1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS FAILED AFTER 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. VW HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS THAT COVERS THE PAYMENT IF UNDER WARRANTY, OTHERWISE VW WOULD PAY 50% OF THE JOB. HOWEVER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM IS NOT COVERED IN THE TSB. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE IF BOTH CONTROL ARMS FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.*AK

THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS YOUR CAMPAIGN ID#99V248000. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR BUT VW IS SAYING THAT WHEN THEY PUT THE VIN NUMBER IN IT'S NOT COMING UP ON THEIR SYSTEM WITH A RECALL. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA SHOULD CONSIDER THAT MAYBE THE PROBLEM GOES FURTHER BACK AND NOT DISMISS IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER STATED THAT THE CAR NEEDS FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.IF I GOT THE INFORMATION CORRECT MY CAR WAS MFG 11/97 WHICH IS EARLIER THAN THE RECALL BUT THE PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED THE SAME. THEY ARE SAYING THAT IF ITS NOT ON THEIR COMPUTER IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. I THINK THEY SHOULD CONSIDER THIS IS A PROBLEM. WHAT CAR DO YOU KNOW THAT THE TIE RODS WEAR AT 56,000 MILES. THEY ALSO HAVE STATED THE THE FRONT CV BOOTS ARE TORN. I WANT VW AMERICA TO FIX THE TIE ROD PROBLME UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

WINDOW GLASS WAS BROKEN BY A ROCK. PROBLEM EXISTS IN SIZE AND SHAPE OF TEMPERED GLASS CRUMBS. LOTS OF TINY SHARDS, LESS THAT 1MM, VERY SHARP AND DANGEROUS. EXTRA EXPENSE INCURRED IN CLEANING INTERIOR. *AK

CREAKING/GRINDING FROM FRONT END. VW SERVICE DETERMINED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING(S) ARE FAULTY. $950 TO REPAIR. CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER RELATIONS, AFTER INVESTIGATION, VW TO PAY 1/2 OF PARTS AND LABOUR.*AK

LOOSE STEERING THERE IS NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATE ALSO WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS.THE BUSHING OF THE ALL THE CONTROL ARMS ARE GONE. *AK

LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY AND STARTED BANGING AGAIN AFTER THIRD REPAIR. PART PREVIOUSLY ON RECALL BUT NEW PART ALSO DOES SAME PROBLEM. MANY PASSAT OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS AND MOVES WHILE CAR IS MOVING. MANUFACTURING COMPANY SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS AND THAT ITS "NORMAL". THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND ITS DANGEROUS. IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE IT IS MOVING! THE NTSB BOARD HAS A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER DRIVERS, SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS NEEDS THE COMPANY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND CORRECTION. IT SHOULDN'T DO THIS FOR ANY REASON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING CAR WOULD MAKE A LOUD GROANING NOISE. WENT TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND THAT STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT A COST OF $930.*AK

LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURES ARE VERY COMMON ON THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE HANDELING. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS. THEY HAVE RELEASE UPDATED PARTS AND A TSB ON THIS ISSUE, YET REFUSE TO PAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.*AK

SUNROOF MECHANISMS FRACTURED. SUNRROF STUCK OPEN IN RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WOULDN'T REPAIR FOR TWO WEEKS. TOOK CAR TO AUTO GLASS COMPANY TO HAVE SUNROOF CLOSED. MECHANIC SAID CAUSE OF BROKEN SUNROOF MECHANISM WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT - HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE SUNROOF MECHANISMS BROKEN ON PASSATS.