1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

FIRE IN RUBBER BOOT HOUSING BETWEEN LEFT REAR DOOR AND CAR FRAME. PRECEDING EVENTS, LEFT REAR DOOR SPEAKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, LEFT REAR WINDOW FUNCTIONED SOMETIMES. DOOR WAS CLOSED AFTER RETURNING HOME AND PARKING GARAGE. ARCING WAS HEARD AND SMOKE CAME FROM DOOR. OWNER REMOVED MANY FUSES FROM DRIVERS SIDE FUSE PANEL AND THEN REMOVED CONNECTIONS TO MAIN BATTERY. DOOR PANEL COVER WAS REMOVED AND BOOT REMOVED TO FIND HOUSING ON 5 OF THE 8 WIRES BURNT AND MOST OF THE WIRE BURNT THROUGH THE WI

Mileage: 81,000

ABS MODULE IN OPERATIVE ABS SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

ABS MODULE IN OPERATIVE ABS SYSTEM. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, PARKED IT, AND THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATER AND ALSO NOTICED THE HOOD LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. FIRE BURNED THROUGHOUT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PART OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. *NM

HAD A CREAKING SOUND IN THE FRONT END OF MY 1998 VW PASSAT 1.8T. TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE LEFT FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM TIE RODS WERE BAD (AND DANGEROUS) AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. DID THIS AND 6 WEEKS LATER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER "FIXED" THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE AND NOW 4 MONTHS LATER THE SAME SOUND IS BACK AND NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION MUST B

Mileage: 135,500

WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, 3 EVENTS OCCURRED SIMULTANEOUSLY: A 'POP' SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA, COPIOUS WHITE SMOKE (NOT STEAM) FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ACTIVATION. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, AND WHITE SMOKE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY FROM (CLOSED) HOOD, FOLLOWED WITHIN 5 MINUTES BY OPEN FLAMES FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL WELL. FIRE CREWS WERE ON SCENE WITHIN 10 MINUTES, BUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED AND A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

Mileage: 92,000

THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SEAT FLIPPED BACKWARDS CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR.

Mileage: 85,020

I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ON 3/11 WHERE A WOMAN CUT ME OFF BY MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AS SHE WAS HEADED TOWARD ME. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR STUCK THE SIDE OF HER CAR. THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR WAS SMASHED IN BUT NO AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30 MPH AND HAVE NOT IDEA HOW FAST THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING. MY CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALED. MY PASSENGER SUFFERD A BRUISED CHEST FROM HER SEAT BELT. SHOULD EITHER OF THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR HAVE

Mileage: 98,000

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH DRIVER SIDE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED OVER, OPENED HOOD AND SAW VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. ALSO, THROTTLE BODY AND CV JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STALLES, MISFIRED, AND IDLE FLUCTUATED FROM LOW TO HIGH. *AK

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

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE CONTROL ARM WHICH BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, PRIOR TO INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR NOISE, NO REPAIR MADE AT THAT TIME, RECALL CAMPAIGN (99V-248)WAS NOT COMPLETED, WHICH WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE PREVENTED THE INCIDENT. *MJS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON FRONTAL COLLISION AT 45 MPH DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ONGOING DISPUTE WITH VCI AND VW OVER LEASE PAYMENTS AND RECALL AND DAMAGES. NO SAFETY DEFECTS MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AN HIT CONSUMER ON FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS NOW AT BODY SHOP. *AK

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.