1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL FOR ALL AUDI A-4'S (SAME AS VW PASSAT) AS WELL AS FOR MANY PASSATS. MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL #'S. WILL SOON, I FEEL CONSTITUTE A DANGER ON THE ROADWAYS.*AK

A CREAKING NOISE THAT HAS STEADILY BECOME WORSE. I WAITED UNTIL MY 25K MILEAGE CHECKUP FOR DEALER TO LOOK AT IT,AND HE INFORMED ME OF THE WEAKENED LOWER CONTROL ARMS. MECHANIC TELLS ME IT WILL STEADILY GET WORSE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. COST $940. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 24K MILES AND 5/30/00. I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN AT 24,498 MILES ON 6/7/00..AGAIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM (THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE) AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AN EASY FIX AT THE 25K CHECKUP. DEALER WILL NOT COVER COST UNLESS VW AMERICA AUTHORIZES IT SINCE IT IS 'OFFICIALLY' PAST THE WARRANTY DATES & MILEAGE WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER '98 PASSAT OWNERS ON THE INTERNET (VW VORTEX FORUMS) AND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG MANY OWNERS. I PLAN TO CALL VW AMERICA TO LOBBY AN EXCEPTION TO MY WARRANTY. *AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED , CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STARTING UP. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. ALSO, POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER CONTACTED VW, DEALER NOTED THAT TIE ROD END AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED REPLACING. IN ADDITION, RECALL 99V248000/ TIE RODS DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. BUT,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING TIE RODS ARE MAKING NOISE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE TIE ROD SEAL NOT BEING PROPERLY APPLIED. RECALL 99V248 DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. ALSO, REPLACED THE STRUTS. DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD SEALS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON/OFF FOR 3 MONTHS, & I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, HE IS ALWAYS GIVING A TEMPORARY FIX, AFTER 2 OR 3 DAYS THE PROBLEM AGAIN POPS UP.I REPORTED THIS TO THE MANUFACTURER TOO. ONE MORE THING I WANT TO MENTION HERE, ONCE I MET WITH AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH BOTH THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.BUT THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED WELL. MORE OVER I AM GOING OUT OF WARRENTY NEXT MONTH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THIS PROBLEM COMES UP AFTER THAT. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS REGARD. *AK

CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS FAULTY CAUSING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR EACH RECOMMENDED 5000 MILE SERVICE. ON TWO OF THE FIVE OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE COVER HAS COME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DISTRESS. IT IS MY AND OTHERS VIEW THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

CAR LEAKS POWER STEERING FLUID. VW TOLD ME I NEED A NEW STEERING RACK AT A COST OF $681. *AK