1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

I OWN A VEHICLE THAT IS SUBJECT TO RECALL PROGRAM 02V026000, WHICH I LEARNED ABOUT FROM CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM VOLKAGEN , SO I CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE (800-822-8987). I WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL. THEIR SPOKESMAN SAID THEY ARE JUST INFORMING CONSUMERS NOT TO DRIVE ON A FLAT TIRE AS POSSIBLE DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. HE SAID THERE WOULD BE NO FUEL LEAK OR OTHER DANGER. IS THIS AN ACTUAL RECALL, SHOULD I TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND SHOULD VW PAY FOR THE CORRECTIVE ACTION?*AK

LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED-COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 VW. *AK

SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAUSES KNOCKS IN STEERING COLUMN. THIS AFFECTS CONSUMERS ABILITY TO PROPERLY CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TIRE RODS CHANGED, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK *YH

CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING WITH BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DOWN. (FRONT AND REAR). WHEN I PUSHED THE DRIVER CONTROL TO RAISE THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW ALSO RAISED AT THE SAME TIME, CRUSHING MY WIFES ARM. THIS PHENOMENON IS REPEATABLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.*AK

CONTROL ARM ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAS BEGUN CREAKING VERY LOUDLY AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ABOUT TO FAIL. ON MOST CARS THE CONTROL ARMS ARE BUILT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, SO AT ONLY 60,000 MILES THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS VERY COMMON IN RECENT MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS, AND THAT A RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED IN GERMANY WHERE THEY HAVE STRICTER AUTOMOTIVE REGULATIONS. ALSO, THE PART WAS RE-ENGINEERED FOR 2001 MODEL PASSATS, INDICATING VOLKSWAGEN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IF THIS PART IS FAILING ON BASICALLY ALL 98-2000 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS, IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSES AN ACCIDENT, UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED ON ANY POSSIBLE RECALL INFORMATION. THANKS. *AK

MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY YOUR RECALL CAMPAIN ID#01V157000. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.*AK

CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE COMPUTERIZED CONTROL MODULE. DEALERSHIP CLAIM PROBLEM IS DUE TO RAIN AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. (POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES, AND CARE ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES).*AK

THE CONTROLE ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO GO AT 5500. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THIS NEW, AND DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID SO TOO. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PASSAT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO MAKE VW OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION BEGINS SQUEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS WHICH ARE INTEGRAL WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS DEFECT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ARM. I'VE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 99 PASSATS. IT IS UNHEARD OF FOR THESE TYPES OF COMPONENTS TO FAIL SO EARLY BEFORE 50,000 MILES BUT THEY DO ON THESE PASSATS.*AK

1) COOLANT TEMP. SENSOR FAILED AT @47422 MILES 2) CHAPLINS CHECKED CAR BECAUSE I REPORTED NOISE IN FRONT WHEEL AREA. THEY SAID BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING AND REFUSED TO COVER THE COSTS. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDANT VW SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD ONLY THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS BAD. COST WAS $466.79. VW STILL REFUSED TO ASSIST. 2 INDEPENDANT VW SPECIALISTS REPORTED VW HAS A "BAD WHEEL BEARING DESIGN". 3) REPLACED ORIGINAL TIRES WITH EXACT BRAND AND STYLE OF TIRE THAT WAS ORIGINSAL TO CAR. TIRES FELT ODD, I HAD THEM CHECKED BY 2 TIRE RETAILERS AND DID OWN PRESSURE CHECKS TWICE MONTHLY. AFTER 15,804 MILES ON TIRES LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 70MPH.*AK