1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

ONCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED, A TAPPING/RATTLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE TIE ROD RECALL 00V414000, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

1- NOT KNOWN. 2- THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PLASTIC UNDERCARRIAGE ENGINE COVER BROKE WITHOUT APPARENT WARNING. THIS LED TO EXPOSURE OF PART OF THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE A LARGE PART OF THE COVER DRAGGED ON THE PAVEMENT WHILE DRIVING. *AK 3- SCHEDULED FOR REPAIR.

MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE DEPT. I FOUND THAT MY POWER OUTPUT STAGE HAS FAILED AND TIE ROD ENDS ARE BLOWN OUT ON 1999 VW PASSAT AT 39,990 MILES. NOT TO MENTION THAT MY POLLEN FILTER HOUSING IS LEAKING. *AK

(1.) NO EVENTS INDICATING APPROACHING FAILURE. (2.) ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED THEREFORE I WAS UNABLE TO START MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEY, I HAD TO POP START IT. (3.) REPLACED CONTROL MODULE.*AK

CREAKING AND GROANING NOISES WERE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (1999 PASSAT STATION WAGON WITH 43,000 MILES) WHILE SLOWING AND TURNING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER CONFIRMED LOOSE SWAY BARS/CONTROL ARMS AND ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN UP, BUT NOISE PERSISTED FOLLOWING SERVICE. AT THE NEXT SERVICE THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS (CONVERSION KIT) AND LINKS. VW CUSTOMER CARE (?) CENTER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR PARTS, CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND IS BEYOND WARRANTY COVERAGE.

WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS MAKING GRINDING NOISE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING ALL UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. *AK

AT AROUND 60,000 ABS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES ABS USELESS WHEN LIGHT IS ON, IT WORKS OTHERWISE. WHEN LIGHT IS ON BRAKES LOCK-UP. ABS MODULE COSTS $1010 + LABOR 405 = $1415 TO FIX THIS. SPOKE WITH DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF ABS CONTROL MODULES GONE BAD PASSATS. THIS COULD BE A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE IT AFFECTS BRAKING.*AK

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN TIE ROD RECALL 00V414000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH PERIODICALLY AND WILL STALL OUT, MOST RECENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO COMPUTER CODES OR OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR CONDITION.