This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The lower control arms on my 1998 VW Passat are defective and dangerous according to my mechanic. VW refuses to replace them even though there was a recall for these parts. The reasoning is that: - I brought my car in for the recall at their dealer in February 2005 and at the time the parts seemed ok. - at this time, their dealer has reinspected the car. The VW dealer thinks that both lower front control arms on the car need replacement. However the parts are not about to fail and the car is still driveable and thus VW will not pay for their replacement. My mechanic states that the car need to be replaced and the car is dangerous to drive in this condition. Please advise whether VW is responsible under the "revised-vm (40G3) - December 2004" recall campaign to fix these. Thanks.
My lower front control armes are very squiky and bolt joint boots are ripper. I was about to replace the myself but just before I called VW and found out about the recall on front lower control arms. After 5 hours with my car they told me to come and pick it up. I discovered that only vacuum line was replaced and nothing was done to my control arms. I went over water and the squik was gone at the time the car was at the dealer. So they didn't hear anything. But the rubber boots are still turned appart!!! the manager and the guy who worked on it told me that we didn't see any problem with your control arms. And the recall has been performed. The squik came back the next day, and I know that ruber boots are still ripped on the control arms. Called vwoa and explained the problem. They said that they trust the diagnostic made by their authorised dealer. Because the dealier didn't see any problems with control arms the recall is closed now. They wouldn't reimberse the cost of replacement of control arms even if I go to the different dealer.
Dec 2004, the driver side lower control arm snapped in two, sending the front end of my car to the ground. Luckily, I was in the driveway as many are telling me (even the dealer) that it would have been deadly at higher speeds. 2 years prior I had eeking/moaning/groaning in front suspension. Dealer said nothing was wrong, as I paid to have the sound checked out. I've seen many many complaints about these sounds being related to lower control arm failure, although I haven't seen anyone w/ one that actually broke like mine! very scarey... after some fighting (my car as 103K miles) with the dealer and vwoa, they ended up replacing lower control arms at no cost to me. However, I did end up with a $1250 bill for other suspension parts in the front (tie rod, sway bars, link arms). Damage was also done to under side of my car from slamming to the concrete.
- Englewood, CO, USA
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1998 volkswagon Passat 1.8 turbo 39, 250 mileage. Front end noise, reduced control in handling, resulted in the replacement of all control arms & tie rod ends on driver side- the lower found to have corrosion in the socket.
I purchased a pre-owned 1998 VW Passat sedan with 36,000 miles on it in 2002 which was a great deal!! or so I thought. Since that time I have started hearing a noise coming from the front right tire.. or suspension.. like a creaking, crunching, knocking noise. I took it to a VW dealership and was told that the control arms on the right and the tie rods needed to be replaced. I found out that the tie rods had been recalled and the ones on my vehicle had been replaced under that recall in 2001, but had again worn out. I find it hard to believe that tie rods would wear out over a 3 year period since the car barely has 70,000 miles on it. I have viewed this website and found over 200 complaints concerning this problem and am curious what VW plans to do.. wait until someone dies when a control arm snaps? VW needs to recall this item now!
Lower control arms and sway bar links failed at less than 50,000 miles. This severely reduces steering capabilities and poses an imminent threat. Volkswagen of America knows of this problem and has redesigned the arms in later model Passats. However, they have not issued a safety recall.
When turning wheel there was noise at the front of vehicle, dealer determined that the bushings needed to be replaced.. consumer states he replaced the tie rod end.
The lower control arms on the 1998 VW Passat have failed, something that was known under a technical service bulletin from Volkswagen on May 31, 2001 (tsb: C 40-01-01). Volkswagen has not responded to me as to whether they will pay for this known problem in their vehicles yet.
After approximately 23,000 miles, the lower control arms on my 1998 Volkswagen Passat failed. Symptoms of the failure are squeaking and/or clunking noises from the front suspension. My dealer determined that the ball joints on both front passenger-side lower control arms had failed, requiring replacement of both control arm assemblies. The cost of replacement is approximately $900. The lower control arms are not normal wear items. Volkswagen should recall the affected cars and pay for the replacement of the lower control arms.
Creaking/grinding from front end. VW service determined that lower control arm bushing(s) are faulty. $950 to repair. Contacted VW customer relations, after investigation, VW to pay 1/2 of parts and labour.
Lower control arms have been replaced 3 times already and started banging again after third repair. Part previously on recall but new part also does same problem. Many Passat owners have the same complaint. Thank you for your time.
Lower control arm failures are very common on the Volkswagen Passat, causing unpredictable handeling. Volkswagen of America is aware of this. They have release updated parts and a tsb on this issue, yet refuse to pay for this important safety related defect. Please investigate and issue a safety recall campaign.
Lower control arms need to be replaced due to corrosion/rust even though the car is only 2 and 1/2 years old! makes horrible creaking/grinding sound. Dealer/service dept. Said it wouldn't affect my driving and was safe but after reading information on this website and others I'm not so sure. Read that this is a faulty/defective part and I should think that VW would replace it without me having to pay $300 per arm!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hillsborough, NJ, USA