1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

CARS ABS MODULE HAS FAILED, AND CANT AFFORD THE ESTIMATED PRICE OF 1500$ TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND STEPPED ON MY BRAKES. I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT STOPPING AND THE BRAKE WAS VERY LOW TO THE FLOOR. I GOT SO SCARED. THANK GOD I WAS GOING AT A VERY VERY SLOW SPEED. MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME FLASHING ON AND BEEPING LIKE CRAZY. THIS CAR SEEMS TO BE A LEMON LATELY. I ALREADY HAVE ISSUES WHEN I START MY CAR. AT TIMES IT JUST DOESN'T START SO I HAVE TO KEEP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WAIT ABOUT 35 SECONDS AND FINALLY THE CAR TURNS OVER. ALSO I HAVE GRAY SMOKE THAT COMES OUT OF MY TAIL PIPE UPON DRIVING AT TIMES. ALSO MY SUN ROOF, THE MATERIAL GOT CAUGHT AND ITS ALL RIPPED. AND. MY OIL DISAPPEARS ON ME. I CAN PUT TWO NEW QUARTS OF OIL IN MY CAR WITH IN TWO WEEKS ITS GONE BONE DRY WITH NO OIL LEAKS. VERY VERY WEIRD. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME OUT. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR ANY OF THIS. I ALREADY BOUGHT ROTORS, BRAKE PADS FOR THE BACK BRAKES AND BUYING CALIPERS THIS WEEK. NOW THIS HAPPENS WHERE I HAVE NO BRAKES. I AM SO DEPRESSED ABOUT THIS. PLEASE HELP ME! I COULD OF GOTTEN INTO A BAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED ON ME TODAY. GO VOLKSWAGEN. UNREAL. :( *KB

WHEN WE BOUGHT IT THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS, WHEN BAKING UP TO THE LEFT IT CLICKS. *TT

Mileage: 149,002

ABS LIGHT, OIL LIGHT, BLINKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BLINKING ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY ON. I CAN HEAR BEEPING AND THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT TURNS OFF (BUT THE FAN STILL RUNS) WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP, THEN THE OIL LIGHT STOPS BLINKING THEN WHEN ACCELERATING, I CAN HEAR THE AC UNIT CLICK BACK ON AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AGAIN. MAJOR RECALL NEEDED FROM OTHER SIMILAR RESPONSES ONLINE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT. I HAD MY BRAKE PAD REPLACED IN MARCH 2009, SINCE THAT TIME MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN CHECKING REPORT FOR RECALL NOTICE. I SEE WERE NHTSA.DOT.GOV.HAS A REPORT DATE AUGUST 2009, CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH LONG-TERM EFFECT OF ABS IN PASSENGER CARS AND LTVS. IT WILL COST ME $200. AND SOMETHING DOLLARS ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

ABS MODULE FAILURE, RANDOM DRIVING STYLE/CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

OUT OF THE BLUE, MY CAR STARTS "DINGING" AND I LOOK DOWN TO SEE THE ABS LIGHT ON, ALONG WITH A FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. I DID A SEARCH AND THE FIRST THING I SEE IS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK THE SENSORS AT EACH TIRE. THIS MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT JUST BEFORE MY PROBLEM OCCURRED, I HAD JUST HAD MY TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED. WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE THE SENSORS HAD BEEN DAMAGED/BROKEN WHEN THOSE THINGS WERE REPLACED, BUT WHO KNOWS. DOUBTFUL THAT THE MECHANIC THAT DID THAT WORK WOULD OWN UP TO THAT ANYWAYS. UPON MORE RESEARCH, EVERYONE IS POINTING TO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND QUOTING ANYWHERE FROM $100-600 FOR REBUILT MODULES TO $1500-3500 FOR BRAND NEW ONES. MY HUSBAND WANTS ME TO DROP THE MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GUARANTEED TO WORK. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS, THOUGHT I'D ADD TO THIS WITH MY OWN COMPLAINT. I'M CALLING VOLKSWAGEN MONDAY TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY AN INCH TO 1.5 INCHES OF WATER. SHE NOTICED THE ISSUE APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES WITHIN ONE MONTH, ESPECIALLY IN RAINY CONDITIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SUNROOF, ALTHOUGH THE SUNROOF WAS NEVER WET AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A DEFINITE DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. SHE WAS UNSURE IF THIS FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WATER ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,320 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,115.

Mileage: 115,115

ABS CONTROL MODULE: THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO MY 1999 VW PASSAT TURBO. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY, WHEN THE ABS LIGHT ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC THINKING MY BRAKES ARE WORN OUT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE BRAKES AND ROTORS ARE PERFECT AND THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS NOT WORKING. I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR A REASONABLE PRICE TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 12,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, HAD TO APPLY BRAKES FOR EMERGENCY STOP, LEFT FRONT FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSE SUDDENLY RUPTURED CAUSING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STOPPED USING EMERGENCY HAND BRAKES. UNDER INSPECTION, RIGHT FRONT FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSE ALSO SHOWS SIGNS OF ADVANCED DETERIORATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH, HOSES WERE ORIGINAL PARTS. CAR IS 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 18.T AUTOMATIC WITH 150,000 MILES ON THE CLOCK. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

MY ABS BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS THE BRAKE LIGHT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND TO A AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ABS MODULE IS BAD AND WILL COST AROUND $900.00 TO FIX. THE BRAKE LINES AND LEVELS ARE OKAY AND THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE GOOD AS WELL. IT SEEMS THAT THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODEL FOR MY YEAR AND MAKE HAS RECENTLY BEEN REPORTED AS FAULTY. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE 98-01 MODEL ABS MODULES SHOULD BE LASTING LONGER OR AT LEAST THE DURATION OF THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE BOSCH 5.3 AND 5.3I ABS MODULES IN THE PASSAT HAVE A SERIOUS INTERNAL DEFECT (BAD MANUFACTURING PROCESS) THAT WILL SURFACE AFTER 1-6 YEARS OF SERVICE. IF THE BRAKES AND ABS ARE ACTUALLY FINE, THEN VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE REPLACING THESE FAULTY ABS MODULES WITH UPGRADES. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT YOUR BRAKES MAYBE FINE BUT YOU CANNOT LEGALLY DRIVE BECAUSE OF A FAILED STATE INSPECTION. $900.00 IS THE WAY TO FIX IT SAYS THE DEALER. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES SERVICED ON THE REGULAR BY AND BEEN TOLD THAT THEY'RE FINE, BUT NOW THE ABS LIGHT IS SAYING OTHERWISE. *TR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. LIGHTS FLASH ON DASH, NO ABS AVAILABLE. *TR

ABS FAILURE. ABS UNIT STOPPED WORKING, MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS CAR. NEW UNIT COSTS $900 JUST FOR THE PART. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

THE ABS MODULE ON MY 1999 PASSAT HAS BROKEN AND THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY WARNING ME OF THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE LIGHTING UP. *TR

Mileage: 85,423

MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T 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

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR MY ABS MODULE IN MY 1999 VW PASSAT WAGON. IT WENT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON, WITH LIGHTS INDICATING SUCH. IT IS CONSTANTLY BROKEN NOW. IT WILL COST 1,200 FOR THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE BROKEN MODULE, WITH OUT IT I AM WITHOUT ABS. *TR

Mileage: 150

1999 VW PASSAT,ABS LIGHT ON/BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, VERY ANNOYING AND SCARY, READ ON INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUMS , POSSIBLY VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, DO NOT HAVE 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX AND IT POSSIBLY MAY NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM..WE NEED ANSWERS ... *TR

ABS MODULE FAILURE AT ~67000 MILES. ABS LIGHT ON WITH FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AND 3 SHORT PEEPS. WATER INTRUSION FROM UNDER BATTERY DRAINS DUE TO DESIGN FLAWS. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS DEAD ON MT 1999 VW PASSAT. THIS RENDERS THE ABS USELESS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PASSATS. I JUST HOPE THEY HAVE A RECALL BECAUSE IT IS BIG DOLLAR REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

ABS LIGHT STATED TO BLINK... CAN'T "TALK" TO ABS IN CAR WITH COMPUTER... ABS MODULE IS OUT :( *TR

Mileage: 120,000

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS FAILED LEAVING ME WITH NO FUNCTIONING ABS SYSTEM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE OCCURS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD APPEAR TELLING ME THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED, THE ONLY CONSEQUENCE SO FAR IS A FAILED ABS SYSTEM, AS OF RIGHT NOW NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BECAUSE A BRAND NEW MODULE IS ~$800 DOLLARS, AND TO HAVE THE MODULE REBUILT REQUIRES REMOVING IT FROM THE CAR AND MAILING IT TO A MODULE REBUILDING COMPANY(WWW.MODULEMASTERS.COM) AND COSTS $200+ AND AT THIS TIME I CAN'T AFFORD EITHER OF THE COSTS EASILY. THE CAR AND BRAKES FUNCTION FINE, BUT THERE IS NO SAFETY OF THE ABS SYSTEM INCASE OF EMERGENCY AN EMERGENCY STOP OF A 4000LB CAR. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

ABS MODULE IS FAULTY, RESULTING IN NO ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

ABS MODULE FAILED IN MY 1999 VW PASSAT. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

I GOT IN MY CAR ONE MORNING AND STARTED THE ABS LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND HAS PRETTY MUCH BEEN ON SINCE AND I HAVE NOTICED WITHOUT ABS MY CAR DOESN'T STOP NEAR AS FAST AS IT USED TO THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ABS COMPUTER FAILED AND THE MANUFACTURE WOULD HAVE TO SEND ME ANEW ONE BUT THAT IT WAS REALLY PRICY TO FIX AND A GROUP THAT I AM WITH ALSO DRIVE THE SAME CARS A LARGE NUMBER OF THEM AND THERE'S HAS FAILED JUST LIKE MINE DID. *TR

Mileage: 105,556

ABS MODULE FAILURE. HAPPENS EVERYTIME I START MY CAR. REPLACEMENT OF ABS MODULE. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (V6, GLX MODEL) HAS A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE. AT AROUND 103,000 MILES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING ON MY CAR AND BEGAN FLASHING A BRAKE WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO TELL ME THIS SAME INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM. IT SEEMS TO BE A TREND AMONG 1998-2001 PASSATS, AND SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKS, IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THERE WAS PLASTIC COVERING THE REFLECTOR BOARD. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE WAS INFORMED THAT IF HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TOO HARD, IT COULD LOCK HIS WHEEL AND RESULT IN A CRASH OR HE COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

Mileage: 47,000

THIS COMPLAINT PERTAINS TO MY 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8 TURBO. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

NORMAL USAGE ON THE CAR. AT ~75K MILES, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BLINK AND THE DASHBOARD BEEPS ANY TIME THE CAR DROPS BELOW 15 MILES PER HOUR. ABS MODULE IS FAULTY, DUE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN. WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON PASSATS OF THIS ERA. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

SUDDEN LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION DUE TO ABS MODULE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

DRIVING ALONG ON A CLEAR DAY, OPEN ROAD, NO BAD WEATHER. THE ABS/BRAKE LIGHT ON MY CAR CAME ON WITH A WARNING BEEP. INTERMITTENTLY THE TACHOMETER AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WOULD FAIL TO WORK ADDITIONAL CREATING WARNING BEEPS . HAVING THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A GARAGE, THE ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE HAD FAILED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 138,800

ABS BRAIN FAILURE, 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN DASH LIGHTS LIT NOTING ABS FAILURE OCCURRED. CAR HAD 54,000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. HAD TO SEND OUT UNIT FOR REPAIRS, LED TO DRIVING FOR 2 WEEKS WITHOUT ABS BRAKES, AND COST $200 FOR REBUILD (NEW AT DEALER WOULD HAVE BEEN >$1000).

Mileage: 54,000

I DRIVE A 1999 VW PASSAT SEDAN TURBO. OUT OF NO WHERE ONE DAY MY ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, THEY ARE ALWAYS ON NOW EVERYTIME I DRIVE AND DO NOT GO OFF. I AM WORRIED SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG WITH MY BRAKE SYSTEM BUT DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO PUT INTO MY CAR AT THE MOMENT SINCE I HAVE PUT THOUSANDS IN SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

VW PASSAT 1999 - FAILING ABS MODULE (ABS,OIL,BRAKE LIGHTS ON). INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. VW SHOULD AT LEAST FIX THIS FOR ORIGINAL OWNERS. MY LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR. I WAS QUOTED $1400 TO REPAIR YET IT IS A BAD SOLDER JOINT ON THE ABS CIRCUIT BOARD. VW NEEDS TO REPLACE THE MODULE. SO MUSH FOR VW SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 80,566

MY ABS LIGHT ON MY 1999 PASSAT 1.8T COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND STAYS ON. WHEN IT DOES, THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO FLASHES. I CAN PARK MY CAR OVERNIGHT. WHEN I RESTART IT, IT IS OFF. AFTER DRIVING A SHORT WAYS, IT WILL COME ON AGAIN. *TR

ABS MODULE HAS FAILED. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ($1400 FOR THE PART (!) PLUS LABOR) FOR A SAFETY-RELATED FEATURE. IN CHECKING AROUND THE INTERNET I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE (VW PASSAT, LATE 1990S MODELS). *TR

Mileage: 115,000

ABS MODULE FAILURE NOTHING LEAD UPTO THE BEEPING AND FLASHING OF THE ABS LIGHT (SOLID LIT) AND BRAKE LIGHT (FLASHING). OCCURED AFTER ROUTINE DRIVING, SIMPLY PULLING INTO WORK PARKING LOT AS USUAL, AFTER SHORT TRIP TO EATING. AFTER SOME SEARCHING AND BROWSING ONLINE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED AS ON MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI MODELS. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE. REMANUFACTURING OF MODULE IS AROUND $200 AND OEM DEALER REPLACEMENT IS SAID TO BE WELL OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

ABS MODULE FAILURE NOTHING LEAD UPTO THE BEEPING AND FLASHING OF THE ABS LIGHT (SOLID LIT) AND BRAKE LIGHT (FLASHING). OCCURED AFTER ROUTINE DRIVING, SIMPLY PULLING INTO WORK PARKING LOT AS USUAL, AFTER SHORT TRIP TO EATING. AFTER SOME SEARCHING AND BROWSING ONLINE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED AS ON MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN/AUDI MODELS. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE. REMANUFACTURING OF MODULE IS AROUND $200 AND OEM DEALER REPLACEMENT IS SAID TO BE WELL OVER $1,000 DOLLARS. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES UPON ENTERING A REDUCED SPEED ZONE. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATIONS TO SUGGEST A PROBLEM. DRIVER PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT HITTING TRAFFIC AHEAD AND SPUN 180 DEGREES ACROSS TRAFFIC SLAMMING INTO A CURB. WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AT THE CRASH SITE AND THE PEDAL OFFERED NO RESISTANCE FOR HIM. POWERING THE CAR ON AND OFF; BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VW DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS HAULED TO CANNOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND THE BRAKES CHECKOUT NORMAL. DEALER HAS GIVEN LITTLE SENSE OF SECURITY TO MAKE DRIVER WANT TO GET IN THE CAR AGAIN. SAID THEY COULD REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT CHECKS OUT FINE. ONE MECHANIC SAID HE HEARD OF A CASE WITH TIRES CONFUSING THE ABS WITH DIFFERENT WEAR. FRONT TIRES ARE >95% AND THE REARS ARE 75%. NOBODY WOULD DOCUMENT THIS THEORY HOWEVER AND REPAIR WILL NOW LEAVE CAR WITH 3 BASICALLY NEW TIRES WITH ONE REAR AT 75%. *JB UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF

Mileage: 75,000

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING; BEEPS INITIALLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON. AFTER HAVING SERVICE CENTER REPLACE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED TO BE FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. NOT AWARE OF THIS OCCURRING IN ANY OTHER MAKES, AND LEARN FROM COMPLAINTS WITHIN AND FROM FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1999 VW PASSAT. OIL LIGHT, NOW, ALSO COMES ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, BUT GOES OFF WHEN PEDAL IS RELEASED. OIL PRESSURE & PUMP OKAY, AS IS OIL LEVEL, BUT SOURCE OF OIL LIGHT/BRAKE PEDAL ISSUE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. *TR

Mileage: 111,475

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING; BEEPS INITIALLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON. AFTER HAVING SERVICE CENTER REPLACE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED TO BE FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. NOT AWARE OF THIS OCCURRING IN ANY OTHER MAKES, AND LEARN FROM COMPLAINTS WITHIN AND FROM FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1999 VW PASSAT. OIL LIGHT, NOW, ALSO COMES ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, BUT GOES OFF WHEN PEDAL IS RELEASED. OIL PRESSURE & PUMP OKAY, AS IS OIL LEVEL, BUT SOURCE OF OIL LIGHT/BRAKE PEDAL ISSUE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. *TR

Mileage: 111,475

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING; BEEPS INITIALLY WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON. AFTER HAVING SERVICE CENTER REPLACE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT, DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED TO BE FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. NOT AWARE OF THIS OCCURRING IN ANY OTHER MAKES, AND LEARN FROM COMPLAINTS WITHIN AND FROM FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1999 VW PASSAT. OIL LIGHT, NOW, ALSO COMES ON WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED, BUT GOES OFF WHEN PEDAL IS RELEASED. OIL PRESSURE & PUMP OKAY, AS IS OIL LEVEL, BUT SOURCE OF OIL LIGHT/BRAKE PEDAL ISSUE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. *TR

Mileage: 111,475

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY 1999 VW PASSAT'S ABS LIGHT LIT UP AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOLLOW BY 3 LOUD BEEPS. I LATER BRING IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY ABS MODULE DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WITH VW ABS SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 113,935

MY 1999 PASSAT 1.8L HAS ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY WITH THE CHIME COMING ON OCCASIONALLY. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO DEGRADATION OF BRAKING BUT NOT SURE IF ABS IS WORKING OR NOT. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO CORRECT ITSELF, BUT THEN RESTARTS AGAIN WITHIN 10 MINUTES. *TR

1999 VW PASSAT 1.8 ABS LIGHT STAYS ON.

Mileage: 83,000

I HAVE A FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT THAT I UNDERSTAND COULD BE A RESULT OF THE ABS MODULE FAILURE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ABS FAILURE IS VERY COMMON AND EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

ABS LIGHTS ON, OIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT ON. DIAGNOSED AS FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE. *AK

Mileage: 15

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT GO ON AND OFF WITH NO RHYME. DEALER HAS QUOTED ME $1500 TO REPLACE. IT SEEMS THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL WITH SO MANY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WILL SEND TO HAVE IT REBUILT THEN QUICKLY SELL CAR AND NOT PURCHASE VW AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

CAR ABS BRAKE MODULE QUITE WORKING CAUSING TIRES TO LOCK UP AND LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON - ABS NOT WORKING. *JB

Mileage: 84,000

THIS REGARDS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T WAGON @ 97,500 MILES. BEGINNING 03/20/2007 THE ABS AND BRAKE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TWO SEPARATE MECHANICS. THE ABS AND BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY, BUT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAULTY CAUSING THE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHTS TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF. THE WARNING CHIME AND LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF AGAIN AT LEAST ONCE DAILY, SOME DAYS REPEATEDLY AND AT RANDOM. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ABS MODULE IS $900. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVES THAT THIS IS QUITE A PROBLEM WITH PASSAT AND COMPARABLE AUDI VEHICLES, MANY WITH MUCH LESS MILEAGE. I HAVE PLACED A CALL WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE MODULE. THE COST IS QUITE EXCESSIVE FOR A PROBLEM THAT CONTINUOUSLY CAUSES CONCERN FOR THE DRIVER AND IS A PURE ANNOYANCE. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION? *TR

Mileage: 96,288

ABS MODULE FAILURE. ABS LIGHT COMES ON WITH BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING AND 3 BEEPS INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR AWHILE IT MAY NOT COME ON FOR SEVERAL MILES THE NEXT TIME. BRAKING HEAVILY CAUSES THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND SKID. ALSO WHAT I THINK IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IS WHEN BRAKING HEAVILY WITH THE ABS LIGHT OFF CAUSES THE CAR TO SKID AND AT THE SAME TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT AND STALLS. IF ON A HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED THIS COULD BE DEADLY. THE REPAIR WILL BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC MODULE. ADD ME TO THE LIST OF MANY WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND WANT TO GET A RECALL INSTITUTED ON THIS MODULE. *AK

Mileage: 62,150

BEEP SOUND ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN WENT OFF.*AK

Mileage: 156,000

1999 VW PASSAT. ABS LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ON. BRAKE LIGHT ALWAYS FLASHING IN DASH, 3 BEEPS EVERY FEW MINUTES. NO DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM 2 DEALERS. I WILL NOT ACCEPT TRIAL BY ERROR DIAGNOSIS AT MY EXPENSE. I STRONGLY URGE VW TO ATTEND TO THIS OVERWHELMINGLY COMMON PROBLEM. MY LOVE OF DRIVING THIS CAR IS GONE.*AK

Mileage: 68,000

ABS INDICATION LIGHT WAS ON CONSISTENTLY. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINT EXISTED REGARDING THE ABS CONTROL UNIT BUT NOT YET HAVE THE VM/AUDI RECALL ACTION ACTIVATED. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND NOTED "FOUND NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ABS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED". WAS CHARGED FOR OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND IT IS NOT REASONABLE FOR THE CONSUMERS TO BEAR THE COST OF REPLACING THE ABS MODULE. *NM

Mileage: 62,601

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASAAT WITH 113000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 75 MILES. THE CONTACT RODE THE BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES, THEN NOTICED A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT WAS JAMMING ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP , AND THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED TWICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL REVVING HIGH. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO PULL UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THAT WAS THE REMEDY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO IDLE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 113,000

1999 VW PASSAT 1.8 TURBO. ABS LIGHT CAME UP ON 74000 MILE FOR NO REASON. LIGHT WAS COMING AND GOING. NOW IT IS ALWAYS ON. READING CODES SAYS: "NO COMMUNICATION" BETWEEN CONTROL MODULE AND COMPUTER. DIAGNOSE WAS: BAD CONTROL MODULE. MODULE COST $700 US DOLLARS, AND DEALER IS ASKING FOR $700 TO REPLACE( FOR ME IT WILL TAKE 15-20 MIN). STILL, THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR BAD DESIGNED AND IN A WRONG SPOT PLACED MODULE. *JB

Mileage: 74,000

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON TO WARN ME SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD COST ME $1500 TO REPAIR. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH PASSATS - IN PARTICULAR ABS BOSCH 5.3 ,5.4, 5.7 CONTROL MODULES. *JB

Mileage: 119,000

SOLID ABS LIGHT/FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT. *JB

ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 74,588

I AM ONE OF AN ALREADY LARGE AND CONSTANTLY GROWING NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S AND AUDI'S WHO HAVE ABS (AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS) THAT HAVE STOPPED WORKING AFTER ONLY A MERE 60-70,000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND EACH TIME THEY (DEAL) SAY IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. WITH MANY PEOPLE COMPLAINING NOW AND MORE TO JOIN IN AS THE DAYS GO BY, ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LARGE QUANTITY OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SNAFU. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT VW/AUDI APPEARS TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. LATELY, SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS GENERALLY BEING CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IN THE ABS MODULE. YET AT THIS POINT, VW AND AUDI ARE HAVING USERS REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT. THIS COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY OF US ($2000 UPWARD IN MY CASE). IN THE MEANTIME, MANY OF US ARE HAVING TO DRIVE WITH FAULTY ABS SYSTEMS, WITH RESULTANT SAFETY PROBLEMS: FOR ME, THE ABS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GO ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE BRAKES ON MY CAR GRAB AND ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TOO. I FEAR THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GROWING WORSE. THE MORE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT ALL OF THESE CARS LACK THE ABS DURING CRUCIAL TIMES OF DRIVING ON ICY OR WET PAVEMENT. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE ABS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE (SINCE IN MANY CASES, THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ON THROUGHOUT). AT THIS POINT, I'M FEARFUL WHENEVER I DRIVE MY CAR. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS STARTED INTERMITTENTLY FLASHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH A FAILED ABS MODULE AS IT COMMUNICATES WITH OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE CAR. THE DEALER CHARGED $912.08 FOR THE REPAIR. A MONTH LATER THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, AND THE DEALER IS ASKING $2372 FOR THE PART ITSELF. I SEARCHED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VW PASSAT OWNERS WHO ARE PLAGUED BY ABS-RELATED FAILURES. DRIVING WITH NO ABS IS NOT SAFE IN A CAR THAT IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. *JB

Mileage: 67,539

IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, 2006, MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS, WHICH WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MY FAMILY, BEGIN EXHIBITING SOME TROUBLING BEHAVIOR. THE BEHAVIOR CONSISTS OF THE TACHOMETER CEASING TO FUNCTION AS BOTH THE "BRAKE" AND "OIL" DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASH WITH ACCOMPANYING WARNING TONES AND THE "ABS" DASHBOARD LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND REMAINS ON. WHEN THE "ABS" DASHBOARD LIGHT IS ON, MY CAR'S ABS DOES NOT FUNCTION. AT FIRST THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT EVENTUALLY BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND HAS NOW REACH A STATE OF PERSISTENCY. I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON VOLKSWAGENS VEHICLES SINCE I WAS A CHILD AND, GIVEN MY IMMEDIATELY FAMILY HAS OWNED OVER TEN VOLKSWAGENS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS ALONE, THE REST OF MY FAMILY HAS AS WELL; INCLUDING A SECONDARY RELATIVE WHO OWNS A VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR BUSINESS IN AMESBURY, MA. GIVEN THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROBLEM IS COMMON AND WELL DOCUMENTED, THE DIAGNOSIS OF A FAULTY BOSCH 5.3 ABS CONTROLLER WAS STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAS LOGGED OVER 50 COMPLAINTS ALONE WITH MANY HUNDREDS MORE BEING AFFECTED. ALL INSTANCES ARE CONSISTENT WITH MY OWN. REVIEW OF THE INDIVIDUAL TESTIMONIES AS LOGGED BY THE NHTSA MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF A KEY COMPONENT OF ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS. THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF REPAIRING THIS ITEM AND THE REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM COMPONENT AS DEFECTIVE AND ELECTIVELY RECALLING IT AMOUNTS TO NEGLIGENCE AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT ON THE PART OF VOLKSWAGEN. THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT REPRESENTS A DANGER TO THE DRIVER OF THE AFFECTED AUTOMOBILE AND EVERYONE SHARING THE ROAD WITH THE AFFECTED AUTOMOBILE. THE PROBLEM EXPRESSED HEREIN IS WIDESPREAD AND CLEARLY DOCUMENTED AS A PROBLEM AND A HAZARD THAT IS NOT TYPICALLY EXPERIENCED BY OTHER AUTOMOBILE OWNERS WITH SIMILARLY FUNCTIONING ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS. THIS UNIT SHOULD BE RECALLED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS, OIL, AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THEN FLASHED. THERE WAS A BEEPING NOISE AS A WARNING SIGNAL PRIOR TO THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS, OIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TACHOMETER ALSO FAILED. THIS PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND WORSEN OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO INDICATED THERE WERE NO CODES AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THEY RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE OWNER MANUAL, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A WARNING STATEMENT THAT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS COULD RESULT IN THE LOCKING UP OF THE REAR BRAKES UNDER HARD BRAKING. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO HARD BRAKING WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

Mileage: 120,000

ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY. DEALER CLAIMS ABS MODULE($1600). AFTER RESEARCHING, FOUND HUNDREDS OF VW PASSAT OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM VW DOES NOT WANT TO ASSIST OR PERFORM RECALL. *NM

Mileage: 94,567

MY ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING FOR MONTHS .....I AM TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS AN ABS SENSOR....BRAKES NOT REALLY AFFECTED....HOWEVER I HIT THE BRAKES AT 10MPH WHILE TAKING A SLIGHT TURN...BRAKES FAILED, THEN LOCKED; HIT CURBAND BRUSHED TREE.VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS.....BRAKES CHECKED AND LOOKED FINE...NO EXPLANATION FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THE BRAKES. *NM

Mileage: 72,389

ABS, OIL, BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COME ON AND OFF OVER LAST FEW MONTHS WITH ALARM SOUNDS BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY ALSO. TACHOMETER DROPS TO 0 WHEN THIS STARTS AND STAYS ON 0 AS LONG AS WARNING LIGHTS ON. OTHER TIMES NO LIGHTS OR ANYTHING WHEN I START IT UP AND DRIVE FOR QUITE A TIME, THEN THEY START AGAIN. TOOK IT TO RUSTY WALLIS VW IN GARLAND, TX. THEY SAID ABS MODULE NOT COMMUNICATING WAS MY PROBLEM===QUOTING $2687 TO REPLACE, AND IF I DIDN'T REPLACE IT, CHANCE WAS WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP IF I HAD TO BRAKE HARD. THEY DID ASK ME TO FILL OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE ON THIS ABS PROBLEM, LIKE "CONSTANT LIGHT" OR "INTERMITTENT", ETC. I THOUGHT THAT WAS CURIOUS. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SAME THING ON INTERNET, AUTOMOTIVE DISCUSSION BOARDS. I ALSO HAVE GATHERED VW IS SAYING THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A VW PROBLEM (ALSO GATHER IT'S AN AUDI PROBLEM). IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM. I DON'T HAVE ALMOST $3,000 IN MY POCKET FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE OWNED UP TO BY VW. IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH VW'S AND THIS ABS MODULE GOING BAD APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *JB

ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. ABS ELECTRONIC MODULE FAILURE - DISCOVERED PROBLEM AT PASSATWORLD.COM. *JB

Mileage: 82,500

AT ABOUT 80,000 MILES ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AS INDICATED IN OWNER'S MANUAL. SERVICE TECH ADVISED IT WAS ABS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER -- EXPENSIVE REPAIR. WAS TOLD BRAKES WERE OK AND I SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEM OPERATING PROPERLY. I WAIVED REPAIR BASED ON THIS INFORMATION. IT IS NOW A MONTH LATER AND THE LIGHTS ARE ON CONTINUOUSLY. TOOK CAR IN FOR STATE INSPECTION. NOW TOLD CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH BRAKES! HUH? I'VE BEEN DRIVING CAR FOR OVER A MONTH THINKING THERE WAS NO DANGER. SERVICE TECHS WILL NOW NOT CONFIRM PROBLEM IS WITH ABS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. MUST DO ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC AT $80/HR. WAS INFORMED THEY COULD PASS CAR INSPECTION IF THEY COULD GET LIGHTS TO GO OFF LONG ENOUGH FOR THEM TO PERFORM INSPECTION (WINK WINK). IS THIS A SAFETY HAZARD OR NOT??? I NOW HAVE 15 DAYS TO GET REPAIR DONE IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION. I'M NO TECH BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY PART THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. ADD TO THAT, THERE IS NO CLEAR DIRECTION ON WHETHER THIS IS A DANGER OR NOT. I'M GUESSING SINCE CARS WON'T PASS INSPECTION, IT IS. *NM

ABS WARNING LIGHT PLUS OIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH, TACHOMETER GOES TO ZERO. *NM

Mileage: 134,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 66,000

1 - I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 VW PASSAT WITH 97,630 MILES ON JULY 28, 2006 WHEN IT SEEMED TO LOSE POWER AND THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CHECK OIL, FLUIDS, DAMAGE, ETC BUT COULD FIND NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. 2 - A DAY LATER, THE EXHAUST STARTED TO MAKE A CONTINUOUSLY LOUD NOISE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOW FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT ANY ACTION FROM ME. IT APPEARS LIKE A CIRCUIT BOARD OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WENT BAD. 3 - THE "ABS / BRAKE" LIGHTS CAME ON AND STARTED BLINKING AT THIS TIME AS WELL. 4 - MY DEALER SAID THE MODULES GO BAD AND IT IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY, SO THE ESTIMATE WAS AROUND $850 TO FIX. I CALLED VW'S NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL NOTICES THAT COULD HELP. *JB

Mileage: 97,630

JUST BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF MY 100,000-MILE, 6-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AT 99,938 MILES (AND 23 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF 6 YEARS) I TOOK MY 1999 1.8L TURBO VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT (B5) TO THE DEALERSHIP. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PERFORM THE 100,000-MILE SERVICE AND TO THOROUGHLY CHECK THE CAR FOR ANY REPAIRS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED SINCE IT WOULD SOON BE OUT-OF-WARRANTY. FIVE WEEKS AND 3000 MILES LATER (AND OUT OF WARRANTY) I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN ON TWO OCCASIONS MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED ON AND THREE BEEPS SOUNDED (THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED AT 103,085 MILES). BOTH TIMES THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITHIN SECONDS. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS RELATED TO A FAILED ABS CONTROL MODULE, APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT SINCE IT FAILS PREMATURELY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WILL COST BETWEEN $1800 AND $2400 FOR THEM TO REPAIR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS THE SECOND LARGE ITEM FAILURE WITHIN FIVE WEEKS AND 3000 MILES OF MY WARRANTY EXPIRATION (THE FIRST WAS A FAILED TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER). IT APPEARS TO ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS INSTITUTED PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE INTO THEIR PRODUCTS! I AM ALSO VERY UPSET THAT BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD BE KNOWN BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN AND COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. *JB

Mileage: 103,085

ABS LIGHT, ABS INTERMITANT FAILURE, OIL LIGHT FAILURE, TACHOMETER FAILURE. *NM

Mileage: 96,000

ABS, ASR, AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON THE CAR'S ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTS REAR WHEELS MAY LOCK AND THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DRIVEN SLOWLY TO A SERVICE STATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY ENSURED ME THAT A NEW WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED WIRING WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE SERVICE I RECEIVED AND BECAUSE I'M A COMETENT ENGINEER WITH ELECTRICAL TROUBLE SHOOTING SKILLS I ACTUALLY FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE. I'M CURRENTLY AWAITING THE REBUILDING OF THE COMPONENT AND WILL INSTALL IT WHEN IT ARRIVES. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS AT VARIOUS SITES ON THE INTERNET. ONE SIGHT HAS OVER 28 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *NM

Mileage: 87,000

THE FOLLOWING IS EXACT COMMENTS FROM VW TECH WRITTEN IN DEALERSHIP INVOICE. "ABS CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE WORD BRAKE IS FLASHING WHEN THE CONTROL UNIT IS PLUGGED IN. NO TACHOMETER READING AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLASHES. 5052 WILL NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE UNIT AT ALL. DEALER TECH UNPLUGGED ABS CONTROL UNIT AND THE TACHOMETER SIGNAL CAME BACK AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING." **5052 WILL NOT COMMUNICATE** DIAGNOSTIC TOOL WILL NOT DETECT FAULT WITH ABS MODULE!!! *NM

Mileage: 121,000

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, I AM TOLD ONLY 12,000 MILES LATER THAT MY CONTROL ARMS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE THE RECALL IS CLOSED. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR THIS PART EITHER, THE DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN 12/04 BEFORE IT COULD POSE A HAZARD TO MY SAFETY. *JB

Mileage: 74,200

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES - WAS TOLD ABS UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN LIGHTS ARE ON DETERMINED THAT ABS AND THE PROPORTIONING SYSTEM OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATING AND FEEL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. DEALER WANTS CRAZY AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIR WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS I DO AND WE ALL STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS DEFINITELY DESERVES TO BE A RECALL BY VW OF AMERICA. THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

Mileage: 43,000

I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT GLX WITH 72,000 MILES. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, THE ABS LIGHT, THE BRAKE LIGHT, THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR, AND THE TACHOMETER BEGAN TO BEHAVE ERRATICALLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER STUCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION, STARTING A WHEEL FIRE AT THE ROTOR. I REPLACED THE CALIPER, ROTOR, AND PADS. A NON-VW SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE REMAINING ROTORS AND PADS, REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND FLUSHED/BLED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS PERSISTS. THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS ARE USUALLY ABSENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY COLD, THEN USUALLY APPEAR AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING. THE LIGHTS AND ALARMS CAN DISAPPEAR WHILE DRIVING, THEN REAPPEAR DURING LATER DRIVING. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY, BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED WHAT THE ESTIMATE MIGHT BE TO ATTEMPT REPAIR. *JB

Mileage: 72,121

ABS LIGHT STARTED TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS AND IS NOW ON CONSTANTLY. BRAKING CHARACTERISTICS HAVE NOTICEABLY CHANGED AND RANDOMLY PULSE AT TIMES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED FAILURE IN VW PASSATS AT AROUND 75K MILES. *JB

Mileage: 99,845

SAME AS PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS: ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY W/ ABS CHIME SOUNDING CONSTANTLY EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS THE ABS MODULE AND THAT IT HAS REPORTEDLY BEEN PROBLEMATIC IN A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THESE CARS. IN MY OPINION, VW NEEDS TO STAND BY THERE PRODUCT IN THIS CASE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS, BRAKE AND OIL LAMPS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACED ALTHOUGH THE REPAIR WAS NOT MADE.

Mileage: 108,000

THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED IN OUR 1999 PASSAT WAGON WITH ONLY 70K MILES. IT FAILED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS ALSO EXTREME. *JB

Mileage: 72,000

FAILURE OF ABS MODULE ON 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. MY ABS LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED ABS MODULE. THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $1,500. FOR THE PART ALONE!!! THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY FAIL ALL THE TIME AND THAT MANY PEOPLE DO NOT FIX THEM. I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE A FURTHER INVESTMENT IN THE CAR SO I LET IT GO. THE CAR WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INSPECTED BY THE DEALER IN STATE INSPECTION AND PASSED. NOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER, I AM TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT PASS CARS WITH ABS LIGHTS. I AM AWARE OF WEBSITES (MYVWLEMON; BENTLEY; AND PASSATWORLD FORUM) THAT CHRONICLE MANY ISSUES WITH THE ABS MODULE ON PASSATS. IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE ABS MODULE MANUFACTURED BY BOSCH IS DEFECTIVE AND A COTTAGE INDUSTRY HAS ARISEN OF MANUFACTURERS OF THESE PARTS. SOME EVEN REBUILD THEM AS THE DEFECT IS KNOWN. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

THE ABS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT IS GOING ON. DEALER TOLD ME THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE COST IS >$1700. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY TOGETHER WITH 3 BEEPS. SOME DAYS ARE WORSE THEN OTHERS, BUT I WOULD SAY THE PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT 60-80% OF THE TIME. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON, THE ABS IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND REAR WHEELS TEND TO BREAK OUT EASILY ON ICY ROADS. *JB

Mileage: 128,750

MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ON AND/OR BLINKING INCLUDING ABS, BRAKE LIGHT, AND OIL LIGHT. *JB

Mileage: 97,000

I HAD A FLASHING ABS LIGHT IN MY GAUGE CLUSTER THAT WOULDN'T STOP. WENT TO DEALER TO CHECK FAULT CODE FOR LIGHT. TOLD THAT MY ABS CONTROL UNIT IS BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING....SHOULDN'T DRIVE CAR WITHOUT REPLACING UNIT. COST FOR UNIT AND R & R $1.000. *NM

Mileage: 149,000

ABS WARNING LIGHT FLASHES CONSTANTLY WITH CHIME SOUNDING EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS. PROBABLY BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS. WAS TOLD BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THE PROBLEM WAS JUST ELECTRICAL, BUT NOW READING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS I BELIEVE IT TO BE THE ABS MODULE FAILING IN SO MANY OTHER CARS. SEEMS LIKE VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE.*AK

MANY AUDI AND VW MODELS MANUFACTURED STARTING IN THE LATER '90S AND CONTINUING TO PRESENT, 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

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASH. *NM

Mileage: 95,000

VW PASSAT 1999 - FAILING ABS MODULE (ABS,OIL,BRAKE LIGHTS ON). INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. SEE HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447&START=30&TSTART=0 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ,WHO STATED, THE CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMPUTER, WHICH WAS A SIGN THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED." THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE EXPENSE. *AK

AT 52K MILES, HAD INTERMITTENT EPISODES OF ABS LIGHT REMAINING LIT AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING. OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE WEEKS, HAD >100 SUCH INCIDENTS. ALSO OF NOTE, VIBRATION WAS FELT UPON BRAKING AT LOW SPEED. SERVICE MECHANIC AT DEALER REPORTED FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT EXUBERANT COST. APPARENTLY, HUNDREDS OF SUCH COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED ON THIS PROBLEM, AND VWOA HAVE TAKEN NO EFFORT TO RECALL SUCH PREVALENTLY FAULTY PARTS. *NM

Mileage: 52,000

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS, AS REPORTED ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS (VWVORTEX, ETC). THE FAILURE IS WELL KNOWN AND FREQUENT ENOUGH THAT THERE ARE BUSINESSES THAT SELL REBUILT/REMANUFACTURED PART. *NM

ABS FAILURE. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1999 1.8T GLS. *NM

Mileage: 70,700

I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT AND HAD TO HAVE MY ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED IN JULY OF 2005 AT A COST OF $1,300. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MANY OTHER VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULE GO BAD AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE IT. SINCE THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM I FEEL THAT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PART AND FINANCIALLY REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE ABS. IT IS A VERY COSTLY EXPENSE AND WAS SURPRISING TO ME THAT IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 75,000 MILES, IN MY CAR'S CASE. THANK YOU. *JB

ABS CONTROLLER ON MY VW PASSAT 1999 FAILED. *JB

Mileage: 50,000

THE VEHICLE IS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON PERIODICALLY WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY AND NO APPARENT CAUSE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PASSATS AND AUDI A4S. I FOUND AROUND 40 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET. THE PROBLEM IS REPORTED TO RESULT IN LACK OF ABS AND INACTIVATION OF THE NORMAL BRAKING DISTRIBUTION MECHANISM. THE LACK OF ABS, WHILE SERIOUS, ONLY REDUCES BRAKING TO THAT OF MANY OTHER VEHICLES. THE ALLEGED EFFECT ON DISTRIBUTION OF BRAKING POWER IS A POTENTIALLY MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM, AS IT COULD RESULT IN POOR PERFORMANCE OF EVEN THE CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM. *JB

Mileage: 55,000

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE STEERING ASSEMBLY CAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BOTH TIE RODS. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP ALSO FOUND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AND THE ABS WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY WAS LOOSE TO THE POINT IT COULD HAVE FALLEN OF FROM THE FRAME. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

Mileage: 94,000

1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.8T ABS MODULE FAILURE. APPEARS MANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS EXPENSE SAFETY DEVICE FAILURE. VW IS IGNORING THE ISSUE STATING THERE IS NO HISTORY OF FAILURES OR SERVICE BULLETIN 0517. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1750 TO REPAIR.

Mileage: 105,000

I OWN A 99 VW PASSAT WHICH HAS A FAILED ABS SYSTEM. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR PROBLEM, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION WITH VW AND AUDI OWNERS. APPARENTLY, VW OFFERED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INCLUDE PRE-2001 VEHICLES. A DEFINITE INDICATOR OF THEIR UNWILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THEIR VEHICLES. WHEN THIS SYSTEM FAILS, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS UP, HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN DURING 100% OF MY DRIVE TIME. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND WILL LIKELY CAUSE A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT, SINCE WHEN LIT I HAVE NO ABS. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN MY COMPLAINT AND HOLD VW LIABLE FOR THEIR FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH THIS ABS SYSTEM. THE COSTS OF REPAIR ARE EXORBITANT AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED BY THE CONSUMER. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES! *NM

Mileage: 60,000

DT: 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT - IN RE: THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. A WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON ALONG WITH A BEEPING SOUND. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PASSAT. THE CONSUMER RESEARCHED THIS MATTER AND REALIZED THAT THERE WERE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THEE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAD NOT FIXED IT AS OF YET. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OTHER PROBLEMS EXCEPT WITH THE WARNING LIGHT AND THE BEEPING SOUND. *AK (12/08/05) THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED DAILY. *SC

Mileage: 55,000

I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T GLS. AT 69,000 MILES, "ABS" AND "BRAKE" DASH LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF, INDICATING FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE, AND LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION. *NM

Mileage: 69,475

1. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; CITY AS WELL AS HIGHWAY DRIVING. 2. RANDOM, INTERMITTENT WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR ON DASHBOARD. LIGHTS ARE: ABS - SOLID YELLOW. BRAKE - FLASHING RED. 3. NOTHING HAS BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS THE DEALER WANTS BETWEEN $1,500 -$2,000 TO FIX THE ABS MODULE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: VISITED VARIOUS VOLKSWAGON MESSAGE FORUMS. MANY VOLKSWAGON OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM SINCE EARLY 2004. HERE IS A LINK TO ONE SUCH SITE: HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=6316&START=0&TSTART=0. *JB

Mileage: 129,700

NO ABNORMAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE, JUST A NORMAL COMMUTE ON RESIDENTIAL ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS INDICATED BY THREE LOUD ELECTRONIC BEEPS AND THE APPEARANCE OF THE "ABS" LIGHT (STEADY) AND "BRAKES" LIGHT (BLINKING) ON THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER. CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE IS LOSS OF ABS OPERATION. NO REPAIR EFFECTED AS YET, DIAGNOSIS SHOWS FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC ABS MODULE. *NM

Mileage: 80,400

I OWN A '99 VW PASSAT GLS AND HAVE ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. I GET A SOLID DASHBOARD ABS WARNING LIGHT AND BLINKING DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WHEN I START THE CAR. BOTH LIGHTS STAY ON AND THE BLINKING LIGHT CAUSED MY CAR TO FAIL INSPECTION. I'VE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SUCH COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THIS IS A $1500 - $4000 REPAIR, ACCORDING TO THE VARIOUS DEALER ESTIMATES I'VE READ. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WELL-DOCUMENTED MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. MY VW SERVICE CENTER ACKNOWLEDGED THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HOW MUCH TO CHARGE FOR IT (~$2400), BUT BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE I HAVE NOT REPAIRED IT YET. PLEASE TAKE ACTION! BOTH THE ABS SYSTEM AND IGNITION SYSTEM USE BOSCH PARTS, WHICH HAVE DOCUMENTED FAILURES. THIS SHOULD BE A NHTSA RECALL ITEM!!! MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND NOT JUST AT BENTLEY, BUT ALSO THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.MYCARSTATS.COM/CONSOLE.ASP. *JB

Mileage: 92,000

FAILURE OF BOSCH ABS 5.3 CONTROLLER LEADING TO WARNING TONES AND LIGHTS AND LOSS OF TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS FUNCTIONS, A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM AS VW AND AUDI CARS GET OLDER DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE BOSCH HYBRID MODULE. SINCE THE CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, VW AND AUDI ARE NOT COVERING REPAIRS WHICH COST $1400 OR MORE. *NM

Mileage: 67,050

99 VW PASSAT. ABS BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. IT SEEMS THE ABS MODULE NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT 1500+ AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 79,000

THE ABS BRAKE CONTROL UNIT OF MY 1999 PASSAT HAS FAILED. DEALER QUOTES COST IN EXCESS OF $1000. TO REPLACE A PART THAT COSTS LESS THAN $100 TO MANUFACTURE. I FOUND A CAR FORUM WHERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE TALK OF THIS BOSH PART AS FAILING IN THEIR PASSATS AND AUDIS. *AK

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I HEAR THREE BEEPS, THE ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BLINKS. NOW IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES OF DRIVING. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHERE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILS. I HAVE ALREADY FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS RECURRING. *JB

Mileage: 63,500

I AM ONE A LARGE AND GROWING NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S AND AUDI'S WHO HAVE ABS (AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEMS) THAT HAVE STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 40,000 - 50,000 MILES. THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS CAN BE DISCERNED BY A WEB DISCUSSION GROUP DEVOTED TO PEOPLE WITH THIS SOLE PROBLEM (BENTLEY PUBLISHERS AT HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?FORUMNAME=VOLKSWAGEN.B.B5&THREADID=6316 ). WITH THIS MANY PEOPLE HAVING FOUND THE WEBSITE, ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE LARGE QUANTITY OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS SNAFU. OUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT VW/AUDI APPEARS TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. LATELY, SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS GENERALLY BEING CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL UNIT IN THE ABS MODULE. YET AT THIS POINT, VW AND AUDI ARE HAVING USERS REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT. THIS COST IS PROHIBITIVE FOR MANY OF US ($2600 IN MY CASE). IN THE MEANTIME, MANY OF US ARE HAVING TO DRIVE WITH FAULTY ABS SYSTEMS, WITH RESULTANT SAFETY PROBLEMS: FOR ME, THE ABS PROBLEM CAUSES THE BRAKES TO GO ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES. THE BRAKES ON MY CAR GRAB AND ACTIVATE UNEXPECTEDLY DURING THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TOO. I FEAR THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GROWING WORSE. THE MORE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD IS THAT ALL OF THESE CARS LACK THE ABS DURING CRUCIAL TIMES OF DRIVING ON ICY OR WET PAVEMENT. AGAIN, THIS PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE ABS GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT THE DRIVER'S KNOWLEDGE (SINCE IN MANY CASES, THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ON THROUGHOUT). AT THIS POINT, I'M FEARFUL WHENEVER I DRIVE MY CAR. *NM

Mileage: 48,000

THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE BESIDES REGULAR USE OF THE VEHICLE PASSAT 1999. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT PERIODICALLY HAS COME ON AND LENGTHENED IN DURATION UNTIL IT STAYED ON PERMANENTLY. THE BRAKING IS STILL NORMAL, BUT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WENT OUT ON MY PASSAT 1999. I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR JUST CUT OUT. I COASTED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF ITS TENDENCY TO FAIL. I HAD TO REDO ALL OF MY RODS. I STILL HAVE THE OLD PART IN MY POSSESSION. *NM

Mileage: 175,000

THE ABS, BRAKE AND OIL LIGHT ALL COME ON (OIL WILL FLASH) WITH SPORADIC IRREGULARITIES IN THE TACHOMETER. THE TACHOMETER WILL SOMETIMES DROP TO ZERO. ALL THIS HAPPENS WITH 3 DISTINCT BEEPS WHENEVER I USE THE BRAKES. COLDER TEMPERATURES CAN LESSEN THE OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEMS. DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAYS THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600. I HAVE NOT YET APPROVED THE REPAIR ON THE CAR. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

COMPLETE FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE ON A 99 VW PASSAT WAGON WITH 99,000 MILES. CAR REVERTED BACK TO REGULAR BRAKING SYSTEM...NO ABS. *NM

Mileage: 99,000

ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASH BOARD, CAUSING MY ABS SYSTEM TO NOT FUNCTION AND I HAD IT CHECKED OUT, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BUSTED ABS MODULE.

Mileage: 130,000

THE ABS AND ASR (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED IN MY CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 71,000 MILES. IT ALMOST COST ME WHEN MY LIFE WHEN THE ABS DID NOT KICK IN AND STARTED SLIDING ON A RAINY DAY. IT COST $1,400 AT THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM; THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS COMMON. THEY ONLY REPLACED THE COMPUTER.

Mileage: 71,000

THE CONSUMER THE ABS LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE CONTROL MODULE WENT BAD. IT WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED . THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. SERVICE INVOICES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *JB

I HAVE OWNED MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ABS STILL WERE WORKING, AND IT WAS NOT. THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND OFF FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, BUT IS NOW ON WHENEVER I TURN THE CAR ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY IMMEDIATLY KNEW WHAT I WAS CALLING ABOUT. IT SEEMD AS THOUGH THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE PRICE TO GET IT FIXED THROUGH THE DEALER WAS $1600 OR MORE. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM ,BUT SAYS THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE. CURRENTLY I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY $1600 TO HAVE THE ABS FIXED ON MY CAR THAT HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS STARTED.*AK

I OWN A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH 55000 MILES ON IT. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING. ON GOING TO THE DEALER, I AM TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS UNIT AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH WILL COST $1900. *AK THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, HE HAS HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. VW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PART AND NOT HAVE CUSTOMERS PAY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE PARTS.

Mileage: 55,000

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND RED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, INDICATING ABS MODULE FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 145,500

I OWN A 1999 PASSAT 1.8T GLS. THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON TOGETHER INTERMITTENTLY AT AROUND 58,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICE DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAULTY ABS UNIT, COST $1400 TOTAL INSTALLED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE UNIT REPLACED YET. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS ON THE ROAD TODAY, WHY HASN'T NHTSA PRESSURED VW TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND CRASHES ARE IMMINENT.*AK

Mileage: 58,000

ABS MODULE FAILURE. WAS SUDDEN/NO WARNING. ELECTRONIC PORTION NEEDS REPLACEMENT. RE: SAN ANTONIO TX DEALER. FAILURE OCCURED W/LESS THAN 55K MILES ON VEHICLE. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM W/THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 54,000

1. ABS & BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR - NO OBVIOUS EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. 2. I DRIVE CAREFULLY TO THE DEALER SHOP DURING A SNOW STORM - CAREFUL NOT TO APPLY THE BRAKES TOO STRONGLY. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED - BUT DANGER OF ACCIDENT DEFINITELY INCREASED. 3. DEALER DETERMINES THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS PUMP. DUE TO SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE ABS REPLACED AT MY COST OF AT LEAST $1200 . *AK

Mileage: 78,410

MY 1999 VW PASSAT, HAS A ABS CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. THE PART # IS 8E0 614 111B. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I NOTICE THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH VW. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN RECALLED. I ALSO NOTICE THAT THE NEWER MODELS ARE NOW INSTALLED WITH A NEWER PART, IS THIS BECAUSE VW WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM? *AK

Mileage: 99,000

ABS BRAKE LIGHT- I TOOK MY CAR TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHY THIS LIGHT IS ON AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD BE A MODULE, AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRENTY, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1300.00 TO REPLACE. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IN MY RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I DID A SEARCH ON GOOGLE AND FOUND AT LEAST 200 COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. MY BRAKES DONT WORK IN DAMP WEATHER.. THEY BECOME VERY HARD TO PUSH.. AND MY BRAKES ARE NEW I HAD THEM REPLACES ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND THE LIGHT WAS ON BACK THEN.. THAT IS WHY I HAD THEM REPLACED, IN HOPES THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.. BUT IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON GOOGLE YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STORIES AND SAFETY CONCERNS. I ALSO CONTACTED CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF.*AK

Mileage: 55

FAILURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE ON 1999 VW PASSAT 1.8T. NO CRASH/DAMAGE/INJURY (YET). STARTED 1/05, CONTINUES. COMMON DEFECT, CERTAINLY SAFETY RELATED. VW UNINTERESTED IN CORRECTING PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 92,000

I HAVE A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT GLS - I AM DRIVING AT RANDOM SPEED. CHIME COMES ON BLASTING. ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND STAY ON. BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES (SAME BRAKE LIGHT AS WHEN E-BRAKE IS ENGAGED) CHIME KEEPS GOING. ALL GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS OF DRIVING. *JB

Mileage: 110,000

I A 1999 VW PASSAT GLS 1.8T. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT ABS WARNING LIGHT ISSUE SINCE MID DECEMBER 2004. WHEN IT FIRST CAME ON I PROMPTLY TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR/LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP (POWER VOLKSWAGON, TORRANCE, CA) WHO REPORTED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, AND SAID THEY RESET THE SYSTEM. WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THAT THEY HAD IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A WIRING PROBLEM AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ABS WIRING TO THE SENSORS (COST UNDER $500). AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK THE LIGHT WAS AGAIN ON INTERMITTENTLY (NOT AS MUCH AS BEFORE) AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THE ONLY OTHER SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE (QUOTED $1,500 PARTS AND $300 LABOR). GIVEN THE FACT THAT I HAD JUST SPENT $500 ON ABS WIRING THAT THEY SAID WAS THE PROBLEM I WASN'T ABOUT TO SPEND $2,000 WITH THEM. I STARTED MY OWN RESEARCH TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1998-2000 ABS CONTROL MODULES ON VW/AUDI VEHICLES (SEE HTTP://TECH.BENTLEYPUBLISHERS.COM/THREAD.JSPA?THREADID=2447). I ALSO TALKED WITH INDEPENDENT/GERMAN MECHANICS WHO SEEMED WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (EVEN THOUGH MY VW DEALERSHIP SEEMED TO FEEL IT WAS A MYSTERY). AS PARENT WHOSE CHILDREN ARE REGULARLY IN THE VEHICLE I HAVE TRIED TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVEL OF SAFETY RISK (IF ANY) THIS POSES. WHEN MY WIFE INITIALLY CALLED OUR VW DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS A CRITICAL PROBLEM AND THAT WE SHOULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN IMMEDIATELY. THEN WHEN THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, IT SEEMED TO BE "DOWNGRADED" TO NEEDS FIXED BUT NOT CRITICAL. THE VW OWNER'S MANUAL SUGGESTS THAT IT IS CRITICAL AS THE LIGHT ON MAY RESULT IN UNEXPECTED BRAKING AND ONE OF THE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS I SPOKE WITH SUGGESTED HE PERSONALLY KNEW OF A CASE WHERE THE VEHICLE'S ABS ENGAGED AT A HIGH SPEED RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. I ENCOURAGE NHTSA TO ENGAGE VW IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 41,000

I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAIL IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT HE CAN FIX THE 'PROBLEM' FOR AROUND $2,000. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE POST INTERNET MESSAGES ABOUT THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULES FAILING ON THEIR VW PASSATS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT VW WOULD ALLOW SUCH A THING WITHOUT ISSUING A RECALL. *JB

IN APPROX. OCTOBER, 2004, ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS NOT REPEATABLE, BUT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES AND FOR RANDOM DURATIONS. ABS APPEARS TO BE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, ABS LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. *NM

Mileage: 73,000

SUBMISSION OF COMPLAINT RE VW OF AMERICA FEEL HE HAS BEEN OVER CHARGED FOR NUMEROUS & EXTENSIVE REPAIR BILLS FOR HIS 1999 VW PASSAT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE FRONT STABILIZER WAS REPAIRED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE WORN. THE FRONT DOORS CREAKED WHEN OPENED. *JB THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ASSISTANCE OF ALL THE MATTERS. *SC *JB

SHORTLY AFTER BOUGHT CAR, HAD MANY MAKEUP PROBLEMS: TRIM PANEL FALLING OFF, 3 OUR 4 WINDOWS HAVE BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. CANNOT HAVE TRIM FIXED UNLESS DO WHOLE CAR, WHICH IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND I DIDNT PAY ALL THAT MONEY FOR A CAR TO HAVE DISH OUT MORE MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE ALL THE WINDOWS FIXED EXCEPT THIS LAST TIME, I JUST WILL NOT DO IT. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING FOR THESE PROBLEMS TO BE OCCURING. ALSO, THE TIE RODS HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. LASTLY, STEERING/SUSPENSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. ALL THESE PROBLEMS TOOK PLACE FOUR MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND SINCE THEN HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. *AK

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, AT FIRST INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. SINCE THEN, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND A AUDIBLE WARNING SOUNDS AT EVERY START-UP. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC, WHO WILL PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC. ALL FOUR ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. THE MECHANIC HAS A NEARLY IDENTICAL CAR WITH AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM AND HAS DIAGNOSED A FAULTY ABS MODULE, A $950 PART PLUS LABOR CHARGES. SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET SHOW ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF OWNERS OF SIMILAR MODELS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBE DANGEROUS BRAKE FAILURES, INCLUDING LOCK-UP.*AK

Mileage: 74,250

DURING AN EMERGANCY BRAKING PROCEDURE THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TIRES LOCKED UP, AND THE ABS/ BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WENT OUT SECONDS LATER. BUT THE FRONT TIRE LOCKED UP WHEN I NEEDED THE ABS TO WORK. THE LIGHT NOW COMES ON AND OFF AT WILL. THE BRAKE PADS FRONT AND REAR HAVE BEEN CHANGED, AND THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO LUCK. THE LIGHT TENDS TO COME ON ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM BUT I NO LONGER TRUST THE ABS TO WORK EVEN IF THE LIGHT IS OFF. *AK

Mileage: 64,000

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING LIGHT BLINKED INTERMITTENTLY OVER MANY WEEKS. I WAS FIRST TOLD THAT THE ABS WAS WORKING OKAY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS JUST WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHT. A DIRECT TEST OF THE BRAKES ON A SLIPPERY ROAD PROVED THAT THE ABS WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. A SECOND VISITS TO VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER RESULTED IN DIAGNOSIS OF FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE, REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $1500. *NM

Mileage: 96,000

THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT KEEPS COMING ON. VW SAYS I NEED. *AK

Mileage: 68,000

MY 1998 PASSAT'S ABS LIGHT IS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON AND OFF. MY MECHANIC HAS VERIFIED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS PUMP ITSELF, THERE IS JUST A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR. THE WEB IS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT RE: VW PASSATS SPANNING MANY YEARS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS SENSORS ON THESE CARS. THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

ABS & BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUE TO FLASH. IT STARTED AS ONE BRIEF INCIDENT AND NOW HAPPENS EVERYTIME I AM IN MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WILL RUN SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF $1500. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A POORLY MANUFACTURED DEVICE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VOLKSWAGEN. WE ARE ALL HAZARDS ON THE ROAD. *JB

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A BEEPING NOISE. THIS RENDERED THE ABS BRAKE INOPERATIVE. ABS CONTROL MODULE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE ITS INTERNAL RELAY WAS CLICKING AND BUZZING. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE PART ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 90,000

ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED IN 1999 PASSAT V6. ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, ALONG WITH FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AND INTERMITTENT BEEPING SOUND. REPAIR ESTIMATE $1500-2000. I CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA TO COMPLAIN AFTER READING ABOUT NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BOSCH PART. VW OF AMERICA TOLD ME THEY COULD/WOULD NOT HELP WITH REPAIR.*AK

Mileage: 124,000

ABS LIGHT COMING ON ONCE IN A WHILE. NOW STAYS ON PERMANENTLY AND BEEPS. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF BRAKES. COST TO REPAIR $1600. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW. *JB

Mileage: 90,000

ABS MODULE 8E0614111B FAILED ON 1999 PASSAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WARNING LIGHTS ARE INTERMITTENT MEANING THE FUNCTION OF THE ABS SYSTEM IS INTERMITTENT.*AK

Mileage: 132,000

ABS LIGHT TURNED ON. *AK

Mileage: 116,000

ABS/BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF ABS MODULE

Mileage: 84,300

AT AROUND 60,000 ABS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES ABS USELESS WHEN LIGHT IS ON, IT WORKS OTHERWISE. WHEN LIGHT IS ON BRAKES LOCK-UP. ABS MODULE COSTS $1010 + LABOR 405 = $1415 TO FIX THIS. SPOKE WITH DEALER, THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF ABS CONTROL MODULES GONE BAD PASSATS. THIS COULD BE A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE IT AFFECTS BRAKING.*AK

Mileage: 63,000

SUDDENLY ABS LIGHT COMES ON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTS FLAHING.*AK

Mileage: 63,000

ABS BRAKE FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 46,154

THE ABS MODULE ON MY 1999 VW PASSAT HAS GONE BAD. I HAVE READ OTHER POSTS ABOUT SUCH FAILURES. IT WENT OUT WHEN MY CAR HAD ABOUT 105 K MILES. THOUGH THAT IS A LOT OF MILES, I DON'T SEE WHY A LOT OF HIGH WAY DRIVING WOULD CAUSE THE ABS MODULE TO FAIL. IT'S ALSO A VERY COSTLY FIX. 1200 FOR THE PART AND THEN ANOTHER 200 FOR LABOR. THAT'S 1500. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD.*AK

Mileage: 105,000

THE ABS / BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK IT TO SERVICE TO ROD EAST VOLKSWAGEN (VW) AND AFTER CHARGING ME $75 THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR. THE LIGHT IS ON EVERYDAY. *LA

Mileage: 82,377

FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE MADE ABS SYTEM INOPERATIVE. *AK

Mileage: 87,000

ABS UNIT FAILED FROM DEFECT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN A MANUFACTURED PART AND VW AMERICA REFUSES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE UNIT. *LA

Mileage: 98,365

WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER. THE CONSUMER REMOVED ABOUT 5 CUPS OF WATER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. CAUSING A FIRE TO THE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND WILL COST $2,8000 TO REPLACE THE ABS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 6000 MILES, AND SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE FOR THE SAME REASON VOLKSWAGEN ISSUED RECALL 99V131001. BUT WAS TOLD THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FIRE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO SEIZE. *YH

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. ALSO THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FIRE AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO SEIZE. *YH

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DIS-ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE APPROACHING TOLL BOOTH, BY TAPPING BRAKE, VEHICLE SUFFERED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, WHICH WORKED AS ADVERTISED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ENTER 360 DEGREE SPIN AND CROSS 6 LANES OF TOLL BOOTH TRAFFIC ENDING UP ON RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND RE-STARTED AND BRAKE PRESSURE RETURNED TO NORMAL. MEHCANIC AT INDEPENDENT SHOP CANNOT DUPLICATE FAILURE AND SYSTEM TESTS OK.*AK

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. *YH

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. *YH

BRAKES STICKING TO DRUMS AND NO BRAKE LIGHT WARNING OF PENDING STOP. PROBLEM NEVER ADDRESSED BY VW, THE DEALERSHIP OR CORPORATE. THE PROBLEM CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND PREMATURELY CAUSED WEAR ON ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TWICE IN 40,000 MILES. THE MOST RECENT AT 12,000 MILES USAGE. VW SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *AK

BRAKES WERE SQEAKING. DEALER FOUND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE BRAKES SQUEAK. NLM

WITH ALL OF THE GLOWING REPORTS FROM THE CONSUMER REPORTS MAG ABOUT THE VW PASSAT I HAD TO WRITE TO GRIPE ABOUT ABOUT MY DEALINGS WITH VW OF AMERICA.I TOOK MY 99 PASSAT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER 15000 MILE SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE FOR A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS MY DEALER TELLS ME THAT I NEED PADS AND ROTORS AT 18,000 MILES AT A COST $400.00.MY ROTORS ARE WORN BEYOND TURNING WITH 15% PADS LEFT .APPARENTLY THE PADS ARE HARDER THAN THE ROTORS?AFTER A HEATED DISCUSSION ABOUT WEATHER ROTORS WERE CONCIDERD CONSUMABLES OR NOT I LEFT IN DISCUST TO CALL VW OF AMERICA TO EXPLAIN MY VIEW THAT THERE IS NO WAY A TWO YEAR OLD PASSAT WITH 18000 NORMAL MILES SOULD NEED NEW ROTORS.FIVE CALLS LATER AND THE TOTAL RUN-A-ROUND A "CUSTOMER SERVICE" REP TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT VW OF AMERICA IS WILLING TO DO TO HELP ME.APPARENTLY THEY THINK IT IS NORMAL TO REPLACE ROTOR EVERY 15000 TO 18000 MILES AT A COST OF $400.00 SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME, FOR THE DEALERS!I WONDER IF I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM, EVERY NEW VW I SEE HAS A LOT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE FRONT WHEELS.HMM. THANK FOR LETTING ME VENT. KEEP THE CONSUMERS INFORMED!! P.S.I STILL THINK I'M GETTING SCREWED!*AK

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DECREASED BRAKE PERFORMANCE (SUBSTANTIAL) WHENEVER THE STREETS ARE SALTY AND WET. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MY EXPERIENCE NOT UNCOMMON AMONG VW PASSAT OWNERS, AND APPARENTLY THE SUBJECT OF AN AUDI INVESTIGATION WHICH USES THE SAME BRAKE COMPONENTS. IT DOES NOT AFFECT PERFORMANCE WHEN DRY OR SIMPLY WET, BUT DOES WHEN 'SALTY' AND WET. IT TAKES SEVERAL BRAKING TO RESTORE ANY MEASURABLE FUNCTION IN THE BRAKES WHEN IT OCCURS. IT IS SCHEDULED TO BE SEEN BY A VW DEALER ON 2/13 FOR EVALUATION OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

GAS GAUGE SENDING UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. SHOWS FULL TANK WHEN MORE THAN HALF EMPTY. BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED ADEQUATELY. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND SAYS THEY ARE "NORMAL". AFTER INSPECTION, WORKED BETTER FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES SQUEALING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS. REPAIRS WERE MADE ON THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, AND PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES SQUEALING WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS. REPAIRS WERE MADE ON THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM, AND PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ROTORS ARE PREMATURLY WARPED AND THE FRONT END VIBRATES WHILE BRAKING AT SPEED OVER 45 MILES AN HOUR. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRENTY AND THE DEALER FAILED TO TEST DRIVE AND INSPECT THE ROTORS WHEN THEY HAD THE CAR IN FOR THE 12,000 MILE CHECK UP IN JUNE 2000. ALSO, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SWEDISH DISTRIBUTOR RECALLED THE BRAKES FOR PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO RUST AND ROAD SALT.

OIL LINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ABS/MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED.VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IN ADDITION, HAD PADS REPLACED TWICE/NEEDED A NEW BOOSTER INSTALLED, AND SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE.*AK

OIL LINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ABS/MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED.VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IN ADDITION, HAD PADS REPLACED TWICE/NEEDED A NEW BOOSTER INSTALLED, AND SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE.*AK

OIL LINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ABS/MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED.VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IN ADDITION, HAD PADS REPLACED TWICE/NEEDED A NEW BOOSTER INSTALLED, AND SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE.*AK

OIL LINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ABS/MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED.VEHICLE WAS NOT BRAKING PROPERLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IN ADDITION, HAD PADS REPLACED TWICE/NEEDED A NEW BOOSTER INSTALLED, AND SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT LEAKED AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE.*AK

RECALL COMPONENT ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED, OWNER IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURE. (99V-131) *MJS

RECALL REPAIRS DENIED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (99V-131 AND 99V-248). *MJS

NHTSA RECALL NO:99V131001 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO:UH CONCERNING BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CALLED SEVERAL TIMES OTHER DEALERS, AND NO ONE HAS THE PART. *AK

CONSUMER DENIED RECALL REPAIR (99V-131) DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *MJS

RECALL REPAIR CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. (99V-131) *MJS

RECEIVED RECALL 99V131001. CONTACTED DEALER ON 15-NOV-99 AND STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE. ISSUE HAS SINCE BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *ML

WE WERE NOTIFIED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE BRAKES ON OUR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US THEY COMPLETED HAVE THE WORK ON THE BRAKES BUT DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE THE JOB ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PARTS ARE COMING FROM GERMANY. AS OF 1/18/00 WE WERE TOLD THE COMPANY IS HOLDING BACK THE PARTS. AS AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONISTS AND A SAFETY PROFESSIONAL, I FIND THIS EXPLANATION UNACCEPTABLE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS NOT COMPLING WITH RECALL NOTICE ISSUED BY YOUR AGENCY. *AK

RECALL # 99V131000 VW/BRAKE BOOSTER; DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL. OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON OCTOBER 6, 1999. OWNER HAS CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS. OWNER HAS ALSO CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT 6 OR 7 TIMES, AND RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION. *AK

CONSUMER UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR 99V-131 COMPLETED DUE TO PARTS NOT BEING IN STOCK. *NLM

STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND ALWAYS HAS, MOSTLY DURING BRAKING, THE ROTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES ARE AT 20%, STEERING PROBLEMS POSSIBLY DUE TO THE FAULTY ROTORS. *SLC

BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM AND TIE ROD ON RECALLS,BUT RECALLS REPAIRS WERE NOT COMPLETED ON APPOINTMENT DAY BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. (99V-131 AND 99V-248) YH

WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE AREN'T ANY BRAKES. *AK

WHILE MAKING A STOP VEHICLE WOULD IDLE INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, JUST AT THE POINT OF COMING TO A STOP, IT WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. HAPPENS IN BOTH HOT AND COLD WEATHER. *AK

RECALL 99V-131000 VW/ BRAKE BOOSTER: RECEIVED THIS MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. NOTIFIED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WAS INFORMED TO DISREGARD NOTICE BECAUSE IT DID NOT EXIST. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS AND EXPLAIN IF THIS MFR. RECALL EXISTS ON MY VEHICLE, OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING BUT NOW ARE RUBBING,GRINDING,GROANING AND BRAKING ROUGH. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE NORMAL BRAKE SOUNDS AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALTHOUGH ON THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THEY DID "SOMETHING DIFFERENT" TO THE ROTORS THIS TIME. AFTER AT LEAST 6 VISITS, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND AM BEING TOLD TO SEEK A SCOND OPINION. *AK

FRONT BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING BUT NOW ARE RUBBING,GRINDING,GROANING AND BRAKING ROUGH. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE NORMAL BRAKE SOUNDS AND THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ALTHOUGH ON THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THEY DID "SOMETHING DIFFERENT" TO THE ROTORS THIS TIME. AFTER AT LEAST 6 VISITS, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND AM BEING TOLD TO SEEK A SCOND OPINION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAS EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN THE FORE-AFT DIRECTION AND IN THE VERTICAL. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN BRAKING. IT FEELS VERY UNSECURE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER. THEY CLAIM THIS LEVEL OF PLAY IS NORMAL.

51 HOURS AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW VW PASSAT GLS V6, THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED, CAUSING VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE CAR, STIFFENING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IMPAIRING MY BRAKING ABILITY AND THICK HEAVY SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS INFORMED THE NEXT DAY BY THE DEALE