Issue ID | 487236 |
Internal NHTSA # | 10075375 |
Manufacurer | Volkswagen of America, Inc. |
Brand | VOLKSWAGEN |
Model | PASSAT |
Model Year | 1998 |
File date | 10/03/04 |
Component | SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM |
Product type code | VEHICLE |
Description of the problem | Our 1998 passat has only 50,000 miles on it, and yet all of the expensive front control arms are starting to go bad. They are getting play in the ball joints, which are only replaceable by replacing the whole control arms. Since there are a total of 8 control arms, the cost of repair is potentially very high. And if they are not replaced, the potential for hazard and injury becomes very great if the joints get so sloppy that they affect the handling of the car and eventually come apart. Vw should not be allowed to get away with building such an under-engineered suspension system.*ak |
Vehicle Mileage at Failure | 50000 |
Number of Occurences | 4 |
Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
City and State | MADISON, WI |
VIN pattern | WVWMA63B4WEXXXXXX |
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 | |
No. of fatalities | |
Date of purchase | 20/01/04 |
Was original owner? | N |
Anti-lock brakes | Y |
Cruise control | Y |
Number of cylinders | 4 |
Drive train type | FWD |
Transmission type | MAN |
Vehicle speed | |
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 | |
Dealer's telephone number | |
Dealer's city | |
Dealer's state code | |
Dealer's ZIP code |