If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
1998-2000 passat lower control arm recall
We got a recall letter from VWoA about 1998-2000 Passats, wear on the
front suspension lower control arms, check and possibly replace them. Says they can be worn even if rubber boots are not damaged, then if rubber boots are damaged, blah, blah,.... Anyone have any experience with that? Thanks. Frank |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for posting this request; my parents received this letter, too
and didn't know what to do. And I'm curious, too. Before you take your car in for work, you should consider that there's something very fishy about this "recall". First of all, you may have noticed the other stuff in the envelope included a "reimbursement" form. If you read the recall letter and this form carefully, you will see that you are going to be expected to pay for the repair work, for which you will be reimbursed (later, after having sent in the form) only if you can prove that you have rigorously maintained the car according to VW's service schedule. You must have saved all receipts, and they must be for exactly the recommended services (or maybe more service, presumably), or you'll get nothing. My parents more than the required number of services, though not at the specified intervals. It would be very easy to say they didn't meet the reimbursement requirements. My understanding is that work for legitimate vehicle safety recalls is always free, so right off the bat, I'm suspicious. But to add to my suspicion, I could find no mention of this problem on either consumerreports.org or the NHSTA web site (there were four Passat recalls listed, all of them fairly old, and none of them matching the description in this letter). There was no safety recall information of any kind available on the VW web site (they just don't seem to make this available). I have not called VW to ask about this letter, but I strongly suspect that (1) it's at most voluntary, and (2) it's somewhat of a scam to make some money. If there were a legitimate safety issue, they could not handle it this way (i.e., by requiring up-front payment with stringent conditions for reimbursement). If anyone gets around to finding out more about this, please let us know. Until then, I've advised my parents to save the letter, but do nothing. Rose |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks for posting this request; my parents received this letter, too
and didn't know what to do. And I'm curious, too. Before you take your car in for work, you should consider that there's something very fishy about this "recall". First of all, you may have noticed the other stuff in the envelope included a "reimbursement" form. If you read the recall letter and this form carefully, you will see that you are going to be expected to pay for the repair work, for which you will be reimbursed (later, after having sent in the form) only if you can prove that you have rigorously maintained the car according to VW's service schedule. You must have saved all receipts, and they must be for exactly the recommended services (or maybe more service, presumably), or you'll get nothing. My parents more than the required number of services, though not at the specified intervals. It would be very easy to say they didn't meet the reimbursement requirements. My understanding is that work for legitimate vehicle safety recalls is always free, so right off the bat, I'm suspicious. But to add to my suspicion, I could find no mention of this problem on either consumerreports.org or the NHSTA web site (there were four Passat recalls listed, all of them fairly old, and none of them matching the description in this letter). There was no safety recall information of any kind available on the VW web site (they just don't seem to make this available). I have not called VW to ask about this letter, but I strongly suspect that (1) it's at most voluntary, and (2) it's somewhat of a scam to make some money. If there were a legitimate safety issue, they could not handle it this way (i.e., by requiring up-front payment with stringent conditions for reimbursement). If anyone gets around to finding out more about this, please let us know. Until then, I've advised my parents to save the letter, but do nothing. Rose |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
OK, here's some more info: Of the recalls shown on the NHSTA web site,
two involve tie-rod wear, and although they are old, could be the ones referred to in this letter. They are 99V248000 and 00V414000. However, according to the info on the NHSTA web site, VW is required to replace the tie rods for free. I don't believe that you would have to prove that you had regular service in order to get reimbursed. There's a number to call at VW (1-800-822-8987) and another to call at the NHSTA if you can't get what you need from VW (1-888-327-4236). Hope this helps. Rose |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
OK, here's some more info: Of the recalls shown on the NHSTA web site,
two involve tie-rod wear, and although they are old, could be the ones referred to in this letter. They are 99V248000 and 00V414000. However, according to the info on the NHSTA web site, VW is required to replace the tie rods for free. I don't believe that you would have to prove that you had regular service in order to get reimbursed. There's a number to call at VW (1-800-822-8987) and another to call at the NHSTA if you can't get what you need from VW (1-888-327-4236). Hope this helps. Rose |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
OK, final post.
Called DOT NHTSA: recalls are free. There's no way they should get charged for required work. Called VW: the recall is legitimate. They will inspect lower tie rods and replace for free if there's too much wear. However, they will charge if the owner can't produce a maintenance receipt for the service where they would've inspected the tie rods after the recall was issued. Frankly, I can't see how they can charge. I mean, I really don't understand the logic, here. If anyone believes they understand how VW can require you to pay if you can't prove you had it inspected, please let me know. Rose |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
OK, final post.
Called DOT NHTSA: recalls are free. There's no way they should get charged for required work. Called VW: the recall is legitimate. They will inspect lower tie rods and replace for free if there's too much wear. However, they will charge if the owner can't produce a maintenance receipt for the service where they would've inspected the tie rods after the recall was issued. Frankly, I can't see how they can charge. I mean, I really don't understand the logic, here. If anyone believes they understand how VW can require you to pay if you can't prove you had it inspected, please let me know. Rose |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
"Rose Faex" > wrote in message om... > OK, final post. > > Called DOT NHTSA: recalls are free. There's no way they should get > charged for required work. > > Called VW: the recall is legitimate. They will inspect lower tie rods > and replace for free if there's too much wear. However, they will > charge if the owner can't produce a maintenance receipt for the > service where they would've inspected the tie rods after the recall > was issued. > > Frankly, I can't see how they can charge. I mean, I really don't > understand the logic, here. If anyone believes they understand how VW > can require you to pay if you can't prove you had it inspected, please > let me know. > The reimbursement form is for those who already paid to have the work done before the recall was issued. I. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Rose Faex" > wrote in message om... > OK, final post. > > Called DOT NHTSA: recalls are free. There's no way they should get > charged for required work. > > Called VW: the recall is legitimate. They will inspect lower tie rods > and replace for free if there's too much wear. However, they will > charge if the owner can't produce a maintenance receipt for the > service where they would've inspected the tie rods after the recall > was issued. > > Frankly, I can't see how they can charge. I mean, I really don't > understand the logic, here. If anyone believes they understand how VW > can require you to pay if you can't prove you had it inspected, please > let me know. > The reimbursement form is for those who already paid to have the work done before the recall was issued. I. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
That's how I read it too. It looks like owners got the notice before the
dealers did. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
A6 Recall (lower control arms) question | Bruce W. Ellis | Audi | 6 | December 17th 04 08:55 PM |
2000 Passat instrument cluster electrical short + smoke! | Martin Mainfeld | VW water cooled | 5 | October 7th 04 03:45 PM |
What brand of synthetic oil for 2000 Passat 1.8T ? | Dave | VW water cooled | 9 | October 1st 04 03:03 AM |
VW Passat Recall - Front suspension arm | gbnews | Audi | 0 | July 13th 04 09:33 PM |