Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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 33, in the owner's own words
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY AN INCH TO 1.5 INCHES OF WATER. SHE NOTICED THE ISSUE APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES WITHIN ONE MONTH, ESPECIALLY IN RAINY CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SUNROOF, ALTHOUGH THE SUNROOF WAS NEVER WET AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. SHE WAS UNSURE IF THIS FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WATER ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,320 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,115.
1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WINDOWS FALL DOWN DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC CLIPS BREAKING THAT NORMALLY HOLD THEM IN PLACE. WINDOWS FALL DOWN INTO DOORS DISTRACTING DRIVERS ATTENTION FROM ROAD AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER SECURITY IS NOT ASSURED WHEN DOOR IS LOCKED DUE TO THIS COMMON DEFECT. VW IS AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT AND FIXED ON SOME JETTAS BUT NOT PASSATS. NOR WILL THEY MAKE AVAILABLE A REPLACEMENT PLASTIC CLIPS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IF YOU WANT THIS FIXED YOU MUST BUY THE ENTIRE WINDOW REGULATOR RATHER THAN THE SINGLE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT APPARENTLY BECOME BRITTLE WITH AGE AND FAIL. *TR
PASSENGER POWER WINDOW REGULATOR DESIGNED WITH PLASTIC CLIPS CAUSING WINDOW TO FALL IN THE DOOR. CLIPS NOT AVAILABLE AT DEALER. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BUY THE ENTIRE WINDOW REGULATOR @ $120.00... *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS WINDOW AND THE FOURTH TIME OVERALL. EVERYTIME ITS BEEN THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THIS COST ME $392 EVERYTIME. I DRIVE MY CAR ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WHEN I HAVE LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WHO DO WE COMPLAIN TO? AND WHEN WE DO IT FALLS ON DEAF EARS. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. ALSO MY CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK AND THEY WANT ME TO SPEND ANOTHER $300+ TO PUT A NEW TURN SIGNAL IN. ALSO, MY PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS AND AIRBAG ITSELF ARE BAD. THEY WANT AT LEAST $600 TO FIX IT. I HAVE A 1999 PASSAT WITH 55,000 MILES AND IT'S A MONEY PIT ! PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
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
AFTER HEAVY RAINS THIS PAST WEEK, MY 99 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS FLOODED TWICE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, FRONT AND BACK. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM CAME FROM CLOGGED SUN ROOF DRAINS. I WET VACUUMED OUT 3 GALLONS OF WATER FROM THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO CAUSED BY CLOGGED POLLEN FILTERS. THERE IS NO MENTION OF EITHER OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE MANUAL. VW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM/DEFECT IN THEIR CARS. I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS ON THE SAME ISSUE (WWW.HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM AND WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM). THIS FLOODING PROBLEM IS CAUSING TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROBLEMS LEADING TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY! *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING FAULTY WINDOW REGULATORS. *TS THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW REGULATORS TWICE. *JB
SHORTLY AFTER BOUGHT CAR, HAD MANY MAKEUP PROBLEMS: TRIM PANEL FALLING OFF, 3 OUR 4 WINDOWS HAVE BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. CANNOT HAVE TRIM FIXED UNLESS DO WHOLE CAR, WHICH IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND I DIDNT PAY ALL THAT MONEY FOR A CAR TO HAVE DISH OUT MORE MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE ALL THE WINDOWS FIXED EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME, I JUST WILL NOT DO IT. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING FOR THESE PROBLEMS TO BE OCCURING. ALSO, THE TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. LASTLY, STEERING/SUSPENSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. ALL THESE PROBLEMS TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. *AK
CLUNKING NOISES HEARD WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR AND MOVING FORWARD-NOT HEARD IN REVERSE. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY FORWARD GEARS, IT WOULD ONLY SHIFT IN REVERSE. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIRE. *NM THE UNIT SITS BENEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN WATER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SUNROOF DRAINS WHICH CAUSED RAIN WATER TO COLLECT AND POOL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB
WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY ON DRIVERS SIDE BROKE AND POPPED OUT OF BODY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONTROL LINKAGE FROM THE MOTOR BROKE AND PUSHED THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OUT. THE WIPER BLADE IS TWO TO THREE INCHES OFF THE WINDOW. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER IS ALSO NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK
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
I HAD SHUT OFF MY CAR AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN IT BACK ON I HAD NO LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, DOME LIGHT, HORN, CLIMAT CONTROL OR RADIO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ON BEETLES AND GOLFS ALL THE TIME AND THAT IT WAS THE IGNISION SWITCH. THEY SHOWED ME THE SWITCH WHEN THEY PULLED IT OUT. IT HAD GOTTEN SO HOT IT MELTED RIGHT THROUGH THE WIRES. THERE IS NO SAFETY RECALL ON THIS BUT IF IT GETS HOT ENOUGH TO MELT METAL IT COULD START THE CAR ON FIRE.
THE CAR IS ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 47000 MILES, AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR AND CLUNKS SOMETIMES. HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK FOR FIRST 4 MONTHS WE OWNED THE CAR. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF. DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. MAP LIGHT HAS STARTED TO DO THE SAME. INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. DEALER SAYS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING ON THESE CARS AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *NLM
POWER WINDOW MOTOR (RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER) FAILED.*JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING RAINY WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING WITH BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DOWN. (FRONT AND REAR). WHEN I PUSHED THE DRIVER CONTROL TO RAISE THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW ALSO RAISED AT THE SAME TIME, CRUSHING MY WIFES ARM. THIS PHENOMENON IS REPEATABLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.*AK
I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT 20,000 MILES AND AT 40,000 MILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARSHLY AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL??? AND IF I WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT IT, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT UP-FRONT, AND THAT THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT ONLY IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG. THE SUNROOF HAS A "BROKEN TRACK" AFTER 40,000 MI. IT COSTS MORE TO FIX IT THAN IT DID TO BUY IT! IS THIS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT ALL VW'S?
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS OF 25-65 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 10-15 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK THE MIRROR SWITCH IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE. THE DRIVER SEAT WARMER WAS INOPERATIVE. ENGINE HAS A BURNING SMELL DUE TO OIL LEAK. VEHICLE MADE NOISE IN FRONT END ON LEFT TURNS DUE TO A STABILIZER BAR CLAMP BEING LOOSE. FRONT BRAKES MAKE NOISE. STEERING MAKES NOISE AND LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING COLUMN SLIDING COVER CRACKED. *YH
CONSUMER STATES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO WORK WHEN IT IS RAINING, DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE WIPER MOTOR, THE WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *SLC
RIGHT REAR POWER WINDOW MECHANISM WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (2 YEARS/20,000 MILES) TWICE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO (CAR ONE MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY) LEFT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. TODAY RIGHT REAR WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. I DRIVE CAR 99% OF TIME. NO ONE IN BACK SEAT, SO NO KIDS PLAYING, ETC. THE REAR POWER WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE A DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS NOW 3-4 MONTHS & 2,370 PAST TWO YEAR/20,000 MILE WARRANTY. I REQUEST THAT THESE REPAIRS BE COVERED BY MAUFACTURER AS THE PROBLEMS FIRST OCCURRRED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CONTINUE. APPEARS TO BE DESIGN DEFECT. WINDOWS WIL ONLY RETRACT 1" AND THEN FAIL.*AK
THE BRAKES SQUEAK. NLM
STEERING RACK SEAL FAILED AT 15K MI, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND DAMAGE TO RACK. DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER WINDOW (LEFT REAR) DISCONNECTED FROM ELECTRIC MOTOR (WOULD NOT GO UP AND DOWN) AT 45K MI. HARDLY USE WINDOW (NO KIDS OR PASSENGERS). DEALER REPLACED "PIN" AND CHARGED 1HR LABOR FOR PULLING DOOR PANEL - NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. STEERING BEGAN TO "CREAK" WHEN WHEEL TURNED SLOWLY AT STOP OR NEAR STOP AT 52K MI. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. STATED NO SAFETY PROBLEMS. DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER WINDOW (LEFT, REAR) DISCONNECTED FROM POWER MOTOR AGAIN AT ABOUT 75K MI. DID NOT CONTACT DEALER AGAIN AS EXPECTED TO PAY $60 AGAIN SO WAITED FOR A SCHEDULED SERVICE. DRIVER WINDOW POWER MOTOR FAILED AT 83K MI - SOUNDED LIKE METAL GRINDING. HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH WINDOW CLOSED. TOOK AUTO TO DIFFERENT DEALER (MIDWESTERN AUTO GROUP, DUBLIN OH, 614-889-2571) TO EXAMINE DRIVER WINDOW, DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW AND STEERING "CREAK". NEW DEALER STATED DRIVER WINDOW UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN, DRIVER-SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW NOT COVERED AND MISSING "PIN" TOTALLY, AND STEERING "CREAK" IS IN ANY OR ALL OF THE CONTROL ARM/LINKAGE BUSHINGS. QUOTED $2000 TO REPLACE STEERING FRONT END - SUGGESTED I JUST LIVE WITH NOISE. NO MENTION OF TIE-ROD RECALL ON 1999 PASSATS. I HAVE NO INFORMATION ON IF MY CAR QUALIFIES FOR THE RECALL, BUT MY INVESTIGATIION ONLINE SUGGESTS I DO. HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES, BUT HAVE MOVED SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE AND COULD HAVE "LOST MAIL" PROBLEM. SUGGEST POWER WINDOW DESIGN IS BAD - AS I DRIVE ON HWYS A LOT FOR BUSINESS IN OH WHERE SUMMER REQUIRES AC, WINTER REQUIRES HEAT, I HAVE NO KIDS OR PASSENGERS IN BACK SEATS, ETC.*AK
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
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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