1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FIRE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO SEIZE. *YH

INCREASING "GRINDING" SOUND AND INCREASED "PLAY" AND MOVEMENT IN FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BY FAILING CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS-DIAGNOSED BY DEALER (STATED IT WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM). 2ND. VW PASSAT WITH SAME PROBLEM ('98 MODEL AND '99 MODEL) REPAIR PARTIALLY COVERED BY VW ON '98 MODEL OUTSIDE OF ORIGINAL WARRANTY. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AS BUSHINGS CONTINUE TO WEAR.*AK

RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF WHEEL ATTACHMENT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH.*AK

HAVE CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REQUESTED FOR COVERAGE SINCE THIS IS QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM ON PASSAT. HOWEVER, VW REFUSED TO COVER, NOT EVEN HALF THE COST! OTHER PASSAT OWNERS HAVE AT LEAST GOT ALL PARTS COVERED BY VW! THE TOTAL COST SUM UP WITH UP TO $1000. THE MAIN PROBLEM HAPPENING IS BASICALLY I HEARD CONSISTENT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING UNDER LOW SPEED, GOING OVER A BUMP, AND OCCASIONAL BRAKING. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE HEARD, THIS IS CALLED THE "LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE" AND THERE'S A BULLETIN IN VW THAT THIS IS RECOGNIZED AS A PROBLEM AND SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE INFOMED TO INSTALL PARTICULAR COMPONENTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS QUITE A CRITICAL PART FOR THE CAR AS WE DON'T WANT THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL EXPECIALLY TURNING. AND THE MOST THING THAT PISSED ME OFF IS THAT VWOA REFUSED TO COVER SOME COSTS! I KNOW AT LEAST AN OWNER GOT IT ALL COVERED BY CONTACTING VWOA! THE FIRST NOTICING OF THE NOISE WAS AT AROUND 40000 MILES BUT SUNNYVALE VW REFERRED THAT THIS IS A NOISE COMING OUT FROM THE ENGINE PUMP WHICH IS LEAKING AT THAT TIME. NOISE OF COURSE DIDN'T RESOLVE AND I DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO ASK AS THEY CAN'T DETECT IT. HOPEFULLY, I CAN GET SOME HELP FROM NHTSA. THANKS

SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS DETERIORATING. COMMON ISSUE. BUSHINGS DRYING OUT AND DISINTEGRATING. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE CREAKING AND CLUNKING AT LOW SPEEDS. VW IS STARTING TO PAY 50% FOR SOME PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NO MORE.

WHILE COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN AND GOING ON AN UPHILL GRADE SEAT FAILED BY DROPPING TO FLOOR AND SLIDING ALL THE WAY BACK, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIS-ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE APPROACHING TOLL BOOTH, BY TAPPING BRAKE, VEHICLE SUFFERED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WORKED AS ADVERTISED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ENTER 360 DEGREE SPIN AND CROSS 6 LANES OF TOLL BOOTH TRAFFIC ENDING UP ON RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RE-STARTED AND BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. MEHCANIC AT INDEPENDENT SHOP CANNOT DUPLICATE FAILURE AND SYSTEM TESTS OK.*AK

CAR HAS HAD TIE RODS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL ,BOTH C.V.JOINTS REPLACED PLUS A WHEEL BEARING FIXED WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR.DON 'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PROBLEMS HAVE CAME UP SO EARLY IN CAR SERVICE LIFE.

CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER OVER 12 TIMES FOR CLUTCH RELATED PROBLEMS. CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR, SLAVE CYL LEAK, CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE AND SLAVE CYL REPLACED THREE TIMES. LEAK DESTROYED INSIDE DASH, DEALER REF TO FIX. ELECTRICAL PROBS IN DASH, CRACKLING NOISE HEARD. BRAKE LINE AND SLAVE CYL PROBLEMS. PERSUING LEMON LAW (SUIT FILED).

VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK