The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TIE RODS OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY ARE PROTECTED ON EACH SIDE BY A SEAL TO PREVENT MOISTURE AND DUST PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME TIE ROD SEALS MAY NOT SEAL PROPERLY.
The risk
IF MOISTURE AND/OR DUST PARTICLES ENTER THE SWIVEL BEARING MECHANISM, THE SWIVEL BEARING COULD WEAR OVER TIME DIMINISHING THE STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE RODS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi A4 | 1998, 1999 |
| Audi A6 | 1998, 1999 |
| Audi A8 | 1998, 1999 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 1998, 1999 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi A4 | 1998 | 258 | 4 |
| Audi A4 | 1999 | 190 | 4 |
| Audi A6 | 1998 | 130 | 10 |
| Audi A6 | 1999 | 217 | 9 |
| Audi A8 | 1998 | 4 | 3 |
| Audi A8 | 1999 | 9 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 1998 | 331 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 1999 | 664 | 5 |
Other steering recalls in 1999
26 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the steering; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC filed 204 campaigns in all.
| 99V359000 29 Dec 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 99V312000 4 Nov 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V307000 1 Nov 1999 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 99V301000 29 Oct 1999 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 99V290000 28 Oct 1999 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V033006 27 Oct 1999 | COUNTRY COACH INC |
| 99V278000 20 Oct 1999 | LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 99V033005 22 Sept 1999 | M-B COMPANIES |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999