FaultScore

1998 Volkswagen Passat seat problems

12 of the 476 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Passat are about the seats — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,000 miles.

B

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seats 9 75.0%
Seat Heater/Cooler 3 25.0%

Seats across every Volkswagen Passat year

1998 12 6.5%
1999 10 5.4%
2002 16 8.7%
2003 98 53.3%
2004 35 19.0%
2005 13 7.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 91,000 miles SAN Francisco, CA

SEATS

WHILE STARTING OFF FROM A STANDSTILL, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND I FLEW BACKWARDS IN MY SEAT. APPARENTLY THE SEAT FRAME MECHANISM FOR MY DRIVERS SEAT FAILED. THE METAL OF THE FRAME, AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED, FAILED FROM METAL FATIGUE. WHEN IT DID, THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING THE FRONT OF THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR BOARD. I FLEW INTO THE BACK SEAT, MY HANDS WERE RIPPED FROM THE WHEEL, AND I COULD NO LONGER REACH THE PEDALS. I STRUGGLED TO MANEUVER MYSELF BACK INTO A POSITION WHERE I COULD REGAIN CONTROL OF MY CAR. THANKFULLY, IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS LOCATED CLOSE TO MY CAR. AS OF THIS POINT, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10173914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,020 miles Concord, CA 1 injured

SEATS

THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10123676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Grand Haven, MI

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT AND THE DRIVERS COAT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10054150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD

SEATS

THE SEAT BROKE FROM THE BASE. THE CONSUMER HAD LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL OF THE MONIES SPENT ON REPAIRS/OTHER CHARGES FOR THE INCIDENT. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10009880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacific Grove, CA

SEATS

DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED. YD

NHTSA complaint #785727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Anna, CA

SEATS

CONSUMER STATES AFTER AJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE DRIVER SEAT, IT WOULD COME DOWN WHILE DRIVING.THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #8008032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacific Grove, CA

SEATS

DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED. YD

NHTSA complaint #785727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pacific Grove, CA

SEATS

DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKS AND MOVES WHILE CAR IS MOVING. MANUFACTURING COMPANY SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS AND THAT ITS "NORMAL". THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND ITS DANGEROUS. IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE IT IS MOVING! THE NTSB BOARD HAS A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER DRIVERS, SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS NEEDS THE COMPANY'S IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND CORRECTION. IT SHOULDN'T DO THIS FOR ANY REASON.

NHTSA complaint #753033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sussex, NJ

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

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.

Cincinnati, OH

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

THE SEATS HEATING ELEMENT IS BROKEN AND APPEARS TO HAVE OVERHEATED LEAVING GRILL MARKS IN THE INNER SEAT COVER LINING. NLM

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

Graham, NC

SEATS

THE RIGHT FRONT SEATS WOULD ROCK WHENEVER VEHICLE IS TURNING CORNERS OR CURBS. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN COMING TO OR LEAVING A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & NOTHING COULD BE OR WOULD BE DONE. SUN ROOF WOULD OPEN & CLOSE ON ITS OWN. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING. THE REAR WINDOW LOOKED LIKE IT HAD ACID RAIN ON IT WHEN BOUGHT. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC REMOVED SEAT & REPLACED IT. NO PROBLEM FOUND. CHECKING ON OTHER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #852110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brookline, MA

SEATS

FRONT SEAT FAILURE CAUSING IT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATING MAKING A POPPING NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #542234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Volkswagen Passat problems

← Full 1998 Volkswagen Passat report