1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM (FRONT SUSPENSION) BUSHING/LINK HAS WORN OUT AT ONLY 62K MILES, A COMMON PROBLEM ON VW PASSAT AND AUDI A4 W/QUADRALINK FRONT SUSPENSION, UNHEARD OF ON OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THERE OUGHT TO BE A RECALL. THIS CAR HAS 8 CONTROL ARMS IN TOTAL. THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THESE PARTS IS BY NOW WELL KNOWN, QUITE EXPENSIVE, AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS, NOT TO MENTION INCONVENIENT TO VW CUSTOMERS. VW HAS DONE VERY LITTLE TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO PAY EXORBITANT SUMS, REPEATEDLY, OVER TIME TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WITH EQUALLY DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH ALSO FAIL PREMATURELY; THERE IS NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST VW SHOULD BE FIXING THESE CARS FOR FREE EACH TIME, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

THE CAR IS ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 47000 MILES, AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR AND CLUNKS SOMETIMES. HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK FOR FIRST 4 MONTHS WE OWNED THE CAR. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF. DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. MAP LIGHT HAS STARTED TO DO THE SAME. INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. DEALER SAYS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING ON THESE CARS AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *NLM

A PLASTIC SHIELD WHICH WAS MOUNTED UNDER THE ENGINE BECAME PARTIALLY LOOSE WHILE ACCELERATING. *DT *JB

I WAS HEADING HOME AND BARELY ON THE TURNPIKE, WHEN I HEARD A BIG BANG AND I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS ANYMORE. I HAD SOME TROUBLE TO GET MY CAR THROUGH THE TRAFFIC FROM THE HIGH-SPEED LEFT LANE TO A SAFE SPOT AND CALLED THE TOWING SERVICE. I WAS ABOUT 140 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE COST, AFTER THE ROADSIDE INSURANCE PAID ITS PART, WAS $400. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE PRESSURE PLATE OF THE CLUTCH BROKE INTO 3 PIECES. I WAS VERY LUCKY, AND SO WERE THE DRIVERS AROUND ME, THAT THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED SINCE THE BROKEN PIECES COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED INTO MISSILES, NOT TO MENTION THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SINCE THE MILEAGE IS STILL VERY LOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFECT IS SO UNUSUAL AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF SUCH A FAILURE ARE SO DANGEROUS THAT MANUFACTURER DOES BEAR A CONTINUED RESPONSIBILITY. ON 2/18/03 I INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT I EXPECTED THEM TO CONFIRM REIMBURSING ME FULLY FOR THE $400 TOWING COST AND TO BEAR AT LEAST HALF OF THE COST OF $912 FOR REPLACING THE CLUTCH, $456. I ALSO OFFERED TO SEND COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS. THE BROKEN PARTS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED IF YOU WHISH AT MY RESIDENCE OR AT A CONVENIENTLY LOCATED PLACE OF YOUR CHOICE. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED ON 2/19/03 RECEIPT OF MY EMAIL AND PROMISED ACTION WITHIN 48 HRS., THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THEREFORE, I WILL HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS PROBLEM, RATHER THAN BEING A FREAK EXCEPTION, IS RATHER A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AND THEREFORE I FEEL THAT IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO GO PUBLIC WITH THE CASE, SO THAT AS MANY CONSUMERS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE PROTECTED FROM A SIMILAR DANGEROUS EVENT WHILE DRIVING A VOLKSWAGEN.*JB

DURING A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE CHECK, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE LOOSE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *NM A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR SOME 1999 AND 2000 MODELS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LOCK, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB

I HAD SMELLED HOT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR ABOUT A WEEK PRYOR TO LOOSING MY LIGHTS, HORN, TURN SIGNALS, TAIL LIGHTS, HEATER FAN, AND WIPERS. IT ENDED UP BEING THE IGNSION SWITCH ONCE REPACED THE SURGE OF ELECTRICITY CAUSED A SHORT UNDER MY DASH.

CREAKING NOISE EMINATING FROM PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING OVER LOW SPEED BUMPS. CAN BE REPRODUCED BY MANUALLY COMPRESSING FRONT SUSPENSION WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED. DEALER SAYS VW DOESN'T CONSIDER FAILURE OF FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE.

FAILURE OF COIL PACK WITHIN EPA EMISSIONS WARRANTY PERIOD NOT COVERED BY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. AT 3.5 YEARS/78402 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ONE OF THE 4 COIL PACKS ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT FAILED, LEAVING THE VEHICLE RUNNING ON 3 CYLINDERS TO TRANSPORT ME TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. THE COST WAS $174.25, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE WAS A REPLACEMENT COIL IN STOCK, SO THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE BUT FOR 1 DAY. I HAVE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT VW IS PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART ON 2001 AND 2002 PASSATS, BUT WHY NOT MY 1999?

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 2002 SUDDENLY INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE LIGHT AND HEAVY VIBRATION FORCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE COIL PACK. DEALER CHANGE THE FAULTY COIL PACK. DEALER REFUSE TO CHANGE THE OTHER THREE COIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS