1999 Volkswagen Passat Problems

PURCHASE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 23,2012 AFTER GETTING THE MECHANICS APPROVAL THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE (OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON) SUPPOSEDLY THE VEHICLE PASSED EMISSIONS,AND DROVE 17 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP APPLE AUTO IN WALLINGFORD,CT WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

CARS ABS MODULE HAS FAILED, AND CANT AFFORD THE ESTIMATED PRICE OF 1500$ TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN WHICH THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND BUSHINGS ARE FAILING. BASED ON SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR SIMILAR MAKES, MODELS, AND YEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY DAY, AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED, RESULTS IN SAFETY PROBLEMS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. PARTS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED, IF IT IS FEASIBLE. *TR

ON MY VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM IS FAILING AT THE BALL JOINT. THERE ARE LOUD SCREECHES AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN PASSING OVER BUMPS COMING FROM THE BALL JOINT EVIDENCING THE INAPPROPRIATE WEAR. THIS WAS ADDRESSED AND REPLACED ACCORDING TO SERVICE BULLETIN "VM" WITH VOLKSWAGEN IN EARLY 2005, BUT THE PART IS WEARING IMPROPERLY AGAIN. FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND COULD BE FATAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A ROUTINE SERVICE PERFORMED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE WATER PUMP WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

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

WHEN WE BOUGHT IT THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS, WHEN BAKING UP TO THE LEFT IT CLICKS. *TT

I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN WHICH THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND BUSHINGS ARE FAILING. BASED ON SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR SIMILAR MAKES, MODELS, AND YEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY DAY, AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED, RESULTS IN SAFETY PROBLEMS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. PARTS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED, IF IT IS FEASIBLE. *TR

CAR WAS HAVING A FOUL ODOR. DEALER DID NOT HAVE INFORMATION FOR OTHER COMPLAINTS. AFTER WORK, CAR WOULD NOT START, ALARM WOULD NOT STOP. ALARM KILLED BATTERY. DEALER SAID LEAK IN SUNROOF CAUSED MODULE TO CORRODE AND LEAK INTO INTERIOR. $1,440.00 TO REPAIR. PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED IN CLASS ACTION BUT OUR CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. I AM LEASING A CAR FOR MY SON TO DRIVE BUT NOW HIS DAUGHTER HAS ECZEMA AND ASTHMA FROM THE MOLD. HOW CAN I GET VW TO FIX MY CAR TOO? *TR

PURCHASE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 23,2012 AFTER GETTING THE MECHANICS APPROVAL THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE (OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WAS ON) SUPPOSEDLY THE VEHICLE PASSED EMISSIONS,AND DROVE 17 MILES AWAY FROM DEALERSHIP APPLE AUTO IN WALLINGFORD,CT WHEN THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

I WOS DRIVING FROM WORK TO HOME I TOOK THE PARKWAY I WOS GOING 60 MILES THEN IN HIS OWN THE CAR STARTING INCREASING SPEED SO I MOVE THE SHOULDER I PUT THE CAR NEUTRAL AND STOP THE CAR.THE TOOK ME 3 TRY TO THE CAR GO BACK TO NORMAL. I DONT KNOW IF THIS CAR GOT I RECALL.

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

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FELL PARTIALLY INTO THE DOOR WHILE OPERATING WINDOW POWER CONTROL DURING DRIVING OPERATION ON HIGHWAY. UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION AND TOUCHING THE WINDOW POWER CONTROL, THE WINDOW COMPLETELY FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THIS EVENT IS THE SECOND TIME IT'S HAPPENED ON THIS VEHICLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN HE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND THE ENTIRE WINDOW FELL OFF TRACK INSIDE THE DOOR. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THE WINDOW WITH THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

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

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.

FAULT FOUND WITH AIRBAG. CLOCKSPRING LOCATED IN STEERING WHEEL HAS CONNECTION FOR AIRBAG. IGNITER COULD CORRODE AND CAUSE AIRBAG TO FAIL IN EVENT OF HEAD ON COLLISION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS THEN SERVICED BY AN AUTO DETAILER. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH RESISTANCE IN THE WIRING FOR THE AIR BAGS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR AIR BAGS: TWO IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TWO IN THE SEAT BACKS. THE COST TO REPAIR THEM WOULD BE $600 PER AIR BAG. THE CONTACT REFUSED THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE VOLKSWAGEN'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PRIOR, AND BOTH OCCURRENCES TOOK PLACE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. TWO YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AGAIN AFTER A STORM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,859 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

WATER IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, FROM ANY SOURCE (INCLUDING THE SUNROOF DRAINS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NOT EFFECTIVELY FIXED) OR SNOW FROM BOOTS THAT HAS MELTED... DRAINS TO THE LOWEST POINT, WHICH IS WHERE VW PUT THE TCM (AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO MOISTURE) THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLAM INTO LIMP MODE AT 65 MPH WITH 2 KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS ARE THOUSANDS OF 1500$ POORER VW OWNERS WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE TCM AND HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY 1999 VW PASSAT. WHILE IN MOTION THE DRIVER SEAT STEEL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE SHEARED OFF. I WAS THEN FLIPPED 180 DEGREES BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT. LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES SINCE IT FLIPPED ME. CONTACTED VW TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SINCE THE PART IS NOT EXPOSED TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE STEEL SHOULD NOT SHEAR OFF LIKE THAT. VW STATED NO RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIR DUE THE AGE OF CAR AND NO WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT VW SERVICE CENTER ($860) SINCE NEEDED A CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE THE DEFECTED PART AND PICTURES. SENT UP COMPLAINT TO VW AMERICA AND THEY SAID THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT BUT NOT ABLE TO KEEP ME POSTED, LEAVING ME TO FEEL THAT THEY MIGHT NOT SEE THE URGENCY TO THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME. IF MY TODDLER KIDS WERE IN THE CAR I COULD HAVE CRUSHED THEIR LEGS WHEN THE DRIVER CHAIR FLIPPED. MY HUSBAND AND I REALLY COULD HAVE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

1.) NORMAL USAGE 2.) FAILURE OF LATCH THAT SECURES THE REAR, FOLD DOWN PASSENGER SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO OBJECT IN CARGO AREA IMPACTING THE SEAT DURING DECELERATION CAUSING SEAT LATCH TO FAIL AND THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE INTO SEATED PASSENGER. PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE IN WAGON MODELS WHERE LARGER CARGO ITEMS CAN BE STORED. 3.) WE HAD SEAT LATCH RELEASE MECHANISM REPLACED. (FAILED PART IS NOT AVAILABLE). *TR

CAR WAS HAVING A FOUL ODOR. DEALER DID NOT HAVE INFORMATION FOR OTHER COMPLAINTS. AFTER WORK, CAR WOULD NOT START, ALARM WOULD NOT STOP. ALARM KILLED BATTERY. DEALER SAID LEAK IN SUNROOF CAUSED MODULE TO CORRODE AND LEAK INTO INTERIOR. $1,440.00 TO REPAIR. PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED IN CLASS ACTION BUT OUR CAR IS NOT INCLUDED. I AM LEASING A CAR FOR MY SON TO DRIVE BUT NOW HIS DAUGHTER HAS ECZEMA AND ASTHMA FROM THE MOLD. HOW CAN I GET VW TO FIX MY CAR TOO? *TR

WATER IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, FROM ANY SOURCE (INCLUDING THE SUNROOF DRAINS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NOT EFFECTIVELY FIXED) OR SNOW FROM BOOTS THAT HAS MELTED... DRAINS TO THE LOWEST POINT, WHICH IS WHERE VW PUT THE TCM (AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO MOISTURE) THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLAM INTO LIMP MODE AT 65 MPH WITH 2 KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS ARE THOUSANDS OF 1500$ POORER VW OWNERS WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE TCM AND HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THIS AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE, I BOUGHT 4 NEW CONTINENTAL CONTIPROCO TIRES IN JUNE 2009 FOR A 99 VW PASSAT. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 7K MILES, WHILE TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY ABOUT 65 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED INTO 3 PIECES. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT I KNOW OF AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. IT WAS SIMILAR TO A TRUCK RETREAD TIRE THAT SEPARATES AND YOU SEE ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME. CONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE TIRE BUT QUITE HONESTLY I DON?T TRUST THEIR PRODUCTS AT THIS TIME. IF THIS OCCURRED ON A FRONT TIRE, I WOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER. *TR

1) WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY I-10 AT THE SPEED OF 50 MILES/HOUR, THE CAR IS SHAKING AND THEN AFTER A MINUTES. 2) THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLOWED OUT AND HITS A HOLE IN THE CAR. AT THE SAME TIME, REAR BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. 3) I HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRE IN THE HIGHWAY AND DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, I CHANGED ALL 4 TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE. MY MECHANIC FIXED THE REAR BUMPER, AND HE TOLD ME THAT ONE OF MY BRIDGESTONE TIRES INSIGNA 195/65 IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT (ACTUALLY THE TIRE SHOWS TIRE TREAD SEPARATION), THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF TREAD LEFT ON ALL OF 4 TIRES, 'CAUSE I JUST DRIVE OCCASIONALLY. ONE OF 4 TIRES FOUND OUT. *TR

AFTER STARTING AND BEGINNING MOTION THERE'S A SLOWING IN MOTION AS THOUGH THE BRAKES HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY TAPPED OR AS THOUGH THE ABS HAD TOLD THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER TO SLOW DOWN. GAS CONSUMPTION WAS 16MPG. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS ONE TECH LISTENED TO ME, ADJUSTED THE 'FEEDBACK' FROM ABS TO THE TRANSMISSION MODULE COMPUTER AND THE SENSATION OF BRAKED SLOWING WAS GONE! AND THE GAS CONSUMPTION BECAME 19MPG! SEVERAL YEARS LATER MY DOOR LOCKS SHORTED OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER DESTROYING TWO BATTERIES. THE TECH THEN REPORTED THAT HE HAD REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO 'FACTORY SPECS' AT THAT POINT THE 'SLOWING (BRAKED)' PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE GAS CONSUMPTION DROPPED BACK TO 16 MPG. HOW CAN I GET THE CAR READJUSTED TO GET RID OF THE 'SLOWING' PROBLEM AND RETURN TO 19MPG GAS USAGE??? [XXX] , [XXX] MY DEALER IS :CARTER VOLKSWAGEN,SEATTLE, WA MY E-MAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN WHICH THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND BUSHINGS ARE FAILING. BASED ON SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR SIMILAR MAKES, MODELS, AND YEARS. THE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERY DAY, AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED, RESULTS IN SAFETY PROBLEMS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. PARTS WILL BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND OLD PARTS WILL BE RETAINED, IF IT IS FEASIBLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE HEADLIGHTS IN ACTIVATION, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY BECAME DIM. THE CONTACT DECELERATED TO 40 MPH DUE TO THE DISTORTION OF HIS VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES EXHIBITED A BROWN FILM AND OXIDATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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

Just as I parked, the explosive seatbelt retractor for the rear passenger seat activated. There was a loud pop from the charge and the plastic seatbelt alignment clip flew off, and smoke came out from around the seatbelt. Had the vehicle been in motion there would have been a very serious safety hazard from the distraction, and if someone was in the back, there was the clip that flew off that could have struck them. No one was in the seat at the time of the incident. The seatbelt is now stuck in the retracted position. The component has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps before or after the failure. The climate control system does have an error and is not cooling. The error is for the A/C pressure sensor, so it does not seem related. I do have an appointment for the climate control system, so I can have the component inspected by the service center. Ambient temperature was approx 85F at the time of the incident. The sunroof was set to vent position while driving, and the climate control system fan was operating so interior temp should have been around 85F as well.

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELT NOT TO LOCK, CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES.*JB

THE 1999 PASSAT HAS HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FROM EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS,WATER PUMP DEFECTS, FRONT END ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. (NAR) *PH *CB

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THE CAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH OIL AND COOLANT LEAKS. THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSE TO BE FIXED, HOWEVER THE DEALER NEVER GAVE THE CONSUMER A INVOICE BECAUSE THE WORK WAS NEVER COMPLETED. WHILE TRAVELING, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE LOSS OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. CONSUMER SPENT OVER A $1000.00 IN REPAIRS. *MR *CB. THE AIR CONDITION DID COOL THE VEHICLE PROPERLY, AND THERE WAS ALSO A VALVE COVER LEAK, AND A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, THE DEALER STATED THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS BAD, THE GLOVE BOX FAILED TO OPEN, THE DRIVER SIDE VANITY MIRROR WAS BROKE AND THE HEAD LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED. *JB

THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE BESIDES REGULAR USE OF THE VEHICLE PASSAT 1999. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT PERIODICALLY HAS COME ON AND LENGTHENED IN DURATION UNTIL IT STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. THE BRAKING IS STILL NORMAL, BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WENT OUT ON MY PASSAT 1999. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OUT. I COASTED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF ITS TENDENCY TO FAIL. I HAD TO REDO ALL OF MY RODS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PART IN MY POSSESSION. *NM

WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT A BOLT SHEARED OFF INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM