Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 52 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.
The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words
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
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. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED WITH DENIAL FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REPAIRS ON 2004 VW-PASSAT CONTROL ARM. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V248000. THE CONSUMER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FOR A DEFECTIVE STEERING AND CONTROL MECHANISMS. *TC THE CONSUMER WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT PROVIDE PROOF OF THE 40,000 MILE MAINTENANCE.
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SMOKE HAD AN ODOR OF BURNING OIL AND SMOKE COMBINED. THE APPEARANCE WAS WHITE. THIS STARTED ONE YEAR AGO AND WENT AWAY, AND NOW THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK TOOK CAR TO DEALER IN RAPID CITY SD. THEY SAID THERE WAS AN EXCESS OF GREASE ON CERTAIN PARTS UNDER THE STERING WHEEL / IN THE STERING WHEEL. THIS BUILD UP OF DUST WOULD CAUSE SMOKE AND SMELL. *EH
TIE ROD FAILURE (EXCESSIVE WEAR), LEADING TO "LOOSE" STEERING ON A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. SOME PASSAT'S OF THIS MODEL YEAR HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM; VW INFORMS ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. *NM
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 THEY CAN 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. *AK
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.*AK
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. *NM
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. *JB
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.*AK
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.*AK
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. *AK
MECHANIC IS TELLING ME ALL FOUR 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. *AK
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.*AK
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.
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 OUT ALSO, POWER STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE ADDED ABOUT EVERY 60 DAYS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE RACK AND PINION. *AK
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.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH LEFT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARMS LINK, SWAY BAR LINKS AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. *MR *TS ALSO THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. *JB
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. *JB
DEFECTIVE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND LOWER INK ARM-N AND LOWER CONTROL ARM-N CAUSED POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STEERING CONDITION AND MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISES.
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
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.*AK
LEFT LOWER ARM LINK IS BROKEN AND CAUSES SOME NOISE WHEN DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. AK
WHEN TURNING WHEEL THERE WAS NOISE AT THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK. CONSUMER STATES HE REPLACED THE TIE ROD END. *TT
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.
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