1998 Volkswagen Passat electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON,FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO 0 AND STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM ACCELERATING. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE IT CAN BE RESEARCHED ON HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&TSTART=0.

NHTSA complaint #10255101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

MY ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING> UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON SEVERAL VARIOUS FORUMS ON THE NET. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMONLY DEFECTIVE PART ON SEVERAL MODEL YEARS FROM 98-01. THE OLDEST POSTING I FOUND WAS DONE IN 2000 AND THE VEHICLE WAS A 99. FROM RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS EVEN VW DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO GET CORRECT PROBLEM CODES ON THIS ISSUE. I SAW POSTINGS FROM MANY OWNERS STATING THEY WERE TOLD EVERYTHING FROM ABS MODULES NEEDING REPLACED TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS TO WIRING ISSUES. IT APPEARS NO ONE IS ABSOLUTELY SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS AS SOME OWNERS AFTER THE DEALER RECOMMEND REPLACEMENTS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IN THE SHORT TIME I LOOKED INTO THIS I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE IT. I SAW LITERALLY YEARS WORTH OF POSTINGS A ON THIS ISSUE ON BENTLEY PUBLISHERS WEBSITE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT DID NOT DO ANY RESEARCH ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10201992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

MY ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING> UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON SEVERAL VARIOUS FORUMS ON THE NET. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMONLY DEFECTIVE PART ON SEVERAL MODEL YEARS FROM 98-01. THE OLDEST POSTING I FOUND WAS DONE IN 2000 AND THE VEHICLE WAS A 99. FROM RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS EVEN VW DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO GET CORRECT PROBLEM CODES ON THIS ISSUE. I SAW POSTINGS FROM MANY OWNERS STATING THEY WERE TOLD EVERYTHING FROM ABS MODULES NEEDING REPLACED TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS TO WIRING ISSUES. IT APPEARS NO ONE IS ABSOLUTELY SURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS AS SOME OWNERS AFTER THE DEALER RECOMMEND REPLACEMENTS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. IN THE SHORT TIME I LOOKED INTO THIS I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RESOLVE IT. I SAW LITERALLY YEARS WORTH OF POSTINGS A ON THIS ISSUE ON BENTLEY PUBLISHERS WEBSITE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THINGS THAT DID NOT DO ANY RESEARCH ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10201992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1) ON EARLY MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WITH THE 4CYL. 1.8 LITRE TURBO MOTORS, THE IGNITION CONTROL UNIT WILL FAIL WITH NO WARNINGS AT ALL. 2)THE CAR DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. THE OWNER IS LEFT WITH CONSTANT MISFIRING, AND IF DRIVEN CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS EMISSION TROUBLES DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE THE FAILURE IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM, THIS CAN AND USUALLY WILL LEAVE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS STRANDED. 3)THE UNIT MUST BE REPLACED OR THE CAR WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY. I PURCHASED A UNIT OF THE BRAND HUCO, BECAUSE THE OEM UNIT (BOSCH) LISTS FOR NEARLY $400.

NHTSA complaint #10129661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT UP AND SOUND AN EMERGENCY. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO GARAGES, AND NEITHER PLACE CAN DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES I CANI FEEL MY ABS SYSTEM LOCK UP IF I AM TURNING (NOT IN ANY WET CONDITIONS); AND IN THOSE OCCASIONS, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO CARS HAD BEEN COMING TOWARD ME B/C I WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. NEITHER MECHANIC SAW ANY FAULT IN MY BRAKES, BRAKE PADS, SHOES, ETC., SO THERE IS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL TO BLAME; AND THIS IS A COMPLAINT HEARD OFTEN WITH 1998-1999 VW PASSATS. EITHER WAY, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, ONLY 300.00 IN DIAGNOSTICS.

NHTSA complaint #10125701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

DAILY DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH AUDIBLE WARNING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS CONTINUOUSLY. ROOT PROBLEM IS THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS MUCH WEB RESEARCH HAS BEEN CONDUCTED THROUGH ONLINE PASSAT FORUMS.

NHTSA complaint #10120178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. ALSO, VEHICLE LOST POWER. SIMULTANEOUSLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS APPARENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10079971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

OIL PUMP FAILURE, FAULTY CD PLAYER, INOPERATIVE CRUISE CONTROL, IGNITION MODULE. MANY FAILURES FOR SUCH A NEW CAR. WARRANTY IS GOOD FOR 10 YEARS 100,000 MILES FOR ORIGINAL OWNER, 5 YORK 50,000 FOR SECOND. CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE 2/19/98 WE THERE FORE MISSED THE 5 YEAR COVERAGE BY 4 MONTHS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

STARTER COIL FAILURE - FOR OVER A MONTH THE PROBLEM WOULD APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. SOUNDED ALMOST LIKE THE MUFFLER FELL OFF, BUT WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPLAINABLE AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10002615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL SWITCH. ENGINE WORK VERY SLOWLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

CONSUMER STATES INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS GOING OUT OR NOT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. BULB NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #566919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VECHICLE IS HAVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, CONSUMERS WIFE FOUND WATER IN THE CAR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE, AND THEN TRIED TO START THE IGINTION, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT START, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO BE LOOK AT ALL REPAIR WAS PAID PULL. *MJ

NHTSA complaint #566875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD GONE OUT, NOTHING IN VEHICLE THAT WAS ELECTRICAL MOVED AT ALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LOOK AT VEHICLE.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION STEERING LOCK. ONE TIME SINCE THE REPAIRS THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS STOPPED WORKING FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. ALL COMPONENTS ARE OPERATING FINE NOW.

NHTSA complaint #8014937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS W/THIS VEHICLE (SUSPENSION, TEMP SENSORS) BEFORE PROBLEMS WERE "KNOWN". THIS LATEST INCIDENT IS NOW @APPROX $1000 FOR DIAGNOSING AND THE EXACT NATURE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DISCOVERED

NHTSA complaint #733463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

# 4 MISFIRE CAUSING LOSS OF OPERATION.

NHTSA complaint #784309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITH NO ENGINE SYSTEMS AND NO POWER STEERING ASSIST. SAFTEY CONCERN FROM REAR END ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER VEHICLES AND NO AVOIDANCE CONTROL. ALSO, REGULAR LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID REQUIRES CONSTANT MONITORING.

NHTSA complaint #725121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STARTING UP. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #862336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

OIL PUMP WENT OUT AS WELL, TOO MANY PROBLEN IN TWO YEARS!

NHTSA complaint #720925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

CHECK ENGINE ILLUMINATED DUE TO FAULTY FUEL PUMP WIRING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #550756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VW HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSATS ELECTRICAL. VERY DANGEROUS. CAR STALLS INTERMITTENT. ALMOST GOT HIT MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR STALLED. ALMOST LOST CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN CAR LOSS ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #718180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REMOTE DOES NOT OPEN / CLOSE LOCKS ON DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #548418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM AND ENGINE SENSOR FAILED CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. YH

NHTSA complaint #606105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN MY VW PASSTA. I HAVE HAD THE RADIO PICK THE TURN SIGNAL WHILE LISTENING TO AM STATIONS. THE LIGHTS IN THE AIRCONDITIONG COMPONENT STOPPED WORKING. THE PASSAENGER DR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCKING MECHANISM IS STILL BROKEN (EVEN AFTER 4-5 TRIPS TO THE DEALER). THE PASSENGER DOOR BEHING THE FRONT PASSENGER HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULD NO LOCK. THE TRUCK MECHANISM STOPPED LOCKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LIGHTS IN THE BACK FELL OUT. THE CAR SIMPLY CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SECURITY SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA complaint #711008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS LOOSE. YH

NHTSA complaint #608722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES CONTINUALLY, UNABLE TO RECTIFY FAILURE WHICH CAUSES MANY COMPONENT FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #543494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING FAILURE OVER THE GLOVE BOX AREA.

NHTSA complaint #536959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.