1998 Volkswagen Passat Problems

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. *TR

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 ON HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&TSTART=0. *TR

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 *TR

NOISE FROM LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM OF A 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT. WHY DIDN'T THEY INFORM 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 !!!!!

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 BUT DENIED 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. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT. WHY DIDN'T THEY INFORM 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 !!!!!

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. *JB

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. *TR

3 OF THE 4 SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS HAVE FAILED DURING THE PAST YEAR. *JB

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. *TR

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 ON HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&TSTART=0. *TR

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

DRIVING BACK HOME FROM STORE AND CAR JUST DIED OUT THAN SMELT LIKE GAS.

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. *TR

VOLKSWAGEN HAD NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION TO PERFORM THREE RECALLS ON 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. LETTER ANSWERED BY MR. ALBERTO JIMENEZ VIA EMAIL. *PH *LA

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. *AK

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 NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF RECALL WORK WAS DONE BECAUSE OF NO FEEDBACK FROM DEALER.*AK

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.*AK

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS DID NOT CLOSE.*JB

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. *AK

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE DRIVERS COAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONER IS BLOWING HOT AIR. AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDS REPLACING. *TT

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. *JB

WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK

I HAVE HAD 2 TIRES SEPARATE IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. PRIOR TO THIS RECENT EVENT I HAD ANOTHER TIRE SEPARATION AND WAS GIVEN REPLACEMENT TIRES INSTEAD OF A REFUND. THE LAS EVENT HAS LEFT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE BOTH OF THE OLD TIRES AND PICTURES OF MY CAR DAMAGE. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AN*AKD HE IS THE ONE THAT INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU. *AK

PROBLEMS GETTING RECALL REPAIRS APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED.*MR (NAR) *CB

THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT. WHY DIDN'T THEY INFORM 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 !!!!!

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. *TR

BOTH BLINKERS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. *JB

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.

DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH AUDIBLE WARNING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. ROOT PROBLEM IS THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS MUCH WEB RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGH ONLINE PASSAT FORUMS.

STARTER COIL FAILURE - FOR OVER A MONTH THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE THE MUFFLER FELL OFF, BUT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPLAINABLE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.

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.