1999 Volkswagen Passat complaints

ABS MODULE 8E0614111B FAILED ON 1999 PASSAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WARNING LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENT MEANING THE FUNCTION OF THE ABS SYSTEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK

I'VE HAD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AND THAT THERE IS A TSB ON SUCH. THIS IS A COMMON WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND POSES A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

IN MID MAY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY 1999 PASSAT GLS (ONLY 49K MILES), THE ABS LIGHT CAME ONE, THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, AND IT STARTED TO BEEP. THIS PROBLEM THEN WENT AWAY AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM THEN STARTED TO RECCUR WITH GREATER FREQUENCY, FROM ONE OR TWO TIMES A WEEK, TO NOW SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. DURING MY RECENT 50K MILE SERVICE, THE DEALER (SUNNYVALE VW) DETERMINED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAILED ABS CONTOL MODULE. THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS OVER $1700. AS I CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A REDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY, I AM NOW DRIVING A CAR WITH A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FURTHER I DISCOVERED THAT THIS PROBLEM AFFECT 1998 - 2000 VW PASSATS, AS WELL AS 1997 - 2000 AUDI A4 AND S4 AUTOS. SEARCHING THIS SITE FOR PAST COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE I FOUND 50 COMPLAINTS. MORE TROUBLING, HOWEVER, IS THAT WHEN I SEARCHED DISCUSSION FORUMS OF WEB SITES DEDICATED TO THE B5 PLATFORM VW PASSAT AND AUDI A4 I FOUND OVER 1500 (ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED) POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE MANUFATURED BY BOSCH. THE DEFECT IS DUE TO EITHER POOR ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING. I'VE ALREADY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, AND THEY REFUSE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROL MODULE IN MY CAR. I WILL BE SENDING A LETTER TO THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND DEMAND THAT THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY DEFECT BE REMEDIED. MY HOPE

THE TIMING BELT LOOSENED, FLAPPED UP, AND SEVERED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A ROUGH IDLE AND RATTLED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, PER DEALERSHIP. *AK THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE TIMING BELT BROKE AFTER THE TENSIONER SHREDDED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK WHILE IN MOTION. THE POWER BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 52,515 MILES AND THE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED. LESS THAN 4K MILES LATER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

THE CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD TO CHECK THE OIL AND THE HOOD UNEXPECTEDLY CAME DOWN. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK *SC *JB

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE FAILED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH VW AND AUDI. RIGHT NOW THE BRAKES WORK BUT ABS DOES NOT...SO THE WHEELS CAN LOCK UP. ONCE IN A WHILE, THE ABS LIGHT TURNS OF AND ABS STARTS WORKING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS OR SO. AGAIN, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH VW AND AUDI.*AK

PURCHASED MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T WAGON IN AUGUST, 2002. IT HAD APPRX. 53,000 MILES ON IT. BY SEPTEMBER, 2003, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SQUEAKING, CREAKING, GROANING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. AT THAT TIME, CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY. 75K MILES. DIAGNOSIS WAS FRONT END SUSPENSION PARTS INCLUDING CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, BUSHINGS WERE DANGEROUSLY WORN AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VW DEALERSHIP PROVIDED ME WITH A COPY OF TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DATED MAY 31, 2001. IT CALLS FOR INSTALLATION OF PARTS IN REPAIR KIT NO 3BO498 798A. BECAUSE OF EXISTENCE OF THE TECH SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY (WYNN'S WARRANTIES) REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. REPAIRS STILL NEEDED TO TUNE OF $1100. FRONT END IS NOW SO LOOSE FOR SAFETY REASONS I WILL HAVE TO MAKE REPAIRS IMMEDIATELY AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *JB

CONTROL ARM MADE A CLUCKING SOUND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE NOISE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CONTROL ARM WAS LOOSE, AND IF THIS PART FAILED, THE BALL JOINTS COULD BREAK WILL DRIVING. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

ON 6/10/2004, I HAD MY VW PASSAT REPAIRED AT MITCHELL VOLKSWAGEN, CANTON, CT, FOR ROUGH IDLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER FOUND SCAN CODES FOR CYLINDER #2 MISFIRES AND RANDOM/MULTIPLE MISFIRES. DEALER REPLACED ICM IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND CLEARED FAULT. THEN DEALER ATTEMPTED TO SET BASIC SETTINGS AND A NEW PROBLEM WAS GENERATED, THROTTLE BODY WOULD NOT ADAPT. I NOW HAVE A CONTINUOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY THEY TRIED TO SET THE BASIC SETTINGS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ICM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THE BASIC SETTINGS ARE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY A MALFUNCTION TO THE THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CAN OCCUR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE SELF CORRECTING. IF IT DOES CORRECT ITSELF, I NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR APPROX. $500.00. I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $539.00 TO HAVE MY ICM REPLACED AND NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM. NOW I AM TOLD "MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY TO CORRECT, WILL NOT CAUSE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH, MAY CAUSE SURGING AT IDLE OR SLIGHT HESTITATION ON ACCELERATION, PART NEEDS TO BE ORDERED. IT MAY CORRECT ITSELF IN 200 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT'S OK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HESTITATION AND SURGING). I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREE WITH THE DEALER. I THINK THIS IS A MANUFUCTURE'S DEFECT IN DESIGN AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH HESTITATION AND POSSIBLE SURGING, THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES. THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT

BOTH CONTROL ARMS FAILED ON 1999 PASSAT GLX @ 60000 MILES ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. REPAIR COVERED BY VW EXTENDED WARRANTY TO THE TUNE OF $689 PER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THESE CONTROL ARMS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING! STEERING, CONTROL, AND TIRE WEAR SUFFER SERIOUS IMPAIRMENT AS A RESULT OF THESE FAILURES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM OILS FROM THE ENGINE. *AK

BUSHING HAS DRIED OUT ON LOWER CONTROL ARM ON ONE SIDE RESULTING IN FREQUENT LOUD CREEKING / SQUEEKING NOISES. WHEN MAKING APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND SHOULD I RUSH THE CAR IN. THEY SAID "NO, IT'S PROBABLY JUST A DRY BUSHING" AND SCHEDULED ME FOR 10 DAYS LATER. WHEN I LEARNED OF THE $1200 REPAIR COST AND THE NEED TO KEEP THE CAR OVERNIGHT, I HAD TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT. AGAIN, ANOTHER 12 DAYS WAIT (YET TO COME). IF THIS IS TRUELY NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN FINE, BUT INFO ON THIS SITE IS TO THE CONTRARY. BESIDES, WHY DO SUPPOSE THEY CALL THEM "CONTROL ARMS?" IF THEY MAL FUNCTION COULD THAT MEAN LOSS OF CONTROL? HMMM. 85K MILES ON THIS CAR, BUT IN RETROSPECT, THE NOISE STARTED A LONG TIME AGO AND THE DEALER ATTRIBUTED IT TO LACK OF STEERING FLUID. THE NOISE RETURNED AND CAME BACK. THIS CAR HAS A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. I'LL BET THE FAILURE IS TIME BASED RATHER THAN MILAGE BASED. THESE RUBBER BUSING CAN ONLY TAKE SO MUCH EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS. VW - CHANGE THE MATERIAL FOR YOUR BUSHINGS, RIGHT!!*AK

CONTROL ARM'S OF '1998-'2000 PASSATS ARE FAILURE PRONE MUCH EARLIER THEN THE NORM FOR PASSANEGER AUTOMOBILES. (A FACT THEY RECOGNIZED BY A REDESIGN OF THE CONTROL ARMS ON '2001 AND UP PASSAT'S. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 7/99. I DRIVE 70 MILES A DAY, MOSTLY FREEWAY, WHICH AS ALL KNOW IS ACTUALLY VERY EASY ON AN AUTOMOBILE. YET WITH-IN 2 YEARS (40K) MY FRONT SUSPENSION WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF PREMATURE WEAR. I GET MANY "CREAKS" AND "CLUNKS" THAT ARE EASY TO HEAR AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER RESEARCHING IN POPULAR INTERNET FORUMS FOR THE CAR,(WWW.CLUBB5.COM , WWW.VWVORTEX.COM) I FOUND OUT THIS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE. VMOA (VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA) HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET (EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS) AS OF THIS LATE DATE. (6/04) THE RESPONSE FROM VWOA AND YOUR DEALER NETWORK HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT, TO SAY THE LEAST. SOME DEALERS WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR, SOME WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG, AND SOME WILL SAY THAT IT IS THE CONTROL ARMS, BUT WILL NOT HELP OUT THE OWNER WHEN THE TIME COMES TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AT VWOA . VWOA IS NOT MUCH MORE HELP, PROMISING TO GET ON THE PROBLEM AND TELLING YOU THEY WILL CALLBACK, ONLY THEY DONT. OR IF THEY DO ,IT IS, SORRY WE CANNOT HELP YOU. . SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT MANY OF THE OWNERS THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, MUST PAY FOR A COSTLY REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. A REPAIR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. (I HAVE NEVER HAD CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE IN MY PREVIOUS 13 AUTOMOBILES!) REPAIR COS

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT SUSPENSION ARMS ON 1999 PASSAT. *MR THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 23500 MILES AND THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THERE WERE EARLIER PROBLEMS BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNERS. THE SUSPENSION PART WERE DESIGN DEFECTIVE. *SC *JB

TIMING BELT ON VEHICLE BROKE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE VALVES. *MR THE NEWER EDITIONS OF THE PASSAT HAVE REDESIGNED TENSION SYSTEMS FOR THE TIMING BELT. *SC *JB

ABS LIGHT TURNED ON. *AK

AT ABOUT 68,000 MILES THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, IN MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T. THEY HAVE REMAINED ON, EXCEPT FOR BRIEF OCCASSION. THE WARNING SIGNAL GOES OFF AS WELL. LYNCH IMPORTS, DAYTONA BEACH, WAS UNABLE TO ACCESS INFORMATION THROUGH DIAGNOISTIC TESTING. I HAVE NO ABS AND THEY ANTICIPATE A HIGH COST TO EVEN FIND THE PROBLEM, ($78 PER HOUR TO MANUALLY GO THROUGH SYSTEMS) LET ALONE REPAIR IT. I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN. *AK

ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, A TAPPING/RATTLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE TIE ROD RECALL 00V414000, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE DEPT. I FOUND THAT MY POWER OUTPUT STAGE HAS FAILED AND TIE ROD ENDS ARE BLOWN OUT ON 1999 VW PASSAT AT 39,990 MILES. NOT TO MENTION THAT MY POLLEN FILTER HOUSING IS LEAKING. *AK

1- NOT KNOWN. 2- THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PLASTIC UNDERCARRIAGE ENGINE COVER BROKE WITHOUT APPARENT WARNING. THIS LED TO EXPOSURE OF PART OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE A LARGE PART OF THE COVER DRAGGED ON THE PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING. *AK 3- SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR.

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ABS MODULE

CREAKING AND GROANING NOISES WERE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (1999 PASSAT STATION WAGON WITH 43,000 MILES) WHILE SLOWING AND TURNING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER CONFIRMED LOOSE SWAY BARS/CONTROL ARMS AND ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN UP, BUT NOISE PERSISTED FOLLOWING SERVICE. AT THE NEXT SERVICE THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS (CONVERSION KIT) AND LINKS. VW CUSTOMER CARE (?) CENTER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR PARTS, CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND IS BEYOND WARRANTY COVERAGE.

(1.) NO EVENTS INDICATING APPROACHING FAILURE. (2.) ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED THEREFORE I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEY, I HAD TO POP START IT. (3.) REPLACED CONTROL MODULE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS MAKING GRINDING NOISE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. *AK

AT AROUND 60,000 ABS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES ABS USELESS WHEN LIGHT IS ON, IT WORKS OTHERWISE. WHEN LIGHT IS ON BRAKES LOCK-UP. ABS MODULE COSTS $1010 + LABOR 405 = $1415 TO FIX THIS. SPOKE WITH DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF ABS CONTROL MODULES GONE BAD PASSATS. THIS COULD BE A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE IT AFFECTS BRAKING.*AK

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN TIE ROD RECALL 00V414000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

I AM CONCERN WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY CAR. I TOOK IN THE CAR FOR AN 80,000 MILE VOLKSWAGEN RECOMMENDED CHECK UP. I EXPLAINED TO SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FROT SUSPENSION. THAT NOISE HAD BEEN THERE SINCE I GOT THE CAR AT AROUND 65,000 MILES. I EXPLAINED TO THE TECHNICIAN THAT I HAD CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA BECAUSE THROUGH CARFAX I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FRON SUSPENSION OF THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAN 1.8 TURBO GLS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. SO I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK FOR ME AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED TO THE FRON SUSPENSION. HE SAID NO AND HE MENTIONED THAT TO FIX THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION STEERING LINKAGES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. HE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX AT AROUND $1200.00 DOLLARS. 2 WEEKENDS AGO I WENTO TO A VOLKSWAGEN SWAP MEET AND FOUND OUT THAT A FEW OTHER PASSAT DRIVERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR SUSPENSIONS. I HAVE BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN DRIVER FOR 17 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY SUSPENSION PROBLEMS OF THIS KIND WITH ANY OF THE VOLKSWAGEN CARS I OWNED. I TRUELY BELIVE VW HAS RELEASED CARS WITH MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENTS AND THEY WANT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY EAMIL AND LOOKING IN TO THIS MATTER FOR THE SAFETY OF VW DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS A LIKE.*AK

ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH PERIODICALLY AND WILL STALL OUT, MOST RECENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO COMPUTER CODES OR OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR CONDITION.

SUDDENLY ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTS FLAHING.*AK

I BEGAN TO NOTICE AN OCCASIONAL CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO . ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE NOISE BECAME BAD ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE. I DESCRIBED THE NOISE IN GREAT DETAIL. SERVICE DEPT SAYS THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, BUT THAT THE NOISE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO MY BRAKE PADS BEING WORN DOWN SO FAR I HAD METAL AGAINST METAL. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS: $1250. CHA-CHING.*AK NEXT DAY DRIVING TO WORK I STILL HEAR THE CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, VERY IRATE. THEY SAY THEY'LL DRIVE IT AGAIN AND GIVE IT ANOTHER LISTEN. THIS TIME THEY DO HEAR SOMETHING AND INFORM ME THAT IT'S "JUST A LOOSE CONTROL ARM, " THAT IT'S "EXPENSIVE TO FIX" AND THAT "[THEY] DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PARTS ON HAND." BUT THE GUY ASSURES ME THAT THE NOISE IS ONLY AN ANNOYANCE ISSUE AND NOT A SAFTY CONCERN. THE NOISE IS CONSANT NOW AND VERY, VERY BAD. I WAS ACTUALLY GETTING A TOASTY, SMOKY ODOR COMING FROM THE CAR WHEN DRIVING ACROSS TOWN THE OTHER DAY.

"99 VW PASSAT VIN [XXX] HAS LOUD CREAKING SOUNDS FROM RIGHT-FRONT SUSPENSION. TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACE IN EARLIER RECALL. BALL JOINTS ARE NOT WORN. LUBE OF CONTROL ARM AND OTHER BUSHINGS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. VIBRATION CORRESPONDING TO CREAKING CAN BE FELT IN LOWER CONTROL ARMS. UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

THE TIMING BELT ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T BROKE, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO COME OFF. AS A RESULT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO THE ENGINE.

THE "ABS" AND "BRAKE" LIGHT FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. ACCORDING TO METROPOLITAN VOLKSWAGEN IN JERSEY CITY, NJ THE BRAKES WORK, BUT A SENSOR IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, THE QUOTED COST IS $1500 FOR THE MODULE + LABOR TO INSTALL IT! APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1998 AND 1999 VW PASSAT.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL SLOWLY FADES OUT (OCCASIONALLY) WITHOUT WARNING, EXCEPT THE SIGHT OFAN ENORMOUS TRUCK GRILL IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. NONE OF THE LOCAL VW DEALERS COULD FIX IT, NOR WOULD THEY REPLACE IT. VW ZONE MANAGER TOLD ME TO FORGET IT. CAR IS 1999 PASSAT WAGON, 4-CYL. IS THIS COMMON?

THE 1999 PASSAT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FROM EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,WATER PUMP DEFECTS, FRONT END ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. (NAR) *PH *CB

TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO FAULTY LUBRICANT BOOTS RESULTING IN ERRATIC CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MODELS SIMILAR TO MINE WERE RECALLED BY VW, BUT NOT MINE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE PARTS ARE IDENTICAL. *NM

TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. NO WARNING IS DESCRIBED IN OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. ENGINE FAILED AT 91000 MILES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, REQUIRED SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.*AK

GRINDING SOUND WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. WAS TOLD THAT BOOTS ON TIE ROD ENDS WERE PERFORATED ALLOWING WATER AND DIRT TO DAMAGE TIE ROD ENDS. ALTHO VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED A RECALL THEY REFUSE TO MAKE THE FREE REPAIR. RECALL # RECALLUL. SEP 99. TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT. NHTSA RECALL # 0014/VWOA.RECALL # UL/KW. DID NOT RECIEVE ANY RECALL NOTICE ON THIS ITEM! FOUND ON INTERNET.*AK

ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *JB

MY VW PASSAAT DEVELOPED EXCESSIVE PLAY AND NOISE IN STEERING AND FRONT SUSPENSION. CAR WOULD WANDER ON ROAD AND WOULD NOT TRACK STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY LOCAL VW DEALER SAID TO BRING CAR IN IMMEDIATELY. DEALER SAID 4 CONTROL ARMS HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $1400. CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED WELL AND DRIVEN GENTLY PREVIOUSLY. DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE A SAFETY ISSUE.

THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT 48,000 MILES AND FOR MY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. SINCE I HAD JUST BEGUN HEARING NOISES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I ASKED THAT IT BE LOOKED INTO. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR, ALBEIT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED THE CAR COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED (RECALL UL) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. BUT, THAT FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VW AND THEY CONCURRED BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNETHICAL, BUT VW IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH CARS THAT THEY KNOW HAVE A SERIOUS DEFECT. NOT ONLY DIDN'T VW COVER ALL THE APPLICABLE VINS IN THEIR RECALL, BUT THEY DID NOT INFORM THEIR CONSUMERS OFTHE POTENTIAL PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THIS PROBLEM, IF LEFT UNCORRECTED, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM IF THE CONTROL ARMS FAILED AT HIGH SPEED. VW WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE NOTED ONCE AGAIN, THAT THIS DEFECT IN THE CONTROL ARMS OCCURED AT ONLY 48,000 MILES. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO PAY $1200 FOR A SERIOUS, AND ACKNOWLEDGED, DESIGN DEFECT, BUT THE REPAIR PARTS THAT WERE INSTALLED ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE POORLY DESIGNED ONES. THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHEN. T

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. *AK WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, ONE FOOT WAS LIFTED FROM THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACK TO 80 MPH. THE VEHICLE DID NOT CEASE TO ACCELERATE UNTIL PLACED INTO NEUTRAL,TURNED OFF, AND HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *SC

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SEALS LEAKING AND VW WILL NOT HONOR THEIR REPLACEMENTS UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.*AK

WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT A BOLT SHEARED OFF INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM

IGNITION COILS FAIL ON MY 1999 PASSAT V6 2.8L ...VW CONSUMER OFFICE CLAIMS THAT ONLY 2001 AND 2002 VEHICLES WERE PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN...BUT THOUSANDS OF OTHER VW'S OUTSIDE OF THESE YEARS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM...PROBLEM: POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD...I REPORTED TO VW AND HAD THEM NOTE IT IN MY CASE FILE FOR MY VEHICLE...COMPLAINT IS THAT VW SHOULD COVER THE CHARGE OF IGNITION COIL REPLACEMENT FOR CARS EXPERIENCING THESE TYPE OF POWER FAILURES. *AK

WHILE BRAKING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

THE CONTROL ARMS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED AND THE CAR COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN ARE NOT RECEPTIVE TO PAYING THE REPAIRS OR A DISCOUNT. *JB

MY ABS MODULE FAILED ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT. *CB