Consumer Complaint Detail

VOLKSWAGEN / PASSAT / 1999

Recalls
1 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
No Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 007096693 Incident Date: Feb, 05 2007
Consumer's City: MIDDLETON Consumer's State: WI
Vehicle Transmission Type: MAN Manufacturers Name: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Model Name: PASSAT Model Year: 1999
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No Component's Description: Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No Persons Injured: 1
Vehicle's VIN#: WVWMD63B8XE Date added to File: May, 23 2021
Date Complaint Received: Feb, 26 2007 Complaint Type: IVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: No Purchase Date: Jul, 25 1999
Was Original Owner: Yes Anti-lock Brakes: Yes
Number of Cylinders: 6 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: While having new tires installed on my vehicle approximately one year ago (not at my vw dealer), i was informed that my tie rod ends were "loose" and required replacement. three weeks ago, i brought my vehicle in to my dealer to have the cv joints replaced, and to have the tie rod ends inspected. the dealer confirmed the previous diagnosis, adding that the tie rod ends were now "dangerously loose." i proceeded to have them replaced at a cost of approx. $700 including the front-end alignment that necessitated. i had done some research on the internet and learned that the tie rod ends had had two recalls for my model year vehicle. however, my dealership service manager told me unequivocally "there was no recall" on my tie rod ends for this vehicle. subsequent research on the nhtsa web site revealed that my vin number falls slightly outside the vin ranges covered by the two recalls. as a mechanical engineer, and as a matter of common sense, it seems utterly unreasonable for such a critical (steering) component to have failed in such a short period of time. a review of the facts involved in the above recalls, it is obvious that vw's design was defective for the recall class, and certainly seems to have remained defective on vehicles produced after the recall vin range covered under the recalls. unfortunately, i failed to have the dealer provide me with the replaced components. *nm