7.7
pretty bad- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 6,047 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Groaning and moaning noise emanating from the front of the car when turning.
- Orange, CA, USA
I purchased a pre-owned 1998 VW Passat sedan with 36,000 miles on it in 2002 which was a great deal!! or so I thought. Since that time I have started hearing a noise coming from the front right tire.. or suspension.. like a creaking, crunching, knocking noise. I took it to a VW dealership and was told that the control arms on the right and the tie rods needed to be replaced. I found out that the tie rods had been recalled and the ones on my vehicle had been replaced under that recall in 2001, but had again worn out. I find it hard to believe that tie rods would wear out over a 3 year period since the car barely has 70,000 miles on it. I have viewed this website and found over 200 complaints concerning this problem and am curious what VW plans to do.. wait until someone dies when a control arm snaps? VW needs to recall this item now!
- Plano, TX, USA
I took my car to jim ellis Volkswagen of atlanta to get the tie rods replaced as part of the recall campaign on my 98 Volkswagen Passat. The dealer tells me that this work has already been marked as completed in their system by another dealer. I have never taken my car to the other dealer. Please advice.
- Tucker, GA, USA
This is the 2nd time in less than 6 months that my control arms have failed. I have a stock car, with stock suspension. This is mind-boggling that control arms on a 1998 car would fail twice in 1 year. I'm not the only one. Please, my wallet and my kids christmas begs you, recall these control arms. Please before someone is killed. I have contacted VW of America 4 times on this and they do not care. I have written VW in germany, all I got was a gift certificate. Please, do something!!
- New Albany, IN, USA
The right front suspensions is very noisy over bumps, including just pushing down on the right front fender. After taking this to our local VW dealer here in fort collins we were told the fix is to replace the control arms at a cost of $750. I called VW of North America to complain saying this was way below industry standards for durability of this type of component. VW's response was sorry it's out of warranty. This is ridiculous. I have since done a search on the NHTSA site and found this is a common complaint for the Passat. VW should recall the part & provide an improved replacement that meets industry standards.
- Fort Collins, CO, USA
Clunking noise from front suspension. Occurs when accelerating and braking. Also general looseness in steering that was not there when car was new. Car hard to steer straight and very susceptible to cross winds and turbulence. Dealership continues to claim that they cannot find anything wrong.
- Decatur, GA, USA
The handling of the vehicle became erratic and noisy. The dealership informed me that this was a common problem with these vehicles and with Audi on the same (B5) platform. I cannot believe if this is as serious a safety issue as I was led to believe, that there has not been a recall on these parts or a redesign.
- Louisville, KY, USA
Several suspension components have required replacement within 70,000 miles. None have yet been catastrophic. But possibly because as a car guy I am able to detect them early.
- Downers Grove, IL, USA
Front suspension made very annoying creaking sound.
- White Plains, NY, USA
There are a large number of these failures-check www.clubb5.com. lots of these are being replaced out of pocket by owners. Please help us and order a recall on these. My family's lives depend on it. No safety defect listed.
- New Albany, IN, USA
1)trunk light stopped working just past the warranty period, wiring problem, cost to repair $200. 2)ABS light flashes continuously, about 1 year now, dealer gets 3 pages of diagnostic error messages. Can't determine problem with light but ABS is supposedly working. Cost: 3days car rental, and $300 out of pocket. 3)front end suspension: Crunching noise and bounce. Bounce corrected-dealer replaced stablizer bar, $284. Noise continues(6 months), dealer can't determine problem. Getting worse, afraid front end will crash into ground. 4)timing belt broke, dealer replaced engine at no cost. 5)engine replacement caused problem with radio. Radio will not accept code. Needs to be replaced. 6)rear driver side window will not go down when indicated, falls down a few minutes later. Also, door will not open when unlocked. 7)sometimes the ignition switch will not turn when starting car.
- Maple Heights, OH, USA
No description given. Nlm
- Chicago, IL, USA
While driving, there is a looseness in the front end, consumer could hear knocking noise like metal banging against something, took to a mechanic and they replaced struts on the left side bottom of front end. Then 2 weeks later mechanic changed right side bottom, 3 weeks later the top struts were loose. Consumer feels very unsafe. Consumer had to replace the entire front suspension system.
- Gansevoort, NY, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Pittsford, NY, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Rockford, IL, USA
Cost of repairs = $729.08. No safety defect mentioned.
- Bartlett, IL, USA
The front suspension problem has happened to many Passat owners, VW has failed to issue a recall. This is a clear workmanship failure and should be covered under warranty or recall. Many complaints have been made to VW and no resolve has been taken.
- Stratham, NH, USA
The front suspension problem has happened to many Passat owners, VW has failed to issue a recall. This is a clear workmanship failure and should be covered under warranty or recall. Many complaints have been made to VW and no resolve has been taken.
- Stratham, NH, USA
Quadra-link suspension produces metalic rubbing noise with vehicle motion. Dealer has diagnosed problem as quadra-link suspension failure based on inspection and previous experience. Dealer has indicated that left side is also likely to fail and that any repair does not guarantee a recurent future failure. VW corporation has refused financial assistance in repairing problem. NHTSA lists numerous customer complaints for this same problem. Customers position is that a part as basic as this should never fail and this represents a faulty original design.
- Endwell, NY, USA
- Cleveland, OH, USA