Other Engine Info: Gasoline(50-st);Emissions Certification Test Group:HVGAV02.0VPD
Federal/California Emission Standard:IntT3 Bin 30/LEVII PZEV
Other Restraint System Info: Advanced Front Airbags
Plant City: Chattanooga
Plant Country: United States (USA)
Plant State: Tennessee
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: 1.8 TSI S
TPMS: Indirect
Transmission Speeds: 6
Transmission Style: Automatic
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
1999
SEATS
WHEN GETTING IN TO MY 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT THE SEAT BASE CAME LOOSE AND TIPPED ME AND THE SEAT BACK AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. THERE HAD BEEN NO PREVIOUS WARNING WITH THE SEAT SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING OR ANY CREAKING NOISES. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULD HAVE EASILY CRASHED WITH THE SEVERE RECLINE OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AND ASKED IF I'D EVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BREAKAGE. "NO" WAS MY RESPONSE. THEIR BILL FOR A REPLACEMENT WAS FOR OVER $800 SO I CALLED VWOA AND SPOKE WITH ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMER CARE PERSONNEL ABOUT THE HIGH PRICE AND IF THEY'D HELP WITH ANY OF THE COST EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "NO". THE CAR WAS REPAIRED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET AND A NEWER MODEL SEAT BASE WAS INSTALLED THAT WAS OF AN OBVIOUS REDESIGN. (I GUESS THEY THOUGHT THE OLD ONE WAS INFERIOR BUT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE TO LET ANYONE KNOW ABOUT.) *NM