1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Complaints

CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH DENIAL FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS ON 2004 VW-PASSAT CONTROL ARM. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V248000. THE CONSUMER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FOR A DEFECTIVE STEERING AND CONTROL MECHANISMS. *TC THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT PROVIDE PROOF OF THE 40,000 MILE MAINTENANCE.

1) ABS WARNING LIGHT/SOUNDER CAME ON, TOLD BY DEALER THAT ABS SYSTEM WAS OUT, WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $1800 BEFORE ANY OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY COMPUTER. 2) DID NOT FIX THIS, WHICH LED TO THEIR EXCUSE THAT THEY COULD NOT ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE OTHER ISSUES, BUT "DID THEIR BEST" TO FIX ACCELERATION PROBLEMS (REPLACED HOSES AND PLUGS) 3) CURRENT ACCELERATION PROBLEM MIRACULOUSLY DIAGNOSED AS SOME SORT OF POWER REGULATOR DEVICE W/O MENTION OF FIXING THE ABS SYSTEM SO THAT COMPUTER "COULD GET PAST IT" 4)ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING MOON ROOF OPENING AND CLOSING AT WILL, DOOR LOCKS OPENING AND CLOSING AT WILL, INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT SHUTTING OFF AND ALARM GOING OFF ALL BY ITSELF (UNABLE TO LOCK DOORS B/C IT SETS THE ALARM) 5) NOW DEALER SAYS THAT IT'S A BATTERY PROBLEM AND RESETTING EVERYTHING SHOULD FIX IT ALL, INCLUDING THE ABS LIGHT PROBLEM. CAN YOU SAY RIP-OFF?*AK

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE HAD AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL AND SMOKE COMBINED. THE APPEARANCE WAS WHITE. THIS STARTED ONE YEAR AGO AND WENT AWAY, AND NOW THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK TOOK CAR TO DEALER IN RAPID CITY SD. THEY SAID THERE WAS AN EXCESS OF GREASE ON CERTAIN PARTS UNDER THE STERING WHEEL / IN THE STERING WHEEL. THIS BUILD UP OF DUST WOULD CAUSE SMOKE AND SMELL. *EH

GROANING AND MOANING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN TURNING. *JB

BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS DEFECTIVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL INSPECTION. *BF THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL SHE PROVIDED THEM WITH MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *NM

1. EVENTS: ABS LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. NOW THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND THE BRAKE LIGHT NOW FLASHES WITH 3 BEEPS AND STAYS ON. 2. FAILURES: I HAVE NO WORKING ABS IN THE CAR. 3. CORRECTION: HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY AN INDEPENDENT VW REPAIR SHOP THAT THE ABS MODULE IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS MODULE IS A DEALER-ONLY PART ($2,038). NOTE THAT THIS COST IS FOR THE PART ONLY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR. I'VE CONTACTED 3 OTHER INDEPENDENT VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY'VE ADVISED THAT THEY'VE REPAIRED AN IN ORDINATE NUMBER OF THESE ABS SYSTEMS IN VOLKSWAGENS. ONE SHOP INDICATED HE REPAIRS/REPLACES VW ABS AT LEAST 4 TIMES A MONTH, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT VW DEALERS ARE LIKELY DOING A LOT MORE OF THESE REPAIRS, YET THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY RECALL EFFORT ON VW'S PART. I'VE NOTIFIED VW AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ABSORB THE COST OF FIXING IT SINCE A RECALL NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. MY CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS MODULE ON 1/27/05. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $2500. *JB *SC

FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE PART WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $2,000.00. *NM

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."THE ABS LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS DO NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO FAIL INSPECTION. THE ABS LIGHT NOW STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD ABS CONTROL MODULE (IT WOULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER) AND STATED THAT THE ABS PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE QUOTED COST OF A NEW ABS PUMP WAS $2250." *JB

TIE ROD FAILURE (EXCESSIVE WEAR), LEADING TO "LOOSE" STEERING ON A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SOME PASSAT'S OF THIS MODEL YEAR HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM; VW INFORMS ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. *NM

DEC 2004, THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED IN TWO, SENDING THE FRONT END OF MY CAR TO THE GROUND. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY AS MANY ARE TELLING ME (EVEN THE DEALER) THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. 2 YEARS PRIOR I HAD EEKING/MOANING/GROANING IN FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, AS I PAID TO HAVE THE SOUND CHECKED OUT. I'VE SEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE SOUNDS BEING RELATED TO LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYONE W/ ONE THAT ACTUALLY BROKE LIKE MINE! VERY SCAREY... AFTER SOME FIGHTING (MY CAR AS 103K MILES) WITH THE DEALER AND VWOA, THEY ENDED UP REPLACING LOWER CONTROL ARMS AT NO COST TO ME. HOWEVER, I DID END UP WITH A $1250 BILL FOR OTHER SUSPENSION PARTS IN THE FRONT (TIE ROD, SWAY BARS, LINK ARMS). DAMAGE WAS ALSO DONE TO UNDER SIDE OF MY CAR FROM SLAMMING TO THE CONCRETE.*AK