1999 Volkswagen Passat Fuel system Problems

PASSAT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNDER NO PRESSURE TO PEDAL. PASSAT STARTED TO ACCELERATE FAIRLY SLOWLY BUT STEADILY AT FIRST, THEN IT INCREASED. IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO DECELERATE/NO PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED THE ACCELERATION. IT BEGAN TO REACH AN UNSAFE SPEED THEN I BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT AND TO APPLY THE BRAKE IN SEQUENCE TO SLOW THE PASSAT, THEN I TRIED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO COAST IT ONTO THE SHOULDER, BUT THE SPEED REMAINED TOO HIGH TO HALT THE CAR. HAVING NO OTHER WAY TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, I STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT AND TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS, AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ENOUGH AFTER SEVERAL MILES OF DOWNSHIFTING AND RIDING THE BREAKS TO REACH A POINT AT WHICH I COULD SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, THEN BEGAN COASTING IT UP A LONG DRIVEWAY WHILE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE AND REV. I THEN DROPPED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BREAK, THEN FORCED THE TRANS INTO PARK AND SHUT THE PASSAT OFF. THE FRONT BREAKS WERE BOTH GLOWING, WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAVING BURST INTO FLAMES AS A RESULT OF THE FRICTION AND HEAT FROM HAVING RIDDEN THEM FOR SEVERAL MILES. SHOP THAT EXAMINED THE PASSAT ASSESSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED AND WASN'T COMMUNICATING WITH THE MAIN ON-BOARD COMPUTER, AND THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM HAD BEEN SEEN BEFORE ON OTHER VOLKSWAGEN MODELS OF THE SAME ERA. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT HE'D SEEN THIS FAILURE. IT APPARENTLY USUALLY RESULTS IN THE CAR COMING TO A STOP ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHER CASES CUSTOMERS REPORTED THAT RESULTED IN THE UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION THAT I EXPERIENCES. THE BREAKS AND OTHER INTERNAL COMPONENTS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT/THROTTLE BODY FAILURE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE SCRAPPED. SOMEONE SHOULD RESEARCH THIS FURTHER AS THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IS REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10692914

Incident

Feb 19, 2015

Mileage

205,029 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WAS DISCOVERED LEAKING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUB FRAME. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA ID

10691401

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

119,000 mi

I HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED AT THE VW DEALER, AND THEY SAID THERE ARE EMISSION PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE RECALL I RECENTLY FOUND ON MY CAR, WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE RECALL, VW CUSTOMER SERVICE INSISTED I WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER HADN'T BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS CAR REGULARLY SMOKES, LETS OFF HUGE SMOG CLOUDS WHEN I PUT GAS AND IS A FIRE RISK ACCORDING TO THEIR RECALL. I DON'T DRIVE IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE INTO FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318490

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

Mileage

190,000 mi

WINTER 2008-2009 HAD SEVERAL TIMES WHEN CAR WOULD ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. BRAKES DID NOT HELP. ONLY WAY TO STOP IS TO APPLY BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL OVER AND PUT IN NEUTRAL, WHICH MAKES TAC GO OVER 7000 RPM'S. HAD THROTTLE BODY CLEANED AND RESET IN SPRING OF 2009 BUT PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN THIS YEAR. ON MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2010 TEMPERATURE WAS IN LOW TEENS. WARMED CAR FOR APPROX. 7 MIN. DROVE SLOWLY DUE TO BAD ROAD CONDITIONS AND AT APPROX. 3 MILES INTO DRIVE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AGAIN ON ITS OWN AND NO PLACE TO PULL OFF. HAD TO STOP IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION AND PRAY I WASN'T HIT BEFORE I COULD SAFELY START CAR AGAIN. FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE AFTER APPROX. 5 MIN. WITHOUT REVVING PROBLEM BUT APPROX. 2 MILES LATER CAR AGAIN ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY DID A GENERAL DIAGNOSIS WHICH SHOWED NOTHING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MAKES ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS TO DRIVE MY CAR. VW OF AMERICA STATES THAT MY CAR WAS NOT IN ANY RECALL AND THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND COULD NOT DIVULGE IF THEY RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308700

Incident

Feb 8, 2010

Mileage

109,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES A HOUR BY MY HOUSE WHILE I WAS DRIVING A BIG CLICK NOISE SOUNDED ON MY FRONT RIGHT WHEEL THE CAR SWERVED AND FELL IN A DITCH THE POLICE CAME AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS YOUR TIE ROD AND AXLE BROKEN I HAD TO CHANGE THEM. PLUS MY ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AND IT NEEDS A NEW MODULE AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY PASSAT OUT THERE HAVE NO PROBLEM AND THE DEALER WONT HELP OR VW HOTLINE PLUS MY TWO FRONT WINDOWS JUST FELL AND THE WINDOWS NEED A WHOLE NEW ACTUATORS AND ON THE INTERNET ALOT OF THE PASSAT HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND THE DEALER WONT HELP THERE IS FIVE RECALLS ON PASSAT AND THE DEALER DON'T WANT TO DO BUT 1 OF THEM SO PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242133

Incident

Aug 7, 2008

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V156000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY). THE DEALER STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR TO BE PERFORMED, THEY WOULD NEED TO PERFORM $800 WORTH OF REPAIRS FIRST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOTICE DOES NOT CLEARLY STATE THAT, WHICH IT SHOULD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND EXPLAINED THAT THE ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY APPLY IF THE RECALL REPAIR NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SHOULD BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE NOTICE THAT ADDITIONAL CHARGES MAY ACCRUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10237829

Incident

Aug 12, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

1. UNKNOWN 2. VISIBLE GAS LEAK, INTERMITTENT. RECURRED APPROX. 1 YEAR AFTER INITIAL VISIBLE LEAK TO AN EXTENT I WAS ABLE TO TRACE. 3. REPLACE CRACKED RUBBER HOSE CONNECTED TO FUEL FILTER. (PART IS NOT AVAILABLE BUT I HAVE PHOTOS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10231628

Incident

Jul 30, 2007

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPING AT INTERSECTIONS, AND SOMETIMES WHEN JUST RELEASING FOOT OFF OF ACCELERATOR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177061

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

1) CAR STALLS OR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. 2) CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND OTHER UNSAFE PLACES. 3) FUEL PUMP IS FAILING AND WILL BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10175852

Incident

Nov 10, 2006

OUR 1999 PASSAT WITH THE 1.8 LITER ENGINE STALLS REPEATEDLY WHEN DECELERATING, THIS IS DANGEROUS. WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAD A PROBLEMS BEFORE 20,000 MILES. VW CANNOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK VW TO THE BBB SINCE THEY WERE VERY UNCOOPERATIVE IN REPAIRING THIS PROBLEM, AND THEN THEY CHANGED THE THROTTLE BODY. THEN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW YEARS AND IS NOW BACK AND VW AGAIN REFUSES TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. THE THROTTLE BODY IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096384

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL IT WAS DOWN A QUART OF A QUART OF OIL. A QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED. OIL LIGHT COME BACK ON AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHIN SECONDS OF RESTARTING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD SHUT AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AT 58, 510 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE WERE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM, BUT CHANGED THE OIL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10092944

Incident

Aug 8, 2004

Mileage

68,000 mi

ON 6/10/2004, I HAD MY VW PASSAT REPAIRED AT MITCHELL VOLKSWAGEN, CANTON, CT, FOR ROUGH IDLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER FOUND SCAN CODES FOR CYLINDER #2 MISFIRES AND RANDOM/MULTIPLE MISFIRES. DEALER REPLACED ICM IGNITION CONTROL MODULE AND CLEARED FAULT. THEN DEALER ATTEMPTED TO SET BASIC SETTINGS AND A NEW PROBLEM WAS GENERATED, THROTTLE BODY WOULD NOT ADAPT. I NOW HAVE A CONTINUOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY THEY TRIED TO SET THE BASIC SETTINGS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ICM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THE BASIC SETTINGS ARE NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY A MALFUNCTION TO THE THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CAN OCCUR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE SELF CORRECTING. IF IT DOES CORRECT ITSELF, I NEED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY FOR APPROX. $500.00. I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $539.00 TO HAVE MY ICM REPLACED AND NOW HAVE A NEW PROBLEM. NOW I AM TOLD "MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODY TO CORRECT, WILL NOT CAUSE VEHICLE TO RUN ROUGH, MAY CAUSE SURGING AT IDLE OR SLIGHT HESTITATION ON ACCELERATION, PART NEEDS TO BE ORDERED. IT MAY CORRECT ITSELF IN 200 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT'S OK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HESTITATION AND SURGING). I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREE WITH THE DEALER. I THINK THIS IS A MANUFUCTURE'S DEFECT IN DESIGN AND YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH HESTITATION AND POSSIBLE SURGING, THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES. THE VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT GIVE ME SOMEONE ELSE AT VW TO EXPRESS MY SAFETY CONCERNS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075354

Incident

Jun 11, 2004

Mileage

92,000 mi

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE START, MELTING OF PLASTIC, LIGHTS IN THE CAR WORKING SPORADICALLY AT BEST. OIL, DRAIN, OIL PUMP, CAMSHAFT,ALL BLAMED ON LACK OF VERIFIABLE OIL CHANGES. TIMING BELT - LET GO ON HIGHWAY AT 85000 MILES (WARRANTY FOR 1999 PASSAT, 100,000 MILES) BLAMED ON OIL CHANGES. 82 DAYS IN SHOP STEERING GOES DURING THIS TIME AND I'M TOLD I NEED AN ALTENATOR [ 3RD ONE ] THE STORY GOES ON AND ON......

NHTSA ID

10070721

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD IN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING . THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *NLM *SCC THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THEY ONLY GET A FEW PARTS IN THE OFFICE A TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID

10042251

Incident

Sep 8, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL 01V157000 RELATED TO THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT THERE WAS MORE FUEL THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *NLM *JB

NHTSA ID

10034386

Incident

Aug 7, 2001

Mileage

32,000 mi

THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL FOR THE FILLER NECK RECALL 02 V 026 000 WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THEY WERE MAKING APPOINTMENTS A MONTH TO 6 WEEKS IN ADVANCE.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10034288

THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A RECALL WHICH WAS FOUND ON THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HE OWNS CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM FILLER NECK. *MR PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10026227

MY CAR HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED BY YOUR RECALL CAMPAIN ID#01V157000. UNFORTUNATELY, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

764038

Incident

Jul 3, 2002

CONSUMER HAD A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. , EITHER TIRE OR ROAD HAZARD DAMAGED FUEL TANK, AND CAUSED IT TO CRACK. FUEL TANK WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

887313

Incident

Apr 21, 2001

THE VEHILE EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY TIGHTENED A LOOSE CLAMP, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED 6 MONTHS LATER AND NOW THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE CONSUMERS TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION. NLM

NHTSA ID

559826

FUEL PUMP REPLACED, NOW CONTINUAL GAS SMELL, 1 FUEL INJ. REPLACED STILL GAS SMELL, DEALER HAS CHECKED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE, NO REMEDY, ALSO NO NOTIFICATION FROM VW ON ANY OF THE RECALLS IN PLACE, 3 THAT YOU HAVE LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

739682

Incident

Sep 20, 2000

GAS GAUGE SENDING UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. SHOWS FULL TANK WHEN MORE THAN HALF EMPTY. BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED ADEQUATELY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND SAYS THEY ARE "NORMAL". AFTER INSPECTION, WORKED BETTER FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. *AK

NHTSA ID

737857

Incident

Oct 10, 1999

FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. IT WOULD NOT REGISTER A FULL TANK OF GAS EVEN WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL. DEALER REPLACED FUEL SENDING UNIT FROM THE TANK TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

729668

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE WELL LINING BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE FUEL TANK FOR CUSION PURPOSE WAS OBSERVED TO BE BENDED AROUND THE TOP PORTION OF THE TIRE. PIECES OF TIRE HIT FUEL TANK AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: M3TA CXYX TIRE SIZE: 15 )

NHTSA ID

724857

Incident

May 25, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM, VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS,AND VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

858385

Incident

Mar 8, 2000