1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED, CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. DEALER WILLING TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR $3000. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FAULTY LOWER CONTROL ARM . *MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *JB

THE TIMING BELT ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE FAILED AT 75,000 MILES STRANDING ME BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY VW. THE VW MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE BELT AT 105,000 MILES. VW DENIED MY WARRANTY CLAIM STATING THAT THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY TO THE FIRST OWNER. HOWEVER, MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND VW REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK

I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I AM GETTING CONSIDERABLE CREAKING NOISES FROM MY CONTROL ARMS IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR ABNORMALLY OR HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH IT. *NLM

NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 99 V 248 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

THE SEAT BROKE FROM THE BASE. THE CONSUMER HAD LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL OF THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS/OTHER CHARGES FOR THE INCIDENT. SCC *JB

MY CAR DIED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9. MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT. APPARENTLY THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE AND DAMAGE CYLINDER HEADS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE PART. I HAD THE PART INSPECTED AT 55,000 MILES BY MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THE PROBLEM OR ADVISED TO REPLACE THE PART. AT 66,000 MILES, THE PART FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AS I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB

DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND LOWER INK ARM-N AND LOWER CONTROL ARM-N CAUSED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION AND MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISES.