1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS W/THIS VEHICLE (SUSPENSION, TEMP SENSORS) BEFORE PROBLEMS WERE "KNOWN". THIS LATEST INCIDENT IS NOW @APPROX $1000 FOR DIAGNOSING AND THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DISCOVERED

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO BRAKE LIGHT WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMING ON, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE BRAKES WERE OK, LATER DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ROTORS WERE WORN AND THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER FEELS DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS. *SLC

FUEL GAUGE DID NOT REGISTER THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL. FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED IN APRIL OF 99 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION.*AK THE CAUSE COULD BE A LOOSE WIRE ACCORDING TO THE OWNER. *YH

LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION/RUST EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS ONLY 2 AND 1/2 YEARS OLD! MAKES HORRIBLE CREAKING/GRINDING SOUND. DEALER/SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WOULDN'T AFFECT MY DRIVING AND WAS SAFE BUT AFTER READING INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE AND OTHERS I'M NOT SO SURE. READ THAT THIS IS A FAULTY/DEFECTIVE PART AND I SHOULD THINK THAT VW WOULD REPLACE IT WITHOUT ME HAVING TO PAY $300 PER ARM!

TREAD IS SEPERATING FROM TIRE CASING ON ALL FIVE TIRES, STEEL BELT IS SHOWING THROUGH, TIRE'S ARE VERY DANGEROUS!, GIVES NO INDICATION WHEN TIRES SUDDENLY DEFLATE! I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRES IN QUESTION( DOT NUMBER: LMPC PXBU TIRE SIZE: 195/65R 15 )

STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN, AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE RACK AND PINION STEERING. *AK

SIDE DRIVER'S AIRBAG INFLATED WITHOUT COLLISION. BECAUSE OF DEBRIS LODGED UNDER THE FRONT CARRIAGE FROM SOMETHING I MAY HAVE RUN OVER, VW REPAIR TECHNICIANS SUGGEST THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE AIRBAG MECHANISM. THIS SEEMS EXTREMELY UNLIKELY AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG AND WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND WILL LOOK AT THE CAR SOON.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION IS MAKING CRUNCHING NOISES, ESP. AT LOWER SPEED. THE RIGHT STEERING CONTROL ARM WAS CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY AND SQUEEKING NOISES DISSAPPEARED, BUT STILL VERY NOISY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. CAR WAS SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE STATION, BUT DIFFERENT FROM DEALERSHIP. *AK

SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH NO ENGINE SYSTEMS AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. SAFTEY CONCERN FROM REAR END ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND NO AVOIDANCE CONTROL. ALSO, REGULAR LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID REQUIRES CONSTANT MONITORING.

VWOFA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON BOTH AUDI A4 AND VW PASSATS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A DEFECT IN DESIGN/WORKMANSHIP. NO SAFETY DEFECT.