1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE START, MELTING OF PLASTIC, LIGHTS IN THE CAR WORKING SPORADICALLY AT BEST. OIL, DRAIN, OIL PUMP, CAMSHAFT,ALL BLAMED ON LACK OF VERIFIABLE OIL CHANGES. TIMING BELT - LET GO ON HIGHWAY AT 85000 MILES (WARRANTY FOR 1999 PASSAT, 100,000 MILES) BLAMED ON OIL CHANGES. 82 DAYS IN SHOP STEERING GOES DURING THIS TIME AND I'M TOLD I NEED AN ALTENATOR [ 3RD ONE ] THE STORY GOES ON AND ON......

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS TIE RODS AS STATED IN RECALLS 99V248000 AND 00V414000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *CB *JB

VEHICLE INSPECTION BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE RODS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAGIN BUT VW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER

THE ABS MODULE ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE READ OTHER POSTS ABOUT SUCH FAILURES. IT WENT OUT WHEN MY CAR HAD ABOUT 105 K MILES. THOUGH THAT IS A LOT OF MILES, I DON'T SEE WHY A LOT OF HIGH WAY DRIVING WOULD CAUSE THE ABS MODULE TO FAIL. IT'S ALSO A VERY COSTLY FIX. 1200 FOR THE PART AND THEN ANOTHER 200 FOR LABOR. THAT'S 1500. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD.*AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK THE BOLT SNAPPED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAUSING THE SEAT TO SLID BACK AND FORTH WITH ACCELERATION. ANY SUDDEN IMPACT WOULD'VE SENT HER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE CHILDREN'S BACKSEAT. THE BOLT IS METAL. VW REPAIRED IT AT NO COST AND PROVIDED NO PAPERWORK. *PH

FOR 2 YEARS NOW, ON COLD DAYS (TEMPS IN THE TEENS) THERE HAVE BEEN OCCASIONS (ABOUT 5) WHERE THE ACCELERATOR STICKS IN THE ACCELERATING POSITION. ADJUSTING THE PEDAL POSITION HAS NO EFFECT ON SLOWING THE CAR DOWN. IN FACT, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CAR WAS TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THIS ACTUALLY CAUSES LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING AND MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AFTER WAITING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES, YOU CAN START THE CAR AND EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND PERHAPS A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS A 2.8 LITER V6 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD AN AUDI A6 QUATRO (1999) WITH THE SAME 2.8 V6 AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER SPENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TRYING TO GET IT RESOLVED WITH NO LUCK, HE SOLD THE CAR. THIS DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IT MAY KEEP HIS FAMILY ALIVE. *NLM

THE ABS / BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE TO ROD EAST VOLKSWAGEN (VW) AND AFTER CHARGING ME $75 THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. THE LIGHT IS ON EVERYDAY. *LA

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NLM

USB CONTROL MODULE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING THE "ABS" AND "BRAKE" LIGHT TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE CENTER, THE BRAKES STILL WORK FINE, BUT A SENSOR IN THE CONTROL MODULE HAS A PROBLEM, THE COST TO FIX IS OVER $1500 INCLUDING LABOR, THOUGH THERE IS NO ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, THEY FUNCTION PERFECTLY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1998 AND 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS-YOU CAN READ ABOUT SOME OF THE OCCURENCES HERE-HTTP://WWW.CLUBB5.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=60526

MY ABS CONTROL MODULE IS NOT WORKING WHICH CAUSES MY ANTI LOCK BRAKES NOT TO WORK. I AM AWARE OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING ON VARIUOS OTHER VW PASSATS AND I WANTED TO MAKE NHTSA AWARE OF THE SITUATION.