Issue ID | 543487 |
Internal NHTSA # | 10122143 |
Manufacurer | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
Brand | VOLKSWAGEN |
Model | PASSAT |
Model Year | 1998 |
File date | 24/05/05 |
Component | SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGH |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | Our 1998 volkswagen passat gls 4 cylinder sedan (80k miles) had intermittent warning lights go on for the abs system and the brakes. The manual states that when the warning lights go on the abs system is disabled and that the car should be serviced immediately. There was no regular pattern to the lights coming on, but once it started it happened virtually every trip at different times. I drove for about a week with the light on with no apparent loss of braking ability. I did experience a failure of the abs system while the light was on (on a hill on a rainy day) and so determined it should be repaired. We took the car in to the local dealership and they could not diagnose the problem until the warning lights were on. We came back with the warning lights on and they told us we needed to replace the abs control module at a cost of $2600. We went ahead and did the repair. We did not keep the previous part. We are distressed that a single part from a safety system is so expensive and that the problem is widespread in audis and vws. Visit any online car forum and it is filled with stories of this repair. Because this is a safety issue i feel volkswagen be alerted to this issue and a formal complaint should be registered about this safety system malfunction. |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 79890 |
Number of Occurences | 1 |
Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
City and State | SEATTLE, WA |
VIN pattern | WVWMA63B7WEXXXXXX |
Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
Was incedent reported to police? | N |
Was medical attention required? | |
Was part original equipment? | |
No. of injured persons | 0 |
No. of fatalities | 0 |
Date of purchase | 10/06/01 |
Was original owner? | N |
Anti-lock brakes | Y |
Cruise control | Y |
Number of cylinders | 4 |
Drive train type | FWD |
Transmission type | MAN |
Vehicle speed | 20 |
DoT tire identifier | |
Tire size | |
Location of tire code | |
Type of tire failure code | |
Was defective tire repaired? | |
Date of manufacture | |
Type of child seat code | |
Type of restraint | |
Dealer's name | UNIVERSITY VOLKSWAGEN |
Dealer's telephone number | 206-634-3322 |
Dealer's city | SEATTLE |
Dealer's state code | WA |
Dealer's ZIP code | 98105 |