1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE ROD ENDS BEING DEFECTIVE. ALSO STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE NOW BUT THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT HIS VIN #. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. TS

STARTER COIL FAILURE - FOR OVER A MONTH THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE THE MUFFLER FELL OFF, BUT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPLAINABLE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.

CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL SWITCH. ENGINE WORK VERY SLOWLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS THAT MY CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED. I HAVE A STOCK CAR, WITH STOCK SUSPENSION. THIS IS MIND-BOGGLING THAT CONTROL ARMS ON A 1998 CAR WOULD FAIL TWICE IN 1 YEAR. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. PLEASE, MY WALLET AND MY KIDS CHRISTMAS BEGS YOU, RECALL THESE CONTROL ARMS. PLEASE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA 4 TIMES ON THIS AND THEY DO NOT CARE. I HAVE WRITTEN VW IN GERMANY, ALL I GOT WAS A GIFT CERTIFICATE. PLEASE, DO SOMETHING!! DT

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT SIDE CV BOOT AND OUTER CV BOOT DUE TO THEM BEING WORN, AND ALSO THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED.

THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSIONS IS VERY NOISY OVER BUMPS, INCLUDING JUST PUSHING DOWN ON THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. AFTER TAKING THIS TO OUR LOCAL VW DEALER HERE IN FORT COLLINS WE WERE TOLD THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARMS AT A COST OF $750. I CALLED VW OF NORTH AMERICA TO COMPLAIN SAYING THIS WAS WAY BELOW INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR DURABILITY OF THIS TYPE OF COMPONENT. VW'S RESPONSE WAS SORRY IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE SINCE DONE A SEARCH ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THE PASSAT. VW SHOULD RECALL THE PART & PROVIDE AN IMPROVED REPLACEMENT THAT MEETS INDUSTRY STANDARDS.*AK

LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD SHEARED OFF WHILE COMING TO A STOP, AND CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.*AK *JB

CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. ALSO GENERAL LOOSENESS IN STEERING THAT WAS NOT THERE WHEN CAR WAS NEW. CAR HARD TO STEER STRAIGHT AND VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CROSS WINDS AND TURBULENCE. DEALERSHIP CONTINUES TO CLAIM THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING HOT AIR. AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDS REPLACING. *TT

WHILE AT DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER REPAIRS MECHANIC NOTICED EXTREME HEAT FROM TURBO CHARGER CAUSED DAMAGE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD. UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK