOES NOT WANT TO ASSIST OR PERFORM RECALL. *NM

MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING FOR MONTHS .....I AM TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS AN ABS SENSOR....BRAKES NOT REALLY AFFECTED....HOWEVER I HIT THE BRAKES AT 10MPH WHILE TAKING A SLIGHT TURN...BRAKES FAILED, THEN LOCKED; HIT CURBAND BRUSHED TREE.VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS.....BRAKES CHECKED AND LOOKED FINE...NO EXPLANATION FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THE BRAKES. *NM

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TIE RODS AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WERE BAD. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR IT'S 40000 MILES CHECKUP WHEN THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE INDEPENDENT TECH COULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG THEREFORE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT 1999 PASSATS WERE RECALL FOR TIE ROD ISSUES IN 1999 AND NOTIFICATION WERE SENT OUT IN OCTOBER 1999, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *NM

ABS, OIL, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF OVER LAST FEW MONTHS WITH ALARM SOUNDS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY ALSO. TACHOMETER DROPS TO 0 WHEN THIS STARTS AND STAYS ON 0 AS LONG AS WARNING LIGHTS ON. OTHER TIMES NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING WHEN I START IT UP AND DRIVE FOR QUITE A TIME, THEN THEY START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO RUSTY WALLIS VW IN GARLAND, TX. THEY SAID ABS MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WAS MY PROBLEM===QUOTING $2687 TO REPLACE, AND IF I DIDN'T REPLACE IT, CHANCE WAS WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP IF I HAD TO BRAKE HARD. THEY DID ASK ME TO FILL OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE ON THIS ABS PROBLEM, LIKE "CONSTANT LIGHT" OR "INTERMITTENT", ETC. I THOUGHT THAT WAS CURIOUS. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SAME THING ON INTERNET, AUTOMOTIVE DISCUSSION BOARDS. I ALSO HAVE GATHERED VW IS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A VW PROBLEM (ALSO GATHER IT'S AN AUDI PROBLEM). IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE ALMOST $3,000 IN MY POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OWNED UP TO BY VW. IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH VW'S AND THIS ABS MODULE GOING BAD APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *JB

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILURE - DISCOVERED PROBLEM AT PASSATWORLD.COM. *JB

CAR CLUNKED AND RATTLED OVER SMALL BUMPS, AND FELT FLOATY AND WANDERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER REPORTED THAT UPPER FRONT CONTROL ARMS WERE BAD. SAID THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VWS AND AUDI'S. *JB

AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AS INDICATED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. SERVICE TECH ADVISED IT WAS ABS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER -- EXPENSIVE REPAIR. WAS TOLD BRAKES WERE OK AND I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEM OPERATING PROPERLY. I WAIVED REPAIR BASED ON THIS INFORMATION. IT IS NOW A MONTH LATER AND THE LIGHTS ARE ON CONTINUOUSLY. TOOK CAR IN FOR STATE INSPECTION. NOW TOLD CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH BRAKES! HUH? I'VE BEEN DRIVING CAR FOR OVER A MONTH THINKING THERE WAS NO DANGER. SERVICE TECHS WILL NOW NOT CONFIRM PROBLEM IS WITH ABS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. MUST DO ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC AT $80/HR. WAS INFORMED THEY COULD PASS CAR INSPECTION IF THEY COULD GET LIGHTS TO GO OFF LONG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO PERFORM INSPECTION (WINK WINK). IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD OR NOT??? I NOW HAVE 15 DAYS TO GET REPAIR DONE IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION. I'M NO TECH BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY PART THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. ADD TO THAT, THERE IS NO CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHETHER THIS IS A DANGER OR NOT. I'M GUESSING SINCE CARS WON'T PASS INSPECTION, IT IS. *NM

ABS WARNING LIGHT PLUS OIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH, TACHOMETER GOES TO ZERO. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

1 - I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 VW PASSAT WITH 97,630 MILES ON JULY 28, 2006 WHEN IT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CHECK OIL, FLUIDS, DAMAGE, ETC BUT COULD FIND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. 2 - A DAY LATER, THE EXHAUST STARTED TO MAKE A CONTINUOUSLY LOUD NOISE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOW FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT ANY ACTION FROM ME. IT APPEARS LIKE A CIRCUIT BOARD OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WENT BAD. 3 - THE "ABS / BRAKE" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STARTED BLINKING AT THIS TIME AS WELL. 4 - MY DEALER SAID THE MODULES GO BAD AND IT IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY, SO THE ESTIMATE WAS AROUND $850 TO FIX. I CALLED VW'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL NOTICES THAT COULD HELP. *JB

ENGINE LIGHT. *NM

THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE, AND VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD OWN UP TO IT. WATER IS GETTING INTO MY CAR THROUGH SOMETHING UNDER THE HOOD AND SOAKING MY CARPETS. IT HAS FRIED MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE NEEDS REPLACING AS WELL AS THE CORRODED WIRES. THE ESTIMATED COST IS ABOVE $2000. *NM

THE FAILURE OF LOWER CONTROL ARM HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING, DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON THE CITY ROAD WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN (APPROXIMATELY AT 5 MPH SPEED). RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM SHEARED IN TWO PIECES, LEAVING A FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL COMPLETELY SEPARATED. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPENED ON ANY HIGHER HIGHER SPEED, CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE DEADLY. I RESEARCHED THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND FOUND THAT VW ISSUED A SERVICE ACTION FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON 1999 PASSAT. HOWEVER, VW SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE SERVICE ACTION DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE. VW'S EXPLANATION WAS THAT IT ONLY COVERS PARTS FROM CERTAIN SUPPLIER (ACCORDING TO REPRESENTATIVE, VW USED TWO DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM). I BELIEVE THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, AS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD NOT BE A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE TO REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM, DRIVE SHAFT AND WHEEL LINER (AND, POSSIBLY SOME OTHER PARTS WHICH WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE CONTROL ARM FAILURE) AT MY EXPENSE. I BELIEVE, VW SHOULD COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE EXPENSE, AS IT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF A FACTORY DEFECT. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLID BACKWARDS AND BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. FOR A MOMENT I COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS OR THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND STOP IT SAFELY. IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE SEAT IS SECURED TO THE CAR WITH TWO SCREWS WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. AFTER RE-ATTACHING THE SEAT, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THEY APPLIED SOME LOCK-TIGHT TO THE SCREWS, BUT THAT WAS IT. *JB

JUST BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF MY 100,000-MILE, 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AT 99,938 MILES (AND 23 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF 6 YEARS) I TOOK MY 1999 1.8L TURBO VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (B5) TO THE DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PERFORM THE 100,000-MILE SERVICE AND TO THOROUGHLY CHECK THE CAR FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED SINCE IT WOULD SOON BE OUT-OF-WARRANTY. FOUR HOURS LATER WHEN THE SHOP WAS CLOSING, I PICKED UP MY CAR. UPON CHECKOUT, THE SERVICE REP STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, BUT THAT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND VOLKSWAGEN RECOMMEND CHANGING THE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, AND WATER PUMP AT 105,000 MILES. I THANKED HIM AND WENT HOME NOT REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS COMMENT. THREE WEEKS LATER ON JUNE 2, 2006 AT 102,088 MILES (AND 3 DAYS PAST THE SIX-YEAR POINT), MY TENSIONER BROKE WHICH CAUSED MY TIMING BELT TO SLIP AND STRIP THE TEETH INTERMITTENTLY OFF THE BELT. SINCE I WAS NOT AWARE THAT MY TIMING BELT WAS SLIPPING (EXCEPT FOR AN INCREASE IN NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATED), THE VALVES WERE BENT DURING THE EVENT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO A LOCAL VW SERVICE SHOP, AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN AND THAT MACHINING OF THE CYLINDER BLOCK WAS NECESSARY SINCE THE VALVES WERE BENT. THE REPAIR TO MY ENGINE, INCLUDING A WATER PUMP AND FAULTY PLASTIC HOSE, COST $2,342. IN ADDITION, I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR ONE WEEK FOR THE DURATION OF THE REPAIR ($225) AND TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE SHOP ($28). UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I REALIZED IT

JUST BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF MY 100,000-MILE, 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AT 99,938 MILES (AND 23 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF 6 YEARS) I TOOK MY 1999 1.8L TURBO VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (B5) TO THE DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PERFORM THE 100,000-MILE SERVICE AND TO THOROUGHLY CHECK THE CAR FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED SINCE IT WOULD SOON BE OUT-OF-WARRANTY. FIVE WEEKS AND 3000 MILES LATER (AND OUT OF WARRANTY) I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN ON TWO OCCASIONS MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND THREE BEEPS SOUNDED (THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 103,085 MILES). BOTH TIMES THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITHIN SECONDS. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS RELATED TO A FAILED ABS CONTROL MODULE, APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT SINCE IT FAILS PREMATURELY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1800 AND $2400 FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS THE SECOND LARGE ITEM FAILURE WITHIN FIVE WEEKS AND 3000 MILES OF MY WARRANTY EXPIRATION (THE FIRST WAS A FAILED TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER). IT APPEARS TO ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS INSTITUTED PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE INTO THEIR PRODUCTS! I AM ALSO VERY UPSET THAT BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD BE KNOWN BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN AND COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. *JB

1999 VW PASSAT OIL CONSUMPTION - 1 QT. EVERY 750 MILES. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEALS, TESTS AND IS NOW PLANNING FURTHER SEAL REPLACEMENT. I KNOW THIS WON'T GET FIXED; THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW WHERE MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE ALSO "SUFFERING". WILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEMAND A RECALL???????*JB

AFTER HEAVY RAINS THIS PAST WEEK, MY 99 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS FLOODED TWICE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT AND BACK. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM CAME FROM CLOGGED SUN ROOF DRAINS. I WET VACUUMED OUT 3 GALLONS OF WATER FROM THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO CAUSED BY CLOGGED POLLEN FILTERS. THERE IS NO MENTION OF EITHER OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE MANUAL. VW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM/DEFECT IN THEIR CARS. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS ON THE SAME ISSUE (WWW.HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM AND WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM). THIS FLOODING PROBLEM IS CAUSING TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROBLEMS LEADING TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY! *NM

ABS LIGHT, ABS INTERMITANT FAILURE, OIL LIGHT FAILURE, TACHOMETER FAILURE. *NM

ABS, ASR, AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON THE CAR'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTS REAR WHEELS MAY LOCK AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A SERVICE STATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY ENSURED ME THAT A NEW WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE I RECEIVED AND BECAUSE I'M A COMETENT ENGINEER WITH ELECTRICAL TROUBLE SHOOTING SKILLS I ACTUALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE. I'M CURRENTLY AWAITING THE REBUILDING OF THE COMPONENT AND WILL INSTALL IT WHEN IT ARRIVES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS AT VARIOUS SITES ON THE INTERNET. ONE SIGHT HAS OVER 28 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *NM

THE FOLLOWING IS EXACT COMMENTS FROM VW TECH WRITTEN IN DEALERSHIP INVOICE. "ABS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE WORD BRAKE IS FLASHING WHEN THE CONTROL UNIT IS PLUGGED IN. NO TACHOMETER READING AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLASHES. 5052 WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE UNIT AT ALL. DEALER TECH UNPLUGGED ABS CONTROL UNIT AND THE TACHOMETER SIGNAL CAME BACK AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING." **5052 WILL NOT COMMUNICATE** DIAGNOSTIC TOOL WILL NOT DETECT FAULT WITH ABS MODULE!!! *NM

I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT V6 GLS. I HAVE 74, 270 MILES ON THE CAR. MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS AGO, THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN MY ABS/ BRAKE AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND WERE FLASHING. I BROUGHT IT TO VW DEALER TODAY, AND WAS TOLD MY ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR $975.00. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND AT VWVORTEX.COM THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PASSAT IN MY YEAR RANGE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY. IN ADDITION, I RECEIVED A RECALL IN 11/04 FOR VEHICLE CONTROL ARMS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO VW DEALER ON 12/17/04, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CONTROL ARMS DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME I HAD 61, 923 MILES ON THE CAR. TODAY, I AM TOLD ONLY 12,000 MILES LATER THAT MY CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE THE RECALL IS CLOSED. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR THIS PART EITHER, THE DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN 12/04 BEFORE IT COULD POSE A HAZARD TO MY SAFETY. *JB

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES - WAS TOLD ABS UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON DETERMINED THAT ABS AND THE PROPORTIONING SYSTEM OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING AND FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALER WANTS CRAZY AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIR WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS I DO AND WE ALL STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS DEFINITELY DESERVES TO BE A RECALL BY VW OF AMERICA. THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT GLX WITH 72,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, THE ABS LIGHT, THE BRAKE LIGHT, THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR, AND THE TACHOMETER BEGAN TO BEHAVE ERRATICALLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION, STARTING A WHEEL FIRE AT THE ROTOR. I REPLACED THE CALIPER, ROTOR, AND PADS. A NON-VW SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE REMAINING ROTORS AND PADS, REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND FLUSHED/BLED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS PERSISTS. THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS ARE USUALLY ABSENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY COLD, THEN USUALLY APPEAR AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS CAN DISAPPEAR WHILE DRIVING, THEN REAPPEAR DURING LATER DRIVING. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY, BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED WHAT THE ESTIMATE MIGHT BE TO ATTEMPT REPAIR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM RETURNED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE SAME COMPONENT WAS REPLACED AGAIN. UPDATED 06/07/2006. *AK *TS

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOT OF NOISE FOR SOME TIME NOW. WAS TOLD IT WASNT A SAFETY CONCERN YET, JUST ANNOYING BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. CALLED VW AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED MANY ISSUES WITH THE CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS. *NM

ABS LIGHT STARTED TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS AND IS NOW ON CONSTANTLY. BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS HAVE NOTICEABLY CHANGED AND RANDOMLY PULSE AT TIMES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED FAILURE IN VW PASSATS AT AROUND 75K MILES. *JB

THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FELL OFF. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HEADLIGHT BULB ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REPLACED ON 12/19/05 AND BELIEVES THE MECHANIC MAY HAVE LOOSENED THE TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. *NM

SAME AS PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS: ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY W/ ABS CHIME SOUNDING CONSTANTLY EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS THE ABS MODULE AND THAT IT HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN PROBLEMATIC IN A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THESE CARS. IN MY OPINION, VW NEEDS TO STAND BY THERE PRODUCT IN THIS CASE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, THE DEALER CONCLUDED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS THE PROBLEM AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT PERFORM ANY REMEDY TO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 4/19/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS, BRAKE AND OIL LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACED ALTHOUGH THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE.

THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED IN OUR 1999 PASSAT WAGON WITH ONLY 70K MILES. IT FAILED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS ALSO EXTREME. *JB

FAILURE OF ABS MODULE ON 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. MY ABS LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED ABS MODULE. THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1,500. FOR THE PART ALONE!!! THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY FAIL ALL THE TIME AND THAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT FIX THEM. I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE A FURTHER INVESTMENT IN THE CAR SO I LET IT GO. THE CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY THE DEALER IN STATE INSPECTION AND PASSED. NOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT PASS CARS WITH ABS LIGHTS. I AM AWARE OF WEBSITES (MYVWLEMON; BENTLEY; AND PASSATWORLD FORUM) THAT CHRONICLE MANY ISSUES WITH THE ABS MODULE ON PASSATS. IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE ABS MODULE MANUFACTURED BY BOSCH IS DEFECTIVE AND A COTTAGE INDUSTRY HAS ARISEN OF MANUFACTURERS OF THESE PARTS. SOME EVEN REBUILD THEM AS THE DEFECT IS KNOWN. *NM

THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT IS GOING ON. DEALER TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE COST IS >$1700. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V248000, CONCERNING THE STEERING RODS AND RELAYS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY TOGETHER WITH 3 BEEPS. SOME DAYS ARE WORSE THEN OTHERS, BUT I WOULD SAY THE PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT 60-80% OF THE TIME. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND REAR WHEELS TEND TO BREAK OUT EASILY ON ICY ROADS. *JB

MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON AND/OR BLINKING INCLUDING ABS, BRAKE LIGHT, AND OIL LIGHT. *JB

I HAD A FLASHING ABS LIGHT IN MY GAUGE CLUSTER THAT WOULDN'T STOP. WENT TO DEALER TO CHECK FAULT CODE FOR LIGHT. TOLD THAT MY ABS CONTROL UNIT IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING....SHOULDN'T DRIVE CAR WITHOUT REPLACING UNIT. COST FOR UNIT AND R & R $1.000. *NM

ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY WITH CHIME SOUNDING EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS. PROBABLY BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS. WAS TOLD BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THE PROBLEM WAS JUST ELECTRICAL, BUT NOW READING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE ABS MODULE FAILING IN SO MANY OTHER CARS. SEEMS LIKE VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE.*AK

IN MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THERE IS A CONTROL MODULE KNOWN AS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. I BELONG TO A NATIONWIDE PASSAT GROUP KNOWN AS WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS AND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. IT SEEMS IN EARLY MODEL PASSATS (1998-2001) THE ABS CONTROL MODULE GETS EXTREMELY HOT OVER TIME SINCE IT IS PLACED DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS CAUSES THE UNIT TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THIS UNIT MALFUNCTIONS IT CAUSES THE ABS BREAKING SYSTEM TO FAIL. ALSO, IT FLASHES MULTIPLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT ARE EXTREMELY DISTRACTING. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DOES NOT HAVE THIS UNDER WARRANTY, OR RECALL. DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CHARGING 1,200$ TO REPLACE THIS UNIT THAT TAKES 20 MINUTES TO CHANGE OUT. THE HARD PART IS TRYING TO RE-BUILD THE MODULE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FACTOR THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. ON OUR WEBSITE WE HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO'S ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, ALONG WITH THE DATE AND MILEAGE ON THEIR VEHICLE WHEN IT HAPPENED. IF YOU WOULD LIKE THIS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO ENGINE WITH 71,000 MILES STOPPED SUDDENLY; THEN CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME & CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. CHECK-OIL LIGHT HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ON FOR 2-3 MILES PRIOR, BUT OIL WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS ACTUALLY OVERFULL. 803 MILES PRIOR, VW SERVICE DEPT HAD SERVICED CAR FOR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, AND REPLACED TURBO RECIRCULATION VALVE AND HOSE. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED, WITH 30,000 MILES, IN FEB. '04. VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ENGINE BECOMING OIL-STARVED DUE TO SLUDGE IN OIL TAKE-UP TUBE. SLUDGE CAUSED BY NOT USING SYNTHETIC OIL, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT REQUIRED. CAM GEAR WAS DAMAGED, LEAVING METAL PIECES THROUGHOUT ENGINE. ENTIRE ENGINE, TURBO AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. PARTS MAY STILL BE W/MECHANIC, I CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE FACILITIES OR DESIRE TO STORE AN ENTIRE RUINED ENGINE. *NM

MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *JB

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASH. *NM

VW PASSAT 1999 - FAILING ABS MODULE (ABS,OIL,BRAKE LIGHTS ON). INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEE HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=30&TSTART=0 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS REPLACED. A MONTH LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE CABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE MADE. *AK

PURCHASED A 99 VW PASSAT WAGON FROM A VIRGINIA DEALER IN NOV 2004 MILEAGE 47.5K . THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT/MODULE HAS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS EXPENSIVE ($1300) CIRCUIT BOARD IS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT IS IN A NON-DRAINING WELL IN THE FLOOR PAN UNDER THE CARPETING AND PADDING. IT IS IN NO WAY SEALED OR WATERPROOFED TO PREVENT CORROSION FROM CONDENSATION OR FAILURE FROM WATER BUILDUP IN THE AREA. NORMAL USE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER ALLOWS DROPS OF WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THIS AREA . ONCE THE WATER GETS TO THE AREA WHERE THE TCU IS LOCATED IT REMAINS THERE. WHATEVER EVAPORATION THAT DOES OCCUR JUST INCREASES THE HUMIDITY AROUND THE TCU, IT THEN CONDENSES ON THE COLD METAL FLOOR PAN OR THE TCU AND DRAINS BACK INTO THE WELL THE TCU IS IN. SINCE IT IS UNDER THE CARPET AND THE PADDING ONE CANNOT SEE OR EASILY DETECT THAT WATER OR EVEN JUST A DAMPNESS EXISTS HERE. THE TCU CORRODES UNTIL IT FAILS, WHEN IT FAILS THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE AND MUST THEN BE TOWED TO A VW DEALER. THERE IS NO DIAGNOSTIC DATA AVAILABLE THAT WOULD ALLOW A REGULAR GARAGE TO REPAIR IT. EVEN GC VOLKSWAGEN REQUESTED 3 HRS OF DIAGNOSTIC TIME. THEIR FINAL CHARGE WAS 3.5 HRS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE TCU. A 12 MONTH/12000 MILE WARRANTY WAS GIVEN EXCEPT FOR FAILURE DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THIS MEANS ANY USE OF THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF A TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROLLED ENCLOSURE. I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WILL FAIL AGAIN AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO PREVE

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ,WHO STATED, THE CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMPUTER, WHICH WAS A SIGN THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED." THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE EXPENSE. *AK

AT 52K MILES, HAD INTERMITTENT EPISODES OF ABS LIGHT REMAINING LIT AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE WEEKS, HAD >100 SUCH INCIDENTS. ALSO OF NOTE, VIBRATION WAS FELT UPON BRAKING AT LOW SPEED. SERVICE MECHANIC AT DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT EXUBERANT COST. APPARENTLY, HUNDREDS OF SUCH COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND VWOA HAVE TAKEN NO EFFORT TO RECALL SUCH PREVALENTLY FAULTY PARTS. *NM

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS, AS REPORTED ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS (VWVORTEX, ETC). THE FAILURE IS WELL KNOWN AND FREQUENT ENOUGH THAT THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT SELL REBUILT/REMANUFACTURED PART. *NM

LOOSE AIRBAG IGNITER CONNECTION UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE ITSELF. THIS INCIDENT IS FREQUENT AS REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS (AUDIWORLD, VWVORTEX, USENET NEWSGROUPS, ETC). AN INTERNET SEARCH ON "AIRBAG IGNITER: DRIVER SIDE RESISTANCE TOO HIGH" ON GOOGLE RETURNED NUMEROUS REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE. IN MY PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THIS HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH A 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T/20V AND A 2000 VW GOLF 1.9L TDI. *NM