1997 Volkswagen Passat problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ERUPTED SPONTANEOUSLY INSIDE THE DASHBOARD WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE WIRES TO MELT AND THE WINDSHIELD TO FRACTURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA WHERE THE IGNITION WAS LOCATED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATED 6/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRE OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF THE IGNITION AND LOCKING COMPONENTS WERE SERVICE, REPLACED AND REMOVED 15 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OR HEADLIGHTS, THEY FAILED TO TURN ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE GARAGE AND THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES. THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED AT 42,000 MILES AND THE TURBO CHARGE IS CURRENTLY FAILING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIRS COST MORE THAN THE ACTUAL PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE TURBO CHARGE. THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST $1,000. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 03/18/08. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR”

“DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM HAS REPEATED FAILURES DESPITE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR ON SIX OCCASIONS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE THE WINDOW MUST BE CLOSED BY GRASPING THE GLASS AND MANIPULATING IT WHICH CAN RESULT IN FINGERS BEING TRAPPED AND BROKEN. ALSO, ONCE THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED, THE WINDOW MAY DROP DOWN INTO THE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION, OR FAIL TO OPEN IN AN EMERGENCY PRECLUDING AN ESCAPE PATH. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY FAULTY DOOR LATCH MECHANISM ACTUATORS WHICH PRECLUDE DOOR OPENING FROM OUTSIDE BY RESCUE PERSONNEL. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ROLL PIN SLIPPING OUT OF THE DOOR LATCH TRIGGER MECHANISM CAUSING FAILURE OF AND BINDING OF THE LINKAGE WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATING MECHANISM TO FAIL, TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT PER THE GE INFORMATION SERVICES, JAPAN ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK”

“ON TOP OF ALL THE CHRONIC DESIGN AND OTHER FAILURES THAT HAVE BEEN ENDURED, ADD THE FOLLOWING : DRIVERS OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR - LENS FALLS OFF ON OWN ACCORD. ALSO, ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY SAFETY RELATED - PASSENGER SIDE VISOR PLASTIC HOLES BROKE OUT SO SCREWS WILL NOT HOLD VISOR IN PLACE. *LA”

“DT: GOODYEAR TIRES EAGLE GPS , SIZE 195/60/R14 EXPERIENCED A LARGE CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY AROUND LEFT FRONT TIRE RIM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER, AND THEY URGED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE TIRE TO SEARS BECAUSE THESE TIRES CAME ON A USED VEHICLE, THESE WERE NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO SEARS, WHO REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY 1,000 MILES AND HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THEM. THE OTHER TIRES WERE ALSO CRACKED. THE SERVICE MAN AT SEARS ASKED THE CONSUMER TO RETURN THE NEXT DAY AND HE WOULD REPLACE THE OTHER TIRES. BUT WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED THE NEXT DAY A DIFFERENT PERSON WAS WORKING AND SAID THESE WERE NOT SEAR'S TIRES BUT SAMATAEA'S CLUB TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO SAMATAEA'S CLUB TO REPLACE ALL TIRES AND RETURN THE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TIRE TO SEARS. SAMATAEA'S CLUB WOULD NOT HONOR THE TIRE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS NOT A MEMBER, AND THAT WAS PART OF THEIR POLICY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GOODYEAR, AND THEY SAID IT WAS UP TO SAMATAEA'S CLUB AS TO HOW THOSE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAVE HARDLY ANY WEAR BUT CONTINUE TO CRACK. CURRENTLY ON THE SIDEWALL THE…”