1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

I HAVE A 1999 PASSAT WAGON (@ 84,000 MILE) AND HAVE HAD A BURING OIL SMELL FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS (IT STARTED @ 60,00 MILE). IT HAS BEEN TO A FEW DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL THEY EVER TO IS REPLACE GASKETS. THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED TURBO CHARGER, MAS AIR FLOW, AND EVERY POSSIBLE GASKET.*AK WE HAVE EVEN HAD THE VW REP INTO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY WORKED ON IT - SAID THEY FOUND OTHER GASKETS - BUT IT STILL BURNS. IT IS WORSE WHEN IT SITS IDLE AND DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEH THE AC IS ON. I JUST GOT IT BACK FROM THE DELAER TWO DAYS AGO AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE - OF COURSE ON THEIR INVOICE THEY CLAIM THE SMELL IS GONE. THEY ARE SUCH LIARS AND ALL THE SERIVCE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO DO IS REPLACE PARTS. I HAVE DECIDED TO ACCESS THE LEMON LAW.

LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM VW AS CERTIFIED LIKE NEW WITH WARRANTY TO SECOND OWNER. VEHICLE HAD APPROX 30000 MILES AT PURCHASE. NOW HAS 67K MILES. APPEARS TO FIT PATTERN RELATIVE TO DEFECTIVE - SHOULD BE RECALLED ISSUE IN WHICH THESE PARTS FAIL EVERY 30K MILES. AS NOTED ON OTHER INCIDENTS, NO OTHER VEHICLE EXHIBITS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE MAKING THIS UNIQUE TO VW AND AUDI. THEREFORE MORE INDICITAVE OF FACTORY DEFECT AND CREATION OF HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATION. *AK

CONSUMER MOVED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO ITS FULLY FORWARD POSITION IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE A DROPPED ITEM. THE SEAT BECAME STUCK IN THAT POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. *AK THIS WAS AN UNSAFE POSITION FOR THE SEAT TO BE IN ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, AS IT ALLOWED THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *SCC *JB

ENGINE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN BREAKDOWN. DEALER SAID THAT SLUDGE BUILDUP (DUE TO SUSPECTED BUT NOT VERIFIED POOR MAINTENANCE) WAS CAUSE. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS VERIFY THAT THERE WAS NO SLUDGE BUILDUP, BUT LACK OF OIL, PROBABLY FROM FAILED OIL PUMP. OWNERS CAN CONFIRM MAINTENANCE EXCEEDING RECOMMENDED STANDARADS FOR THE 18 MONTHS/30K MILES PRIOR TO ENGINE BREAKDOWN. VWOA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ALLEGES THAT ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD HAVE STARTED PRIOR TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED MAINTENANCE PERIOD.*AK

RECALL LETTER FOR REPLACEMENT OF TIE RODS ON 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. *MR THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SQUEAKED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARM DAMAGE, THE CONTROL ARM BOOTS WERE TORN OPEN WITH NO LUBRICATION WHICH CAUSED THE SQUEAK NOISE. THERE WAS ALSO A CAM SHAFT TENSIONER GASKET LEAK WHICH WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. *SCC. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THE RODS REPLACED AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL, HOWEVER, THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER BACK AND INFORMED HIM, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED AND IT WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL LETTER STATED IT THEY WOULD BE REPLACED TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. *JB

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (RECALL # 00V-414000) WHICH ADVISED HIM TO SEEK REPAIR FOR A FAULTY TIE ROD SEALS. THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF AT THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED THE CONSUMER WHEN THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT HIS VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE THE SPECIFIC RECALL REPAIR. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING FRONT END PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THESE PROBLEM WERE RELATED TOT HE RECALL ISSUED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. *MR *CB *NLM

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A RECALL WHICH WAS FOUND ON THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HE OWNS CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM FILLER NECK. *MR PH *JB

CAR ONLY HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES YET RADIATOR WAS LEAKING CAUSING TEMP. LIGHT TO COME ON. NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO RADIATOR. COST TO REPLACE WAS OVER $700.00. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO HELP PAY, EVEN THOUGH RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. WORSE YET CONSUMER HELPLINE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR OR GIVE ME NUMBER FOR CORPORATE OFFICE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. *AK *TT *JB

STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR A THUMPING, AND CREAKING FROM MY SUSPENSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO A VW DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED ON THE LEFT FRONT OF MY PASSAT. I CALLED VWOA AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP PAY FOR IT B/C IT IS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM. A 99 PASSAT W/ LESS THAN 50K MILES! AND THEY CONSIDER THAT WEAR?!? FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED, I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY PERSON THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. NOW I HAVE TO DISH OUT $500 EASY TO GET IT FIXED. BUY ANOTHER VW? NOT ON YOUR LIFE. VW HAS BEEN HEARING THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SITUATION FOR YEARS NOW AND STILL WILL NOT HELP. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMETHING TRAGIC TO SOMEONE JUST FOR THEM TO FESS UP. *NLM