1998 Volkswagen Passat visibility problems

“SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY OPENS AND CLOSES WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN IT OPENS, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT CLOSED WITH THE SWITCH AS IT NEVER RETURNS TO A PREDICTABLE POSITION BASED ON THE MARKINGS ON THE SWITCH. ONCE OPEN, IT MAY CLOSE ITSELF AT RANDOMLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. WHEN IT IS OPEN, I'M AFRAID TO GET MY HAND NEAR IT FOR FEAR IT WILL CLOSE AND PINCH ME. IT HAS ALSO SPONTANEOUSLY OPENED DURING RAINSTORMS WHICH CAUSES ME TO DIVERT MY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE IT. THE RAIN ENTERING MY CAR WHILE IT HAPPENS IS ALSO A MAJOR DISTRACTION. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO JUST MY CAR. NEARLY EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A 98 OR 99 PASSAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR”

“I HAD THE SUNROOF OF MY 1998 PASSAT SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTER. I WAS DRIVING 60-65 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPEN. THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 37 F. THE GLASS APPEARS TO BE BLOWN OUTWARD. LUCKILY I HAD THE SUNROOF SHADE CLOSED WHICH PREVENTED ME FROM BEING SHOWERED WITH GLASS. *NM”

“WATER LEAKS INTO DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR, RELAY FAILURE AND RESULTANT DEFROSTER FAILURE. MILDEW, RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, UNCONTROLABLE SNEEZING, AND RESULTANT DIFFICULTY WITH VEHICLE CONTROL. ENTIRE CARPET REPLACEMENT. COST OVER $1000 WITH LABOR.*AK”

“NAR 04/07/2003 MR. THE TIMING BELT, CYLINDER HEADS AND THE MASS AIR FLOW HAD TO REPLACED AND THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. IN THE PAST THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS, THE SUN ROOF OPENED AND CLOSED FOR NO REASON, THE REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. *JB”

“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”

“SUNROOF MECHANISMS FRACTURED. SUNRROF STUCK OPEN IN RAIN. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WOULDN'T REPAIR FOR TWO WEEKS. TOOK CAR TO AUTO GLASS COMPANY TO HAVE SUNROOF CLOSED. MECHANIC SAID CAUSE OF BROKEN SUNROOF MECHANISM WAS MANUFACTURER DEFECT - HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE SUNROOF MECHANISMS BROKEN ON PASSATS.”