1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Suspensionfrontcontrol Arm Problems

TIE ROD ENDS EXCESSIVE WEAR. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF NYS INSPECTION @60K IN 07. TIE RODS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER RECALL IN 2001@ 19K. DIFFERENT RECALL IN 05 @ 50K FOR INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT OF CONTROL ARMS RESULTED IN INSPECTION ONLY. DEALER DID NOT FIND EXCESSIVE WEAR OF CONTROL ARMS OR TIE ROD ENDS. I DOUBT DEALERS INTEGRITY OR THAT THE SERVICE TECH WAS AWARE OF PREVIOUS TIE ROD REPLACEMENT. OBVIOUSLY THE ACCEPTABLE WEAR WOULD BE GREATER HAD THE PARTS BEEN IN SERVICE LONGER. DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS LEAD TO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE STEERING LINKAGES AND BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE AND HAS BEEN USED LESS THAN 6K A YEAR SINCE PURCHASE IN 05. COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT WAS $150 PARTS (MOOG TIE ROD ENDS), $90 LABOR, $75 FOR THE REQUIRED ALIGNMENT AND NYS TAX = ~$330. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN AND EXCESSIVE...

CONTROL ARMS MAKING NOISE.. NEEDS REPLACEMENT..WV MANUFACTURING DEFECT... MOST SUCH VEHICLE HAS THE PROBLEM AND ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. WV NEED TO DO A RECALL IN THIS. *TR

FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND OUTER TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST TIME AT 55,552 MILES AND SECOND TIME AT 75,959 MILES. THAT'S ONLY 20,407 MILES DIFFERENCE FOR THE $1200.00 REPAIR TO BE DONE AGAIN. ABSURD. CALLED THE VW CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE IN ANY WAY STATING THE 2 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED. THIS DEFECT WOULD NEVER FALL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD SO THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE. I ALREADY ABSORBED THE COST FOR THE 1ST REPAIR SO IN ALL FAIRNESS THEY SHOULD COVER THE 2ND TIME. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW'S. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY $1200 EVERY 20,000 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. I WILL GO LEGAL AND FORWARD THIS COMPLAINT TO CONSUMER REPORTS, THE BBB, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. *JB

I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT V6 GLS. I HAVE 74, 270 MILES ON THE CAR. MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS AGO, THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN MY ABS/ BRAKE AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND WERE FLASHING. I BROUGHT IT TO VW DEALER TODAY, AND WAS TOLD MY ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR $975.00. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND AT VWVORTEX.COM THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PASSAT IN MY YEAR RANGE. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS JEOPARDIZING MY SAFETY. IN ADDITION, I RECEIVED A RECALL IN 11/04 FOR VEHICLE CONTROL ARMS. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO VW DEALER ON 12/17/04, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CONTROL ARMS DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME I HAD 61, 923 MILES ON THE CAR. TODAY,...

FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOT OF NOISE FOR SOME TIME NOW. WAS TOLD IT WASNT A SAFETY CONCERN YET, JUST ANNOYING BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. CALLED VW AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED MANY ISSUES WITH THE CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS. *NM

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME I HAVE HAD THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS GO BAD ON MY VEHICLE. IF THE CONTROL ARMS AREN'T REPLACED, IT CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING MECHANISMS. BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED AND I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. *JB

NORMAL USE OF '99 VW PASSAT WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 99,650 LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF RONT CONTORL ARMS AND TIE ROD ENDS. REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARM SET WITH TIE RODS RETAILS FOR $1,700. PURCHASED A SET FOR $495 AND AN ADDITIONAL $198.75 IN LABOR. *AK

THE CONTROL ARMS, TIE ROD, AND ONE CV BOOT FAILED. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR 1999 VW PASSAT AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE CONSUMER CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED WHEN REQUIRED. *JB

ALL 8 CONTROL ARMS WERE REPLACED BETWEEN 70000 AND 74000 MILE. *AK.

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...

A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN DRIVING 5-30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE GRINDING NOISE WAS FIRST NOTICED 1 YEAR PRIOR TO REPAIR. THE NOISE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD WHEN THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT AND REAR PADS, ROTORS. THE GLOVE BOX WAS BROKEN. *SC

VEHICLE IS AT 40,000 MILES. AT 40000 SERVICE, DEALER REPORTED THAT THE CONTROL ARMS ARE FAILING AND MUST BE REPLACED. BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THE CONTROL ARMS TO COMPLETELY FAIL, LEADING TO A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH, I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF MY POCKET FOR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL ARMS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONTROL ARMS REPORTED OVER INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS VWVORTEX.COM AND CLUBB5.COM. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE CRITICAL SUSPENSION COMPONENT.*AK

AS A RESULT OF A PERSISTENT RATTLING IN THE FRONT RIGHT END OF MY 4 CYL. 1999 VW PASSAT, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR INVESTIGATION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS THAT BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR AS WELL AS THE TIE ROD ENDS MUST BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1200. IF THEY ARE NOT REPLACED, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT ONE COULD BREAK AND I WOULD HAVE NO STEERING. OBVIOUSLY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS OR DEADLY. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH VW AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUING A TSB ON THIS DEFECT, THEY REFUSE TO COVER ITS REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE IN THIS AREA.

THE CONTROL ARMS ON MY 1999 PASSAT ARE WEARING OUT AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I DID RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD AND THAT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY VW SINCE IT PLACES PEOPLE IN DANGER. *JB

I'VE HAD A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS AND THAT THERE IS A TSB ON SUCH. THIS IS A COMMON WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND POSES A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

CREAKING AND GROANING NOISES WERE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE (1999 PASSAT STATION WAGON WITH 43,000 MILES) WHILE SLOWING AND TURNING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER CONFIRMED LOOSE SWAY BARS/CONTROL ARMS AND ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN UP, BUT NOISE PERSISTED FOLLOWING SERVICE. AT THE NEXT SERVICE THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS (CONVERSION KIT) AND LINKS. VW CUSTOMER CARE (?) CENTER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR PARTS, CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND IS BEYOND WARRANTY COVERAGE.

I BEGAN TO NOTICE AN OCCASIONAL CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO . ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE NOISE BECAME BAD ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY AND DIAGNOSE. I DESCRIBED THE NOISE IN GREAT DETAIL. SERVICE DEPT SAYS THEY DROVE THE CAR AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING, BUT THAT THE NOISE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO MY BRAKE PADS BEING WORN DOWN SO FAR I HAD METAL AGAINST METAL. NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS: $1250. CHA-CHING.*AK NEXT DAY DRIVING TO WORK I STILL HEAR THE CREAKING/KNOCKING NOISE. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, VERY IRATE. THEY SAY THEY'LL DRIVE IT AGAIN AND GIVE IT ANOTHER LISTEN. THIS TIME THEY DO HEAR SOMETHING AND INFORM ME THAT IT'S "JUST A LOOSE CONTROL ARM, " THAT IT'S "EXPENSIVE TO FIX" AND THAT "[THEY] DON'T EVEN HAVE THE PARTS ON...

THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 VOLKWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT 48,000 MILES AND FOR MY STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. SINCE I HAD JUST BEGUN HEARING NOISES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I ASKED THAT IT BE LOOKED INTO. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR, ALBEIT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND ROUTINELY MAINTAINED, WOULD NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. IF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED THE CAR COULD LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED (RECALL UL) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. BUT, THAT FOR NO EXPLAINABLE REASON MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED VW AND THEY CONCURRED BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNETHICAL, BUT VW IS ALLOWING PEOPLE TO DRIVE AROUND...

THE CONTROL ARMS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED AND THE CAR COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE REPAIRS ARE COSTLY. THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN ARE NOT RECEPTIVE TO PAYING THE REPAIRS OR A DISCOUNT. *JB

UPPER AND LOWER FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM BUSHING FAILURE. (LEFT AND RIGHT). *AK

STARTED TO FEEL AND HEAR A THUMPING, AND CREAKING FROM MY SUSPENSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO A VW DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE BOTH UPPER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED ON THE LEFT FRONT OF MY PASSAT. I CALLED VWOA AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HELP PAY FOR IT B/C IT IS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM. A 99 PASSAT W/ LESS THAN 50K MILES! AND THEY CONSIDER THAT WEAR?!? FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED, I AM FAR FROM THE ONLY PERSON THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. NOW I HAVE TO DISH OUT $500 EASY TO GET IT FIXED. BUY ANOTHER VW? NOT ON YOUR LIFE. VW HAS BEEN HEARING THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SITUATION FOR YEARS NOW AND STILL WILL NOT HELP. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMETHING TRAGIC TO SOMEONE JUST FOR THEM TO FESS UP. *NLM

CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 43000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN WENT BY RECOMMENDATION OF DEALER NOT TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. *AK

1999 VW PASSAT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF FRONT SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS AT 64.8K MILES. SYMPTOMS REPORTED INITIALLY AT 3 YEARS/49K MILES. APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO SERVICE BULLETIN 400101. PROBLEM WELL KNOWN AMONG PASSAT/AUDI OWNERS. DEALER ASKING $1200 FOR REPAIR. VWOA DECLINES TO HELP, STATING THAT SUSPENSION IS "2 YEAR 24K MILE COMPONENT". MILEAGE, EXISTENCE OF SERVICE BULLETIN, AND WIDESPREAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROBLEM SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND SHOULD BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY COVERED BY VWOA. *NLM

FRONT CONTROL ARM FAILURE. *JB

CREAKING/SQUEAKING NOISE FROM FRONT-RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF FRONT CONTROL ARMS. DEALER INDICATED NEED OF REPLACING CONTROL ARMS FOR WEAR. VEHICLE MANUFACTURED IN 99 WITH 92414 MILES, MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, DOES NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THESE TO FAIL AS MOST CARS HAVE CONTROL ARMS TO LAST A LIFETIME OF A VEHICLE HENCE FAILING AT THE CAR'S CURRENT CONDITION SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

WHILE DRIVING THERE'S A SQUEAKING AND POPPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED THREE CONTROL ARMS. A SHORT TIME LATER POPPING STARTED AGAIN, AND CONSUMER NEEDED A FOURTH CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY STATED VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL. CURRENTLY, ALL EIGHT CONTROL ARMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*AK

LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL ARMS ARE WORN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED-COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 VW. *AK

CONTROL ARM ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL HAS BEGUN CREAKING VERY LOUDLY AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ABOUT TO FAIL. ON MOST CARS THE CONTROL ARMS ARE BUILT TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR, SO AT ONLY 60,000 MILES THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THIS IS VERY COMMON IN RECENT MODEL VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS, AND THAT A RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED IN GERMANY WHERE THEY HAVE STRICTER AUTOMOTIVE REGULATIONS. ALSO, THE PART WAS RE-ENGINEERED FOR 2001 MODEL PASSATS, INDICATING VOLKSWAGEN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. IF THIS PART IS FAILING ON BASICALLY ALL 98-2000 MODEL YEAR VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS, IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAUSES AN ACCIDENT, UNLESS A RECALL IS ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED ON ANY POSSIBLE RECALL INFORMATION. THANKS. *AK

THE CONTROLE ARM BUSHINGS ARE BAD ON MY CAR AND STARTED TO GO AT 5500. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR THIS NEW, AND DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID SO TOO. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS OUT OF THE WARRANTY. I DID A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY PASSAT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CONTROL ARMS. THERE MUST BE A WAY TO MAKE VW OWE UP TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

FRONT SUSPENSION BEGINS SQUEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF BALL JOINTS WHICH ARE INTEGRAL WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THIS DEFECT REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ARM. I'VE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 99 PASSATS. IT IS UNHEARD OF FOR THESE TYPES OF COMPONENTS TO FAIL SO EARLY BEFORE 50,000 MILES BUT THEY DO ON THESE PASSATS.*AK

INCREASING "GRINDING" SOUND AND INCREASED "PLAY" AND MOVEMENT IN FRONT SUSPENSION CAUSED BY FAILING CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS-DIAGNOSED BY DEALER (STATED IT WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM). 2ND. VW PASSAT WITH SAME PROBLEM ('98 MODEL AND '99 MODEL) REPAIR PARTIALLY COVERED BY VW ON '98 MODEL OUTSIDE OF ORIGINAL WARRANTY. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AS BUSHINGS CONTINUE TO WEAR.*AK

SUSPENSION CONTROL ARMS DETERIORATING. COMMON ISSUE. BUSHINGS DRYING OUT AND DISINTEGRATING. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE CREAKING AND CLUNKING AT LOW SPEEDS. VW IS STARTING TO PAY 50% FOR SOME PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NO MORE.

CLUNKING IN FRONT END GOING OVER IMPERFECTIONS IN ROAD AT LOW SPEED. SEEMS LIKE POSSIBLE CONTROL ARM FAILURE.*AK

CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE FAILING ON THE AUDI A4, THEY SHARE THE SAME FRONT SUSPENSION. *AK

STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOT OF PLAY INSIDE OF VEHICLE, AND BALL JOINTS ARE MAKING LOUND AND POPPY NOISES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE, AND CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY SAID THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED REPLACING. CONSUMER FELT BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING OUT TOO FAST AND FEARED THAT A WHEEL MAY FALL OFF AS A RESULT OF CONTROL ARM.*AK

CONSUMER HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. RECEIVED RECALL 00V414000 FOR TIE RODS. VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE NOISES AT TIMES. ALSO, SUPENSION WAS SQUEAKING ENOUGH TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD A FOREIGN AUTOMOBILE SHOP TO VERIFY PROBLEM. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT A 2 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR $1400.00 TO REPAIR IT. DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION WHY IT WAS LIKE THIS.*AK