1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

ABS LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING ALONG WITH BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH, TOOK IT IN TO VOLKSWA GEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY TOLD ME "THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND PUMP FAILED. THERE IS NO SIGNAL BETWEEN THE CONTROL MODULE & PUMP WITH THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. THE MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO SEND BACK A SIGNAL SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE OR TELLING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT IN MY CASE, THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION AT ALL. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND THAT SHOULD 'MOST LIKELY' SOLVE THE PROBLEM." AND THE ESTIMATE - $1885 - ABOUT $1500 FOR THE PART AND ABOUT $300 FOR THE LABOR - PLUS TAX. VWOA REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH COSTS, EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE 67, 000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT AND THERE ARE TONS OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION. NOT SURE WHAT JUSTIFIES A RECALL, BUT IF THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, WHO HAVE PAID FOR A CAR WITH ABS BRAKES, WHY SHOUDL WE HAVE TO COUGH UP THAT KIND OF MONEY TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FAULTY JUST TO GET OUR ABS WORKING AGAIN?*AK

THE OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE#99V 248 000/TIE RODS FROM THE MFR. IN SEPTEMBER,1999. THE WORK WAS DONE IN DECEMBER 1999. LESS THAN 30,000 LATER THE TIE RODS FAILED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HE MFR. WHO INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE FULFILLED THERE COMMITMENT AND THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY WILL DO. *NM

ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR 1400.00 PLUS LABOR *SC *JB

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. THE TIE RODS WERE GOING BAD AND THE MFR WAS CALLING FOR A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

THE FRONT OF MY CAR CONSTANTLY GROANS WHEN I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (WHILE DRIVING OR NOT) AND IF I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC (NOT VW) WHO SAID THAT THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THE STRUTS, TIE RODS, OR SOMETHING IN THAT AREA. HE RECOMMENDED I TALK TO VW TO SEE IF THE ITEM IS RECALLED OR COVERED BY WARRANTY IN ANY WAY. I CALLED VW GAVE MY VIN AND IT IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL REGARDING TIE RODS. I BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST 1998 VW PASSATS OF THE B5 SERIES.*AK

MY 1998 VW PASSAT HAS A LOUD GRINDING, RUMBLING SOUND AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, SOUNDS LIKE THE WHEELS ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CROSS LINK ARMS AT A COST OF APPROX $300. I ALSO HAD THE TIE RODS REPLACED UNDER RECALL. BUT NOISE/VIBRATION STILL THERE. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME IT MIGHT BE BUSHINGS ON EITHER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM OR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, EACH COSTING ABOUT $1300 TO REPLACE. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A NORMAL REPAIR ITEM, THEY SAID "SURE", YOUR CAR HAS 90K MILES ON IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A WELL BUILT, SAFE CAR WOULD HAVE THIS TYPE OF EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK

ABS LIGHT IN MY 1998 PASSAT GLX WILL COME ON INTERMITTANTLY ALONG WITH THE BRAKE AND LOW OIL LIGHTS. WROTE PRESIDENT OF VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HELP. THEY WANT TO REPLACE ABS MODULE AT $2200. THE WEB IS FULL OF FOLKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PART MUST BE DEFECTIVE...THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VOLKSWAGEN HAD NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO PERFORM THREE RECALLS ON 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. LETTER ANSWERED BY MR. ALBERTO JIMENEZ VIA EMAIL. *PH *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT THE RIGHT OUTER AND INNER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK