1999 Volkswagen Passat seat problems

SEATS

WAS DRIVING MY 1999 VW PASSAT. WHILE IN MOTION THE DRIVER SEAT STEEL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE SHEARED OFF. I WAS THEN FLIPPED 180 DEGREES BACK INTO THE REAR SEAT. LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES SINCE IT FLIPPED ME. CONTACTED VW TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SINCE THE PART IS NOT EXPOSED TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE STEEL SHOULD NOT SHEAR OFF LIKE THAT. VW STATED NO RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPAIR DUE THE AGE OF CAR AND NO WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT VW SERVICE CENTER ($860) SINCE NEEDED A CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE THE DEFECTED PART AND PICTURES. SENT UP COMPLAINT TO VW AMERICA AND THEY SAID THEY WILL LOOK INTO IT BUT NOT ABLE TO KEEP ME POSTED, LEAVING ME TO FEEL THAT THEY MIGHT NOT SEE THE URGENCY TO THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME. IF MY TODDLER KIDS WERE IN THE CAR I COULD HAVE CRUSHED THEIR LEGS WHEN THE DRIVER CHAIR FLIPPED. MY HUSBAND AND I REALLY COULD HAVE DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10415199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

1.) NORMAL USAGE 2.) FAILURE OF LATCH THAT SECURES THE REAR, FOLD DOWN PASSENGER SEAT IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO OBJECT IN CARGO AREA IMPACTING THE SEAT DURING DECELERATION CAUSING SEAT LATCH TO FAIL AND THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE INTO SEATED PASSENGER. PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE IN WAGON MODELS WHERE LARGER CARGO ITEMS CAN BE STORED. 3.) WE HAD SEAT LATCH RELEASE MECHANISM REPLACED. (FAILED PART IS NOT AVAILABLE).

NHTSA complaint #10189900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SLID BACKWARDS AND BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. FOR A MOMENT I COULD NOT REACH THE PEDALS OR THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND STOP IT SAFELY. IT SEEMS THE ENTIRE SEAT IS SECURED TO THE CAR WITH TWO SCREWS WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. AFTER RE-ATTACHING THE SEAT, I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THEY APPLIED SOME LOCK-TIGHT TO THE SCREWS, BUT THAT WAS IT.

NHTSA complaint #10162672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHEN GETTING IN TO MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THE SEAT BASE CAME LOOSE AND TIPPED ME AND THE SEAT BACK AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS WARNING WITH THE SEAT SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING OR ANY CREAKING NOISES. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED WITH THE SEVERE RECLINE OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF I'D EVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BREAKAGE. "NO" WAS MY RESPONSE. THEIR BILL FOR A REPLACEMENT WAS FOR OVER $800 SO I CALLED VWOA AND SPOKE WITH ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMER CARE PERSONNEL ABOUT THE HIGH PRICE AND IF THEY'D HELP WITH ANY OF THE COST EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "NO". THE CAR WAS REPAIRED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND A NEWER MODEL SEAT BASE WAS INSTALLED THAT WAS OF AN OBVIOUS REDESIGN. (I GUESS THEY THOUGHT THE OLD ONE WAS INFERIOR BUT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE TO LET ANYONE KNOW ABOUT.)

NHTSA complaint #10136970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

DRIVER'S SEAT BOLT FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO FALL BACKWARDS. *AK THE BOLT SNAPPED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING CAUSING THE SEAT TO SLID BACK AND FORTH WITH ACCELERATION. ANY SUDDEN IMPACT WOULD'VE SENT HER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL OR THE CHILDREN'S BACKSEAT. THE BOLT IS METAL. VW REPAIRED IT AT NO COST AND PROVIDED NO PAPERWORK.

NHTSA complaint #10048224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

I SENSED A ROCKING MOTION IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THE SEAT FRAME HAD BROKEN AT THE POINT OF A SPOT WELD. THEY REPLACED THE FRAME AT A TOTAL COST OF $480.79. THE REPAIR RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10041472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

CONSUMER MOVED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO ITS FULLY FORWARD POSITION IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE A DROPPED ITEM. THE SEAT BECAME STUCK IN THAT POSITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. *AK THIS WAS AN UNSAFE POSITION FOR THE SEAT TO BE IN ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, AS IT ALLOWED THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY IF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10022660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

WHILE COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN AND GOING ON AN UPHILL GRADE SEAT FAILED BY DROPPING TO FLOOR AND SLIDING ALL THE WAY BACK, CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #760668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS OF 25-65 MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 10-15 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. *AK THE MIRROR SWITCH IS INOPERATIVE DUE TO WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE. THE DRIVER SEAT WARMER WAS INOPERATIVE. ENGINE HAS A BURNING SMELL DUE TO OIL LEAK. VEHICLE MADE NOISE IN FRONT END ON LEFT TURNS DUE TO A STABILIZER BAR CLAMP BEING LOOSE. FRONT BRAKES MAKE NOISE. STEERING MAKES NOISE AND LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING COLUMN SLIDING COVER CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #8001030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

SEAT HAS BEEN COMING APART FROM THE FLOOR. DEALER REPLACED THE FRAME OF THE SEAT, AND NOW THE SEATBACK IS NOT ADJUSTING PROPERLY. REGIONAL MANAGER WENT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH THE CONSUMER, AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. BUT, WOULD FIX IT FOR HER. SEAT IS STILL LOOSE, AND HAS BEEN TAKING BACK MANNY OTHER TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #855786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.