NHTSA Complaint #10093833 — 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT V6. I HAD NOTICED THAT NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, AND RECENTLY STEERING FELT A LITTLE FUNNY. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND FOR THE STATE INSPECTION, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF MAKING DRIVING THE CAR QUITE DANGEROUS. I HAD THEM BOTH REPLACED AT A STEEP COST. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING TO THIS ISSUE. I CALLED VWOA TO INQUIRE WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT THEY DECLINED. CONTROL ARMS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL EASILY, CERTAINLY NOT HAVE JOINTS BLOWN UP AS IN MY CASE. ALMOST ALL OF MY MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HITTING POTHOLES OR DRIVE OFF-ROAD FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I AM SURPRISED NHTSA HASN'T INVESTIGATED THE ISSUE OR ORDER A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM IN PASSATS, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SO HIGH, AND A FAILURE COMPROMISES ROAD SAFETY SIGNIFICANTLY (FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARMS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND LEAD TO CRASH OR EVEN DEATH). *NM