I was recently informed by a Service Rep at my local VW service facility that a block of VWs were delivered new with an error in the Owners Manual relative to the timing belt maintenance interval. And, that my car was in that interval and, as luck would have it, I was fully covered for the timing belt snap on my VW (which occurred @ approx 64,000 miles). Two weeks later, and within days of completing the repair, they are now saying that non of this will be covered since I was out of Power Train Warranty and thus, the erroneous timing belt maintenance interval no longer applies.

I looked through my owners manual and found an interval for all but my engine (one was @ 60,000 and another was @ 90,000).

Has anyone else heard if this erroneous maintenance interval for timing belts on this ventage of VW?

Hello,

I have a '99 Passat with 105K miles. I haven't had any serious problems with the car. However, I recently learned that those timing belts don't last past 70K miles. I called a local repair shop and they gasped when I told them I never have changed mine. In their experence, they usually fail before 70K miles and can cause $3000-$4000 of damage.

I'm a little apprenhsive to drive the car now, but I'm glad they gave me the warning. They sounded sincere so I'm going to have it looked at as soon as possilbe. I hope this helps someone.

Regards,
Israel Silva

most v-dubs were recomended to change at 20.000miles.but would not let this go beyond 40.000

I had my timing belt changed and it needed it. It wasn't terrible shape after 105K miles but it needed replacement. The service shop also replaced three other belts while they had it all apart. The alternator belt was in really bad shape. I'm glad I did the maintenance. They said I was "lucky". I guess if you take care of your car it will take care of you.

-Israel

feel free to email me anytime.click on email next to your smiley

israel21,click on email next to MY reply.

99 Passat 1.8 Turbo. I just got off the phone with Volkswagon USA after sending them an e-mail a couple days ago. My owners manual and the CD ROM service manual (I foolishly bought) does not list Timing Belt replcement as a manitance item. One service garage looked up a 3rd party source and found 105k miles. Other grage warned me that 70k was a better number and they had seen some trashed engines in recent months due to belt failure.

VW said 60k miles. I hope she wasn't mixed up with the TDI, as it is lised as 60k in my owners manual. Now I'm getting worried, at 65k miles. Troulble free, I might add. Dealer said ~$850, local garage $450 for the belt and tensioner replacement. Parts alone about $250.

Hello, I purchased a 99 passat. being the second owner the warranty last till 50 k miles. well at 52k miles my timing belt breaks VW does not want to help with any repairts because over it warranty period. I dished out $3500 to pay for the damages. When the car was going to be towed the driver said to me "Wait let me guest, broken timing belt Huh?' he said that he tows a few a week for the same reason. He also said the he knows some one at a VW dealer that told him that the belt tensioners were bad a causing this problem. well VW never helped I'm trying to find out what I can do about this although I have repaired the car already. Maybe getting a lawyer involved. what can you tell me. Also now my Oil light flashes after a recent oil change..
Thanks,
mike

Hello, I purchased a 99 passat. being the second owner the warranty last till 50 k miles. well at 52k miles my timing belt breaks VW does not want to help with any repairts because over it warranty period. I dished out $3500 to pay for the damages. When the car was going to be towed the driver said to me "Wait let me guest, broken timing belt Huh?' he said that he tows a few a week for the same reason. He also said the he knows some one at a VW dealer that told him that the belt tensioners were bad a causing this problem. well VW never helped I'm trying to find out what I can do about this although I have repaired the car already. Maybe getting a lawyer involved. what can you tell me. Also now my Oil light flashes after a recent oil change..
Thanks,
mike

The sad thing is VW has a 100k mile drive train warrenty - but only for the original owner. It would not cover belt replacement- but would cover valve, etc, replacement. The VW web site has and e-mail to customer service that really works. A person will call you in a day or two. He/She will be very low level type but you should ask to kick it up to an manager, or higher. They should really do something about this, as the owners manual, at least mine. did not even have a mileage listed for matainance on the timing belt. If they feel there is about to be big PR problem then ......... I'll help you write letters to editors.

Is this a problem with all year Passats? Im looking to buy one but this sounds pretty bad!

I have 65k miles on my 99 Passat with no troubles. So I recommend it. This issue is something VW should (but probably won't) address. All most all cars have timing belts that need replacement and will cause big damage if they break. A very few have timing chains. VW 1.8 Tubo has a Belt TENSIONER problem that (I assume) is fixed with later models. jim

Here is web site to ask VW a question. Scroll down to Customer Care. http://www.vw.com/VwSFB/index

Hi,

I had the same thing happen to me. I have a 1998 Passat 1.8T with 62K miles and the timing belt tensioner failed, resulting in serious damage to the engine. As a result, I will need a new engine! I understand that the timing belt is supposed to be changed at 90K? So this should definitely not happen at 62k miles! I'm going to try to get in touch with VW to see what they say. I am not the original owner, so it is no longer under warranty.

Regards,
Jeff

Hello, I purchased a 99 passat. being the second owner the warranty last till 50 k miles. well at 52k miles my timing belt breaks VW does not want to help with any repairts because over it warranty period. I dished out $3500 to pay for the damages. When the car was going to be towed the driver said to me "Wait let me guest, broken timing belt Huh?' he said that he tows a few a week for the same reason. He also said the he knows some one at a VW dealer that told him that the belt tensioners were bad a causing this problem. well VW never helped I'm trying to find out what I can do about this although I have repaired the car already. Maybe getting a lawyer involved. what can you tell me. Also now my Oil light flashes after a recent oil change..
Thanks,
mike

i can only repeat what i said earlier,earlier vws had a check/change at 20000 miles.crucial on these. dont let them go beyond 40000 without having them checked/changed.BE WARNED,some get away with it.you and others didnt!!!

Hi,

I had the same thing happen to me. I have a 1998 Passat 1.8T with 62K miles and the timing belt tensioner failed, resulting in serious damage to the engine. As a result, I will need a new engine! I understand that the timing belt is supposed to be changed at 90K? So this should definitely not happen at 62k miles! I'm going to try to get in touch with VW to see what they say. I am not the original owner, so it is no longer under warranty.

Regards,
Jeff

I also had the same thing happen to me. Mine happened late last week and I am still trying to figure out what to do. I have spoken with VW and initially they are not willing to help. I would appreciate any input regarding what others have done in a similar situation and what the outcome was. I have a 1999 Passat 1.8T with 75,000 miles. The timing tensioner broke causing a significant amount of damage to my engine. The auto shop that I originally towed it to cannot even do the job. I am not the original owner and it is no longer covered under the extended warranty that came with the car since I bought it certified (it ran out in Oct 2003!).

-Susannah

Hello, I purchased a 99 passat. being the second owner the warranty last till 50 k miles. well at 52k miles my timing belt breaks VW does not want to help with any repairts because over it warranty period. I dished out $3500 to pay for the damages. When the car was going to be towed the driver said to me "Wait let me guest, broken timing belt Huh?' he said that he tows a few a week for the same reason. He also said the he knows some one at a VW dealer that told him that the belt tensioners were bad a causing this problem. well VW never helped I'm trying to find out what I can do about this although I have repaired the car already. Maybe getting a lawyer involved. what can you tell me. Also now my Oil light flashes after a recent oil change..
Thanks,
mike


Just wondering if you were able to recoup any of the costs from your repairs? I just had a similar thing happen with my Passat and am trying to figure out how to proceed. Did you find out if this is a common problem with the timing belt tensioners?
-Susannah