46 of the 476 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Passat are about the engine — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 87,500 miles.
46
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT. WHY DIDN'T THEY INFORM ME OF THIS.MAYBE BECAUSE THEY HAVE HANDS FULL WITH THE EMISSION CHEATING SCANDAL. OR IF THEY DID THEM THEY WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ALL THE COMPLAINTS BEFORE. PLEASE PUTVOUTCA RECALL. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS !!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11033311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE TIMING CHAIN FRACTURED PREMATURELY AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 105,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 91,000 MILES AT THE TIME THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE WHEN TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT. UPDATED 09/19/06.
NHTSA complaint #10167384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1998 PASSAT TIMING BELT PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO DIE. *TS ***NO ANS REQUIRED***
NHTSA complaint #10149748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 3 EVENTS OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY: A 'POP' SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA, COPIOUS WHITE SMOKE (NOT STEAM) FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ACTIVATION. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND WHITE SMOKE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM (CLOSED) HOOD, FOLLOWED WITHIN 5 MINUTES BY OPEN FLAMES FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL. FIRE CREWS WERE ON SCENE WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED AND A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10146655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A PASSAT THAT HAD BEEN DRIVEN 72000 MILES. AT THAT TIME THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS WERE NOTED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED: 1. OUTER TIE ROD AND CV BOOT. 2. COOLING SYSTEM: ALL COOLING HOSES, OIL COOLER, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, & ASSOCIATED ITEMS. VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR THE COST OF THESE UNTIMELY REPAIRS THAT WERE DUE IN PART TO FAULTY INFORMATION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, THAT STATES THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS SEALED AND DID NOT NEED ANY MAINTENANCE. THESE ENORMOUS AND COSTLY REPAIRS AT A MILEAGE WHEN COMPARABLE CARS OF OTHER MANUFACTURERS NEED LITTLE OR NO REPAIRS UP TO AND WAY PAST 100,000 MILES, ARE EXCESSIVE IN MY OPINION. (THE FIRST OWNER GETS A WARRANTY OF 100,000 MILES AND 10 YEARS, SOMETHING THAT FOR THE SECOND OWNER IS REDUCED TO 50,000 MILES/5 YEARS. I WONDER IF THE CAR IS SUDDENLY NOT AS GOOD ANYMORE WHEN SOMEBODY BUYS IT FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER?) CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE LISTS REPAIR RECORDS FOR ENGINES AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS OF THAT YEAR AND MODEL AS BEING "WORSE THAN AVERAGE," AND I CAN SEE WHY. I WOULD WELCOME TO JOIN OTHERS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FOR A POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION AGAINST VW.
NHTSA complaint #10136514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON I95 (MD) SOUTHBOUND FROM ELKTON, MD TO ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, MD, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED. OBVIOUSLY, WITHOUT ENGINE POWER, THE STEERING AND BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. TRAFFIC WAS HOWEVER AVOIDED DUE TO AID OF A HIGHWAY PATROL RIGHT BEHIND ME. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND TOWED WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS AND TAKEN TO A LOCAL GARAGE. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS FAILED TIMING BELT. CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES AND IT'S ONNLY 7 YEARS OLD. HOWEVER, VW REFUSE TO HONOR THE 100,000 MILES/10YEAR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10130168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
98 VW PASSAT HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE OTHER WITH THIS VEHICLE. JUST HAD TO REPLACE MY OIL PUMP NOW MY TIMING BELT WENT AND DESTROYED MY ENGINE. AFTER I SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS I BELIEVE VW SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS EXPENSE. I HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE EXPENSE OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS, SPEED SENSOR ETC. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE MORE THAN I HAVE DROVE IT. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION
NHTSA complaint #10124527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10015270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS JUST TOLD BY THE VW DEALER THAT MY 1998 VW PASSAT WITH 1.8T ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SLUDGE PROBLEMS. I CHANGE THE OIL MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE REQUIRED 5000 MILES (USUALLY BETWEEN 3000 AND 3500), BUT DON'T HAVE EVERY RECEIPT, AND DON'T HAVE THE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, SO THEY WON'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $8000 WHEN IT IS THEIR RECOGNIZED DESIGN FLAW. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT YET.
NHTSA complaint #10104716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LIKE MANY, MANY OTHERS, MY 1998 VW PASSAT 2.8 LITER WITH TIPTRONIC (AUTOMATIC) TRANSMISSION HAS THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) ABS LIGHT ON (ABS NOT WORKING); 2) BRAKE LIGHT ON (BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER ALL ROTORS & PADS WERE REPLACED AND FLUID CHANGED); 3) TACHOMETER NOT WORKING; 4) OIL LIGHT ON (BUT OIL LEVEL AND PRESSURE ARE OKAY). THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT BEGAN EARLY THIS YEAR BUT IS NOW ALMOST CONSTANT. ALL PROBLEMS APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY A BAD ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS ALSO USED IN AUDI A4 MODELS (PART # 8E0 614 111R). VW DEALERSHIP QUOTES OVER $1000 FOR THE PART ALONE. SOMETIMES, IF THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW DAYS OR IF IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, THE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON AND THE TACHOMETER WORKS CORRECTLY FOR AWHILE. THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROBLEMS HAPPEN. OR, I WILL BE DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE PROBLEMS, THEN THE TACH JUMPS TO LIFE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OUT. AS I SAID BEFORE: THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (NO ABS COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS) AS WELL AS A QUALITY ISSUE: ABS CONTROLLERS SHOULD NOT FAIL SO FREQUENTLY ON SUCH RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLES. A RECALL SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROLLERS IN THEIR 1998-ON PASSAT AND 1996-ON A4 MODELS. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10100466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
(1) WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT TURN OVER AGAIN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT DELIVERED TO MY MECHANICS GARAGE. (2) MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT THAT WENT, AND THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAD REMANUFACTUERED THE TENSIONER AND PULLEY FOR WHAT EVER REASON. AFTER BUYING NEW PARTS AND REBUILDING THE HEAD BECAUSE THE VALVES WERE DESTROYED UPON CONTACT WITH THE PISTONS( NATURALLY). AFTER PUTTING THE ENGINE BACK TOGETHER WITH THE NEW PARTS AND REBUILT HEAD, THE CAM SEIZED UP AND BLEW THE MOTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10093260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH TIMING BELT FAILED. VEHICLE LOST POWER AND IT VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10094408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL PUMP FAILED. WHILE DRIVING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, PREVENTING ENGINE FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. A TSB WAS ISSUED FOR AN ENGINE PERFORMANCE. *AK DETERIORATE /SEIZE BECAUSE OF SLUG BUILT UP. THIS FAILURE CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO FAIL WITHOUT SLUG BUILT UP.
NHTSA complaint #10091943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER ON FREEWAY TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. WOULD NOT TURN OVER. LINKAGE TO TIMING BELT MALFUNCTIONED @ 100,710 MILES. FOUND OUT THAT BOTH TIMING BELT AND LINKAGE ARE NOT DUE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 105,000. FAULTY PRIOR TO VW'S SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10056261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
AIR FLOW METER O2 SENSOR. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10021005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED, CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. DEALER WILLING TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR $3000. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10021967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE FAILED AT 75,000 MILES STRANDING ME BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED BY VW. THE VW MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE BELT AT 105,000 MILES. VW DENIED MY WARRANTY CLAIM STATING THAT THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY APPLIES ONLY TO THE FIRST OWNER. HOWEVER, MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND VW REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10018860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY CAR DIED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 9. MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE RELATED TO THE TIMING BELT. APPARENTLY THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO GO INTO THE ENGINE AND DAMAGE CYLINDER HEADS. MY LOCAL MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THE MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE PART. I HAD THE PART INSPECTED AT 55,000 MILES BY MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS NOT TOLD OF THE PROBLEM OR ADVISED TO REPLACE THE PART. AT 66,000 MILES, THE PART FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER IS REFUSING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR, STATING THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AS I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
NHTSA complaint #10010427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER HAS COMPLAINED ON 3 OCCASIONS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING THROUGH GEARS, WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IN FEB 2000 THE DEALER DID FIND THE ENGINE COVER TO BE LOOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE BEING HEARD WHEN SHIFTING GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #567315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #566919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STARTS SLOWING. OIL SPOTS ON FLOOR. OIL PAN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #566919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANY TIME. DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #8015452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
WHILE AT DEALERSHIP FOR OTHER REPAIRS MECHANIC NOTICED EXTREME HEAT FROM TURBO CHARGER CAUSED DAMAGE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD. UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8015454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKE LEAKING OIL CAN CAUSE SLICK FREEWAYS CAUSING ACCIDENTS. LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE CAN CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH OF VEHICLE IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #760614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILS CAUSING THE BELT TO BECOME LOOSE AND FAIL PREMATURELY. VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE IN FACT ISSUED AN UPDATED PART THAT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER I KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS GOINGT O COST ME MORE THAN 1,500 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS AND I AM DOING IT MYSELF. IF I WERE TO HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WOULD BE DOUBLE THAT. WHEN THE BELT FAILS THE VALVES GET BENT. I LOVE THIS CAR, BUT HTIS IS A JOKE. THE WHOLE REASON I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS SO I WOULD NOT NEED TO WORK ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #758951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED EARLY ON IN OWNERSHIP. WATER PUMP, OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT REPLACED TWO MONTHS AGO. TURBO REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DEFECTIVE. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, HEATED SEAT, TRUNK LIGHT. SUSPENSION SYSTEM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT @ ONLY 56,000 MILES. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED EARLY ON.
NHTSA complaint #745311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED EARLY ON IN OWNERSHIP. WATER PUMP, OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT REPLACED TWO MONTHS AGO. TURBO REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DEFECTIVE. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, HEATED SEAT, TRUNK LIGHT. SUSPENSION SYSTEM BUSHINGS NEED REPLACEMENT @ ONLY 56,000 MILES. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED EARLY ON.
NHTSA complaint #745311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.