Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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. *NM
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.*JB
1998 VW PASSAT WAGON 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 CYL. 1.8 L ENGINE. MANUAL TRANSMISSION VIN: [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. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ABS AND 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.
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.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.
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 WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB
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 *JB
CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING HOT AIR. AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDS REPLACING. *TT
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.*AK
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.*AK
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.
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR FAILS TO OPEN FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE DUE TO LATCH FAILURE. *AK
LOOSE SHIFTER CAUSING SPORADIC SHIFTING FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION CONTROL. NLM
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. *AK
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. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE FOR NO REASON.
FRONT SEAT FAILURE CAUSING IT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATING MAKING A POPPING NOISE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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