1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Visibility Problems

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

Mileage: 80,000

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

Mileage: 71,000

I HAD THE SUNROOF OF MY 1998 PASSAT SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTER. I WAS DRIVING 60-65 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPEN. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 37 F. THE GLASS APPEARS TO BE BLOWN OUTWARD. LUCKILY I HAD THE SUNROOF SHADE CLOSED WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM BEING SHOWERED WITH GLASS. *NM

Mileage: 92,621

WATER LEAKS INTO DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR, RELAY FAILURE AND RESULTANT DEFROSTER FAILURE. MILDEW, RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, UNCONTROLABLE SNEEZING, AND RESULTANT DIFFICULTY WITH VEHICLE CONTROL. ENTIRE CARPET REPLACEMENT. COST OVER $1000 WITH LABOR.*AK

Mileage: 75,000

WATER LEAKS INTO DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR, RELAY FAILURE AND RESULTANT DEFROSTER FAILURE. MILDEW, RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, UNCONTROLABLE SNEEZING, AND RESULTANT DIFFICULTY WITH VEHICLE CONTROL. ENTIRE CARPET REPLACEMENT. COST OVER $1000 WITH LABOR.*AK

Mileage: 75,000

NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB

Mileage: 53,978

NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB

Mileage: 53,978

NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB

Mileage: 53,978

THE WINDSHILED WIPER BLADE WAS REPLACED.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT CLOSE, DEALER REPLACED THE SUNROOF SWITCH.*JB

WINDOW TRIM CAN FAIL, LEADING TO "LOOP/NOOSE" WHICH CAN KILL CHILDREN/PASSENGER. *AK

WINDOW GLASS WAS BROKEN BY A ROCK. PROBLEM EXISTS IN SIZE AND SHAPE OF TEMPERED GLASS CRUMBS. LOTS OF TINY SHARDS, LESS THAT 1MM, VERY SHARP AND DANGEROUS. EXTRA EXPENSE INCURRED IN CLEANING INTERIOR. *AK

SUNROOF MECHANISMS FRACTURED. SUNRROF STUCK OPEN IN RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WOULDN'T REPAIR FOR TWO WEEKS. TOOK CAR TO AUTO GLASS COMPANY TO HAVE SUNROOF CLOSED. MECHANIC SAID CAUSE OF BROKEN SUNROOF MECHANISM WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT - HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE SUNROOF MECHANISMS BROKEN ON PASSATS.

CONTROL ARM: NOTICED A LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION AREA. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE LOWE RCONTROL ARM/ BALL JOINTS. LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. COMPLAINED TO VOLKSWAGEN, WHO COVERED COST OF PARTS BUT NOT LABOR. AFTER REPAIR LEARNED THAT A FRIEND HAD THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN A 1999 PASSAT AT ALMOST THE IDENTICAL MILEAGE. THEN SAW ON THIS WEBSITE THAT ABOUT 17 OF 160 COMPLAINTS RELATING TO THE 1998 PASSAT ARE FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. VW SHOULD REPLACE THIS PART FOR ALL PASSAT OWNERS AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD IT REPLACED. SUNROOF: SUNROOF OPENS SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN SWITCH IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION. PROBLEM IS MOST PRONOUNCED ON WARM DAYS WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN OVER SHARP BUMPS. PROBLEM OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND IS ALARMING TO DRIVER AND COULD POSE A SAFETY RISK. OBSERVED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHERS ALREADY.

THE A/C VENTILATION SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED SUCH THAT IT PROMOTES THE GROWTH OF BACTERIA WHICH CAUSES AN AWFUL ODOR WHEN TURNED ON. I WOULD GUESS THAT IT AEROSOLIZES THE BACTERI AND OR FUNGI AND SPRAYS THEM AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THE VENTILATING SYSTEM OUTLETS. I DO NOT KNOW BUT WONDER WHAT POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK THIS POSES TO CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PEOPLE OR OTHERS WITH CHRONIC RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SUCH AS ASTHMA AND COPD. FINALLY, I WONDER IF THERE IS A THEORETICAL OR REAL RISK OF LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE SINCE THE SAME RISK FACTORS FOUND IN AIRCONDITIONERS AT HOTELS AND BUILDING MAY BE REPLICATED IN THIS AUTOMOTIVE FORMAT. I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT OF RISK. *AK

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.

ELECTRICAL SHORT HAD AFFECTED WINDOW REGULATOR AND CLIMATE CONTROL. A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE BACK WINDOW HAD TROUBLE OPENING AND CLOSING. CURRENTLY, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW HAD TROUBLE OPENING AND CLOSING. *AK

DRIVER'S FRONT AND SIDE DOORS HAD TROUBLE OPENING AND CLOSING. *AK

SUNROOF OPENS SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING WITH NO CONTROL OVER SHUTTING IT. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT ANY ROAD DAMAGE. VERIFIED BY DEALER!*AK

4 MOS. AFTER HAVING SUNROOF ADJUSTED, SUNROOF CASSETTE OR FRAME NEEDS REPLACEMENT. TOLD THAT FRAME WAS CRACKED OR DAMAGED. *AK

LOCKING PIN FAILED CAUSING THE LEFT REAR WINDOW TO COME OFF IT'S TRACK. NLM

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. *AK

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. *AK

THE EXTERIOR MIRRIOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS MADE SMALLER THAN THE ONE ON THE OLDER YEAR MODELS. WITH THESE NEW ONES, NO MATTER HOW IT'S ADJUSTED, THERE STILL REMAINS A BLIND SPOT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WINDOW PANEL--PREVENTS CLOSING OF WINDOW. INTAKE MANIFOLD OIL LEAK (GASKET).

ON SEVERAL OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH, AND DURING RAIN , MY SUNROOF WOULD OPEN WHILE IN OFF POSITION, I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO SOUTHERN STATES VOLKSWAGEN AND ALSO LAND VOLKSWAGEN, THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR. IT BECAME UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 15 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. DEALERSHIPS AND VW CORP. ARE GIVINGME THE RUN ME THE RUN AROUND

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SUNROOF MECHANISMS FRACTURED. THIS TIME THEY STRUCK THE DRIVER WHILE DRIVING (PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY). IN BOTH FAILURES, THERE WERE FRACTURES OF THE MECHANISM. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE RESULTED IN PIECES FLYING OFF THE CAR AND STRIKING THE DRIVER IN THE RIGHT SHOULDER.

I READ ON 3/19/99 SOME REVIEWS BY OWNERS OF PASSATS ON THE INTERNET (WHILE I WAS SEARCHING FOR COMMENTS BY OWNERS OF THE HONDA ODESSEY MIN-VAN). UNFORTUNATELY I CANNOT FIND THE WEBSITE AGAIN. HOWEVER, WHILE THERE, TWO PEOPLE HAD ASKED QUESTIONS RELATING TO WINDSHIELD CRACKING DURING A TEST DRIVE BY A WELL KNOWN MAGAZINE (I THINK IT WAS CAR & DRIVER) FOR THE AUDI A4, BASICALLY THE SAME CAR AS THE PASSAT. THE QUESTION WAS HAD ANYONE EXPERIENCED SUCH CRACKING. I WAS SHOCKED ON 3/20/99 TO GET INTO THE CAR AND SEE THE 10-INCH CRACK WHICH WAS NOT THERE THE DAY BEFORE. SO I'VE BEEN SEARCHING THE WWW WITHOUT SUCCESS TO FIND THE COMMENTS FROM THE MESSAGE BOARDS I READ LAST FRIDAY. *AK

VEHICLE HAS SERIOUS BLIND SPOTS CAUSED BY THE SMALL SIZE AND NARROW VIEW OF THE THREE MIRRORS.

REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE TOO NARROW AND SMALL CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.