1999 Volkswagen Passat Transmission Problems

AFTER STARTING AND BEGINNING MOTION THERE'S A SLOWING IN MOTION AS THOUGH THE BRAKES HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY TAPPED OR AS THOUGH THE ABS HAD TOLD THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER TO SLOW DOWN. GAS CONSUMPTION WAS 16MPG. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS ONE TECH LISTENED TO ME, ADJUSTED THE 'FEEDBACK' FROM ABS TO THE TRANSMISSION MODULE COMPUTER AND THE SENSATION OF BRAKED SLOWING WAS GONE! AND THE GAS CONSUMPTION BECAME 19MPG! SEVERAL YEARS LATER MY DOOR LOCKS SHORTED OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER DESTROYING TWO BATTERIES. THE TECH THEN REPORTED THAT HE HAD REPROGRAMMED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO 'FACTORY SPECS' AT THAT POINT THE 'SLOWING (BRAKED)' PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE GAS CONSUMPTION DROPPED BACK TO 16 MPG. HOW CAN I GET THE CAR READJUSTED TO GET RID OF THE 'SLOWING' PROBLEM AND RETURN TO 19MPG GAS USAGE??? [XXX] , [XXX] MY DEALER IS :CARTER VOLKSWAGEN,SEATTLE, WA MY E-MAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PRIOR, AND BOTH OCCURRENCES TOOK PLACE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. TWO YEARS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AGAIN AFTER A STORM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,859 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

WATER IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, FROM ANY SOURCE (INCLUDING THE SUNROOF DRAINS THAT WERE RECALLED BUT NOT EFFECTIVELY FIXED) OR SNOW FROM BOOTS THAT HAS MELTED... DRAINS TO THE LOWEST POINT, WHICH IS WHERE VW PUT THE TCM (AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO MOISTURE) THIS CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SLAM INTO LIMP MODE AT 65 MPH WITH 2 KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT. VOLKSWAGEN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS ARE THOUSANDS OF 1500$ POORER VW OWNERS WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE TCM AND HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

PURCHASED A 99 VW PASSAT WAGON FROM A VIRGINIA DEALER IN NOV 2004 MILEAGE 47.5K . THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT/MODULE HAS NOW COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS EXPENSIVE ($1300) CIRCUIT BOARD IS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT IS IN A NON-DRAINING WELL IN THE FLOOR PAN UNDER THE CARPETING AND PADDING. IT IS IN NO WAY SEALED OR WATERPROOFED TO PREVENT CORROSION FROM CONDENSATION OR FAILURE FROM WATER BUILDUP IN THE AREA. NORMAL USE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER ALLOWS DROPS OF WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THIS AREA . ONCE THE WATER GETS TO THE AREA WHERE THE TCU IS LOCATED IT REMAINS THERE. WHATEVER EVAPORATION THAT DOES OCCUR JUST INCREASES THE HUMIDITY AROUND THE TCU, IT THEN CONDENSES ON THE COLD METAL FLOOR PAN OR THE TCU AND DRAINS BACK INTO THE WELL THE TCU IS IN. SINCE IT IS UNDER THE CARPET AND THE PADDING ONE CANNOT SEE OR EASILY DETECT THAT WATER OR EVEN JUST A DAMPNESS EXISTS HERE. THE TCU CORRODES UNTIL IT FAILS, WHEN IT FAILS THE VEHICLE IS UNDRIVEABLE AND MUST THEN BE TOWED TO A VW DEALER. THERE IS NO DIAGNOSTIC DATA AVAILABLE THAT WOULD ALLOW A REGULAR GARAGE TO REPAIR IT. EVEN GC VOLKSWAGEN REQUESTED 3 HRS OF DIAGNOSTIC TIME. THEIR FINAL CHARGE WAS 3.5 HRS TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE TCU. A 12 MONTH/12000 MILE WARRANTY WAS GIVEN EXCEPT FOR FAILURE DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THIS MEANS ANY USE OF THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF A TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROLLED ENCLOSURE. I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WILL FAIL AGAIN AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO PREVENT IT. BY THE TIME ONE DISCOVERS WATER IN THE AREA THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE. VW WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIRS OR ISSUE A SOLUTION TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TCU. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT EFFECTS EVERY 1.8T W/ TIPTRONIC AUTO TRANSMISSION. VW IS ENDANGERING PEOPLES LIVES AND COSTING PEOPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DUE TO THE POOR PLACEMENT OF THIS COMPONENT. OUTSIDE INFLUENCE IS A SCAM TO DENY PAYMENT. I WOULD NOT BUY A CAR I COULDN'T DRIVE OUTSIDE- WOULD YOU? *JB

FOR: 99 VOLKSWAGON PASSAT WAGON WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE PARKING IN FRONT OF A BANK, IN A SUDDEN THE CAR SHOKE VIOLENTLY; WE STOPPED WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF... THE CAR WAS SHAKING VERY HARD STILL. WE THEN HAD THIS CAR DIAGNOZED AT A FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER NEARBY. AFTER A DAY, THE MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THERE'S MISFIRING IN CYLINDER 2, AND IT'S COMMON THING IN PASSAT (I DID NOT KNOW THIS UNTIL THEN), BUT VW NEVER ISSUED A RECALL. SO THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE THE CAR FOR AN EXTRA DAY SO THEY COULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER DAY PASSED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME; THEY TRIED TO REPLACE THE COIL, IT'S STILL MISFIRING, AND THEY MENTIONED MORE TRIALS, BUT THOSE WERE NOT GOOD TOO. THEY SUGGESTED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONE HOUR BEFORE I WROTE THIS TO NHTSA, I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND I FOUND SIMILAR OCCURANCES OF MISFIRING FROM CYLINDERS, AND A FEW HAS THE SAME TYPE: 99 PASSAT. HERE IS WHAT I HAD FOUND: 1. HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_COILS.HTML 2. HTTP://EXPERTS.ABOUT.COM/Q/801/4003867.HTM 3. HTTP://WWW.TOPGEAR.COM/CONTENT/FEATURES/STORIES/FAQ/01/MODULES/02_ENGINE/17/ 4. HTTP://WWW.AUTOMOTIVEHELPER.COM/TOPIC291366.HTM 'BOSCHMANN' "NORTH AMERICAN MODELS HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CRACKS FORMING IN THE IGNITION COIL." 5. HTTP://INMYEXPERIENCE.COM/ARCHIVES/000213.SHTML VERY RESOURCEFUL, MORE PEOPLE WRITE THEIR CONCERNS OF MISFIRING. 6. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_23919.HTML .... AND MORE. WHEN THE FIRST IT HAPPENED, I THOUGHT WE JUST HIT AND RAN OVER SOMETHING... I WAS ALREADY IN THE PARKING LOT OF A BANK. STO I PARKED AND LOOKED 30 FT AWAY TO WHERE THE FIRST SHAKE HAPPENED... NOTHING THERE. THEREFORE, I WOULD REQUEST NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION FOR THIS MATTER. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, I WILL BE BEST TO BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL. SINCERELY, EDWARD YAHYA

CLUNKING NOISES HEARD WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR AND MOVING FORWARD-NOT HEARD IN REVERSE. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY FORWARD GEARS, IT WOULD ONLY SHIFT IN REVERSE. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIRE. *NM THE UNIT SITS BENEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN WATER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SUNROOF DRAINS WHICH CAUSED RAIN WATER TO COLLECT AND POOL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB

WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT A BOLT SHEARED OFF INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM

AT JUST UNDER 60K MILES THE CLUTCH ON MY 1999 VOLKSWAGON GLS V6 PASSAT BLEW. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE IMPENDING DIFFICULTY. THIS CAR WAS TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. ON THE HIGH END THE COST OF THE REPAIR HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT $2,200.00 AS THE BLOWN CLUTCH MAY HAVE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FLYWHEEL WICH IS A $750.00 PLUS PART. THE VOLKSWAGON DEALER WILL OFFER A 20% DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIR AS THIS VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED IN 2/03 WITH LESS THAN 52K MILES. VOLKSWAGON OF AMERICA WILL OFFER NO ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER AS THE CLUTCH IS DEEMED A WEAR-AND- TEAR ITEM.

THE CAR IS ON IT'S SECOND TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 47000 MILES, AND HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEAR AND CLUNKS SOMETIMES. HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK FOR FIRST 4 MONTHS WE OWNED THE CAR. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. SUNROOF OPENS AND CLOSES BY ITSELF. DEALERSHIPS HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. MAP LIGHT HAS STARTED TO DO THE SAME. INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF. DEALER SAYS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING ON THESE CARS AND THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *NLM

I WAS HEADING HOME AND BARELY ON THE TURNPIKE, WHEN I HEARD A BIG BANG AND I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS ANYMORE. I HAD SOME TROUBLE TO GET MY CAR THROUGH THE TRAFFIC FROM THE HIGH-SPEED LEFT LANE TO A SAFE SPOT AND CALLED THE TOWING SERVICE. I WAS ABOUT 140 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND THE COST, AFTER THE ROADSIDE INSURANCE PAID ITS PART, WAS $400. AS IT TURNS OUT, THE PRESSURE PLATE OF THE CLUTCH BROKE INTO 3 PIECES. I WAS VERY LUCKY, AND SO WERE THE DRIVERS AROUND ME, THAT THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED SINCE THE BROKEN PIECES COULD HAVE EASILY TURNED INTO MISSILES, NOT TO MENTION THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SINCE THE MILEAGE IS STILL VERY LOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE DEFECT IS SO UNUSUAL AND THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF SUCH A FAILURE ARE SO DANGEROUS THAT MANUFACTURER DOES BEAR A CONTINUED RESPONSIBILITY. ON 2/18/03 I INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT I EXPECTED THEM TO CONFIRM REIMBURSING ME FULLY FOR THE $400 TOWING COST AND TO BEAR AT LEAST HALF OF THE COST OF $912 FOR REPLACING THE CLUTCH, $456. I ALSO OFFERED TO SEND COPIES OF THE RECEIPTS. THE BROKEN PARTS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED IF YOU WHISH AT MY RESIDENCE OR AT A CONVENIENTLY LOCATED PLACE OF YOUR CHOICE. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY ACKNOWLEDGED ON 2/19/03 RECEIPT OF MY EMAIL AND PROMISED ACTION WITHIN 48 HRS., THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THEREFORE, I WILL HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS PROBLEM, RATHER THAN BEING A FREAK EXCEPTION, IS RATHER A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AND THEREFORE I FEEL THAT IT IS MY OBLIGATION TO GO PUBLIC WITH THE CASE, SO THAT AS MANY CONSUMERS AS POSSIBLE CAN BE PROTECTED FROM A SIMILAR DANGEROUS EVENT WHILE DRIVING A VOLKSWAGEN.*JB

CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSING POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT AND SEVERE INJURY. UPON INSPECTION, FOUND THAT CLUTCH HYDRAULIC HOSE ON THE V6 PASSAT IS INSTALLED SUCH THAT IT RESTS ON AN ADJACENT HOSE. THIS CAUSES ABRASION TO THE HOSE AND ULTIMATELY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS IN MY OPINION IS A DESIGN / WORKMANSHIP DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. MR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH GEAR WILL AUTOMATICLY GO INTO NEUTRAL AND SUDDENLY WILL SWITCH BACK INTO A LOWER GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TRHEE DIFERENT TIMES TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM STILL THERE.*AK

CAR WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR DUE TO FAILURE OF THE COMPUTERIZED CONTROL MODULE. DEALERSHIP CLAIM PROBLEM IS DUE TO RAIN AND WILL NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY. (POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS 100,000 MILES, AND CARE ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES).*AK

CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER OVER 12 TIMES FOR CLUTCH RELATED PROBLEMS. CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR, SLAVE CYL LEAK, CLUTCH REPLACED TWICE AND SLAVE CYL REPLACED THREE TIMES. LEAK DESTROYED INSIDE DASH, DEALER REF TO FIX. ELECTRICAL PROBS IN DASH, CRACKLING NOISE HEARD. BRAKE LINE AND SLAVE CYL PROBLEMS. PERSUING LEMON LAW (SUIT FILED).

I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AT 20,000 MILES AND AT 40,000 MILE THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS VERY HARSHLY AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THIS IS NORMAL??? AND IF I WANTED THEM TO LOOK AT IT, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT UP-FRONT, AND THAT THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT ONLY IF THEY FOUND SOMETHING WRONG. THE SUNROOF HAS A "BROKEN TRACK" AFTER 40,000 MI. IT COSTS MORE TO FIX IT THAN IT DID TO BUY IT! IS THIS A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT ALL VW'S?

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 5-10-MPH, JUST MOVING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND CLUTCH WENT OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. DEALER DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH WAS BAD, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT. *AK *JB

VEHICLE HAD A RECALL ON BEARINGS WICH WOULD CAUSE ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. ALSO,WOULD CAUSE TIRE PROBLEMS. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET. *AK

WHILE MAKING A 180% TURN LEFT VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED. CONSUMER GOT OUT, AND WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY OFF DUE TO TRANSAXLE BREAKING. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND MANUFACTURER TRIED TO TELL CONSUMER THAT IT WAS HER FAULT. CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO USE WARRANTY. *AK

SPEEDOMETER AND TACOMETER WILL PERIODICALLY NOT LIGHT UP. THEY START TO FLICKER AND GO OUT. SPEEDOMETER AND TACOMETER WILL NOT LIGHT UP UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. DEALER HAS NOT PROVIDED A REMEDY, AND HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT A REMEDY WILL NOT BE ISSUED UNTIL MATTER WAS CONSTANT.*AK

THERE WAS A CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH WITH NO SIGN OF PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FAILURE.NOTE CAR HAD ROUTINE SERVICE FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO FAILURE. *AK

COLD ENGINE HESITATION CAUSING CAR TO DOWNSHIFT, AS IF YOU WERE APPLYING BRAKES, FORCING YOU TO ACCELERATE

TRANSMISION FAILS TO SHIFT FROM LOWER GEARS, CAUSING CAR TO LOOSE SPEED AND BREAK PEDAL GETS EXTREMELY HARD, I HAVE MADE OTHER VEHICLES MAKE SUDDEN STOPS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING, I CAN ONLY DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I CAN'T KEEP RISKING MY LIFE, I NEED YOUR ADVICE.

CLUTCH SYSTEM UTILIZES A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OF PRESSURE WHICH IS SHARED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESERVOIR, VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITH A LEAKING SLAVE CYLINDER AND FAULTY PRESSURE LINE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CLUTCH OPERATION AND BRAKE FLUID LOSS. MJS

CLUTCH - THE CLUTCH REMAINED DEPRESSED TO FLOORBOARD EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR REMAINED ENGAGED! THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION! ELECTRICAL FIRE - THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER THE HOOD CAUGHT FIRE BURNING THE CAR TO THE GROUND.. THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW AND EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS WITHIN 1 WEEK OF DELIVERY TO CUSTOMER...