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We found the following complaints for VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (1998)

Read complaints for VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (1998)

While driving at about 40 mph another vehicle ran a red light an hit consumer on front right passenger's side. Upon impact,airbags did not deploy.car is now at body shop.

I was involved in a collision on 3/11 where a woman cut me off by making a left hand turn as she was headed toward me.the front passenger side of my car stuck the side of her car.the front right side of my car was smashed in but no airbag on the passenger side deployed.i was traveling about 30 mph and have not idea how fast the other driver was going.my car has been declared totaled.my passenger sufferd a bruised chest from her seat belt. Should either of the airbags in my car have deployed?thanks for your help.

Side driver's airbag inflated without collision.because of debris lodged under the front carriage from something i may have run over,vw repair technicians suggest this may have been enough to trigger the airbag mechanism.this seems extremely unlikely and i am concerned that there was a malfunction of the airbag and would like this investigated.my insurance company has been contacted and will look at the car soon.

Vehicle was involved in a head-on frontal collision at 45 mph during whichboth air bags failed to deploy. Dealer notified.

Dt:caller says without warning the airbag light came on. When caller called the manufacturer they told him he had some recalls on his car. He wanted to get a diagnostic done at the same time on the air bag problem as on the recalls. Manufacturer said to do a diagnostic and they would pay for it. Manufacturer said it sounded like it was a sensor problem, and this was a safety issue. Manufacturer said they will not pay for diagnostic because it shoed it was a low battery signal. Dealer said manufacturer will not pay for it, but when caller called the manufacturer back they said they didn't have the diagnostic back to make that decision . Caller was confused by what dealer and manufacturer were saying to him. Caller did notknow for sure if recall work was done because of no feedback from dealer.

At 70 mphside air bags went off.car filled with smoke swerved offroad. Consumer contacted volkswagen whichwas looking into the problem.the manufacturer was unwilling neither to investigate the cause nor to fix the deployed air bag.

1. Early on braking (intermittent) and now always at engine startup2. The abs brake comes on solid, the brake light flashes, and three beeps on engine startup.this indicates that the abs braking system has failed.and indeed i currently have no abs, although the brakes work, and the car cannot pass dc inspection because of the warining lights on the dashboard.3. I have attempted to diagnose the problem by running the vag-com diagnostics on it.vag-com cannot communicate with the abs control module which indicates the abs control module must be replaced.i am currently in pursuit of a used replacement part or a rebuild of the current module due to the high price of this part from vw and the fact that it has not been recalled.i have also submitted a complaint to vw of america.

While driving at 35 mph driver side side impact air bag deployed.the vehicle was not involved in a crash.the consumer contacted the manufacturer.

Fire in rubber boot housing between left rear door and car frame.preceding events, left rear door speaker was not functioning, left rear window functioned sometimes.door was closed after returning home and parking garage. Arcing was heard and smoke came from door.owner removed many fuses from drivers side fuse panel and then removed connections to main battery.door panel cover was removed and boot removed to find housing on 5 of the 8 wires burnt and most of the wire burnt through the wire.pictures are available.

The vechicle is having electrical system problems, consumers wife found water in the car on both driver and passenger side, and then tried to start the igintion, however it would not start, the vehicle had to be towed to the volkswagen dealership to be look at all repair was paid pull.*mj

Vw has a problem with the passats electrical. Very dangerous. Car stalls intermittent. Almost got hit making a left turn when the car stalled. Almost lost control on the freeway when car loss electrical power to the engine.

Remote does not open / close locks on door.

Electrical system failures continually, unable to rectify failure which causes many component failures.

The abs light comes on,followed by the brake light blinking the engine oil light comes on and the tachometer goes to 0 and stops working even though i am accelerating. There are many others with this same issue it can be researched onhttp://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=2447&tstart=0.

Sudden loss of engine power/electrical systems while vehicle is moving.loss of vehicle control with no engine systems and no power steering assist.saftey concern from rear end accidents from other vehicles and no avoidance control.also, regular loss of power steering fluid requires constant monitoring.

My abs light intermittently comes on followed by the brake light flashing> upon researching this on several various forums on the net. This appears to be a commonly defective part on several model years from 98-01. The oldest posting i found was done in 2000 and the vehicle was a 99. From researching this it appears even vw dealers are unable to get correct problem codes on this issue. I saw postings from many owners stating they were told everything from abs modules needing replaced to instrument clusters to wiring issues. It appears no one is absolutely sure what the issue is as some owners after the dealer recommend replacements did not fix the issue. In the short time i looked into this i feel that vw should be well aware of this issue and have taken steps to resolve it. I saw literally years worth of postings a on this issue on bentley publishers website. I can only imagine how many thousands of people have had to pay for things that did not do any research on it.

Oil pump went out as well, too many problen in two years!

Horn sounded like it was loose.yh

1) on early model volkswagen passats with the 4cyl. 1.8 litre turbo motors, the ignition control unit will fail with no warnings at all.2)the car does not run properly.the owner is left with constant misfiring, and if driven can lead to serious emission troubles down the road.since the failure is completely random and shows no signs of a problem, this can and usually willleave the driver and passengers stranded.3)the unit must be replaced or the car will not run properly.i purchased a unit of the brand huco, because the oem unit (bosch) lists for nearly $400.

# 4 misfire causing loss of operation. *et

Electrical system had gone out, nothing in vehicle that was electrical moved at all. Consumer contacted dealer, and the dealer was taking a look at vehicle. The dealer replaced the ignition steering lock.one time since the repairs the electrical components stopped working for a brief period of time. All components are operating fine now. *jg

Car stalled numerous times at any speed due to a faulty ignition coil switch. Engine work very slowly. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information.ts

We have had numerous problems w/this vehicle (suspension, temp sensors) before problems were "known".this latest incident is now @approx $1000 for diagnosing and the exact nature of the problem has yet to be discovered

Oil pump failure, faulty cd player, inoperative cruise control, ignition module. Many failures for such a new car. Warranty is good for 10 years 100,000 miles for original owner, 5 york 50,000 for second. Car was placed in service 2/19/98 we there fore missed the 5 year coverage by 4 months. *nlm

Computer control system and engine sensor failed causing light to illuminate.yh

Ongoing / intermittent problem withvehicle starting up.vehicle been in / out of dealer shop on four occasions, and problem is still unresolved. Provide further details.

Check engine illuminated due to faulty fuel pump wiring.nlm

Wiring failure over the glove box area.

While pulling out of a parking lot vehicleshook violently.also, vehiclelostpower.simultaneously, check engine light illuminated on the dashboard.a mechanic examined the vehicle, and determined that an electrical problem was apparent in the engine compartment.

While driving saw smoke coming out from under the hood. Pulled over, opened hood and saw vehicle was on fire. Vehicle sufferedextensive damage. Also, throttle body and cv joints needed to be replaced. Vehicle stalles, misfired, and idle fluctuated from low to high.

Absand brake light intermittently light up and sound an emergency. I've taken the car to two garages, and neither place can determine the problem. Sometimes i cani feel my abs system lock up if i am turning (not in any wet conditions); and in those occasions, i was fortunate that no cars had been coming toward me b/c i was unable to gain control. Neither mechanic saw any fault in my brakes, brake pads, shoes, etc., so there is something electrical to blame; and this is a complaint heard often with 1998-1999 vw passats. Either way, nothing has been done to correct the failure, only 300.00 in diagnostics.

Owner was driving vehicle for approximately 5 minutes, parked it, and then noticed smoke coming from the heater and also noticed the hood light going on and off. Fire burned throughout the passenger compartment and part of the undercarriage. Cause undetermined.

I have had numerous problems with the various electrical components in my vw passta.i have had the radio pick the turn signal while listening to am stations.the lights in the airconditiong component stopped working.the passaenger dr behind the drivers side locking mechanism is still broken (even after 4-5 trips to the dealer). The passenger door behing the front passenger had to be completely replaced because it would no lock.the truck mechanism stopped locking and had to be replaced.the lights in the back fell out.the car simply cut off while driving for no apparent reason.thesecurity system went haywire for no reason.

Consumer states instrument panel was going out or not coming on while driving at night.bulb needs to be replaced.

My 1998 vw passat glx began exhibiting a flashing/beeping red light to indicate a failure in the abs system. Upon further research with other owners of this vehicle, it has come to my attention that this failure is fairly common on 1998-2001 passats, but no action has ever been taken by the manufacturer. I had the abs module rebuilt and did the removal and installation work myself; the result was $220 out of pocket. However, many people who have sought dealership service work for this same problem have spent well in excess of $1,000. Given the apparent failure rate of this module and the fact that it is a core safety feature of the car, it is my opinion that it should be considered for recall (including compensation for those who have already made the repair). Thank you.

The timing chain system is defective and they know it. Why didn't theyinform me of this.maybe because they have hands full with the emission cheating scandal. Or if they did them they would be liable for all the complaints before. Please putvoutca recall. This car is dangerous !!!!!

Oil pump failed. While driving the oil light came on. When this occurred consumer immediately pulled off the road and turned the vehicle off, preventing engine failure.vehicle was taken todealership.a tsb was issued for an engine performance. Deteriorate /seize because of slug built up.this failure cause the oil pump to fail without slug built up.

98 vw passat have had nothing but one problem after the other with this vehicle.just had to replace my oil pump now my timing belt went and destroyed my engine.after i see that this has happened to several others i believe vw should take care of this expense.i have had to go through the expense of the front control arms, speed sensor etc.my car has been in the garage more than i have drove it. Problems with transmission

I am the second owner of a passat that had been driven 72000 miles. At that time the following defects were noted and had to be repaired: 1. Outer tie rod and cv boot. 2. Cooling system: all cooling hoses, oil cooler, water pump, radiator,& associated items.vw of america refused to reimburse for the cost of these untimely repairs that were due in part to faulty information in the owners manual, that states that the cooling system was sealed and did not need any maintenance. These enormous and costly repairs at a mileage when comparable cars of other manufacturers need little or no repairs up to and way past 100,000 miles, are excessive in my opinion.(the first owner gets a warranty of 100,000 miles and 10 years, something thatfor the second owner is reduced to 50,000 miles/5 years. I wonder if the car is suddenly not as good anymore when somebody buys it from a previous owner?) consumer reports magazine lists repair records for engines and suspension systems of that year and model as being "worse than average," and i can see why. I would welcome to join others with similar experiences for a possible class action against vw.

Bearing failed in water pump caused timing chain to loosen. This resulted in a valve bending while driving on the interstate highway. There were no warningsprior to engine halting while driving at 70 mph. Dealer ended up replacing engine at no cost.

Catalytic converter replaced early on in ownership. Water pump, oil pump, timing belt replaced two months ago. Turbo replaced twice and still defective. Electrical problems with driver's side window, heated seat, trunk light. Suspension system bushings need replacement @ only 56,000 miles. Steering column replaced early on.

Head gaske leaking oil can cause slick freeways causing accidents.lower control arm failure can cause sudden death of vehicle in motion.

Oil pump went out as well, too many problen in two years!

I was just told by the vw dealer that my 1998 vw passat with 1.8t engine needs to be replaced because of sludge problems.i change the oil more frequently than the required 5000 miles (usually between 3000 and 3500), but don't have every receipt, and don't have the oil change receipts from the previous owner, so they won't honor their warranty.they want me to pay $8000 when it is their recognized design flaw.nothing has been done to correct it yet.

Nar 04/07/2003 mr. The timing belt, cylinder heads and the mass air flow had to replaced and the consumer is requesting reimbursement.in the past the consumer had to replace 2 window regulators, the sun roof opened and closed for no reason, the rear door would not lock, the windshield wipersdid not work.

While driving at 70 mph the engine dust cover flew off, this happens right after the oil has been changed, the engine dust cover has flew off a total of 3 times. *cj

The timing belt tensioner fails causing the belt to become loose and fail prematurely.vw is aware of this problem.they have in fact issued an updated part that correct this problem.however i know of many people who have complained about the same problem, and this should be recalled.it is goingt o cost me more than 1,500 dollars to fix this and i am doing it myself.if i were to have taken this to the dealership it would be double that.when the belt fails the valves get bent.i love this car, but htis is a joke.the whole reason i bought this car was so i would not need to work on it.

I have this problem of the check engine light going on/off for 3 months, & i took the car to the dealer, he is always giving a temporary fix, after 2 or 3 days the problem again pops up.i reported this to the manufacturer too. One more thing i want to mention here, once i met with an accident in which both the front air bags deployed.but the car has been fixed well. More over i am going out of warrenty next month, i don't know what to do if this problem comes up after that. Please help me in this regard.

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 mph on the expressway, the timing chain fractured prematurely and caused the engine to stall suddenly without warning.the vehicle was towed to the dealership where it was determined the timing chain should have been replaced at 105,000 miles.the vehicle only had 91,000 miles at the time the timing chain broke.the owner's manual did not indicate when to change the timing belt.updated 09/19/06.

My car died suddenly while i was driving on route 9. My car started to lose acceleration, but i was unable to pull off the road before the engine died. The problem turned out to be related to the timing belt. Apparently the timing belt tensioner failed, causing the timing belt to go into the engine and damage cylinder heads. My local mechanic has informed me the manufacturer has issued a service bulletin that recommends replacing the part. I had the part inspected at 55,000 miles by my local dealer and was not told of the problem or advised to replace the part. At 66,000 miles, the part failed, causing the engine failure during highway driving. The manufacturer is refusing to cover the cost of repair, stating that the car is out of warranty as i am not the original owner.

Window panel--prevents closing of window. Intake manifold oil leak (gasket).

Vehicle lost all power on freeway traveling at 65 mph. Would not turn over.linkage to timing belt malfunctioned @ 100,710 miles.found out that both timing belt and linkage are not due to be changed until 105,000.faulty prior to vw's specifications.

Like many, many others, my 1998 vw passat 2.8 liter with tiptronic (automatic) transmission has the following problems:1) abs light on (abs not working);2) brake light on (both before and after all rotors & pads were replaced and fluid changed);3) tachometer not working;4) oil light on (but oil level and pressure are okay).this was an intermittent problem that began early this year but is now almost constant. All problems appear to be caused by a bad abs controller, which is also used in audi a4 models (part # 8e0 614 111r). Vw dealership quotes over $1000 for the part alone.sometimes, if the car has been sitting a few days or if it is cold outside, the lights do not come on and the tachometer works correctly for awhile. Then, all of a sudden, all the above-mentioned problems happen. Or, i will be driving the car with the problems, then the tach jumps to life and all the warning lights go out.as i said before: there are numerous people who have the same problems. This is a safety issue (no abs could lead to accidents) as well as a quality issue: abs controllers should not fail so frequently on such relatively new vehicles.a recall should be performed by volkswagen and audi to replace defective abs controllers in their 1998-on passat and 1996-on a4 models. Thank you, [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

While driving on i95 (md) southbound from elkton, md to aberdeen proving grounds, md,the car suddenly stalled.obviously, without engine power, the steering and brakes were difficult to operate.traffic was however avoided due to aid of a highway patrol right behind me.the vehicle was picked up and towed within a couple of hours and taken to a local garage.cause of the problem was failed timing belt.car has less than 100,000 miles and it's onnly 7 years old.however, vw refuse to honor the 100,000 miles/10year power train warranty.

The vehicle has been in for each recommended 5000 mile service. On two of the five occasions, the engine cover has come loose on the highway, causing considerable distress. It is my and others view that there is a serious design defect.

Consumer has complained on 3 occasions about the transmission, there was a noise when shifting through gears, when releasing the clutch pedal and driving on an incline, dealer could not duplicate the problem, however in feb 2000 the dealer did find the engine cover to be loose that may have been the cause of the noise being heard when shifting gears.

1998 passat timing belt prematurely failed causing vehicle to die.***no ans required***

Valve cover gasket failed.yh

The timing belt on my 1998 vw passat with the 1.8t engine failed at 75,000 miles stranding me by the side of the road. The car has been regularly maintained by vw.the vw maintenance schedule requires replacement of the belt at 105,000 miles.vw denied my warranty claim stating that the original warranty applies only to the first owner.however, my research shows that this is a well known problem and vw refuses to do anything about it.

While cruising at highway speed in my 1998 volkswagen passat, 3 events occurred simultaneously:a 'pop' sound from the engine area, copious white smoke (not steam) from under the hood, and the engine check light activation. Immediately pulled over, and white smoke increased substantially from (closed) hood, followed within 5 minutes by open flames from the passenger front wheel well.fire crews were on scene within 10 minutes, but the entire vehicle was engulfed and a total loss.

While driving at 65 mph the engine shield fell off from under the vehicle, causing the consumer to lose control.also,steering was very hard to steer, causing the consumer to pull to the side of the shoulder. The consumer look under the vehicle,and noticed the front of the shield was on the freeway, and the shield was rubbing up against the front tires.

Lower control arms need to be replaced due to corrosion/rust even though the car is only 2 and 1/2 years old!makes horrible creaking/grinding sound.dealer/service dept. Said it wouldn't affect my driving and was safe but after reading information on this website and others i'm not so sure.read that this is a faulty/defective part and i should think that vw would replace it without me having to pay $300 per arm!

My car has a factory defect of coolant mixing with the engine oil and is in the dealer for its second attempt to repair the problem. The factory field representative did not pin point problem to be the cylinder head but is highly probable and is replacing that component only.my argument is that the car had been running with contaminated oil and premature wear had occurred to the other parts of the engine and turbo charger.i had cleveland tech center analyzed the oil and found abnormal and high traces of metal and gycol, thus, resulting in premature wear on the engine components.i purchased a new car and feel that the replacement of only the cylinder head is inadequate and unfair to a customer. I also feel that this is asafety issue and may seize the engine.

When the engine dust cover loosens at high speed it's like an explosion occurs. This has happened after oil changes at 3 different vw service centers in houston. I advised gerd klauss, pres. Vw on 11-27-00. His associate joe bertrand called to suggest i ask a vw service manager what would resolve the problem - it's their design that's faulty and dangerous.

Vehicle stalls at any speedand at any time.dealer cannot find cause.

Consumer states engine starts slowing.oil spots on floor.oil pan needs to be replaced.

While driving 70 mph timing belt failed. Vehicle lost power and it vehicle was towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

While at dealership for other repairs mechanic noticed extreme heat from turbocharger caused damage tointake manifold. Unit had to be replaced.

Consumer states exhaust system has excessive noise when accelerating.

Computer control system and engine sensor failed causing light to illuminate.yh

Catalytic converter is completely deteriorated,car is only 5 years old. Dealer willing to replace catalytic converterfor $3000. Please provide further information.

Air conditioning recirculation switch failed.

Consumer states air conditioner is blowing hot air.air compressor needs replacing.

Electrical short had affectedwindow regulator and climate control.a tsb had been issued.

1998 vw passat wagon2 wheel drive 4 cyl. 1.8 l engine. Manual transmissionvin: [xxx] things broken on this vw. Blinking abs light on dash indicating abs malfunction. It intermittently goes off once or twice a year for a couple of minutes, indicating function properly. Temp. Gauge on dash reads no temperature or 0. It intermittently comes back on and functions properly. I need to pull sending unit wire and clean connector. Driver's auto door lock button malfunctions. Window switches on drivers door doesn't work well. Stereo plays cd without pushing the button. (goes on buy its self) left rear passenger door does not open from inside.. Moon roof malfunctions. Maybe won't close after opening. Brake light's don't light up right away when you step on the brakes. Outside door locks stick. When it rains, water gets into the lock and makes it difficult to turn the key inside the lock. Plastic dip stick guide is prone to crumbling due to heat. (this is the orange piece of plastic that extends the length of the dipstick tube. Antenna got screwed up in rain and wind. Dec. -05.updated 07/17/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Speakers vibrate.nlm

Consumer states air radio is in locked out safety mode.remote key is inoperative.

Consumer stated the dash lights were inopartive, also the left brake light and turn signale were not working, dealer replaced the 4 way flasher and a bulb.

Low beam light not correctly mounted.yh

Both blinkers are not working at all.

Cabin smells like fumes for starters an gas gauge is off car says it has quarter of a tank an than i run out of gas almost had a accident because of this ! also car has tons of electrical problems if it sits for more than three days battery dies but my main concern is my fuel gauge.

Brake booster, intake air screen and tie rod end unable to be repaired under recalls due to lack of parts.nlm (98v-134,99v-131, 99v-248)

Body intake valve failed.yh

Fuel pump relay failed causing the vehicle to stall at highway speeds.nlm

Vehicle was stalling at highway speeds, and a loss of power steering occurred. Also. There was a short in the fuel pump because of faulty wiring.

The engine started vibrating and the engine light came on, consumer found out that the fuel injector coil needed to be replaced.nlm

Took vehicle to dealer & was informed by mechanic that rack needed to be replaced due to power steering leaking fluid through it. Alsorotors were replaced due to excessive wear.fuel tank had collapsed & was not accepting any fuel.

Gas tank failed.yh

Consumer noticed it was difficult to pump fuel, the dealer found the hose leading down to the tank had collapsed and the whole tank and hose system was replaced, also the gas tank door was re-aligned because it wouldn't close.

Fuel gauge did not register the correct amount of fuel. This could cause the vehicle to run out of fuel.fuel sending unitwas replaced in april of 99 because of this problem. Volkswagen refused to address the current situation.the cause could be a loose wire according to the owner.

Gas tank cannot be filled without the pump shutting off repeatedly.

Gas flowed out of tank after fill up creating fire hazard

Fuel guage intermittently displays incorrect levels.for instance, will only show 3/4 full after fillup.also, will sporaticly jump between 1/4 full and full on occasion.dealer states "unable to duplicate.have almost runout of gas on 4 occasions due to problem.have talked to other passat owners, and many report same or similar problems.concerened about running out of fuel and being stranded or, more seriously, fire hazard.problem first started to occur around 45k miles.

Problems getting recall repair performed on 1998 volkswagen passat.*mrcustomer care informed the consumer the recall campaign could not be performed outside the united states because parts and repair technicians were not obtainable by any dealerships outside the u.s.

' recallcampaign'issued to install protective shield in right rear wheel housing.the consumer received the recall notice however, there were no authorized dealers in the area. *sc

Replaced collasped filler neck. *cj

Driving back home from store and car just died out than smelt like gas.

1)trunk light stopped working just past the warranty period, wiring problem, cost to repair $200. 2)abs light flashes continuously, about 1 year now,dealer gets 3 pages of diagnostic error messages. Can't determine problem with light but abs is supposedly working. Cost: 3days car rental, and $300 out of pocket. 3)front end suspension: crunching noise and bounce.bounce corrected-dealer replaced stablizer bar, $284. Noise continues(6 months), dealer can't determine problem. Getting worse, afraid front end will crash into ground. 4)timing belt broke, dealer replaced engine at no cost. 5)engine replacement caused problem with radio. Radio will not accept code.needs to be replaced. 6)rear driver side window will not go down when indicated, falls down a few minutes later. Also, door will not open when unlocked. 7)sometimes the ignition switch will not turn when starting car.

Truck light inopetrable.nlm

Driver's interior door light is inoperable.nlm

During the last two years the door locks on my 1998 vw passat failed seven times so far. In most of the cases, they just could not be opened from the outside while the inside door handle worked. In all cases, the vw service people knew about the problem (a cable had slipped off the track) and were either able to repair it within a few minutes by use of a long screw driver going through a hole in the front doors. In case of the rear doors, the door panels had to be removed for the repair. The last repair was necessary within three months of the previous repair and it set me back $100.00. When complainint to vw they told me that they had never heard about this problem. I had to laugh about it since every time i have been at the service there were fellow customers with exactly the same problems. Vw did not offer me any help for this problem, just stated that my car is an "old" car by now and repairs seem to be happening more often.

Door latch failed resulting in the rear door not locking.nlm

Driver's side rear door fails to open from inside and outside of vehicle due to latch failure.

Trunk latch motor failed causing the rear deck lid not to close and the indicator light to be illuminated.nlm

Car would not go in reverse. Finally after trying again it did and brought to mechanic. Probably a transmission problem. Towed to dealer. From then on its been a nightmare. Two weeks later and they still have my car. The transmission needed to be replaced (covered under powertrain), just about every day get a call that something else needs replacing. Was told that the mass air flow censor needed replacing and was covered. Gave approval. Week later got call that its not covered (any other store would have to honor the incorrect price tag and eat that cost-no-not the dealer!). All electrical problems. Error code flagged 10 problems when originally brought in. Outer cv boots worn, harness (some kind of electrical wiring going to censor), coolant hose, 2nd air hose.the electrical system in that car has been inferior since day one. Hoses and parts replaced within first month of owning new car. Inferior on vw and awful response from vw.had recall on filter leading to air flow censor. Seems to me that the mass air flow censor is also problem and should be under recall.have read prior complaints on this year/model and seems the electrical system itself is major problem.

Transmission malfunctioned, unable to be rectified. Mjs

Transmission shifts ertically and noise develops between 20-27 mph after approx. 1/2 to 1 hour of use.

The light for the transmission fluid was illuminated, the dealer replaced the transmission fluid indicator because it was defective.

Transmission problems continually be experienced.

The light for the transmission fluid was illuminated, the dealer replaced the transmission fluid indicator because it was defective.

Volkswagen had not taken any action to perform three recalls on 1998 volkswagen passat. Letter answered by mr. Alberto jimenez via email.*ph *la

Loose shifter causing sporadic shifting from automatic to manual transmission control.nlm

Shifter cable misadjusted causing consumer to jiggle shifter to get the vehicle to start.nlm

Dealer state; water leak from firewall from drains in cowlpanel being clogged, shorting out transmission control module 1,200 in repairs owners responsible, but manual doesn't include in maintenence. Manufacturer defect of a denied claim.

At approx. 30,000 miles, right frontwheel bearing began to intermitently emit a dry, droning, whining sound. Sound became louder and more regular over the next several months. At 37,000 miles, took vehicle to dealer for diagnosis. Was informed that the right front wheel bearing was worn out. Dealer refused to repair at their expense. I don't feel that a wheel bearing should fail after just 37,000 miles. The other three wheel bearings seem to be fine. It seems to me that if just one of four bearings fails, it is reasonable to assume that bearing is deffective. I don't feel that i should be responsible for the cost of the repair.

Beginning in june 2002, i began reporting to vw service centers issues with the suspension and drivetrain.most of these issues were referenced by the nhtsa (see 99v248000).on january 25, 2005 i wrote to volkswagen of america detailing the suspension and drivetrain issues, including referencing the nhtsa recall numbers and providing voa with copies of my service records.voa subsequently responded by sending me a check for $692.13, which was ostensibly provided in connection with the letter i sent.yesterday, i went to a vw service center and was told that the outboard cv joints needed to be replaced (vw part number 8d0498099bx).while waiting in the service center lounge, i noted that two other customers, one of whom also had a 1998 vw passat, were told that their cv joints and or boots needed replacement.i have researched this issue today and have found anecdotal evidence that a properly maintained cv joint should never have to be replaced and that it should be regularly inspected every 50,000 miles.i have combed all of my service records and not once was this evaluation ever performed.it appears this may be a serious defect or flaw in certain vw passat models and because it has safety implications, i would appreciate it being investigated.

Design flaw in tie rod ends and protective boot.excessive wear and failure of joint could result in loss of ability to steer.this may result in an accident and vehicle damage.

Consumer stated there was a noise coming from the front of the vehicle, dealer replaced right side cv boot and outer cv boot due to them being worn, and also the drive shaft was replaced.

Vehicle experiencing hard shift.

Transmission shifts erratically.nlm

Consumer states transmission is missing gaskets.

Transmission malfunctioned, unable to be rectified. Mjs

Automatic locking restraint, designed to hold child seats firmly, causes bruises to passengers because it tightens until it nearly suffocates the passenger.

Warning lamp permanently on indicating air bag system has failed.

Consumer states after ajusting the height of the driver seat, it would come down while driving.the dealer and manufacturer were notified.nlm

Driver's seat failed.yd

Driver's seat rocks and moves while car is moving. Manufacturing company says that there is nothing wrong with this and that its "normal".this is not normal and its dangerous. It becomes very easy to lose control of the car while it is moving! the ntsb board has a number of similar complaints by other drivers, so i am not the only one. This needs the company's immediate attention and correction. It shouldn't do this for any reason.

Front seat failure causing it to move back and forth while applying the brakes or accelerating making a popping noise.

The driver's seat came loose while driving and the seat flipped backwards causing me to lose control of the car.

Driver's seat failed.yd

While starting off from a standstill, i heard a popping sound and i flew backwards in my seat.apparently the seat frame mechanism for my drivers seat failed.the metal of the frame, as it was designed and manufactured, failed from metal fatigue.when it did, there was nothing holding the front of the seat to the floor board.i flew into the back seat, my hands were ripped from the wheel, and i could no longer reach the pedals.i struggled to maneuver myself back into a position where i could regain control of my car.thankfully, it was very early in the morning, and there were no other vehicles or pedestrians located close to my car.as of this point, nothing has been done to fix the car.

The seat broke from the base.the consumer had lost complete control of the vehicle.the consumer requested reimbursement for all of the monies spent on repairs/other charges for the incident.scc

The right front seats would rock whenever vehicle is turning corners or curbs. This also happens when coming to or leaving a stop sign or light. Contacted manufacturer & nothing could be or would be done. Sun roof would open & close on its own. Would have no warning. The rear window looked like it had acid rain on it when bought. Been to dealer & mechanic removed seat & replaced it. No problem found. Checking on other problems.

The drivers side seat heater malfunctioned and burned a hole through the seat and the drivers coat.please provide further details.

The seats heating element is broken and appears to have overheated leaving grill marks in the inner seat cover lining.nlm

Abs module warning light & alarm indicate failure of abs

Abs light in my 1998 passat glx will come on intermittantly along with the brake and low oil lights.wrote president of vw of america and was told they would not help.they want to replace abs module at $2200.the web is full of folks with the same problem.the part must be defective...there should be a recall.

Our 1998 volkswagen passat gls 4 cylinder sedan (80k miles) had intermittent warning lights go on for the abs system and the brakes. The manual states that when the warning lights go on the abs system is disabled and that the car should be serviced immediately. There was no regular pattern to the lights coming on, but once it started it happened virtually every trip at different times. I drove for about a week with the light on with no apparent loss of braking ability. I did experience a failure of the abs system while the light was on (on a hill on a rainy day) and so determined it should be repaired. We took the car in to the local dealership and they could not diagnose the problem until the warning lights were on. We came back with the warning lights on and they told us we needed to replace the abs control module at a cost of $2600. We went ahead and did the repair. We did not keep the previous part. We are distressed that a single part from a safety system is so expensive and that the problem is widespread in audis and vws. Visit any online car forum and it is filled with stories of this repair. Because this is a safety issue i feel volkswagen be alerted to this issue and a formal complaint should be registered about this safety system malfunction.

1) normal driving, highway speed.2)abs warning light, abs failure upon testing, annoying brake/abs lights and warning tone3) repaired abs control module through repair service.not through dealer

Abs light and brake light comes on when i start the car and it stays on while i drive my car. The brake light blinks continuously and in bad weather you can feel that abs is not working. From vw passat forms i understood this is a common problem with 98+ passat models. I talked to some local shops and they told they are familiar with this problem and i have to take it to the vw dealer. I talked to a dealer and they told me it is $150 to check the problemand if the problem is related to abs circuit or something then it is going to cost me around $2000+.that is around 25% of my cars current value and from my understandinglot of people are facing the same problem. It is a safety issue andi am very disappointed about vw's reliability.

Abs light and brake light comes on intermittently indicating abs failure.dealersaid it is a bad abs computer $1500+ 2 to 3 hours of labor. This started this month and goes onand off .

Morrison auto group repaired rear brakes as they were stuck.after this repair the abs light, brake light, oil light came on blinking.the tachometer also zero's out.a warning noise also occurs.this happens intermittently.while this warning light is on the abs system is disabled.braking works but no abs available.i live in alaska and can't have my car without abs esp during critical times of braking.i have read on tech forums for this type of car that this is a widespread (more than a handful of cars).the exorbirant cost of this repair (as stated by others) for something that should not be failing within its lifetime.

1998 passat 1.8t b5 bodystyle.bough car at 88,000 miles used from a dealership who inspected it.abs abd brake light go on and stay on for an extended time. Passatworld website shows hundreds of people wiht this same problem vw needs to do a recall. Part are too expensive for me to fix.

Abs and brake lights go on and off sporatically on my 1998 vw passat.dealer says abs control unit (vw part no. 8e061411q) has gone bad.vw of america refuses to cover it even though car has less than 50,000 miles.replacement cost is about $2500.00.

Failure of computer modual for abs (automatic braking system).abs system no longer works.

My 1998 vw passat has 85,000 miles on it and a problem with the abs control unit.the abs light stays on steadily and the brake light flashes with an audible four-chime tone.the vw dealer tested and confirmed that i need a new abs pump/control.the cost of parts and labor is $2,100.since purchasing this vehicle, i have had many problems with it from replacing the turbo charger to a complete replacement of the front-end suspension to name a few.vw of america declined to help with this problem because of the mileage.i used to own a toyota with 250,000 miles on it when i sold it and never had problems with it like i have with this car.

Abs control module failed.$2200 for part no labor, search online shows massive failures or bosch 5.3 and 5.3i unit used in passat and a4.

My abs and brake light became illumlinated on the instrument cluster.i had the trouble lights diagnosed at the 70k service and the dealer noted the abs control module was defective and needed to be replaced at an estimated cost of $1,800.the brakes continued to work, however the anti-lock braking system was not operable due to the failed control module.volkswagon was unwilling to fix the problem and i have sent the module to an outside vendor for a complete rebuild of the unit.

1998 vw passat: heard loud clanking noises especially when turning vehicle. Reported to vw service department local dealership. Advised the the upper control arm joint is worn and need replacement. Further, both left and right tie rods are totally shot and need replacing. Checked and found that the tie rod problem was recalled by nhtsa sep. 1999 (99v-248) but that my vehicle was not included in recall. Do not know why as the problem described is the same. Additionally, numerous complaints about the control arms have been noted on this site, yet vw of america, who advised me are aware and sensitive to the problem, refused assistance in repairing the vehicle. Also the recalled tie rods replacement was refused to be fixed by them.please follow up and investigate vw of america for these very important safety issues since i was told that theycan cause serious driver accidents.i am also wondering why the brake rotors needed replacement when new brakes were installed. Do not trust vw to be a safe vehicle at this time.

The abs light stays on, the brake light flashes, the engine oil light comes on and the tachometer goes to 0 and stops working even though i am accelerating. The control module was the culprit and it would cost $1450.00 and there was no used part available and it is a dealer only part.

My abs computer failed on my 1998 v6 passat.this seems to be a common occurrence and there should have been a recall on this defective part.it is dangerous and causes irregular braking and flashing dashboard lights.

Abs/ brake light are on, chimes sound when vehicle is turned on and won't turn off.

As an oem safety feature, now i believe required, the abs control module on my 1998 volkswagen passat, has failed, leaving this feature inoperative.luckily for my self this has not become a burden or caused injury, but i'm sure that others are not as lucky as i have been.

Abs module in operative abs system.

The abs module in my 1998 volkswagen passat 1.8t has gone bad.this fault came without notice of any symptoms and completely unprovoked.the warning lamp and tone appear every time i start the vehicle.this is a known issue with many independent volkswagen mechanics and many passat owners.

Abs/ brake light are on and 3 chimes sound when vehicle is turned on.

Abs module appears to be faulty.abs and brake light remain on/flashing.loss of abs could cause collision, dealer wants $1000+ for the part and does not guarantee it will fix the problem.

Abs computer failure 98 vw passat... Complete absfailure all the time.

Abs brakes ceased to function after approx 60k miles.because of the expense to fix (dealer quoted $2400, indie mechs about $1400), they remain non-functional (my car is now 95k miles).

I owe a 1998 vw passat gls( 77,000 miles). Abs and brake light came on a month ago. I contacted vw dealer and they asked me to bring the car in. But before i did that i almost had an accident with that car because of the abs problem. It was raining and i had to brake so the abs turned on. It blocked brakes and steering wheel and the car kept sliding. Abs was clearly not working. The car kept sliding for about 30 yards and i almost ran trough the red light and hit another vehicle because i had absolutely no control over the vehicle. When the car finally stopped i've noticed that the car had shut itself down. Seven month pregnant wife and my two year old daughter were with me in the car and we almost lost our lives because of this problem. I took the car to the dealer and i was told that the abs module must be replaced and that it would cost me about $2000.00. I did some research on this issue and i found that there is hundreds of people that have this same problem, but apparently vw of america do not want to do anything. This is just one of the websites where you can read about this problem http://www.myvwlemon.com/ubb/forum2/html/000120.html. Something must be done because this is clearly a safety issue. Please do something because before you hear about dozens of people loosing their lives because of this.thank you,enes skopljak.

I drive a 1998 volkswagen passat.after about 2 weeks of annoying warnings that something was wrong with my abs system i took the carto my independent mechanic.he hooked a scanner up to it and checked the brake system all day,and found nothing wrong with the car, other than the fact that the brake fluid was overfilled.he fixed that minor problem, but did not fix the original issue.after another week, i finally broke down and took the car to the dealer - heritage volkswagen on reisterstown road in owings mills, md.they hooked a scanner up to it as well, and found that i needes a new abs control unit.this was a part that, they said, would cost $3,000 just for the part!after doing my own research, it seemed this was one of many volkswagen passats that experienced the problem, but every onewas being charged $1,500 for the part.this ought to be a class action lawsuit against volkswagen of america, and heritage volkswagen ought to be investigated for overcharging their customers.

98 passat, abs pump is not working anymore at 106000 miles. I wanted to replace the part but the dealer told me i have to pay $1200.00 just for the part. Is vw usa considering a recall because in my opinion a $1200.00 part should not fail to work so fast.

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 onconstantly. 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."

Vw passat 1998 has a manufacturing defect. The abs light stays solid and brake light flashes. This can cause serious consequences. The manufacturer has taken no measures to rectify this problem. They have shifted responsibility on the consumer to pay them extra $ 2000.00 to fix their problem.

Abs electronic control module failure.

Abs failure.

Dt: the abs module failed.first noticed on 5/1/05 when driving and abs light came on and brake lights (exterior) started flashing. Then a beeping noise came to warn along with light. When emergency braking the brakes lock. Happens at any weather conditions/upand down hill or any type of road. The problem has not been looked at by dealer, but has been looked at by mechanic, the abs module is the part that needs replacement..

Abs warning light illuminated on dash. *mrthe consumer was told the problem was the abs control module and could be repaired for1400.00 plus labor*sc

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?

When driving and applying the brakes thereare no power assist brakes, and the brake pedal is hard, which isn't stopping the vehicle.consumer has to apply the brakes very hard to stop the vehicle.

I have been advised that both front brakes require new rotors although pads have not worn through.given the mileage, this seems like a defect.the manufacturer has declined to assist as the vehicle in no longer under warranty.

I have a 1998 vw passat that has had it abs system go out. From what i understand this is acommon occurrence with this car. The only problem is when the abs module goes on the car it has a hard time modulating the brakes correctly causing a dangerous situation. I will have to either buy a new unit or send it out and have it repaired.

Abs light came on with less than 30,000 miles on it. For 4 years, the vw dealer said it would be over $1,800 to replace the abs pump. Last year they said it would be $2750. After seeing on internet threads that the common cause is only the abs module, i confronted the dealer, and they sai it would $650, and it has worked fine since. I feel vw dealers are not forthright in telling customers about the less expensive solution, and they should pay for it, since it is a known common defect, and a safety hazard. I have been told that many people are pulling the bulb out, and buyers may not be aware the abs doesn't work. Until its too late.

Earlier this month (10/2004), the abs brake failure warning (light and sound) on our 1998 vw passat gls started coming on sporadically. On oct. 20, i took the car to wheaton service center, a vw-only independent shop. They hooked the unit up to the diaganostic computer and got no signal. They also got not signal when they tried to access to engine computer, indicating that the abs computer has a short (the engine computer worked fine after they disconnected the abs computer.)i confirmed this diagnosis over the phone with ftizgerald vw in frederick, md.i later tested the braking on a wet road -- there was no abs, although the conventional brakes worked fine.the 1998 car, which we have owned since new, has been scrupulously maintained, as the regional vw factory rep can attest (from a drivetrain warranty repair done 5,000 miles ago). The car now has 69,000 miles on it. The wsc mechanics tell me that they see numerous abs failures in late '90s passats, the web seems to confirm this. The widespread, premature failure of abs systems is a significant safety issue. Since the repair costs $2,500, many owners will simply disconnect the abs computer to avoid the annoying lights and sounds, and avoid the expensive fix. Having become accostomed to abs, how many will adjust their braking accordingly, especially the need to pump the brakes to avoid skidding?

When drivingat an undetermined speed abs light appeared on the dashboard. Consumerinformed the dealer about this issue.however, mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem.

Abs system failure on 1998 vw passat. Warning lights came on.dealer diagnosed problem as abs unit failure and said repair would cost $2500.search of internet message boards indicates that this an increasingly common problem.

Abs failed, flashing lights continually. Spoke with dealer in seaside, casaid common event and not worth replacing.

Rear brakes make loud squeaking noise from moment brake pedal is depressed until vehicle comes to a complete stop. Dealer has inspected and said brakes/pads are ok. Dealer deglazed pads which fixed noice problem for approx 2 weeks and then it returned.problem still not resolved. Problem started at 20k, vehicle just had 40k mile service-dealer said brakes ok still. Said front brakes will need replacement at next service. I feel dealer is trying to fix problem, but manufacturer hasn't provide dealer with any recommendations on problem resolution.

1998 vw passat abs control module failure.this $1000 part seems to be a very consistent failure at volkswagen.

Anti lock brake control unit.

At 105,000 miles the abs and brake warning lights began to come on intermittently on my 1998 vw passat. I took it to a vw mechanic who diagnosed as a failed instrument cluster. Replaced cluster for $600, didn't resolve brake problem. Research indicates the problem to likely be abs pump electronic system (integral to abs pump). The installed part is 8e0614111p, vw prescribes replacing with 8e0614111q (upgraded part). List price for the "q" part is $2400. Complaining because: 1) problem is likely failed electronic components which are sold only integral to mechanical pump, thereby gouging purchasers, 2) research on the internet and discussions with part dealers and service shops indicates that this problem is common and basic to passats and audis; vw should either pay the total cost or make it cheaper to repair. See: http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?threadid=2447&start=0&tstart=0.

Volkswagen passat 1998 dashboard indicated that the abs brakesfailed.replacement or repair was estimated at approx $1,000.

Abs controller failed.module scan showed:01203 - electrical connection between abs and instrument cluster03-10 - no signal - intermittent.

I am the original owner of a 1998 vw passat, 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual transmission automobile.the abs brakes warning light came on (february27, 2005).i consulted with my independent mechanic and he said the abs brakes were necessary in wet or icy weather in emergency situations.the problem did not result in any accident or injury.i took the car to the dealer on march 21, 2005. The dealer performed diagnosis and determined the abs pump needed replacing.the dealer (new century volkswagen in glendale, ca) quoted a price of $3125, parts and labor, to fix. I am unable to repair the car at this time due to the expense.research online and in discussing with independent vw mechanics reveals that this is a very common problem with this model vw.i checked with an independent vw mechanic and he told me that so many people have had this problem that the price of abs used parts is rapidly rising.in investigating this problem please refer to the following website for a remarkable number of similar complaints: http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173334&page=1&pp=30&highlight=abs+module .

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.*sc

Anti-lock brake failure. Abs warning light .

Brake warning bells sounded followed by blinking red brake, and solid amber abs light in dashboard instrument cluster.took automobile to dealer for diagnosis.abs module was determined to be defective, and required replacement for anti-lock brake system to work again.

Abs module failure. Was driving shortly after having front end work done and light when on. This happens intermittently while driving. Braking is affected.

I own a 1998 volkswagen passat gls 1.8t, and i have had the abs control module fail.i was driving the car and my abs and brake lights turned on and started to blink.this would happen everytime i would start my car.i had diagnostics run on the car, and found that the control module could not communicate with the cars ecu.i had my local volkswagen dealer replace the abs module.this cost me $850 for the control module, $360 for labor, then tax.i had to pay $1270 for everything to be fixed.i find that this is a common problem with volkswagen passats, and i do not think that the owners should pay for something like this if it is a recurring problem.

1998 vw passat 20v gls sedan vin: [xxx]abs fault indicated by abs and brakeinstrument cluster lights flashing and instrument alarm sounding.1 faults found:01203 - electrical connection between abs and instrument cluster03-10 - no signal - intermittentdiagnosed as faulty abs control module.safety issue - according to the owner's manual:"if abs warning light and brake warning light lit up together, it is possible rear wheels will lock-up early under hard braking. This could cause loss of vehicle control and may be due to the electronic brake pressure distribution not functioning. Have your vehicle serviced immediately by an authorized volkswagen dealer or a qualified independent repair shop"module in car: [xxx]current vw replacement module: [xxx]i have called around to at least 6 dealers, "list" price ranges from $1500 - $1900 for the currently available "q" module.my local dealer told me they had stock and list price was $1000, but when the part was delivered that price had changed to $1600 list.i surely would not have ordered the part if it i had been quoted that price!part was refused, however according to the parts driver i talked to a year ago (and as recently as this fall) the part was $1000 list, and lately they have been delivering 4 - 5 of them a week to independent shops doing these repairs.from various forums (vwvortex, club b5 passat, audi world, bentley technical web, vag com tech forum) i have learned the failure rates for the 97 - 2000 model year b5 platform cars (audi a4, vw passat) that share the same [xxx] (b or p) modules have been failing at an alarming rate.in my opinion vwoa needs to issue a safety recall to address the premature abs control module failures in these vehicles. *laupdated 07/27/2012information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Dt:while driving on freeway the anti lock brake warning light flashed and then disappeared.consumer took vehicleto the dealership, and was told the abs control module chip failed.

Abs module in operative abs system.

Many audi and vw models manufactured starting in the later '90s and ealry '00s, use the bosch 5.3 abs controller, which is prone to catastrophic failure, ostensibly due to defective design. This module controls multiple brake-related functions including the abs which is important for winter driving, but the most critical function of this module is probably the electronic brake force distribution, or ebd. These vehicles are designed such that if the ebd is inoperative, the proportion of hydraulic force applied to the rear brakes during emergency braking is as great as it is during moderate braking effort when there is minimal transfer of vehicle weight to the front wheels. The ebd is supposed to adjust the front/rear braking distribution dynamically according to the measure of the deceleration, so that the rear wheels will not lock up during emergency braking. If this module should fail during emergency braking on dry pavement, the rear wheels could lock up and cause an accident which could easily include fatalities. This is an expensive repair for owners, costing roughly $2000, and many owners have probably put off the repair indefinitely. Evidence which can be found through a simple web search, suggests that the problem is widespread, and that if it has not already led to serious accidents, it is only a question of time. This problem is genuine, and vw/audi should be compelled to take immediate corrective action.

Abs controller failed on my 1998 vw passat. The vehicle has only 70k miles on it. This apparently is quite a common failure on the vw/audi vehicles.

My 1998 vw passat has 57,000 miles on it and a problem with the abs control unit. The abs light stays on steadily and the brake light flashes with an audible four-chime tone. The vw dealer tested and confirmed that i need a new abs control module. The cost of parts and labor is $1900. . vw of america declined to help with this problem.

Abs unit failure on my 1998 1.8 turbo passat gls sedan at 92,000 miles.sending unit to be refurbished because vw of america won't replace it under a recall.

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.

Abs light began blinking along with brake light on dash, took it in to volkswa gen to be diagnosed.they told me "the abs control module and pumpfailed. There is no signal between the control module & pump with the computer in the car. The module is supposed to send back a signal saying everything is fine or telling what the problem is, but in my case, there is no communication at all. The only thing that can be done is to replace the abs control module and that should 'most likely' solve the problem." and the estimate - $1885 - about $1500 for the part and about $300 for the labor - plus tax.vwoa refused to assist with costs, even though i only have 67, 000 miles on the car, and this problem is rampant and there are tons of people in the same situation.not sure what justifies a recall, but if there are a lot of people out there with the same problem, who have paid for a car with abs brakes, why shoudl we have to cough up that kind of money to replace something that is obviously faulty just to get our abs working again?

Failed abs unit.

While driving at various speedsabs light illuminated. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that the problem was the abs module pump.

Abs and brake warning lights flashing. Brakes work but abs may not. Dealer quotes $1450 for repair part alone, plus labor. This is a very common problem for these cars and vw refuses to either recall or cover repair cost.

On my 1998 passat with 86,000 miles the abs light goes on intermittently and the abs does not work.the dealer states the problem is the abs module 8e0-614-111-q which will cost $2,036 plus labor of $111. Upon research, a large number of other vw owners have the same problem.this causes a safety hazard.

Abs light blinking constantly on my 98 vw passat for past 19 months.dealer indicates no fault code anunnciated with computer diagnostics.quotes $1300. Control unit needed.abs system not functional.

(1) abs warning/brake light started blinking intermittently. Since then, braking became unreliable (long braking distance. The car wobbles on a hard braking).(2) the abs controller module (part #: 8e0 614 111 p) found to be faulty, resulting in no abs.(3) the abs controller is to be sent for a rebuild service.

Abs controller failure.

The car is a 1998 vw passat 1.8.the car has 61,000 miles.abs/ brake light including the warning chimes turns on intermittently.the alarm turns off after a few minutes and then goes again.my mechanic tested and confirmed that the abs control module is faulty.repair cost is estimated at $1,800.no other car i have owned with abs has ever had this kind of failure.*la

Anti-lock brakes fail. Warning light and buzzer come on. Dealer said it would cost $2800 to fix. After telling dealer that 99% of abs failures is the abs electronics module, and not the abs pump, dealer offered to replace module for $600. I feel this is a wide spread problem, as this problem is noted by many people on the internet. In addition, it has been reported that people have been disconnecting their warning light to be able to sell their car. This could be a big problem for the next buyer who doesn't know their abs isn't working.

Electronic control module for anti-lock brakes failed.anti-lock brakes are non-functioning.

The brakes squeaked, the dealer filed the brakes and the noise went away, the brakes weren't working, the dealer replaced the brakes and the rotors.

Brakes squeak. *cj

Consumer states brakes are noisy.dealer replaced front brakes and found rear brake drums were rusty.

Vehicle experiencing brake problems.nlm

The brakes squeaked, the dealer filed the brakes and the noise went away, the brakes weren't working, the dealer replaced the brakes and the rotors.

Consumer stated there was a noise coming from the front wheel, dealer repalced the front pads and rotors, also the brake fluid was changed, consumer complained on another occasion, dealer heard the noise for a few seconds but unable to detect a problem.

Consumer took vehicle to dealer due to brake light warning on the instrument panel coming on, the dealer informed him that the brakes were ok, later dealer informed consumer that rotors were worn and that the rotors and brake pads needed to be replaced, consumer feels dealer should be responsible for paying for the defective brake rotors and pads.

The consumer took the vehicle to be serviced because the brakes were making noise, the dealer said the brakes were ok, at 22k miles consumer was told that the brake rotors and pads had to be replaced.nlm

Brakes weren't working, brake and rotors replaced(rotors extremely thin-very unusual at this stage). *cj

Curious if rotor defect is inherent in all vw passats.

When driving and applying the brakes thereare no power assist brakes, and the brake pedal is hard, which isn't stopping the vehicle.consumer has to apply the brakes very hard to stop the vehicle.

Brake booster, intake air screen and tie rod end unable to be repaired under recalls due to lack of parts.nlm (98v-134,99v-131, 99v-248)

The steering system has developed a leak 6 months after purchase.nlm

The consumer's vehicle hadsmoke 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.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. Thisbuild up of dust would cause smoke and smell.*eh

Rack and pinion steering failed due to a defective steering column.also power steering pump failed , causeunknown. Please provide further information.

Consumer called complaining about having problems with the tire rod ends being defective. Also stated that there is a recall on the vehicle now but the recall did not affect his vin #. Manufacture was contacted and stated that there was nothing they can do about it. Ts

After three repairs the anti-theft system fails to operate.

Loose steering there is noise everytime i hit the brakes and accelerate also when i go over bumps.the bushing of the all the control arms are gone.

Vehicle was stalling at highway speeds, and a loss of power steering occurred. Also. There was a short in the fuel pump because of faulty wiring.

Car continues to lose power steering fluid.prior to realization to check it with every gas fill up car became difficult to steer, almost causing a servere accident.

Car leaks power steeringfluid.vw told me i need a new steering rack at a cost of $681.

Rack and pinion steering failed due to a defective steering column.also power steering pump failed , causeunknown. Please provide further information.

Left lower arm link is broken and causes some noise when driving. Contacted dealer. Ak

Contacted the dealer at failure and stated that they had no tools to repair the tie rods.also contacted the volkwageen of america.this item has a recall on my car.but, my chasis is not one of the 51,000 vehicles on the list, but my car is a 1998 vw passat.i need to find out how to have my car placed on the recall list so that the dealer can re-place my faulty tie rod on my car.

Defectivetie rod assembly and lower ink arm-n and lower control arm-n caused potentially dangerous steering condition and made loud grinding noises.

My 1998 vw passat has a loud grinding, rumbling sound and vibration coming from the front suspension, sounds like the wheels are going to fall off.the dealer replaced the cross link arms at a cost of approx $300.i also had the tie rods replaced under recall.but noise/vibration still there.now the dealer tells me it might be bushings on either the upper control arm or the lower control arm, each costing about $1300 to replace.i asked the dealer if this was a normal repair item, they said "sure", your car has 90k miles on it.i find it hard to believe that a well built, safe car would have this type of expensive repair.

Ongoing dispute with vci and vw over lease payments and recall and damages. No safety defects mentioned in summary.

Problems with left side upper control arms link, sway bar links and lower control arm. *mralso the tie rod ends were replaced, there was a recall regarding the issue, however the consumer's vehicle was not affected.

Vehicle experienced failure of the control arm which broke causing damage to vehicle, prior to incident vehicle was inspected for noise, no repair made at that time, recall campaign (99v-248)was not completed, which would possibly have prevented the incident. *mjs

The consumer experienced problems with the steering. The tie rods were going bad and the mfr was calling for a recall for this problem, however the owner was told that the vin# was not included.

Consumerdisappointed withdenial forreimbursement of repairs on 2004 vw-passat control arm. 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.

The vehicle experienced the same problem as stated in recall 99 v 248 000, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.

The front of my car constantly groans when i move the steering wheel (while driving or not) and if i apply pressure to the front end.i took the car to my mechanic (not vw) who said that there is something going on with the struts, tie rods, or something in that area.he recommended i talk to vw to see if the item is recalled or covered by warranty in any way.i called vw gave my vin and it is not part of the current recall regarding tie rods.i bought one of the first 1998 vw passats of the b5 series.

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.

Tie rod ends failed.nlm

Design flaw in tie rod ends and protective boot.excessive wear and failure of joint could result in loss of ability to steer.this may result in an accident and vehicle damage.

There is a recall for the same problem which is your campaign id#99v248000.when i went to the dealer they described the same problem with my car but vw is saying that when they put the vin number in it's not coming up on their system with a recall.i think volkswagen america should consider that maybe the problem goes further back and not dismiss it because it doesn't show up on the computer.the volkswagen dealer stated that the car needs front tie rod ends which is exactly what is described in the recall.if i got the information correct my car was mfg 11/97 which is earlier than the recall but the problem is described the same.they are saying that if its not on their computer it's not a problem.i think they should consider this is a problem.what car do you know that the tie rods wear at 56,000 miles.they also have stated the the front cv boots are torn.i wantvw america tofix the tie rod problme under the recall.

The tie rod ends were dangerously worn and needed to be replaced at 59,000 miles.the vin for the vehicle was lower than those included in an earlier recall but the problem appears to be the same.there is no reason for the tie rod ends to wear out that early unless they are defective.this is a safety hazard and appears to result from faulty parts.

When turning wheel there was noise at the front of vehicle, dealer determined that the bushings needed to be replaced.. Consumer states he replaced the tie rod end.

Worn tie rod ends, resulting in vague steering on my 1998 vw passat (original owner) and required.two recalls were issued on 1998 passats, but dealer and vwoa advised me that my vin was not eligible for the recall.

I am the second owner of a 1998 volkswagen passat vin #[xxx], which has a safety recall for the tie rod ends. The local volkswagen dealer(s) have acknowledged that the front tie rods do need to be replaced, however, they will not honor the safety recall.the reason is that there is no record of factory recommended service checks.i have had the vehicle serviced on a regular basis by a couple of independent mechanics, however, i cannot produce the paper work for the recommended service checks between 35,000 miles and 60,000.i called volkswagen headquarters and they acknowledged that although it is a safety recall, they will not honor the repair unless i can provide proof of compliance. The symptoms have presented themselves for 3/4 years on an intermittent basis.i am in the process of having my current independent mechanic replace the ball joints.information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Brake booster, intake air screen and tie rod end unable to be repaired under recalls due to lack of parts.nlm (98v-134,99v-131, 99v-248)

A squeaking noise was heard when getting out of the vehicle or when applying pressure to the hood. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the tie rods were found to be worn outalso, power steering fluid had to be added about every 60 days due to adefect in the rack and pinion.

While driving consumer heard a noise coming from the front end.also,poor steering control. Consumer contacted vw, dealer noted that tie rod end and control arm needed replacing. In addition,recall99v248000/ tie rods dealtwith the same problem. But,this vehicle wasnot included due to vin.*ml

Control arm ball joints and tie rods faulty causing noise in the front end of the vehicle.nlm

Consumer took vehicleto dealer because steering column was making some noise. Dealer said control arms and tie rod end needed to be replaced, and wheels needed to be aligned.

Steering: control arms.the vehicle was purchased used with approx 34k miles. Service has been maintained by owner and/or independent repair. At approximately 50k owner was notified by independent repair service that both upper control arms needed to be replaced. Owner chose not to do the repair at that time.during 2005 owner received a letter from volkswagen about a recall on the affected part(s).two local volkswagen dealerships acknowledged the part was defective butdenied to do the work under the recall notification. Both gave justification that because the owner could not document service checks at the recommended factory intervals the volkswagen company would not pay for parts or service.owner called the volkswagen company directly and a customer service representative verified the policy. Owner has since replaced one control art, however the other side also needs repair.

While drivingtie rods are making noise due to a defective tie rod seal not being properly applied.recall 99v248 deals withthis problem.but this vehicle is not included. Also,replaced the struts. Dealer said that consumer would need to replace the tie rod seals.please provide further information.

Defectivetie rod assembly and lower ink arm-n and lower control arm-n caused potentially dangerous steering condition and made loud grinding noises.

Recall # 99v248000 vw/tie rods; owner has contacted dealer/ manufacturer twiceabout recall notice. Manufacturer or dealer does not know when parts will be available. Dealer tells owner to contact the manufacturer. Manufacturer, in turn, tells owner to contact dealer. Owner received notice in september 1999.

The owner received recall notice#99v 248 000/tie rods from the mfr. In september,1999.the work was done in december 1999. Less than 30,000 later the tie rods failed again.the consumer contacted he mfr. Who indicated that they have fulfilled there commitment and there is nothing else they will do.

Mechanic is telling me allfour tie rod assemlbies and control arms need replaced.i have been hearin a loud crunching noice everytime i go over a small bump or turn a corner.

Our 1998 passat has only 50,000 miles on it, and yet all of the expensive front control arms are starting to go bad. They are getting play in the ball joints, which are only replaceable by replacing the whole control arms. Since there are a total of 8 control arms, the cost of repair is potentially very high. And if they are not replaced, the potential for hazard and injury becomes very great if the joints get so sloppy that they affect the handling of the car and eventually come apart. Vw should not be allowed to get away with building such an under-engineered suspension system.

Consumer received recall letter 99v248000.contacted dealer , no parts were available for 6 cylinder vehicles to correct the problem.

While driving at any speed, the consumer would hear a squeaking sound coming from the front end.the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who found that the right outer and inner tie rods needed to be replaced.

Rack and pinion steering failed due to a defective steering column.also power steering pump failed , causeunknown. Please provide further information.

Steering wheel was difficult to turn, and it was making a loud grinding noise.took to dealer, and they are going to replacerack and pinion steering.

While driving and steering could hear a loud noise. Then, had taken vehicle to dealer. Dealer found that rack and pinion was leaking and had to be replaced.

Car leaks power steeringfluid.vw told me i need a new steering rack at a cost of $681.

The rack has to be replaced because the power steering fluid is leaking from it.

While driving and steeringcar would make a loud groaning noise. Went to dealer. Dealer found that steering rackwas leaking and had to be replaced.at a cost of $930.

Leaking power steering fluid,replaced reck.*cj

After speaking withthe service manager, parts manager, and technician at dover vw in dover, delaware-they all agreed that the power stering rack had to be replaced due to battery acid draining onto the power steering rack. They all agreed this part should not have failed in a vehicle this new and re-routed the drain outlet for the battery so that this damage could not occur again. They all agreed that the drain was positioned by the manufacturer and tried to assist me in working with volkswagon america to reimburse me for the entire repair, $920.16. After much debate with vw america, they would only offer 50% or $460.08 supposedly mailed to me 7/26/01. I believe along with vw's own trained personnel at the dealership, that this repair should have been covered in its entirety by vw, as it is the way they designed the battery drain to drain away from the battery. It is my intention to raise this concern that in the event you can recover the balance of the repair, that would be phenomenol. I also want to alert other owners they may have a potentially dangerous and expensive repair lurking under the vehicle's hood. Because te acid dripped onto the steering rack, it caused a hole in the part, which caused me to loose all of my power steering fluid, which nearly caused me total loss of steering control of the vehicle. Please address this problem with vw america 800 822-8987 (3)they say they review these matters internally, but refused to let me know if there were other reports although no " campaigns " were ever issued for this defect.

The rack has to be replaced because the power steering fluid is leaking from it.

Design of the vehicle allows for wind pressure/vibration and severe buffeting at highway speeds that cause discomfort and disorientation to the driver. Mjs

The pressure builds inside the vehicle causing the driver to become disoriented when driving at highway speeds with the ront windows closed and the rear windows open.nlm

Firewall continually experiencing leaking into vehicle.

Sunvisor failed. Mjs

The driver and passenger doors did not close.

Central locking system - rear driver side door malfunction.

Molding cracked, causing tailgate to fail.

Noise from left side control arm of a 1998 vw passat 1.8t.

Creaking clunking in front end, will probably replace most suspension components on this car.

There is a creaking sound when turningwheel in both directions. Consumer states that the creaks are also happening when going over bumps.

The front suspension problem has happened to many passat owners, vw has failed to issue a recall. This is a clear workmanship failure and should be covered under warranty or recall.many complaints have been made to vw and no resolve has been taken.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

There are a large number of these failures-check www.clubb5.com. Lots of these are being replaced out of pocket by owners. Please help us and order a recall on these. My family's lives depend on it.no safety defect listed.

The lower control arms on my 1998 vw passat are defective and dangerous according to my mechanic. Vw refuses to replace them even though there was a recall for these parts. The reasoning is that: - i brought my car in for the recall at their dealer in 2005 and at the time the parts seemed ok. - at this time, their dealer has reinspected the car. The vw dealer thinks that both lower front control arms on the car need replacement. However the parts are not about to fail and the car is still drivable and thus vw will not pay for their replacement. My mechanic states that the car need to be replaced and the car is dangerous to drive in this condition. Please advise whether vw is responsible under the "revised-vm (40g3) - december 2004" recall campaign to fix these. Thanks

Quadra-link suspension produces metalic rubbing noise with vehicle motion. Dealer has diagnosed problem as quadra-link suspension failure based on inspection and previous experience. Dealer has indicated that left side is also likely to fail and that any repair does not guarantee a recurent future failure. Vw corporation has refused financial assistance in repairing problem. Nhtsa lists numerous customer complaints for this same problem. Customers position is that a part as basic as this should never fail and this represents a faulty original design.

Groaning and moaning noise emanating from the front of the car when turning.

Front suspension made very annoying creaking sound.

The right front suspensions is very noisy over bumps, including just pushing down on the right front fender.after taking this to our local vw dealer here in fort collins we were told the fix is to replace the control arms at a cost of $750.i called vw of north america to complain saying this was way below industry standards for durability of this type of component.vw's response was sorry it's out of warranty.this is ridiculous.i have since done a search on the nhtsa site and found this is a common complaint for the passat.vw should recall the part & provide an improved replacement that meets industry standards.

Clunking noise from front suspension.occurs when accelerating and braking.also general looseness in steering that was not there when car was new.car hard to steer straight and very susceptible to cross winds and turbulence.dealership continues to claim that they cannot find anything wrong.

While driving, there is a looseness in the front end, consumer could hear knocking noise like metal banging against something, took to a mechanic and they replaced struts on the left side bottom of front end.then 2 weeks later mechanic changed right side bottom, 3 weeks later the top struts were loose.consumer feels very unsafe.consumer had to replace the entire front suspension system.

No description given.nlm

Heard suspension type noise when exiting vehicle and pushing on front end. Dealer only charged me 50% on parts since it shouldn't have failed so soon.

Several suspension components have required replacement within 70,000 miles.none have yet been catastrophic.but possibly because as a car guy i am able to detect them early.

This issue was a recall for all audi a-4's (same as vw passat) as well as for many passats.my vin number did not fall into the recall #'s. Will soon, i feel constitute a danger on the roadways.

I purchased a pre-owned 1998 vw passat sedan with 36,000 miles on it in 2002 which was a great deal!! or so i thought.since that time i have started hearing a noise coming from the front right tire.. Or suspension .. Like a creaking, crunching, knocking noise. I took it to a vw dealership and was told that the control arms on the rightand the tie rods needed to be replaced. I found out that the tie rods had been recalled and the ones on my vehicle had been replaced under that recall in 2001, but had again worn out. I find it hard to believe that tie rods would wear out over a 3 year period since the car barely has 70,000 miles on it. I have viewed this website and found over 200 complaints concerning this problem and am curious what vw plans to do.. Wait until someone dies when a control arm snaps? vw needs to recall this item now!

No summary listed for above vehicle.

Vehicle has a squeaking noise coming from suspension whensteering orgoing over bumps or braking.consumer stated the cause of the problem was failure of the bushings in the front lower control arms.

Vechicle was at dealer for 30 days on final attempt to repair the suspension noise. Noise was duplicated by shop foreman, service advisor and tech. Comment from them was.......we hear it but we don't know how to fix it. Come back when it gets worse. Only on threat of a buy back did they finally resolve the problem.

The handling of the vehicle became erratic and noisy. The dealership informed me that this was a common problem with these vehicles and with audis on the same (b5) platform. I cannot believe if this is as serious a safety issue as i was led to believe, that there has not been a recall on these parts or a redesign.

Squeaking noise from front end. Out-of town vw dealer said "ball joints"$800 to repair."dangerous to drive". Contacted vw customer service, they said it must be checked by dealer used for regular maintenance.that dealer said "lower control arms need replacing""safe to drive"$1200 to repair. Took to 3rd mechanic, who said nothing was wrong, "just noisy".it continues to get worse, and i am concerned with safety.

This is the 2nd time in less than 6 months that my control arms have failed. I have a stock car, with stock suspension. This is mind-boggling that control arms on a 1998 car would fail twice in 1 year. I'm not the only one. Please, my wallet and my kids christmas begs you, recall these control arms. Please before someone is killed. I have contacted vw of america 4 times on this and they do not care. I have written vw in germany, all i got was a gift certificate. Please, do something!!dt

Suspension now makes loud noises, indicating imminent failure.

Cost of repairs = $729.08. No safety defect mentioned.

I took my car to jim ellis volkswagen of atlanta to get the tie rods replaced as part of the recall campaign on my 98 volkswagen passat. The dealer tells me that this work has already been marked as completed in their system by another dealer . I have never taken my car to the other dealer. Please advice.

Vwofa does not acknowledge that this is a widespread problem on both audi a4 and vw passats even though there is overwhelming evidence that there is a design flaw. This problem should be covered under warranty since it is a defect in design/workmanship. No safety defect.

Consumer took vehicleto dealer because steering column was making some noise. Dealer said control arms and tie rod end needed to be replaced, and wheels needed to be aligned.

Both front ball joint/lower control arm assemblies had to be replaced at 33000 miles, which is far earlier than it should be.it's also an extremely common problem with 1998 passats.aside from the $900 cost to replace these components, the complete failure of the assembly would be a serious safety hazard if the car were in motion.although vw has redesigned these components for later model year passats, they've done nothing to address the problem with 1998 models.a safety recall should be issued on these components so nobody dies due to their faulty design.

Lower and upper control arms failed after 3 years of ownership. Vw has a technical service bulletin for the lower control arms that covers the payment if under warranty, otherwise vw would pay 50% of the job. However the upper control arm is not covered in the tsb. I feel that this is a critical safety issue if both control arms failed while i was driving. There should be a safety recall.

1998 passat both front control arms needed to be replaced due to defective.*sc

Suspension was creaking from the front.pulled wheel off of car and discovered the control arm bushing is destroyed.i took the car to the dealerhship and they will not repair under warranty.

No accidents ever, severe creaking in front left and right suspension. Left control arm replaced (at my cost although under warranty), creaking stopped from left side, but right side still creaks severely.

Both front control arms defective which caused the vehicle to fail inspection. The consumer's daughter received a recall notice but the dealer refused to repair the vehicle until she provided them with maintenance records.

Mechanic is telling me allfour tie rod assemlbies and control arms need replaced.i have been hearin a loud crunching noice everytime i go over a small bump or turn a corner.

Control arm ball joints and tie rods faulty causing noise in the front end of the vehicle.nlm

Constant noise seems to be coming from front end suspension.

I have had two failures of the control arms.the first one was covered under warranty.the second one was never recreated and accepted by the dealer until a year or so after it was reported in september of 1999.the manufacturer will only pay for the replacement of the parts.the issue with the control arms failure is it affects the ability to maintain an alighnment and causes the car to wander on the road.

I own a 1998 volkswagen passat and i'm the original owner.i have done all [even more than] the recommended maintenance on the passat.i had the control arms replaced once already 2 years ago [not under recall or reimbursed for this procedure].i am once again getting considerable craking noises from my control arms in my front suspension.i do not drive my passat abnormally nor had any accidents with it.i feel that this happening to my passat is not a normal wear and tear issue, but something else - bad design or materials? *la

I own a 1998 volkswagen passat. I am getting considerable creaking noises from my control arms in my front suspension. I have not driven the car abnormally or had any accidents with it. *nlm

Upper control arm failure on my 1998 vw passat.dealer quoted me $1200 repair, even though i bought the car "certified".my passat had only 55,xxx miles on it at time of failure. My concern is the repair- i don't have the money, so the parts wear more and more becoming more and more unsafe.why isn't there a recall? *nlm

Vehicle was making a metal-to-metal squeaking noise. Consumer tookvehicle to the dealership for examination.dealership informedconsumer that both upper and lower control arms needed to be replaced with only 53,000 miles on vehicle.

The contact owns a 1998 volkswagen passat.the contact heard a popping noise while driving 3 mph in reverse.the front end of the vehicle slammed to the ground without warning.the vehicle was towed and a local mechanic replaced the lower right control arm.the contact has the failed component along with pictures.the manufacturer would not perform the repair for free.the purchase date was unknown.the current and failure mileages were 197,000.

It is very common with the passats 1998'-1999', that all the front control arms fail within a short period of time. This problem also occurs with audi a4, because they both share the same suspension. Please investigate, and issue a recall as soon as possible.

Contlor arms on my car have been damaged. The rubber used to produce tie rods is too soft and the car makes noise while driving over bumps. The failure also does not allow to perform aligment on my vehicle until fixed. Cost of repair over $600.this is a well known problem on the suspension for vw, audi and car owners.

Front control arm bushings torn and creaking.possible safety issue if bushings deteriorate further.

Please investigate 1998-2001 volkswagen passats for control arm issues in front suspension. I had to replace mine at only 45000 for over $1,000!

Premature failure of upper and lower control arms in 1998 vw passat.had right control arm replaced at 43,000 all four replaced at 68,000 and now at 111,000 need to be replaced for the third time.

The consumer stated that the control arm broke and it was noticed when the vehicle was being towed.the consumer was unable to drive the vehicle and it was no longer under warranty.the consumer was told by the dealer that he would have to wait until this problem was under recall before they would do anything.*sc

Loose steering there is noise everytime i hit the brakes and accelerate also when i go over bumps.the bushing of the all the control arms are gone.

Upper and lower control arm failure.noises, creaking.could lead to accident if not repaired immediately.this is a known problem on my year and make vehicle but the manufacturer refuses to recall the parts involved.

Control arms need to be recalled by mfg. For free replacement - safety issue.

'recall campaign' for volkswagen passats front suspension lower control arms.this problem had caused extensive damage. *sc

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.

Lower control arm failures are very common on the volkswagen passat, causing unpredictable handeling. Volkswagen of america is aware of this. They have release updated parts and a tsb on this issue, yet refuse to pay for this important safety related defect. Please investigate and issue a safety recall campaign.

Lower control arms and sway bar links failed at less than 50,000 miles.this severely reduces steering capabilities and poses an imminent threat.volkswagen of america knows of this problem and has redesigned the arms in later model passats.however, they have not issued a safety recall.

Creaking/grinding from front end.vw service determined that lower control arm bushing(s) are faulty.$950 to repair.contacted vw customer relations, after investigation, vw to pay 1/2 of parts and labour.

Head gaske leaking oil can cause slick freeways causing accidents.lower control arm failure can cause sudden death of vehicle in motion.

When turning wheel there was noise at the front of vehicle, dealer determined that the bushings needed to be replaced.. Consumer states he replaced the tie rod end.

There is a creaking sound when turningwheel in both directions. Consumer states that the creaks are also happening when going over bumps.

1998 volkswagon passat 1.8 turbo 39, 250 mileage.front end noise, reduced control in handling, resulted in the replacement of all control arms & tie rod ends on driver side- the lower found to have corrosion in the socket.

A creaking noise that has steadily become worse.i waited until my 25k mileage checkup for dealer to look at it,and he informed me of the weakened lower control arms.mechanic tells me it will steadily get worse and will need to be replaced.cost $940.warranty expired at 24k miles and 5/30/00.i had brought my car in at 24,498 miles on 6/7/00..again because i didn't realize the extent of the problem (this has never happened to me before) and thought it would be an easy fix at the 25k checkup.dealer will not cover cost unless vw america authorizes it since it is 'officially' past the warranty dates & mileage when i brought it in.i've researched this problem with other '98 passat owners on the internet (vw vortex forums) and this is a recurring problem among many owners.i plan to call vw america to lobby an exception to my warranty.

Lower control arms have been replaced 3 times already and started banging again after third repair. Part previously on recall but new part also does same problem.many passat owners have the same complaint.thank you for your time.

The lower control arms on the 1998 vw passat have failed, something that was known under a technical service bulletin from volkswagen on may 31, 2001 (tsb: c 40-01-01).volkswagen has not responded to me as to whether they will pay for this known problem in their vehicles yet.

After approximately 23,000 miles, the lower control arms on my 1998 volkswagen passat failed.symptoms of the failure are squeaking and/or clunking noises from the front suspension.my dealer determined that the ball joints on both front passenger-side lower control arms had failed, requiring replacement of both control arm assemblies.the cost of replacement is approximately $900.the lower control arms are not normal wear items.volkswagen should recall the affected cars and pay for the replacement of the lower control arms.

There is a creaking sound when turning the wheel both directions.

Defectivetie rod assembly and lower ink arm-n and lower control arm-n caused potentially dangerous steering condition and made loud grinding noises.

The lower control arms on my 1998 vw passat are defective and dangerous according to my mechanic. Vw refuses to replace them even though there was a recall for these parts. The reasoning is that:- i brought my car in for the recall at their dealer in february 2005 and at the time the parts seemed ok.- at this time, their dealer has reinspected the car. The vw dealer thinks that both lower front control arms on the car need replacement. However the parts are not about to fail and the car is still driveable and thus vw will not pay for their replacement.my mechanic states that the car need to be replaced and the car is dangerous to drive in this condition.please advise whether vw is responsible under the "revised-vm (40g3) - december 2004" recall campaign to fix these.thanks.

Faulty lower control arm .*mrthe consumer heard a noise coming from the front suspension.

My lower front control armes are very squiky and bolt joint boots are ripper. I was about to replace the myself but just before i called vw and found out about the recall on front lower control arms.after 5 hours with my car they told me to come and pick it up. I discovered that only vacuum line was replaced and nothing was done to my control arms. I went over water and the squik was gone at the time the car was at the dealer. So they didn't hear anything. But the rubber boots are still turned appart!!! the manager and the guy who worked on it told me that we didn't see any problem with your control arms. And the recall has been performed.the squik came back the next day, and i know that ruber boots are still ripped on the control arms. Called vwoa and explained the problem. They said that they trust the diagnostic made by their authorised dealer. Because the dealier didn't see any problems with control arms the recall is closed now. They wouldn't reimberse the cost of replacement of control arms even if i go to the different dealer.

Lower control arms creak - cause for a safety concern.

I hear the nosie before my warranty expire and i can't tell what that was.so i brought it to the dealership to check and they said the computer show nothing wrong.but the noise still there and they knew that but they said if the computer show nothing wrong, they can't help me for that.until my warranty expired they said is coming from lower arm controller(left & right).it costs $800-900+ to replace.i feel that they knew all along and use that computer to against me.of course it operate ok but that nosie is so border me.i think they should have that parts recall.i also talk to vw headquarter and they can't help me.i do have that record during 40+ miles and i believe that i shouldn't pay for that replacement.pls help- my email address:[email protected]

Control arm:noticed a loud grinding sound coming from front suspension area.dealer diagnosed as defective lowe rcontrol arm/ ball joints.lower control arms and ball joints were replaced.complained to volkswagen, who covered cost of parts but not labor.after repair learned that a friend had the identical problem in a 1999 passat at almost the identical mileage.then saw on this website that about 17 of 160 complaints relating to the 1998 passat are for exactly this problem.this is clearly an engineering or manufacturing defect.vw should replace this part for all passat owners and reimburse those who have already had it replaced. Sunroof:sunroof opens spontaneously when switch is in the "off" position.problem is most pronounced on warm days when car is driven over sharp bumps.problem occurs without warning and is alarming to driver and could pose a safety risk.observed that this problem has been reported by several others already.

Left front lower ball joint had sheared off while coming to a stop, and caused loss of steering. Manufacturer notified.

The vehicle made a loud noise.the dealer stated it was the control arm bushings.

Had a creaking sound in the front end of my 1998 vw passat 1.8t.took it in to the dealer and was told the left front upper control arm tie rods were bad (and dangerous) and had to be replaced at my cost.did this and 6 weeks later the upper control arm on the right front side failed while driving and caused me to have an accident.dealer "fixed" this problem at no charge and now 4 months later the same sound is back and now the dealer tells me that the majority of the front suspension must be replaced and expects me to pay for it.

Front suspension is making crunching noises, esp. At lower speed. The right steering control arm was changed under warranty and squeeking noises dissappeared, but still very noisy when driving at low speed. Car was serviced by an authorized vw service station, but different from dealership.

When turning wheel there was noise at the front of vehicle, dealer determined that the bushings needed to be replaced.. Consumer states he replaced the tie rod end.

The authorized vw dealer was aware of the problem on 03/23/2001 and recommended 2 upper control arms be replaced.i contacted vw with this information during this time (vw case case# 10272316).instead of repairing the upper control arms vw replaced the lower control arms.the car is still in need of upper control arms and vw will not cover it.

When turning wheel there was noise at the front of vehicle, dealer determined that the bushings needed to be replaced.. Consumer states he replaced the tie rod end.

Lower control arm has worn out,andfront end needs to be realigned.dealer has inspected vehicle.control arms worn out due to defective bushings.

Vehicle has a squeaking noise coming from suspension whensteering orgoing over bumps or braking.consumer stated the cause of the problem was failure of the bushings in the front lower control arms.

Wheel bearings malfunctioned, requiring new parts - premature wear.

Tread is seperating from tire casing on all five tires, steel belt is showing through, tire's are very dangerous!, gives no indication when tires suddenly deflate!i have pictures of the tires in question( dot number: lmpc pxbu tire size: 195/65r 15 )

Problems getting recall repairs appointment scheduled.*mr(nar)

Consumer took vehicle in for then 50,000 mile service, three of the continental conti touring contact radial tires 195/65 r15 tires were showing signs of tread separation and required replacement, prior to this the vehicle experienced a blow out in january 1999 due to possible defect in the tread also. *mjs

The sunroof opens and closes by it self, opens and doesn't close by it self whiledriving my 1998 volkswagon passat. It first opened/closed by it self in january, 2005. It scared me and was/is unbelieveable. It didn't happen again until a month later, the sunroof would slide back 3/4 of the way and then close by itself. I took the car into royal volkswagon in fl on 02/28/05 and in addition to regular service i asked to check the sunroof. I was told they were "unable to duplicate customer concerns. No repairs recommended at this time."

My name is [xxx], i am in the united states navy station in stuttgart, germany. I am in the process of purchasing a 1998 vw passat from military sales, in mannaheim, germany. I have advised them of recall list before purchasing to take the vehicle to the nearest vw dealership to fix the problem. From reading information from the past owners, they experienced many problems. Since, i am stationed in germany could i take my 1998 passat to germany vw dealership in stuttgart to replace all recall parts? i do believe replacement of recalled part. I still have my 1986 jetta gl today from your past information. However, here's the information: no safety defect mentioned. ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis***763021parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Car owner has called 3 dealers and volkswagan constantly since october 99.no safety defect listed in summary.

Consumer states air radio is in locked out safety mode.remote key is inoperative.

The a/c ventilation system is defectively designed such that it promotes the growth of bacteria which causes an awful odor when turned on.i would guess that it aerosolizes the bacteri and or fungi and sprays them at high speed through the ventilating system outlets.i do not know but wonder what potential health risk this poses to children, pregnant women and immunosuppressed people or others with chronic respiratory illness such as asthma and copd.finally, i wonder if there is a theoretical or real risk of legionnaire's disease since the same risk factors found in airconditioners at hotels and building may be replicated in this automotive format.i would like your feedback and assessment of risk.

Water leaks into drivers side floor, relay failure and resultant defroster failure.mildew, respiratory distress, uncontrolable sneezing, and resultant difficulty with vehicle control. Entire carpet replacement. Cost over $1000 with labor.

Locking pin failed causing the left rear window to come off it's track.nlm

3 of the 4 side electric windows have failed during the past year.

Electrical short had affectedwindow regulator and climate control.a tsb had been issued.

Rearview mirrors are too narrow and small causing poor visibility.

Vehicle has serious blind spots caused by the small size and narrow view of the three mirrors.

The exterior mirrior on the passenger's side was made smaller than the one on the older year models.with these new ones,no matter how it's adjusted, there still remains a blind spot. Dealer has been contacted.

On several occasion while driving at 65mph, and during rain, my sunroof would open while in off position, i have reported this to southern states volkswagen and also land volkswagen, this has been ongoing since i have had this car. It became unsafe while driving in the rain and this has happened more than 15 times in the past year. Dealerships and vw corp. Are givingme the run me the run around

4 mos. After having sunroof adjusted, sunroof cassette or frame needs replacement. Told that frame was cracked or damaged.

Consumer stated the sunroof would not close, dealer replaced the sunroof switch.

Sunroof opens spontaneously while driving with no control over shutting it.

This is the second time sunroof mechanisms fractured.this time they struck the driver while driving (pulling out of the driveway).in both failures, there were fractures of the mechanism.the second occurrence resulted in pieces flying off the car and striking the driver in the right shoulder.

Sunroof mechanisms fractured. Sunrrof stuck open in rain. Volkswagen dealer wouldn't repair for two weeks. Took car to auto glass company to have sunroof closed. Mechanic said cause of broken sunroof mechanism was manufacturer defect - has seen a number of these sunroof mechanisms broken on passats.

I had the sunroof of my 1998 passat spontaneously shatter.i was driving 60-65 mph when this happen.the weather was overcast with light rain.the temperature was 37 f.the glass appears to be blown outward.luckily i had the sunroof shade closedwhich prevented me from being showered with glass.

Sunroof spontaneously opens and closes without warning.when it opens, it is impossible to get it closed with the switch as it never returns to a predictable position based on the markings on the switch.once open, it may close itself at randomly and unpredictably.when it is open, i'm afraid to get my hand near it for fear it will close and pinch me.it has also spontaneously opened during rainstorms which causes me to divert my attention to the road attempting to close it.the rain entering my car while it happens is also a major distraction. This problem is not unique to just my car.nearly everyone i know with a 98 or 99 passat has this problem.

Driver's front and side doors had trouble opening and closing.

I read on 3/19/99 some reviews by owners of passats on the internet (while i was searching for comments by owners of the honda odessey min-van).unfortunately i cannot find the website again.however, while there, two people had asked questions relating to windshield cracking during a test drive by a well known magazine (i think it was car & driver) for the audi a4, basically the same car as the passat.the question was had anyone experienced such cracking.i was shocked on 3/20/99 to get into the car and see the 10-inch crack which was not there the day before.so i've been searching the www without success to find the comments from the message boards i read last friday.

Window glass was broken by a rock. Problem exists in size and shape of tempered glass crumbs. Lots of tiny shards, less that 1mm, very sharp and dangerous. Extra expense incurred in cleaning interior.

Window trim can fail, leading to "loop/noose"which can kill children/passenger.

Driver's side back window had trouble opening and closing.currently,driver's side front window had trouble opening and closing.

Window panel--prevents closing of window. Intake manifold oil leak (gasket).

Windshield cracked without any road damage. Verified by dealer!

The windshiled wiper blade was replaced.

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We found the following complaints for VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (1998)

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