1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

CREAKING/SQUEAKING NOISE FROM FRONT-RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF FRONT CONTROL ARMS. DEALER INDICATED NEED OF REPLACING CONTROL ARMS FOR WEAR. VEHICLE MANUFACTURED IN 99 WITH 92414 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, DOES NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THESE TO FAIL AS MOST CARS HAVE CONTROL ARMS TO LAST A LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE HENCE FAILING AT THE CAR'S CURRENT CONDITION SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

I PURCHASED A 1999 VOLKSWAGAN PASSAT IN APRIL OF 2002 WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT THE TIMING BELT BROKE ON IT AT 58,000 MILES IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT SAME YEAR. AS PER VOLKSWAGON, THE BELT IS NOT DUE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 105,000 MILES. IT RUINED THE TOP END OF MY ENGINE, COST TO REPAIR IS 3,000-4,000 DOLLARS. VOLKSWAGAN WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THE COST, I FIND THIS TO BE UNFAIR THAT I SHOULD GET ONLY 6 MONTHS USE OUT OF A CAR THAT I STILL OWE 17,000 DOLLARS ON.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN ENGINE WOULD FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. CAUSING A FIRE TO THE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL COST $2,8000 TO REPLACE THE ABS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

COILPACK FAILURE IN VOLKSWAGEN 2.8 LITER V6 AND 1.8 LITER INLINE FOUR CYLINDER ENGINES

THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE IS NOT POSTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL OR ON THE VEHICLE, AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 110.

FRONT END KNOCKING STARTED AT 35,000 WORSE WHEN TURNING. BROUGHT TO DEALER FRONT RIGHT AND LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NOT CERTAIN OF SAFTEY RISK IF PROBLEM LEFT UNFIXED. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE SHORTLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE HOUSE. THE FIRE WAS WITNESSED TO ORIGINATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE HOOD. DT

BUSHING FAILURE ON ALL 4 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THESE BUSHINGS GRADUALLY BECAME LOOSE AND BEGAN SQUEAKING, ACCOMPANIED BY CLUNKING OVER LOW-SPEED BUMPS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. VW HAS REFUSED TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT AND DO A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE PAYING FOR PART OF THE COSTS FOR SOME PEOPLE'S REPAIRS AND THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE BUSHINGS IN QUESTION. FURTHERMORE, THE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE BUSHINGS CAN BE REPLACED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE CONTROL ARM, BUT DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO DO THAT, INSTEAD TO FORCE MOST CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY. THESE BUSHING FAILURES POSE A DANGER IF THEY FAIL SEVERELY ENOUGH. THE ONLY REASON THEY AREN'T CAUSING WRECKS IS THAT THE FAILURE IS GRADUAL AND MOST OWNERS REPLACE THEM BEFORE THE BUSHINGS GET TOO BAD. BUT THIS IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE REPAIR IS HARDLY OPTIONAL. DT