1999 Volkswagen PASSAT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
621 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 391 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module is the most frequently named component, appearing in 66 of 621 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 244 | 39.3% |
| Steering behavior | 55 | 8.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 27 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 23 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 66 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 46 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 37 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 36 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 29 |
| Suspension:Front | 27 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 66; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 46; Suspension:Front:Control Arm: 37; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 36; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 32; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 29; Suspension:Front: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 45 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 128 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 110 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 74 |
| 150,000 and above | 18 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 45; 50,000 to 74,999: 128; 75,000 to 99,999: 110; 100,000 to 149,999: 74; 150,000 and above: 18
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (128). 230 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 40 |
| 2001 | 48 |
| 2002 | 54 |
| 2003 | 77 |
| 2004 | 108 |
| 2005 | 101 |
| 2006 | 56 |
| 2007 | 43 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 40; 2001: 48; 2002: 54; 2003: 77; 2004: 108; 2005: 101; 2006: 56; 2007: 43; 2008: 51; 2009: 18; 2010: 6; 2011: 7; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 244 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003694 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020036 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER. THE CONSUMER REMOVED ABOUT 5 CUPS OF WATER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018560 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, OUR 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DEVELOPED A DISTINCT CREAK. THE CREAK HAS BECOME VERY PRONOUNCED. OUR DEALER HAS ADVISED US THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR'S CONTROL ARM, AND THAT THE DEFECT IS PREVALENT IN 1999 PASSATS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DEFECT CAN LEAD TO A LOSS OF STEERING CAPACITY. THIS WILL COST US APPROXIMATELY $1,000 TO FIX. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031369 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BELOW , HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. NHTSA: RECALL 00-V-414-000: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031369 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005440 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
I HAD SMELLED HOT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FOR ABOUT A WEEK PRYOR TO LOOSING MY LIGHTS, HORN, TURN SIGNALS, TAIL LIGHTS, HEATER FAN, AND WIPERS. IT ENDED UP BEING THE IGNSION SWITCH ONCE REPACED THE SURGE OF ELECTRICITY CAUSED A SHORT UNDER MY DASH.
Owner-reported narrative. 109,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010747 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007098 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034386 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL 01V157000 RELATED TO THE FUEL GAUGE. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THAT THERE WAS MORE FUEL THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE TANK WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *NLM *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013883 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
I HAVE A 1999 VW PASSAT, 1.8L TURBOCHARGED, MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE 40,500 MILES ON THE CLOCK. ONE OF THE 4 IGNITION COILS JUST FAILED. THIS IS COSTING ME ABOUT $550. I KNOW THERE ARE ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH THE COILS ON LATER MODELS, WHICH VW IS 'RECALLING', BUT WANTED TO REGISTER MY PROBLEM FOR THE RECORD. ALSO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE 40,000 MILE SERVICE AND STATE INSPECTION, WHICH I FIND 'IRONIC'?
Owner-reported narrative. 40,653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092944 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN CONSUMER CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL IT WAS DOWN A QUART OF A QUART OF OIL. A QUART OF OIL WAS ADDED. OIL LIGHT COME BACK ON AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHIN SECONDS OF RESTARTING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD SHUT AND WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FUEL PUMP FAILURE. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AT 58, 510 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE WERE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T …
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175852 · 2006-12-11 (December 11, 2006)
1) CAR STALLS OR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. 2) CAR HAS STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND OTHER UNSAFE PLACES. 3) FUEL PUMP IS FAILING AND WILL BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10175852 at NHTSA ↗