1999 Volkswagen Passat Steering Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10427804

Incident

Sep 28, 2011

Mileage

149,002 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10269345

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10236918

Incident

Apr 15, 2008

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO HEARING THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V414000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,829 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,466.

NHTSA ID

10228018

Incident

Oct 14, 2005

Mileage

39,466 mi

TIE ROD ENDS EXCESSIVE WEAR. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF NYS INSPECTION @60K IN 07. TIE RODS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER RECALL IN 2001@ 19K. DIFFERENT RECALL IN 05 @ 50K FOR INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT OF CONTROL ARMS RESULTED IN INSPECTION ONLY. DEALER DID NOT FIND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF CONTROL ARMS OR TIE ROD ENDS. I DOUBT DEALERS INTEGRITY OR THAT THE SERVICE TECH WAS AWARE OF PREVIOUS TIE ROD REPLACEMENT. OBVIOUSLY THE ACCEPTABLE WEAR WOULD BE GREATER HAD THE PARTS BEEN IN SERVICE LONGER. DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS LEAD TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE STEERING LINKAGES AND BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE AND HAS BEEN USED LESS THAN 6K A YEAR SINCE PURCHASE IN 05. COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT WAS $150 PARTS (MOOG TIE ROD ENDS), $90 LABOR, $75 FOR THE REQUIRED ALIGNMENT AND NYS TAX = ~$330. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN AND EXCESSIVE WEAR FOR A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST A 60K LIFE EXPECTANCY. IT WOULD BE NORMAL FOR A VEHICLE TO TRAVEL 20K BETWEEN INSPECTIONS. FOR THE DEALER TO OK AT 50K AND AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION FACILITY TO CONDEMN AT 60K IS SUSPICIOUS. THE PARTS WERE VISIBLY WORN AND DEFECTIVE BY PERSONAL INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211971

Incident

Dec 7, 2007

Mileage

60,023 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V414000 (STEERING: LINKAGES: ROD: RELAY: CONNECTING). SHE FELT THAT HER VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,740.

NHTSA ID

10206922

Incident

Oct 22, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 00V414000 NOR # 99V248000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,800.

NHTSA ID

10193152

Incident

May 13, 2007

Mileage

62,800 mi

REFER TO NHTSA RECALL # 99V248000. 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TIE RODS OR STEERING LINKAGE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM 3 TIMES AT $1500.00 TO $2000.00 EACH TIME SINCE 2005. SUNCOAST VOLKSWAGEN IN SARASOTA FL REPAIRED IT 2 TIMES, MOST RECENT IN 10/06. NOW, NORTHTOWN VOLKSWAGEN IN AMHERST NY WAS REPLACING THEM AGAIN. I REFERRED TO THIS RECALL AND VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID VIN DID NOT FALL WITHIN THEIR RECALL NUMBERS. YOUR RECALL INFORMATION CLAIMED THE EXTENT OF MODELS AFFECTED WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS ISSUE. THE DEALER GAVE ME EXCUSES EACH TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

10191608

Incident

May 21, 2007

WHILE HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO (NOT AT MY VW DEALER), I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIE ROD ENDS WERE "LOOSE" AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THREE WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO MY DEALER TO HAVE THE CV JOINTS REPLACED, AND TO HAVE THE TIE ROD ENDS INSPECTED. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE PREVIOUS DIAGNOSIS, ADDING THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS WERE NOW "DANGEROUSLY LOOSE." I PROCEEDED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $700 INCLUDING THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT THAT NECESSITATED. I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THE TIE ROD ENDS HAD HAD TWO RECALLS FOR MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME UNEQUIVOCALLY "THERE WAS NO RECALL" ON MY TIE ROD ENDS FOR THIS VEHICLE. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE REVEALED THAT MY VIN NUMBER FALLS SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGES COVERED BY THE TWO RECALLS. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND AS A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE, IT SEEMS UTTERLY UNREASONABLE FOR SUCH A CRITICAL (STEERING) COMPONENT TO HAVE FAILED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. A REVIEW OF THE FACTS INVOLVED IN THE ABOVE RECALLS, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT VW'S DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE FOR THE RECALL CLASS, AND CERTAINLY SEEMS TO HAVE REMAINED DEFECTIVE ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER THE RECALL VIN RANGE COVERED UNDER THE RECALLS. UNFORTUNATELY, I FAILED TO HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE ME WITH THE REPLACED COMPONENTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183679

Incident

Feb 6, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND OUTER TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME AT 55,552 MILES AND SECOND TIME AT 75,959 MILES. THAT'S ONLY 20,407 MILES DIFFERENCE FOR THE $1200.00 REPAIR TO BE DONE AGAIN. ABSURD. CALLED THE VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE IN ANY WAY STATING THE 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THIS DEFECT WOULD NEVER FALL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE. I ALREADY ABSORBED THE COST FOR THE 1ST REPAIR SO IN ALL FAIRNESS THEY SHOULD COVER THE 2ND TIME. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY $1200 EVERY 20,000 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. I WILL GO LEGAL AND FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO CONSUMER REPORTS, THE BBB, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178051

Incident

Jan 3, 2007

Mileage

75,959 mi

1999 PASSAT ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO A OIL PUMP FAILURE. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD THE OIL LEAK REPAIRED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS A FAULTY DRIVE SHAFT, RIGHT CV JOINT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH, THE CONTROL KNOB FOR THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT, ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, WATER PUMP SEAL RINGS, A POWER STEERING LEAK WHICH WAS HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, THE COOLANT PUMP, O-RINGS AND THE OIL PUMP AND PUMP ROD BEARINGS. THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL, OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VALVE COVERS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177477

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS SEEN. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE WORN, LACKED LUBRICATION, WERE RUBBING INTO THE FRONT TIRES, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V414000, REGARDING THE STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 1/31/2007 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10175570

Incident

Dec 8, 2006

Mileage

82,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GETTING AN OIL CHANGE THE DEALER NOTICED THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 00V414000, REGARDING THE STEERING; LINKAGES; ROD; RELAY; CONNECTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10173058

Incident

Nov 7, 2006

Mileage

68,000 mi

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TIE RODS AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WERE BAD. *KB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR IT'S 40000 MILES CHECKUP WHEN THE PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY OF THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY. THE INDEPENDENT TECH COULD NOT REPAIR THE AIR BAG THEREFORE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT 1999 PASSATS WERE RECALL FOR TIE ROD ISSUES IN 1999 AND NOTIFICATION WERE SENT OUT IN OCTOBER 1999, ONE MONTH BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170133

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

44,532 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD AND CONTROL ARM NEEDED REPLACED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V248000, CONCERNING THE STEERING RODS AND RELAYS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

10151514

Incident

Feb 27, 2006

Mileage

75,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE STEERING ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH TIE RODS. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THE ABS WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE TO THE POINT IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OF FROM THE FRAME. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141996

Incident

Oct 24, 2005

Mileage

94,000 mi

TIE ROD FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY VW DEALER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10139283

Incident

Oct 11, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL 99V248000 CONCERNING TIE RODS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THERE WAS 21,604 MILES ON THE CAR THEN. SHE TOOK VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT'S SERVICE SLIP DID NOT SHOW ANY REPAIRS. SHE WAS REALLY NOT SURE WHAT WAS DONE CONCERNING THE RECALL. ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AGO, SHE HEARD A RUBBING, SCREECHING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION. HAD THE FRONT TIE RODS REPLACED ON 8-30-05. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY HAD MADE A DECISION NOT TO REIMBURSE HER FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON VEHICLE, WHICH HA 74,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10135993

Incident

Aug 30, 2005

Mileage

74,768 mi

ON 9/7/05 IN THE AM, I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE HERZOG-MEIER DEALERSHIP IN BEAVERTON, OREGON TO BE SERVICED FOR A RADIATOR ISSUE. AROUND 2 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, I RECEIVED A VOICE MESSAGE FROM THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATING THAT IN ADDITION TO THE ISSUE I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR, THE MECHANIC HAD INDICATED THE FRONT TIE-RODS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I LEFT A MESSAGE WITH THE SERVICE REP BACK TO GET MORE INFORMATION. IN THE INTERIM, I RESEARCHED AND FOUND MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR TIE-RODS, INDICATED AS YOU CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS OF 99V248000 AND 00V414000. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. VW CUSTOMER CARE WOULD ONLY TELL ME THERE WAS "NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS". WHEN I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH THE SERVICE REP, HE TOLD ME THESE RECALLS HAD BEEN PERFORMED BACK ON 3/13/01. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO ASK THEM TO RE-REPAIR THESE TIE-RODS BECAUSE THE PARTS INSTALLED FROM THE RECALL HAD FAILED. VW HAS SAID THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIR THE TIE-RODS THE 1 TIME AND FELT NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR AGAIN. THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT IS THE PARTS INSTALLED AFTER THE RECALL HAVE FAILED. NOW I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY $500 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO FIX. ADDITIONALLY, VW HAS NO RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OR MAINTENANCE FOR TIE-RODS LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE OR IN MY OWNERS MANUAL FOR MY VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135899

Incident

Sep 7, 2005

Mileage

24,665 mi

REGARDING A CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V414000 FOR THE STEERING LINKAGES ON THE 99 VW PASSAT. I REQUESTED THE DEALER TO CHECK MY VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE FACT IT HAS DAMAGED TIE RODS. THE MANUFACTURE CLAIMS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN BUT THE DEALER HAS INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL BUT THE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ASSIST. WHAT CAN I DO ? *NM

NHTSA ID

10134688

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

PETITION (2CYS) FOR EXTENSION OF THE VOLKSWAGEN (VW) RECALL ON PASSAT VEHICLES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TIE RODS TO COVER HER VEHICLE A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON.*MR (99V248000) *JB

NHTSA ID

10132336

Incident

Jun 17, 2005

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAD BOTH INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSENING.*MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10129132

Incident

Jun 17, 2005

CONSUMER REQUESTED INCLUSION IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V248000 FOR THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR THE TIE RODS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENEGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE A PROBLEM. *SC

NHTSA ID

10126868

Incident

Jun 16, 2005

Mileage

42,645 mi

I AM HAVING THE KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY VW PASSAT. VOLKSWAGEN SO FAR WILL ONLY COVER THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF THEY FAIL OR APPEAR DAMAGED. MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS THAT ARE NOT COVERED. THE STEERING TIE ROD ENDS ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THESE TIE ROD ENDS APPEAR TO BE FAILING AT A VERY HIGH RATE IN VW PASSATS. I AM HAVING THIS REPLACED AT A VERY HIGH COST. VOLKSWAGENS MUST BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. IT WAS MY MISTAKE WAS TAKING THIS ISSUE TO A VW DEALERSHIP. I ASSUMED VW WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ME. *NM

NHTSA ID

10118212

Incident

Apr 18, 2005

Mileage

75,200 mi

VEHICLE GOES TO THE RIGHT AND THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. DEALER STATES THE TIE ROD IS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10115770

Incident

Jan 10, 2005

Mileage

46,500 mi