1998 Volkswagen Passat Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10243345

Incident

Jul 26, 2007

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

NHTSA ID

10242691

Incident

Jul 20, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*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.

NHTSA ID

10191302

Incident

May 12, 2007

Mileage

197,000 mi

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152692

Incident

Nov 5, 2005

Mileage

135,500 mi

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 THAT FOR 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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10136514

Incident

Apr 10, 2005

Mileage

72,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10121328

Incident

May 16, 2005

Mileage

930,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10120218

Incident

Apr 1, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10120178

Incident

May 20, 2004

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.*AK 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.

NHTSA ID

10116073

Incident

Mar 4, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

'RECALL CAMPAIGN' FOR VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *BF THIS PROBLEM HAD CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. *SC

NHTSA ID

10113821

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

1998 PASSAT BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECTIVE. *BF *SC

NHTSA ID

10112855

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10110196

Incident

Feb 8, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10110850

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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

NHTSA ID

10105734

Incident

Dec 18, 2003

Mileage

103,500 mi

THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10091413

Incident

Sep 16, 2003

Mileage

12,000 mi

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. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10079374

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

184,500 mi

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088647

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

Mileage

39,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10082693

Incident

Jul 26, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10081140

Incident

Jul 9, 2004

Mileage

90,500 mi

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.*AK THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE SUSPENSION FOR VW, AUDI AND CAR OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

10081067

Incident

Jun 15, 2004

Mileage

84,000 mi

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 RIGHT AND 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!*AK

NHTSA ID

10080540

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

Mileage

71,315 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10075375

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10060112

Incident

Mar 1, 2004

Mileage

85,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10053095

Incident

Jan 11, 2004

Mileage

98,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10032536

Incident

May 1, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi