1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A BAD SENSOR THAT RENDERED THE AIR BAGS INOPERATIVE. *AK

AT JUST UNDER 60K MILES THE CLUTCH ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGON GLS V6 PASSAT BLEW. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE IMPENDING DIFFICULTY. THIS CAR WAS TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. ON THE HIGH END THE COST OF THE REPAIR HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $2,200.00 AS THE BLOWN CLUTCH MAY HAVE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FLYWHEEL WICH IS A $750.00 PLUS PART. THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER WILL OFFER A 20% DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIR AS THIS VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED IN 2/03 WITH LESS THAN 52K MILES. VOLKSWAGON OF AMERICA WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER AS THE CLUTCH IS DEEMED A WEAR-AND- TEAR ITEM.

WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ON DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND POPPED OUT OF BODY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL LINKAGE FROM THE MOTOR BROKE AND PUSHED THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OUT. THE WIPER BLADE IS TWO TO THREE INCHES OFF THE WINDOW. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER IS ALSO NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CONSTANT GROANING AND SQUEAKING IN THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER SAID THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK *NLM

CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BELOW , HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. NHTSA: RECALL 00-V-414-000: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY. *AK *NLM

A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FRONT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND LEAKING OIL. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

POWER DOOR LOCKS (PASSENGER SIDE) - LOCKS OPERATED BUT DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.*AK

TIMING BELT TENSIONER ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T (VIN # [XXX]) FAILED AT 76,623 MILES CAUSING TIMING BELT TO SLIP OFF, THUS CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE VALVE DAMAGE. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, BUT HAD I BEEN FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. VW ADVISES OWNERS TO HAVE TIMING BELTS CHECKED AT 40,000 AND 80,000 MILES AND TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT 106,000. BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILS EARLY I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED OR AT THE VERY LEAST THAT VW SHOULD ADVISE OWNERS TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AT 60,000--70,000 MILES IN ORDER TO AVOID SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH OIL AND COOLANT LEAKS. THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED, HOWEVER THE DEALER NEVER GAVE THE CONSUMER A INVOICE BECAUSE THE WORK WAS NEVER COMPLETED. WHILE TRAVELING, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE LOSS OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. CONSUMER SPENT OVER A $1000.00 IN REPAIRS. *MR *CB. THE AIR CONDITION DID COOL THE VEHICLE PROPERLY, AND THERE WAS ALSO A VALVE COVER LEAK, AND A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THE DEALER STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS BAD, THE GLOVE BOX FAILED TO OPEN, THE DRIVER SIDE VANITY MIRROR WAS BROKE AND THE HEAD LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. *JB

UPPER AND LOWER FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE. (LEFT AND RIGHT). *AK