1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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 !!!!!

DRIVING BACK HOME FROM STORE AND CAR JUST DIED OUT THAN SMELT LIKE GAS.

CABIN SMELLS LIKE FUMES FOR STARTERS AN GAS GAUGE IS OFF CAR SAYS IT HAS QUARTER OF A TANK AN THAN I RUN OUT OF GAS ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ! ALSO CAR HAS TONS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IF IT SITS FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS BATTERY DIES BUT MY MAIN CONCERN IS MY FUEL GAUGE. *TR

ABS MODULE APPEARS TO BE FAULTY. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ON/FLASHING. LOSS OF ABS COULD CAUSE COLLISION, DEALER WANTS $1000+ FOR THE PART AND DOES NOT GUARANTEE IT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

FIRE IN RUBBER BOOT HOUSING BETWEEN LEFT REAR DOOR AND CAR FRAME. PRECEDING EVENTS, LEFT REAR DOOR SPEAKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, LEFT REAR WINDOW FUNCTIONED SOMETIMES. DOOR WAS CLOSED AFTER RETURNING HOME AND PARKING GARAGE. ARCING WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME FROM DOOR. OWNER REMOVED MANY FUSES FROM DRIVERS SIDE FUSE PANEL AND THEN REMOVED CONNECTIONS TO MAIN BATTERY. DOOR PANEL COVER WAS REMOVED AND BOOT REMOVED TO FIND HOUSING ON 5 OF THE 8 WIRES BURNT AND MOST OF THE WIRE BURNT THROUGH THE WIRE. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

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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. *TR

THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO 0 AND STOPS WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM ACCELERATING. THE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CULPRIT AND IT WOULD COST $1450.00 AND THERE WAS NO USED PART AVAILABLE AND IT IS A DEALER ONLY PART. *TR

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. *TR

ABS MODULE FAILURE. WAS DRIVING SHORTLY AFTER HAVING FRONT END WORK DONE AND LIGHT WHEN ON. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. BRAKING IS AFFECTED. *TR

ABS MODULE IN OPERATIVE ABS SYSTEM. *TR

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ABS MODULE IN OPERATIVE ABS SYSTEM. *TR

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THE ABS MODULE IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T HAS GONE BAD. THIS FAULT CAME WITHOUT NOTICE OF ANY SYMPTOMS AND COMPLETELY UNPROVOKED. THE WARNING LAMP AND TONE APPEAR EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MANY INDEPENDENT VOLKSWAGEN MECHANICS AND MANY PASSAT OWNERS. *TR

THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1998 VW PASSAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. VW REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE PARTS. THE REASONING IS THAT: - I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AT THEIR DEALER IN 2005 AND AT THE TIME THE PARTS SEEMED OK. - AT THIS TIME, THEIR DEALER HAS REINSPECTED THE CAR. THE VW DEALER THINKS THAT BOTH LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARMS ON THE CAR NEED REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER THE PARTS ARE NOT ABOUT TO FAIL AND THE CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE AND THUS VW WILL NOT PAY FOR THEIR REPLACEMENT. MY MECHANIC STATES THAT THE CAR NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. PLEASE ADVISE WHETHER VW IS RESPONSIBLE UNDER THE "REVISED-VM (40G3) - DECEMBER 2004" RECALL CAMPAIGN TO FIX THESE. THANKS *TR

AS AN OEM SAFETY FEATURE, NOW I BELIEVE REQUIRED, THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, HAS FAILED, LEAVING THIS FEATURE INOPERATIVE. LUCKILY FOR MY SELF THIS HAS NOT BECOME A BURDEN OR CAUSED INJURY, BUT I'M SURE THAT OTHERS ARE NOT AS LUCKY AS I HAVE BEEN. *TR

MY ABS COMPUTER FAILED ON MY 1998 V6 PASSAT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART. IT IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSES IRREGULAR BRAKING AND FLASHING DASHBOARD LIGHTS. *TR

NOISE FROM LEFT SIDE CONTROL ARM OF A 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8T. *TR

MY 1998 VW PASSAT GLX BEGAN EXHIBITING A FLASHING/BEEPING RED LIGHT TO INDICATE A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS FAILURE IS FAIRLY COMMON ON 1998-2001 PASSATS, BUT NO ACTION HAS EVER BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. I HAD THE ABS MODULE REBUILT AND DID THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION WORK MYSELF; THE RESULT WAS $220 OUT OF POCKET. HOWEVER, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT DEALERSHIP SERVICE WORK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE SPENT WELL IN EXCESS OF $1,000. GIVEN THE APPARENT FAILURE RATE OF THIS MODULE AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A CORE SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL (INCLUDING COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE THE REPAIR). THANK YOU. *TR

ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON, CHIMES SOUND WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. *TR

ABS COMPUTER FAILURE 98 VW PASSAT... COMPLETE ABSFAILURE ALL THE TIME. *TR

ABS BRAKES CEASED TO FUNCTION AFTER APPROX 60K MILES. BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE TO FIX (DEALER QUOTED $2400, INDIE MECHS ABOUT $1400), THEY REMAIN NON-FUNCTIONAL (MY CAR IS NOW 95K MILES). *TR

ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON AND 3 CHIMES SOUND WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED ON. *TR

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY OPENS AND CLOSES WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN IT OPENS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT CLOSED WITH THE SWITCH AS IT NEVER RETURNS TO A PREDICTABLE POSITION BASED ON THE MARKINGS ON THE SWITCH. ONCE OPEN, IT MAY CLOSE ITSELF AT RANDOMLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. WHEN IT IS OPEN, I'M AFRAID TO GET MY HAND NEAR IT FOR FEAR IT WILL CLOSE AND PINCH ME. IT HAS ALSO SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED DURING RAINSTORMS WHICH CAUSES ME TO DIVERT MY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE IT. THE RAIN ENTERING MY CAR WHILE IT HAPPENS IS ALSO A MAJOR DISTRACTION. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO JUST MY CAR. NEARLY EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A 98 OR 99 PASSAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

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. *TR

ABS CONTROLLER FAILED. MODULE SCAN SHOWED: 01203 - ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 03-10 - NO SIGNAL - INTERMITTENT. *JB

STEERING: CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH APPROX 34K MILES. SERVICE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY OWNER AND/OR INDEPENDENT REPAIR. AT APPROXIMATELY 50K OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SERVICE THAT BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER CHOSE NOT TO DO THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME. DURING 2005 OWNER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN ABOUT A RECALL ON THE AFFECTED PART(S). TWO LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE BUT DENIED TO DO THE WORK UNDER THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. BOTH GAVE JUSTIFICATION THAT BECAUSE THE OWNER COULD NOT DOCUMENT SERVICE CHECKS AT THE RECOMMENDED FACTORY INTERVALS THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY WOULD NOT PAY FOR PARTS OR SERVICE. OWNER CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY DIRECTLY AND A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE VERIFIED THE POLICY. OWNER HAS SINCE REPLACED ONE CONTROL ART, HOWEVER THE OTHER SIDE ALSO NEEDS REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH IN REVERSE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SLAMMED TO THE GROUND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE LOWER RIGHT CONTROL ARM. THE CONTACT HAS THE FAILED COMPONENT ALONG WITH PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 197,000.

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1998 DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE ABS BRAKES FAILED. REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR WAS ESTIMATED AT APPROX $1,000. *AK

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FOR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NON-FUNCTIONING. *JB

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE. ABS WARNING LIGHT .*JB

OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, PARKED IT, AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE HOOD LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *NM

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MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND EALRY '00S, USE THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER, WHICH IS PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, OSTENSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THIS MODULE CONTROLS MULTIPLE BRAKE-RELATED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE ABS WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THIS MODULE IS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE FORCE DISTRIBUTION, OR EBD. THESE VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IF THE EBD IS INOPERATIVE, THE PROPORTION OF HYDRAULIC FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKES DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING IS AS GREAT AS IT IS DURING MODERATE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN THERE IS MINIMAL TRANSFER OF VEHICLE WEIGHT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. THE EBD IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE FRONT/REAR BRAKING DISTRIBUTION DYNAMICALLY ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE DECELERATION, SO THAT THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT LOCK UP DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. IF THIS MODULE SHOULD FAIL DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE REAR WHEELS COULD LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD EASILY INCLUDE FATALITIES. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR OWNERS, COSTING ROUGHLY $2000, AND MANY OWNERS HAVE PROBABLY PUT OFF THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY. EVIDENCE WHICH CAN BE FOUND THROUGH A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH, SUGGESTS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD, AND THAT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY LED TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME. THIS PROBLEM IS GENUINE, AND VW/AUDI SHOULD BE COMPELLED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. *JB

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT. FOR 4 YEARS, THE VW DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE OVER $1,800 TO REPLACE THE ABS PUMP. LAST YEAR THEY SAID IT WOULD BE $2750. AFTER SEEING ON INTERNET THREADS THAT THE COMMON CAUSE IS ONLY THE ABS MODULE, I CONFRONTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAI IT WOULD $650, AND IT HAS WORKED FINE SINCE. I FEEL VW DEALERS ARE NOT FORTHRIGHT IN TELLING CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE LESS EXPENSIVE SOLUTION, AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT, SINCE IT IS A KNOWN COMMON DEFECT, AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE PULLING THE BULB OUT, AND BUYERS MAY NOT BE AWARE THE ABS DOESN'T WORK. UNTIL ITS TOO LATE. *NM

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.*JB

FAILED ABS UNIT. *JB

(1) ABS WARNING/BRAKE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE THEN, BRAKING BECAME UNRELIABLE (LONG BRAKING DISTANCE. THE CAR WOBBLES ON A HARD BRAKING). (2) THE ABS CONTROLLER MODULE (PART #: 8E0 614 111 P) FOUND TO BE FAULTY, RESULTING IN NO ABS. (3) THE ABS CONTROLLER IS TO BE SENT FOR A REBUILD SERVICE.*JB

1998 VW PASSAT ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS $1000 PART SEEMS TO BE A VERY CONSISTENT FAILURE AT VOLKSWAGEN. *JB

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. *JB

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAIL. WARNING LIGHT AND BUZZER COME ON. DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $2800 TO FIX. AFTER TELLING DEALER THAT 99% OF ABS FAILURES IS THE ABS ELECTRONICS MODULE, AND NOT THE ABS PUMP, DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE MODULE FOR $600. I FEEL THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM, AS THIS PROBLEM IS NOTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET. IN ADDITION, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTING THEIR WARNING LIGHT TO BE ABLE TO SELL THEIR CAR. THIS COULD BE A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE NEXT BUYER WHO DOESN'T KNOW THEIR ABS ISN'T WORKING. *JB

3 OF THE 4 SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS HAVE FAILED DURING THE PAST YEAR. *JB

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VIN #[XXX], WHICH HAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE TIE ROD ENDS. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER(S) HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE FRONT TIE RODS DO NEED TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE SAFETY RECALL. THE REASON IS THAT THERE IS NO RECORD OF FACTORY RECOMMENDED SERVICE CHECKS. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS BY A COUPLE OF INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, HOWEVER, I CANNOT PRODUCE THE PAPER WORK FOR THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE CHECKS BETWEEN 35,000 MILES AND 60,000. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS A SAFETY RECALL, THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE REPAIR UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE PROOF OF COMPLIANCE. THE SYMPTOMS HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES FOR 3/4 YEARS ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING MY CURRENT INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BEGINNING IN JUNE 2002, I BEGAN REPORTING TO VW SERVICE CENTERS ISSUES WITH THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN. MOST OF THESE ISSUES WERE REFERENCED BY THE NHTSA (SEE 99V248000). ON JANUARY 25, 2005 I WROTE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA DETAILING THE SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN ISSUES, INCLUDING REFERENCING THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBERS AND PROVIDING VOA WITH COPIES OF MY SERVICE RECORDS. VOA SUBSEQUENTLY RESPONDED BY SENDING ME A CHECK FOR $692.13, WHICH WAS OSTENSIBLY PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE LETTER I SENT. YESTERDAY, I WENT TO A VW SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OUTBOARD CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (VW PART NUMBER 8D0498099BX). WHILE WAITING IN THE SERVICE CENTER LOUNGE, I NOTED THAT TWO OTHER CUSTOMERS, ONE OF WHOM ALSO HAD A 1998 VW PASSAT, WERE TOLD THAT THEIR CV JOINTS AND OR BOOTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE TODAY AND HAVE FOUND ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT A PROPERLY MAINTAINED CV JOINT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REGULARLY INSPECTED EVERY 50,000 MILES. I HAVE COMBED ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS AND NOT ONCE WAS THIS EVALUATION EVER PERFORMED. IT APPEARS THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS DEFECT OR FLAW IN CERTAIN VW PASSAT MODELS AND BECAUSE IT HAS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT BEING INVESTIGATED. *JB

ABS CONTROLLER FAILURE. *NM

HAD A CREAKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF MY 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8T. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM TIE RODS WERE BAD (AND DANGEROUS) AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. DID THIS AND 6 WEEKS LATER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER "FIXED" THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE AND NOW 4 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SOUND IS BACK AND NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION MUST BE REPLACED AND EXPECTS ME TO PAY FOR IT. *JB

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ABS FAILED, FLASHING LIGHTS CONTINUALLY. SPOKE WITH DEALER IN SEASIDE, CA SAID COMMON EVENT AND NOT WORTH REPLACING. *JB