Eight problems related to suspension noise have been reported for the 1998 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
1)trunk light stopped working just past the warranty period, wiring problem, cost to repair $200. 2)abs light flashes continuously, about 1 year now,dealer gets 3 pages of diagnostic error messages. Can't determine problem with light but abs is supposedly working. Cost: 3days car rental, and $300 out of pocket. 3)front end suspension: crunching noise and bounce. Bounce corrected-dealer replaced stablizer bar, $284. Noise continues(6 months), dealer can't determine problem. Getting worse, afraid front end will crash into ground. 4)timing belt broke, dealer replaced engine at no cost. 5)engine replacement caused problem with radio. Radio will not accept code. Needs to be replaced. 6)rear driver side window will not go down when indicated, falls down a few minutes later. Also, door will not open when unlocked. 7)sometimes the ignition switch will not turn when starting car.
Front suspension made very annoying creaking sound.
Quadra-link suspension produces metalic rubbing noise with vehicle motion. Dealer has diagnosed problem as quadra-link suspension failure based on inspection and previous experience. Dealer has indicated that left side is also likely to fail and that any repair does not guarantee a recurent future failure. Vw corporation has refused financial assistance in repairing problem. Nhtsa lists numerous customer complaints for this same problem. Customers position is that a part as basic as this should never fail and this represents a faulty original design.
Heard suspension type noise when exiting vehicle and pushing on front end. Dealer only charged me 50% on parts since it shouldn't have failed so soon.
Suspension now makes loud noises, indicating imminent failure.
Vechicle was at dealer for 30 days on final attempt to repair the suspension noise. Noise was duplicated by shop foreman, service advisor and tech. Comment from them was. . . . . . . We hear it but we don't know how to fix it. Come back when it gets worse. Only on threat of a buy back did they finally resolve the problem.
While driving, there is a looseness in the front end, consumer could hear knocking noise like metal banging against something, took to a mechanic and they replaced struts on the left side bottom of front end. Then 2 weeks later mechanic changed right side bottom, 3 weeks later the top struts were loose. Consumer feels very unsafe. Consumer had to replace the entire front suspension system.
Clunking noise from front suspension. Occurs when accelerating and braking. Also general looseness in steering that was not there when car was new. Car hard to steer straight and very susceptible to cross winds and turbulence. Dealership continues to claim that they cannot find anything wrong.