1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

I AM CONCERN WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY CAR. I TOOK IN THE CAR FOR AN 80,000 MILE VOLKSWAGEN RECOMMENDED CHECK UP. I EXPLAINED TO SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FROT SUSPENSION. THAT NOISE HAD BEEN THERE SINCE I GOT THE CAR AT AROUND 65,000 MILES. I EXPLAINED TO THE TECHNICIAN THAT I HAD CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA BECAUSE THROUGH CARFAX I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FRON SUSPENSION OF THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAN 1.8 TURBO GLS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL YET. SO I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN TO CHECK FOR ME AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED TO THE FRON SUSPENSION. HE SAID NO AND HE MENTIONED THAT TO FIX THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION STEERING LINKAGES AND OTHER COMPONENTS. HE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX AT AROUND $1200.00 DOLLARS. 2 WEEKENDS AGO I WENTO TO A VOLKSWAGEN SWAP MEET AND FOUND OUT THAT A FEW OTHER PASSAT DRIVERS WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR SUSPENSIONS. I HAVE BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN DRIVER FOR 17 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY SUSPENSION PROBLEMS OF THIS KIND WITH ANY OF THE VOLKSWAGEN CARS I OWNED. I TRUELY BELIVE VW HAS RELEASED CARS WITH MALFUNCTIONING COMPONENTS AND THEY WANT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY EAMIL AND LOOKING IN TO THIS MATTER FOR THE SAFETY OF VW DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS A LIKE.*AK

SUDDENLY ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTS FLAHING.*AK

I BEGAN TO NOTICE AN OCCASIONAL CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO . ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE NOISE BECAME BAD ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE. I DESCRIBED THE NOISE IN GREAT DETAIL. SERVICE DEPT SAYS THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, BUT THAT THE NOISE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO MY BRAKE PADS BEING WORN DOWN SO FAR I HAD METAL AGAINST METAL. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS: $1250. CHA-CHING.*AK NEXT DAY DRIVING TO WORK I STILL HEAR THE CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, VERY IRATE. THEY SAY THEY'LL DRIVE IT AGAIN AND GIVE IT ANOTHER LISTEN. THIS TIME THEY DO HEAR SOMETHING AND INFORM ME THAT IT'S "JUST A LOOSE CONTROL ARM, " THAT IT'S "EXPENSIVE TO FIX" AND THAT "[THEY] DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PARTS ON HAND." BUT THE GUY ASSURES ME THAT THE NOISE IS ONLY AN ANNOYANCE ISSUE AND NOT A SAFTY CONCERN. THE NOISE IS CONSANT NOW AND VERY, VERY BAD. I WAS ACTUALLY GETTING A TOASTY, SMOKY ODOR COMING FROM THE CAR WHEN DRIVING ACROSS TOWN THE OTHER DAY.

"99 VW PASSAT VIN [XXX] HAS LOUD CREAKING SOUNDS FROM RIGHT-FRONT SUSPENSION. TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACE IN EARLIER RECALL. BALL JOINTS ARE NOT WORN. LUBE OF CONTROL ARM AND OTHER BUSHINGS DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. VIBRATION CORRESPONDING TO CREAKING CAN BE FELT IN LOWER CONTROL ARMS. UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE BECAME INOPERATIVE. *AK

THE TIMING BELT ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T BROKE, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO COME OFF. AS A RESULT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO THE ENGINE.

THE "ABS" AND "BRAKE" LIGHT FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. ACCORDING TO METROPOLITAN VOLKSWAGEN IN JERSEY CITY, NJ THE BRAKES WORK, BUT A SENSOR IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, THE QUOTED COST IS $1500 FOR THE MODULE + LABOR TO INSTALL IT! APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1998 AND 1999 VW PASSAT.*AK

THE 1999 PASSAT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FROM EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,WATER PUMP DEFECTS, FRONT END ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. (NAR) *PH *CB

CRUISE CONTROL SLOWLY FADES OUT (OCCASIONALLY) WITHOUT WARNING, EXCEPT THE SIGHT OFAN ENORMOUS TRUCK GRILL IN MY REAR-VIEW MIRROR. NONE OF THE LOCAL VW DEALERS COULD FIX IT, NOR WOULD THEY REPLACE IT. VW ZONE MANAGER TOLD ME TO FORGET IT. CAR IS 1999 PASSAT WAGON, 4-CYL. IS THIS COMMON?

TIE ROD ENDS WORE OUT PREMATURELY DUE TO FAULTY LUBRICANT BOOTS RESULTING IN ERRATIC CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MODELS SIMILAR TO MINE WERE RECALLED BY VW, BUT NOT MINE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE PARTS ARE IDENTICAL. *NM