1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND FROM FRONT. DEALER FOUND LINKS THAT HOLD SWAYBAR IN PLACE HAD WORN OUT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE, AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY SAID THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED REPLACING. CONSUMER FELT BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING OUT TOO FAST AND FEARED THAT A WHEEL MAY FALL OFF AS A RESULT OF CONTROL ARM.*AK

CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. RECEIVED RECALL 00V414000 FOR TIE RODS. VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE NOISES AT TIMES. ALSO, SUPENSION WAS SQUEAKING ENOUGH TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD A FOREIGN AUTOMOBILE SHOP TO VERIFY PROBLEM. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR $1400.00 TO REPAIR IT. DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION WHY IT WAS LIKE THIS.*AK

VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON BEARINGS WICH WOULD CAUSE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. ALSO,WOULD CAUSE TIRE PROBLEMS. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

STEERING RACK SEAL FAILED AT 15K MI, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND DAMAGE TO RACK. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER WINDOW (LEFT REAR) DISCONNECTED FROM ELECTRIC MOTOR (WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN) AT 45K MI. HARDLY USE WINDOW (NO KIDS OR PASSENGERS). DEALER REPLACED "PIN" AND CHARGED 1HR LABOR FOR PULLING DOOR PANEL - NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. STEERING BEGAN TO "CREAK" WHEN WHEEL TURNED SLOWLY AT STOP OR NEAR STOP AT 52K MI. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. STATED NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER WINDOW (LEFT, REAR) DISCONNECTED FROM POWER MOTOR AGAIN AT ABOUT 75K MI. DID NOT CONTACT DEALER AGAIN AS EXPECTED TO PAY $60 AGAIN SO WAITED FOR A SCHEDULED SERVICE. DRIVER WINDOW POWER MOTOR FAILED AT 83K MI - SOUNDED LIKE METAL GRINDING. HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH WINDOW CLOSED. TOOK AUTO TO DIFFERENT DEALER (MIDWESTERN AUTO GROUP, DUBLIN OH, 614-889-2571) TO EXAMINE DRIVER WINDOW, DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW AND STEERING "CREAK". NEW DEALER STATED DRIVER WINDOW UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN, DRIVER-SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW NOT COVERED AND MISSING "PIN" TOTALLY, AND STEERING "CREAK" IS IN ANY OR ALL OF THE CONTROL ARM/LINKAGE BUSHINGS. QUOTED $2000 TO REPLACE STEERING FRONT END - SUGGESTED I JUST LIVE WITH NOISE. NO MENTION OF TIE-ROD RECALL ON 1999 PASSATS. I HAVE NO INFORMATION ON IF MY CAR QUALIFIES FOR THE RECALL, BUT MY INVESTIGATIION ONLINE SUGGESTS I DO. HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES, BUT HAVE MOVED SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE AND COULD HAVE "LOST MAIL" PROBLEM. SUGGEST POWER WINDOW DESIGN IS BAD - AS I DRIVE ON HWYS A LOT FOR BUSINESS IN OH WHERE SUMMER REQUIRES AC, WINTER REQUIRES HEAT, I HAVE NO KIDS OR PASSENGERS IN BACK SEATS, ETC.*AK

WITH ALL OF THE GLOWING REPORTS FROM THE CONSUMER REPORTS MAG ABOUT THE VW PASSAT I HAD TO WRITE TO GRIPE ABOUT ABOUT MY DEALINGS WITH VW OF AMERICA.I TOOK MY 99 PASSAT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER 15000 MILE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE FOR A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT I NEED PADS AND ROTORS AT 18,000 MILES AT A COST $400.00.MY ROTORS ARE WORN BEYOND TURNING WITH 15% PADS LEFT .APPARENTLY THE PADS ARE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS?AFTER A HEATED DISCUSSION ABOUT WEATHER ROTORS WERE CONCIDERD CONSUMABLES OR NOT I LEFT IN DISCUST TO CALL VW OF AMERICA TO EXPLAIN MY VIEW THAT THERE IS NO WAY A TWO YEAR OLD PASSAT WITH 18000 NORMAL MILES SOULD NEED NEW ROTORS.FIVE CALLS LATER AND THE TOTAL RUN-A-ROUND A "CUSTOMER SERVICE" REP TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT VW OF AMERICA IS WILLING TO DO TO HELP ME.APPARENTLY THEY THINK IT IS NORMAL TO REPLACE ROTOR EVERY 15000 TO 18000 MILES AT A COST OF $400.00 SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME, FOR THE DEALERS!I WONDER IF I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM, EVERY NEW VW I SEE HAS A LOT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS.HMM. THANK FOR LETTING ME VENT. KEEP THE CONSUMERS INFORMED!! P.S.I STILL THINK I'M GETTING SCREWED!*AK

THE VEHILE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY TIGHTENED A LOOSE CLAMP, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED 6 MONTHS LATER AND NOW THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE CONSUMERS TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION. NLM

WHILE MAKING A 180% TURN LEFT VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED. CONSUMER GOT OUT, AND WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY OFF DUE TO TRANSAXLE BREAKING. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER TRIED TO TELL CONSUMER THAT IT WAS HER FAULT. CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO USE WARRANTY. *AK

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DECREASED BRAKE PERFORMANCE (SUBSTANTIAL) WHENEVER THE STREETS ARE SALTY AND WET. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MY EXPERIENCE NOT UNCOMMON AMONG VW PASSAT OWNERS, AND APPARENTLY THE SUBJECT OF AN AUDI INVESTIGATION WHICH USES THE SAME BRAKE COMPONENTS. IT DOES NOT AFFECT PERFORMANCE WHEN DRY OR SIMPLY WET, BUT DOES WHEN 'SALTY' AND WET. IT TAKES SEVERAL BRAKING TO RESTORE ANY MEASURABLE FUNCTION IN THE BRAKES WHEN IT OCCURS. IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY A VW DEALER ON 2/13 FOR EVALUATION OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

EA-00-028 WHEN DRIVING, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT PUNCTURING GAS TANK, CAUSING A FUEL LEAKAGE, CONSUMER WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR ESTIMATE WHICH SHE COULDN'T AFFORD, SO HER HUSBAND PATHCED TANK WHICH DID NOT FIX THE LEAK. *SLC