1999 Volkswagen Passat Engine Problems

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.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY , THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN , I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I SEEN SMOKE I OPENED THE HOOD AND IT WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED POLICE AND FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT THE FANS ARE MELTED AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE IS BURNED , I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT COULD HAVE STARTED THE FIRE THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN CARE OF AND THERE'S NO WARNING LIGHTS ON , ON THE DASH. *TR

MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS BAD IGNITION COILS. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE PASSAT. WHEN HE GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL HE INFORMED ME THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. I WENT OUT AND DROVE IT TO SEE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. I NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IF I DROVE IT, IT COULD CATCH FIRE. IT DIDN'T. I WAS TOLD THAT AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF BAD COILS. THAT WAS WHEN A FAMILY FRIEND LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME THAT IT HAD BAD IGNITION COILS. FORTUNATELY SCHOOL IS ONLY A MILE AWAY. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR (EACH COIL COSTING OVER $100 TO REPLACE - NOT INCLUDING LABOR) BECAUSE THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE IF I DROVE IT. I CHECKED ONLINE AND I SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I SAW VW IS DOING A VOLUNTARY RECALL BUT ON 2001-2007. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH THIS WAS GOING TO COST ME THEY EVEN TOLD ME THEY RECOMMEND REPLACING ALL 4 (IT IS A 4 CYL) BECAUSE IF EVEN ONE IS BAD, THE OTHERS WILL FOLLOW. THIS IS NOT JUST ME. THIS IS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR SAME MODEL AS MINE. ALL SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE IGNITION PACK. THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM PEOPLE AS WELL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAR MANUFACTURE CAN PUT PARTS OUT THERE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED POTENTIAL HARM TO MY SON. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. AND THEY WANT ME TO GO IN AND PAY FOR ALL OF THIS, WHEN THEY PUT THOSE BAD PARTS IN THE CAR. *TR

THE ENGINE IN MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T APPEARS TO BE DEAD. OIL PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T GO OFF. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE THAT THEY PROVIDED BAD INFORMATION ON OIL CHNAGE INTERVALS FOR THIS CARS, BUT STILL INSISTS OWNERS HAVE DOCEMENTS FOR EVERY OIL CHANGE EVER ON THE CAR. AS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PROVE. ALSO, I CHANGE MY OWN OIL, AGAIN MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE THE INTERVALS TO THEIR SATISFACTION. MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT AT MINIMUM, THEY HAVE TO PULL THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP, BUT THAT THE ENGINE IS LIKELY SO FULL OF SLUDGE THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED, TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $8000. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS THEIR FAULT, LOOK FOR A MEMO TITLED: AUGUST 2004 SUBJECT: WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 1998 - 2004 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT SEDAN OR WAGON EQUIPPED WITH TURBO ENGINE NOTE THAT AFTER REPAIR THE OIL SPEC HAS CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL AND THE INTERVAL BETWEEN CHANGES IS SHORTER - AN OUTRIGHT ADMISSION THAT THEY DESGINED THE ENGINE INCORRECTLY IF EVER I'VE SEEN ONE. *TR

ABS, BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT INDICATORS ON - APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PASSATS. FAULTY ABS MODULE ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP, $900 PART. VEHICLE HAS 67,000 MILES AND DEALERSHIP SERVICED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE. *TR

WHEN A $2 O RING IN OIL FILTER HOUSING FAILS, OIL IS QUICKLY PUMPED FROM THE ENGINE. . MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8 LITER TURBO. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE OIL LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON. IN LESS THAT 5 MILES ENGINE DAMAGE STARTED. CAM SHAFT IS SCORED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE DEALER WAS REPAIRING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THEY OBSERVED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH MY 1.8T ENGINE IN A 1999 VW PASSAT AFTER GETTING OIL CHANGES WITH SYNTHETIC OIL NOW I'M WITH OUT A VEHICLE AND MY JOB REQUIRES ME TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT SOMETIMES IN JUNE 2006 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STARTED TO LOSE POWER. ALSO, HE HEARD A RAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO A REPAIR FACILITY, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY CEASED. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 150000.*AK

1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T SUFFERED SUDDEN TIMING BELT FAILURE AT ONLY 54,000 MILES. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-70) IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS, LEAVING ME BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE TO COAST UPHILL TO A NARROW SNOWY SHOULDER, WHERE WE WERE FORCED TO CALL 911 AND WAIT FOR ALMOST 45 MINUTES IN A COLD VEHICLE, IN CONSTANT DANGER OF BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY SEMI/TRACTOR TRAILERS. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS OCCURRED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND ENDANGERED MY FAMILY, AND IF IT WERE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE PURSUING THIS ISSUE AS I DID MISS THE 40,000 MILE SERVICE WHEN A BELT INSPECTION WAS SCHEDULED TO BE PERFORMED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BASED UPON MY DISCUSSIONS WITH INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND THE INTERNET, AND LED TO A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OF AUDI AND NOW (ONGOING) VW. IN THE MEANTIME, VW APPEARS TO BE DENYING THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE, AND REFUSES TO HONOR ITS EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY UNLESS IT HAS BEEN VERY STRICTLY FOLLOWED. DUE TO THE SYSTEMATIC FAILURE WITH THIS CRITICAL ENGINE PART, USUALLY OCCURRING WELL BEFORE VW'S OWN RECOMMENDED BELT CHANGE INTERVAL OF 105,000 MILES, I BELIEVE THAT VW SHOULD BE REPAIRING/RECALLING THESE VEHICLES FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE BELTS AND TENSIONERS. SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL; IN MY CASE THE REAL DANGER WAS THE LOCATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FAILURE. IT APPEARS VW IS FOLLOWING THE SAME AGGRESSIVE STANCE/DENIALS OF WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THESE ENGINES, THE OIL "SLUDGING" PROBLEM WHICH IS ALSO WELL-DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. *NM

99 VW PASSAT'S OIL PUMP FAILED. **CC THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THREE OIL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT VW IS AWARE OF PROBLEM WITH OIL SLUDGE IN VW'S BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS 105000 MILES.

CHRONIC OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS (DUE TO OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP) STARTING AT 73000 MILES LEADING TO REPLACEMENT OF OIL PUMP AT 100000. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY MANUFACTURER EXTENDED WARRANTY, I PAID ($1250). I HAVE OLD PARTS. *NM

ENGINE LIGHT. *NM

JUST BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF MY 100,000-MILE, 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AT 99,938 MILES (AND 23 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF 6 YEARS) I TOOK MY 1999 1.8L TURBO VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (B5) TO THE DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PERFORM THE 100,000-MILE SERVICE AND TO THOROUGHLY CHECK THE CAR FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED SINCE IT WOULD SOON BE OUT-OF-WARRANTY. FOUR HOURS LATER WHEN THE SHOP WAS CLOSING, I PICKED UP MY CAR. UPON CHECKOUT, THE SERVICE REP STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, BUT THAT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND VOLKSWAGEN RECOMMEND CHANGING THE TIMING BELT, TENSIONER, AND WATER PUMP AT 105,000 MILES. I THANKED HIM AND WENT HOME NOT REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS COMMENT. THREE WEEKS LATER ON JUNE 2, 2006 AT 102,088 MILES (AND 3 DAYS PAST THE SIX-YEAR POINT), MY TENSIONER BROKE WHICH CAUSED MY TIMING BELT TO SLIP AND STRIP THE TEETH INTERMITTENTLY OFF THE BELT. SINCE I WAS NOT AWARE THAT MY TIMING BELT WAS SLIPPING (EXCEPT FOR AN INCREASE IN NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATED), THE VALVES WERE BENT DURING THE EVENT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO A LOCAL VW SERVICE SHOP, AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN AND THAT MACHINING OF THE CYLINDER BLOCK WAS NECESSARY SINCE THE VALVES WERE BENT. THE REPAIR TO MY ENGINE, INCLUDING A WATER PUMP AND FAULTY PLASTIC HOSE, COST $2,342. IN ADDITION, I HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR ONE WEEK FOR THE DURATION OF THE REPAIR ($225) AND TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE SHOP ($28). UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I REALIZED IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THE TIMING BELT TO FAIL PREMATURELY ON B5 PASSATS AND THAT HAD EITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR VW NOTIFIED ME OF THIS PROCLIVITY FOR FAILURE (AND CHANGE THEIR SERVICING RECOMMENDATION) THIS FAILURE AND ASSOCIATED $2600 EXPENSE WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *JB

1999 VW PASSAT OIL CONSUMPTION - 1 QT. EVERY 750 MILES. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEALS, TESTS AND IS NOW PLANNING FURTHER SEAL REPLACEMENT. I KNOW THIS WON'T GET FIXED; THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW WHERE MANY OTHER CONSUMERS ARE ALSO "SUFFERING". WILL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEMAND A RECALL???????*JB

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8L TURBO ENGINE WITH 71,000 MILES STOPPED SUDDENLY; THEN CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME & CAR WOULD NOT RE-START. CHECK-OIL LIGHT HAD BEEN INTERMITTENTLY ON FOR 2-3 MILES PRIOR, BUT OIL WAS CHECKED AND IT WAS ACTUALLY OVERFULL. 803 MILES PRIOR, VW SERVICE DEPT HAD SERVICED CAR FOR CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT, AND REPLACED TURBO RECIRCULATION VALVE AND HOSE. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED EVERY 3000 MILES SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED, WITH 30,000 MILES, IN FEB. '04. VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ENGINE BECOMING OIL-STARVED DUE TO SLUDGE IN OIL TAKE-UP TUBE. SLUDGE CAUSED BY NOT USING SYNTHETIC OIL, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT REQUIRED. CAM GEAR WAS DAMAGED, LEAVING METAL PIECES THROUGHOUT ENGINE. ENTIRE ENGINE, TURBO AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. PARTS MAY STILL BE W/MECHANIC, I CERTAINLY DO NOT HAVE FACILITIES OR DESIRE TO STORE AN ENTIRE RUINED ENGINE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TOXIC FUMES IN VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TURBO, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP TO ELIMINATE THE FUME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY, THEY INSISTED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND ALL OF THE SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

TIMING BELT BROKE WITH NO WARNING BEFORE THE 90,000 MILE SUGGESTED CHECK WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 4000 TO REPAIR. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN T DEALER, SERVICED AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED ON SCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE HAS 112,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED ON 9-30-05 THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED AN OVERHAUL, AND THAT IT WOULD COST IN EXCESS OF $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE VALVE RINGS/O-RINGS). THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IF THIS WAS NOT DONE OIL WOULD LEAK , AND THE CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAS A FRIEND WHO TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 PASSAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THE WARRANT EXPIRED, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO SHE CALLED BBB AND FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN. *AK.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY ON. ERROR CODE 17544 BANK 1 SYSTEM TOO LEAN (P1136) LONG TERM FUEL TRIM. I HAD MY MECHANIC FIX ALL VACUUM LEAKS, LOW FUEL PRESSURE, EXHAUST LEAKS, INJECTORS AND SECONDARY AIR SYSTEM. HAD THE MAF SENSOR REPLACED AND STILL HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. *NM

BELT TIME DAMAGE, CONSEQUENCES ENGINE REPAIR. *JB

ENGINE OIL LEAK. DEALER REPAIR SERVICE INDICATED THAT CAM TENSIONER AND CAM SEALS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO SLUDGE. MANUFACTURER'S FAILURE TO HONOR WARRANTY. *AK

I AM WRITING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE REGARDING A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2003 AT 29,000 MILES AND THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 77,000. VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT STATES (TO SOME DEGREE) THAT IF THE ENGINE FAILS DUE TO SLUDGE AND IS UNDER 80,000 MILES THE OWNER WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR ENGINE REPLACED, 'IF' THEY HAVE RECORDS OF ALL OIL CHANGES (OF NOT MORE THAN 5,000 MILES). MY COMPLAINT IS THIS, I DO NOT HAVE ALL THE RECORDS SINCE ONE OF THE LOCATIONS THAT I WENT TO NO LONGER HAS A RECORD OF OIL CHANGES DUE TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN'S 'CUSTOMER ADVOCATE' THEY INDICATED THAT THE DECISION IS REALLY UP TO THE AREA SERVICE MANAGER WHO CAN ARBITRARILY DECIDE TO REPAIR OR NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THUS, MY COMPLAINT IS THAT VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS THAT THEIR ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THEM SEND ME A COPY OF THEIR WARRANTY INDICATING THIS, BUT WANTED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T WITH THE HOPES OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ENGINE AND WHETHER IT IS FAULTY. THANK YOU.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION DEALER STATED THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE GASKET. THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

1999 VW PASSAT WITH 67,000 MILES IN OTHERWISE GOOD CONDITION THAT HAD UNDERGONE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS EXPERIENCED COMPLETE AND ABRUPT ENGINE SEIZURE ON THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2005. *AK

OUR OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. KEPT TAKING IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND SAID WAS FINE. NO ONE COULD TELL US WHY OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. THEN RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW OF AMERICA STATING THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM. WILL NOT FIX CAR W/OUT OIL RECEIPTS. CAN NOT DRIVE CAR W/OUT GETTING OIL SLUDGE PROB. FIXED BECAUSE IT CAN DAMAGE ENGINE.*JB

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

82290 MILES ON CAR. CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RUN. TURNING ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS, BLOWING MY HORNS AND THEN RAPIDLY EXITING THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO AVOID GETTING REAR-ENDED. CAM BELT IS BROKEN AND THEN CAUSES ABOUT $3500 IN DAMAGE TO THE TOP-END (BEND VALVES,ETC.) OF THE CAR CAR IS CURRENT IN THE VW REPAIR SHOP AWAITING $4650 IN TOTAL TO REPLACE CAM BELT AND DAMAGED TOP END. NOTE: CAM BELT MAY HAVE BEEN STRESSED DUE TO IGNITION MODLULE FAILURE AT 80330 DOCUMENT ON 10090985.....

1.CAR WAS DUE FOR 30K MAINT. AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CALLED DEALER, WAS TOLD APPOINTMENT UNAVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS. WAS TOLD CAR WAS OK TO DRIVE. 2.DAY BEFORE APPOINTMENT ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING, CAR WAS TOWED IN, DETERMINED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLIPPAGE OF INTERNAL TIMING CHAIN. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TENSIONER CAM LOOSENING BECAUSE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED FROM LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. OIL WAS SLUDGY AND BURNED.*AK 3.VW SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALER WAS RUDE FROM THE GET GO, VW REFUSED TO HONOR RECIEPTS OF OIL CHANGE FROM A QUICK LUBE AND WARRANTY CLAIM WAS DENIED BY VWOA. THEY STATED THE AUTO HAD NOT BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY. THE CAR HAD 32000K MILES ON IT. I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED SINCE 2001 AND MY CLAIM HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY DENIED BY VWOA.

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LOST OIL PRESSURE INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

THE TIMING BELT LOOSENED, FLAPPED UP, AND SEVERED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A ROUGH IDLE AND RATTLED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, PER DEALERSHIP. *AK THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE TIMING BELT BROKE AFTER THE TENSIONER SHREDDED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK WHILE IN MOTION. THE POWER BRAKES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 52,515 MILES AND THE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED. LESS THAN 4K MILES LATER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM OILS FROM THE ENGINE. *AK

TIMING BELT ON VEHICLE BROKE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE VALVES. *MR THE NEWER EDITIONS OF THE PASSAT HAVE REDESIGNED TENSION SYSTEMS FOR THE TIMING BELT. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. . PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH PERIODICALLY AND WILL STALL OUT, MOST RECENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. DEALER COULD FIND NO COMPUTER CODES OR OTHER PROBLEMS THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR CONDITION.

TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. NO WARNING IS DESCRIBED IN OWNERS MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. ENGINE FAILED AT 91000 MILES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, REQUIRED SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.*AK

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SEALS LEAKING AND VW WILL NOT HONOR THEIR REPLACEMENTS UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY.*AK

WHILE BRAKING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD BEFORE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OIL PUMP AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NLM

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED ON MY WIFE?S PASSAT. THE CAR IS 4 YRS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 85000 MILES ON IT . THE ESTIMATED REPAIR FROM BILL BARRY VW. TO FIX IT IS AROUND 1600 DOLLARS. I WAS TOLD THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS NEVER FAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL. BEFORE THAT AROUND 68000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ON 3 CYLINDERS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE A CONTROL MODULE THAT COST ME $612.00 NONE OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER ANY OF MY WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE A 10 YR. OR 100000 MILES. THIS WILL BE OUR LAST VOLKSWWAGEN. IF I WERE TOLD THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS WORTH SO MUCH MONEY UP FRONT, WE WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR. *LA

1999 VW.PASSAT EXHAUST CATAYLITIC CONVERTER FAILURE AND ENGINE SKIPPING PROBLEM. *LA

TIMING BELT TENSIONER ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T (VIN # [XXX]) FAILED AT 76,623 MILES CAUSING TIMING BELT TO SLIP OFF, THUS CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE VALVE DAMAGE. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, BUT HAD I BEEN FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME I'M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. VW ADVISES OWNERS TO HAVE TIMING BELTS CHECKED AT 40,000 AND 80,000 MILES AND TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AT 106,000. BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILS EARLY I BELIEVE THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED OR AT THE VERY LEAST THAT VW SHOULD ADVISE OWNERS TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER AT 60,000--70,000 MILES IN ORDER TO AVOID SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

OIL LEAKING FROM VALVE COVER SEALS, CYLINDER HEAD AND CAM COVER SEALS.*AK

I HAVE A 1999 PASSAT WAGON (@ 84,000 MILE) AND HAVE HAD A BURING OIL SMELL FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS (IT STARTED @ 60,00 MILE). IT HAS BEEN TO A FEW DEALERS NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALL THEY EVER TO IS REPLACE GASKETS. THEY HAVE ALSO REPLACED TURBO CHARGER, MAS AIR FLOW, AND EVERY POSSIBLE GASKET.*AK WE HAVE EVEN HAD THE VW REP INTO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY WORKED ON IT - SAID THEY FOUND OTHER GASKETS - BUT IT STILL BURNS. IT IS WORSE WHEN IT SITS IDLE AND DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEH THE AC IS ON. I JUST GOT IT BACK FROM THE DELAER TWO DAYS AGO AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE - OF COURSE ON THEIR INVOICE THEY CLAIM THE SMELL IS GONE. THEY ARE SUCH LIARS AND ALL THE SERIVCE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO DO IS REPLACE PARTS. I HAVE DECIDED TO ACCESS THE LEMON LAW.

ENGINE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN BREAKDOWN. DEALER SAID THAT SLUDGE BUILDUP (DUE TO SUSPECTED BUT NOT VERIFIED POOR MAINTENANCE) WAS CAUSE. INDEPENDENT MECHANICS VERIFY THAT THERE WAS NO SLUDGE BUILDUP, BUT LACK OF OIL, PROBABLY FROM FAILED OIL PUMP. OWNERS CAN CONFIRM MAINTENANCE EXCEEDING RECOMMENDED STANDARADS FOR THE 18 MONTHS/30K MILES PRIOR TO ENGINE BREAKDOWN. VWOA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND ALLEGES THAT ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD HAVE STARTED PRIOR TO THE ABOVE-MENTIONED MAINTENANCE PERIOD.*AK

CAR ONLY HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES YET RADIATOR WAS LEAKING CAUSING TEMP. LIGHT TO COME ON. NO VISIBLE EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO RADIATOR. COST TO REPLACE WAS OVER $700.00. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO HELP PAY, EVEN THOUGH RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. WORSE YET CONSUMER HELPLINE REFUSED TO LET ME SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR OR GIVE ME NUMBER FOR CORPORATE OFFICE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. *NLM

A PLASTIC SHIELD WHICH WAS MOUNTED UNDER THE ENGINE BECAME PARTIALLY LOOSE WHILE ACCELERATING. *DT *JB

THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE.*JB

THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 2002 SUDDENLY INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE LIGHT AND HEAVY VIBRATION FORCE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE COIL PACK. DEALER CHANGE THE FAULTY COIL PACK. DEALER REFUSE TO CHANGE THE OTHER THREE COIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

I PURCHASED A 1999 VOLKSWAGAN PASSAT IN APRIL OF 2002 WITH 49,000 MILES ON IT THE TIMING BELT BROKE ON IT AT 58,000 MILES IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT SAME YEAR. AS PER VOLKSWAGON, THE BELT IS NOT DUE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 105,000 MILES. IT RUINED THE TOP END OF MY ENGINE, COST TO REPAIR IS 3,000-4,000 DOLLARS. VOLKSWAGAN WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THE COST, I FIND THIS TO BE UNFAIR THAT I SHOULD GET ONLY 6 MONTHS USE OUT OF A CAR THAT I STILL OWE 17,000 DOLLARS ON.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN ENGINE WOULD FAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FREEZE UP. TS

THE LEAK DETECTION PUMP IS PART OF THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS CONTROL ON THIS CAR. WITHIN 2 DAYS OF BUYING IT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE PUMP BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON NEXT DAY. SAME PUMP REPLACED AGAIN. SEARCH ON INTERNET AND DISCUSSION W/DEALER INDICATES THIS PART (MADE BY SIEMENS) IS A COMMON FAILURE AND WARRANTY ONLY 24,000 MILES. COST WAS $275 FOR ME TO HAVE FIXED. IF NEW ONES COMMONLY FAIL AND THIS IS EMISSIONS RELATED, SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL? IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE TO REPORT THIS? NLM

VEHICLE STALLED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPED, RUNS POORLY, A/C DOES NOT COOL. SHOP CAN NOT FIX. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED HOT STEAM COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD, AND NOTICED COOLING HOSE WAS CUT BY ENGINE COVER FROM VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVLING NOTICED HOT STEAM COMING FROM ENGINE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDERS AND NOTICED COOLING SYSTEM HOSE WAS CUT BY ENGINE COVER WHEN VIBRATING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE ENGINE IS VERY ROUGH AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND SEEMS TO HAVE POOR POWER. NLM

WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY OR WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN VEHICLE DEACCELERATED AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, BOTH AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS STILL WARM, THE ENGINE REVS UP TO ABOUT 2000 RPM AND THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS DROPS BACK TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED. THEN, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE RPM DROPS BACK TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITANTLY OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS. THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THE VEHICLE TWICE AND CANNOT STOP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AT A LATER DATE. I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED THEN PARKING, TURNING OFF ENGINE, AND THEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE, IT WON'T RESTART. *AK WITH SPARK PLUGS AND THERMOSTAT INSTALLED AT FACTOURY, THE VEHICLE RUNS AT 165 DEGREE. WHEN NEW SPARK PLUGS AND THERMOSTAT WERE INSTALLED, THE VEHICLE RUN AT 190 DEGREE. THE OWNER SAYS THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN ON RECALL. *YH

OIL FILTER LINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE AROUND CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THIS CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT THE METAL OIL LINE. FLOW OF OIL TO THE TURBO-CHARGER WOULD BE STOPPED. ALSO, ENGINE BEARINGS BURNED UP & TURBO-CHARGER DESTROYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK. *AK

THIS CAR HAS NOW BEEN INTO THE DEALER SHIP 4 TIMES TO REPAIR A PERSISTENT WATER LEAK FROM A POLLEN FILTER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS LEAK CAUSES WATER TO POOL UP TO APPROX ONE INCH IN THE RIGHT REAR FOOTWELL.

THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND W/OIL LEAK SINCE 5000MILES. 4 TIMES WAS THE VEHICLE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE FOR OIL LEAK. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO SERVICE LAST ON 1/3/00. IT IS ESTIMATED ON 2/20/00 THE CAR WILL HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED, DUE TO PIN-HOLE IN ENGINE BLOCK. I HAVE LOST THE USE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE 1/3/00.

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, THE ENGINE OFTEN DROPS TO 400 RPM. THIS CAUSES STALLING. IF THE GAS PEDAL IS TAPPED WHEN THE IDLE IS ERRATIC, THE IDLE COMES BACK TO NORMAL, BUT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC SINCE IT CAUSES FORWARD MOVEMENT. IF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT TAPPED, THE CAR CAN STALL OUT. (THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE WITH THE 5-SPEED TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION). *AK

FROM STOPS, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCES HESITATION IN ACCELERATING. REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5-10 TIMES. IT OCCURS ONLY FROM A STOP.

CAR IS LEAKING OIL. ATTEMPTED REPAIR THREE TIMES. CAR WAS SMOKING FROM BENEATH PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER IS NOT FITTED CORRECTLY. THE DEALER ATTEMPED TO INSTALL A NEW COVER. ALSO THERE WAS ANTI-FREEZE LEAKAGE ALL OVER THE ENGINE TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. ANTI FREEZE HAD HARDENED. DEALER SAID THAT THE RUBBER HOSE HAD FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CODITIONS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HOSE ON 6-16-99.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED BY DEALER ON JUNE 16, 1999 HOWEVER THE AIRBAG WAS AGAIN NOT FITTED CORRECTLY AND POPPED UP AND THEREFORE IT WAS NOT SECURE, ALSO THE RADIO DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE AM BAND, THERE IS INTERFERENCE.*JB

ENGINE EXPERIENCES HESITATION, REPAIR ATTEMPT FAILED, CONTINUES TO HESITATE. MJS