1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT 20,000 MILES AND AT 40,000 MILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARSHLY AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL??? AND IF I WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT IT, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT UP-FRONT, AND THAT THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT ONLY IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG. THE SUNROOF HAS A "BROKEN TRACK" AFTER 40,000 MI. IT COSTS MORE TO FIX IT THAN IT DID TO BUY IT! IS THIS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT ALL VW'S?

AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE-AIRBAG SENSOR IS BAD. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, WITH THE EXECPTION OF PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TRIM REPLACED AFTER ADHESION FAILED. THE RADIO HAS POOR FM RECEPTION AND NO AM RECEPTION. I ONLY INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE ANOTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINT (ODI ID: 840263) HAS INDICATED SIMILAR SYMPTOMS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING SOUND WOULD COME FROM FRONT WHEELS WHENEVER VEHICLE RAN OVER A SLIGHT BUMPS OR POTHOLES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

CLUNKING IN FRONT END GOING OVER IMPERFECTIONS IN ROAD AT LOW SPEED. SEEMS LIKE POSSIBLE CONTROL ARM FAILURE.*AK

CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE FAILING ON THE AUDI A4, THEY SHARE THE SAME FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LOWER CONTROL ARMS DID NOT "FAIL" BUT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY WORN AT 21000 MILES AND THEY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT`. VW COVERED 100% OF REPLACEMENT COST. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER*****757901. *AK *JB

THIS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING IS GETTING WORSE EVERYDAY THIS IS VERY SERIOUS WVOA WAS CONTACTED THEY JUST BLEW US OFF. *AK

LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS HAVE FAILED IN LESS THEN 30,000 MILES. A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR IS POSSIBLE.*AK

07/21/01 SCHEDULED SERVICE FOR CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION OVER SMALL ROAD IMPERFECTIONS AND SECONDLY TIE ROD RECALL. MECHANIC REPLACED TIE RODS, BUT SAME CLUNKING/RATTLING NOISE OCCURS UPON DEPARTURE. DEALER ORDERED SWAY BAR LINKS, REPLACED ON SECOND VISIT. RATTLING NOISE STOPS, BUT SHORTLY AFTER REPAIR, SHARPER CLUNKING RESURFACES, TURNS INTO ALSO SCRAPING/SQUEAKING NOISE ON SHARP TURNS LEFT WITH TIME. WEBSITE AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH INDICATES MANY INSTANCES OF IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS IN SAME MODEL OF CAR LEADING TO POSSIBLE WHEEL DETACHMENT IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. OTHER DEALERS INDICATE TSBS ISSUED, BUT NO REMEDY FOR REPAIR COST ON THIS RELATIVELY LATE MODEL CAR. BALL JOINTS ONLY COME WITH KIT PRICED AT APPROXIMATELY $600 FROM DEALER. AFTER READING NUMEROUS WEBSITE POSTS, I'VE BECOME VERY CONCERNED ON SAFETY OF CAR AS CLUNKING/KNOCKING/SQUEAKING/SCRAPING NOISES HAVE GROWN LOUDER WITH MY VEHICLE. I'D FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE KEEPING/SELLING THIS CAR WITHOUT THE PROBLEM REMEDIED. I STRONGLY SUPPORT A VW OR AT WORST CASE NHTSA INITIATED RECALL ON THIS APPARENT DESIGN DEFECT TO PREVENT RECURRING PROBLEMS.*AK