Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY | ||||||||||||||||
| 08V156000 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | from 06/01/1999 to 05/31/2005 | V (Vehicle) | 412000 | 06/13/2008 | ODI | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 04/07/2008 | 04/07/2008 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Volkswagen is recalling 412,000 my 1999-2005 passat (5th generation) vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions and produced after june 14, 1999. these vehicles may have an underbody heat shield that can become damaged. in addition, affected vehicles with automatic or manual transmissions may have a fuel line (1.8t engines only) or fuel tank ventilation valve (4motion/all wheel drive only) that can leak due to fracture. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | A heat shield that may contact the exhaust system can result in a vehicle fire. in addition, a fuel leak from a fuel line or fuel tank ventilation valve, in the presence of an ignition source, can lead to a vehicle fire. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will install additional underbody heat shields on vehicles with automatic transmissions to cover the possibly damaged areas and flash all 1.8t engines with a precautionary software update. dealers will also inspect and adjust the fuel line routing on 1.8t vehicles and the fuel tank ventilation valve on 4motion/all wheel drive vehicles, and replace components if necessary free of charge. the recall began on june 13, 2008. owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Vwoa recall no. 26e5/r5.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - FILLER PIPE AND CAP | ||||||||||||||||
| 02V026000 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC | from 04/01/1997 to 08/31/2002 | V (Vehicle) | 487284 | 06/13/2003 | ODI | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 01/25/2002 | 01/26/2002 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion protection in the event of tire disintegration. owner notification began june 13, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | ||||||
| PE08008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 01/31/2008 | 05/30/2008 | FUEL TANK LEAK | 08V156000 | |
| Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from november 22, 2000 through may 31, 2005 and audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from june 2, 2001 to june 1, 2005.the nhtsa recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and fuel line hazards for these vehicles and for 1999-2000 passats in this recall action.)the nhtsa recall number for the audi vehicles is 08v-157.since 2006, odi has received 17 complaints of fuel leaking from the subject vehicles' fuel tanks.the 400 complaints shown above may include duplicate reports to odi and the manufacturer. while the consequence (fuel leaks from the top of the tank) is similar for both the passat and audi subject vehicles, differences in design and construction require a different remedy for each vehicle.on the passats, the ventilation line could have been installed improperly with tension and with an incorrectly positioned cable tie.the tension could cause cracked or broken nipples on the fuel tank rollover valve.on the audi vehicles, a material change (effective june 2, 2001) with different aging characteristics used for the rollover valve and the use of an inflexible aluminum ventilation line could cause cracking of the nipple on the rollover valve.vw is recalling all vehicles subject to these defects.it will inspect passats to ensure that the vent line is tension free and correct the installation if tension is found.if a crack or fuel leak is found, vw will replace the fuel tank.audi will repair all subject vehicles by reinforcing the fuel tank rollover valve with an epoxy adhesive.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
| PE08008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 01/31/2008 | 05/30/2008 | FUEL TANK LEAK | 08V157000 | |
| Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from november 22, 2000 through may 31, 2005 and audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from june 2, 2001 to june 1, 2005.the nhtsa recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and fuel line hazards for these vehicles and for 1999-2000 passats in this recall action.)the nhtsa recall number for the audi vehicles is 08v-157.since 2006, odi has received 17 complaints of fuel leaking from the subject vehicles' fuel tanks.the 400 complaints shown above may include duplicate reports to odi and the manufacturer. while the consequence (fuel leaks from the top of the tank) is similar for both the passat and audi subject vehicles, differences in design and construction require a different remedy for each vehicle.on the passats, the ventilation line could have been installed improperly with tension and with an incorrectly positioned cable tie.the tension could cause cracked or broken nipples on the fuel tank rollover valve.on the audi vehicles, a material change (effective june 2, 2001) with different aging characteristics used for the rollover valve and the use of an inflexible aluminum ventilation line could cause cracking of the nipple on the rollover valve.vw is recalling all vehicles subject to these defects.it will inspect passats to ensure that the vent line is tension free and correct the installation if tension is found.if a crack or fuel leak is found, vw will replace the fuel tank.audi will repair all subject vehicles by reinforcing the fuel tank rollover valve with an epoxy adhesive.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES | ||||||
| PE08008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 01/31/2008 | 05/30/2008 | FUEL TANK LEAK | 08V156000 | |
| Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from november 22, 2000 through may 31, 2005 and audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from june 2, 2001 to june 1, 2005.the nhtsa recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and fuel line hazards for these vehicles and for 1999-2000 passats in this recall action.)the nhtsa recall number for the audi vehicles is 08v-157.since 2006, odi has received 17 complaints of fuel leaking from the subject vehicles' fuel tanks.the 400 complaints shown above may include duplicate reports to odi and the manufacturer. while the consequence (fuel leaks from the top of the tank) is similar for both the passat and audi subject vehicles, differences in design and construction require a different remedy for each vehicle.on the passats, the ventilation line could have been installed improperly with tension and with an incorrectly positioned cable tie.the tension could cause cracked or broken nipples on the fuel tank rollover valve.on the audi vehicles, a material change (effective june 2, 2001) with different aging characteristics used for the rollover valve and the use of an inflexible aluminum ventilation line could cause cracking of the nipple on the rollover valve.vw is recalling all vehicles subject to these defects.it will inspect passats to ensure that the vent line is tension free and correct the installation if tension is found.if a crack or fuel leak is found, vw will replace the fuel tank.audi will repair all subject vehicles by reinforcing the fuel tank rollover valve with an epoxy adhesive.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
| PE08008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC | 01/31/2008 | 05/30/2008 | FUEL TANK LEAK | 08V157000 | |
| Volkswagen (vw) is recalling certain vw passat 4motion and audi a6 quattro and allroad quattro all-wheel drive passenger cars.vw vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from november 22, 2000 through may 31, 2005 and audi vehicles subject to recall were manufactured from june 2, 2001 to june 1, 2005.the nhtsa recall number for the vw vehicles is 08v-156 (vw also is correcting defects related to heat shield and fuel line hazards for these vehicles and for 1999-2000 passats in this recall action.)the nhtsa recall number for the audi vehicles is 08v-157.since 2006, odi has received 17 complaints of fuel leaking from the subject vehicles' fuel tanks.the 400 complaints shown above may include duplicate reports to odi and the manufacturer. while the consequence (fuel leaks from the top of the tank) is similar for both the passat and audi subject vehicles, differences in design and construction require a different remedy for each vehicle.on the passats, the ventilation line could have been installed improperly with tension and with an incorrectly positioned cable tie.the tension could cause cracked or broken nipples on the fuel tank rollover valve.on the audi vehicles, a material change (effective june 2, 2001) with different aging characteristics used for the rollover valve and the use of an inflexible aluminum ventilation line could cause cracking of the nipple on the rollover valve.vw is recalling all vehicles subject to these defects.it will inspect passats to ensure that the vent line is tension free and correct the installation if tension is found.if a crack or fuel leak is found, vw will replace the fuel tank.audi will repair all subject vehicles by reinforcing the fuel tank rollover valve with an epoxy adhesive.this investigation is closed. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 09/02/2011 | 113000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic stated there was a leak near the top of the fuel tank. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). the vehicle was included in the recall and was repaired before the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 113,000. | |||
| 09/02/2011 | 113000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic stated there was a leak near the top of the fuel tank. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). the vehicle was included in the recall and was repaired before the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 113,000. kmj | |||
| 09/02/2011 | 113000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while parked the contact the noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the mechanic stated there was a leak near the top of the fuel tank. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). the vehicle was included in the recall and was repaired before the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 113,000. ds | |||
| 07/14/2011 | 136618 | ||
| My fuel tank is leaking for the 2nd time in 2 years. in 2009, i smelled fuel when the tank was full. i took it to the dealer and they said the tank was cracked and had to be replaced, which i paid for. in 2011, the exact same thing occurred. the dealer is paying for the replacement. this concerns me that there may be a problem with the fuel tanks in the 2002 vw passat. i'm not sure if this is the same issue that has been reported earlier and sort of recalled under the heat shield problem. if it is the same issue as that, i shouldn't have paid for the repair in 2009. could you please investigate the fuel tanks...the escape of fuel scares me! | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 120000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact stated that fumes were entering the vehicle through the ventilation system and the check engine light was illuminated. the contact also mentioned that due to the failure, the vehicle was unable to pass state inspection. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure and stated that in order to find the cause of failure, they would have to drop the fuel tank. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since because the vehicle was previously repaired under nhtsa campaign id number: 08v156000 ( fuel system, gasoline: delivery). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 120,000. | |||
| 04/01/2010 | 120000 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact stated that fumes were coming into the vehicle through the ventilation system and the check engine light was illuminated. the contact also mentioned that due to the failure the vehicle was unable to pass inspection. the vehicle was taking to the dealer who was unable to diagnosed the failure and stated that in order to find the failure they would have to drop the gas tank. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offered any assistance since she already had repairs done for recall nhtsa campaign id number: 08v156000 (component: fuel system, gasoline:delivery). the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 120,000. pm | |||
| 01/27/2011 | 120000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. after refueling the contact could smell a strong odor of gasoline inside the vehicle. the vehicle was taken home and parked. once the vehicle was parked the contact noticed the fuel tank was leaking. the vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where they were unable to diagnose the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 120,000. sm. | |||
| 08/23/2010 | |||
| I own a 2002 volkswagon passat. it has stalled while driving and unable to start right away. it sometimes fails to start when i get in, then starts again later. the fuel pump/fuel line failure has left me stranded in the middle of the road on several occasions and i have also been stranded, while waiting for my car to start again. i believe there is a recalll for this problem and i would like to know what i can do about it in order to remedy this issue w/ my 2002 passat. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 89500 | ||
| Fuel tank leaks when 7/8 to 8/8 full. leaking gas damages asphalt and poses a fire threat. | |||
| 08/23/2010 | |||
| I own a 2002 volkswagon passat. it has stalled while driving and unable to start right away. it sometimes fails to start when i get in, then starts again later. the fuel pump/fuel line failure has left me stranded in the middle of the road on several occasions and i have also been stranded, while waiting for my car to start again. i believe there is a recalll for this problem and i would like to know what i can do about it in order to remedy this issue w/ my 2002 passat. | |||
| 08/01/2010 | 89500 | ||
| Fuel tank leaks when 7/8 to 8/8 full. leaking gas damages asphalt and poses a fire threat. | |||
| 03/28/2010 | 123000 | ||
| Fuel leaks when gas tank is more than about half to three quarters full. very strong odor inside and outside vehicle. some wetness around fuel tank, but no visible drips when inspected by owner. when driving at 60 mph soon after filling tank, fuel range indicator decreases by 5 miles for every 1 to 2 miles travelled. assuming normal fuel consumption should be 20 mpg, in 1.5 minutes vehicle should use 0.075 gal, but actually uses 0.250 gal so the leak rate is approximately 0.12 gal/min or 45 ml/min. such leakage would be evident as drips if the leak was below the liquid level when the car is stationary so it is suspected to be in the area of the gas tank vents. vehicle has not yet been inspected by vw. (vehicle was recently purchased used from private seller without maintenance records). | |||
| 02/09/2010 | 155000 | 1 | |
| While driving home last night, my 2002 vw passat began to lose power and cut off. i was able to let it coast to the side of the road but in the lane of an exit ramp for traffic exiting the highway. i engaged my flashers and called 911 and a tow truck. i tried starting the car again and it would not crank. once the police came, he pushed my car into safety and awaited the tow truck. my car was towed to the vw dealer. this morning, i received a call from the dealer who said the fuel flow to the engine was interrupted and caused by a inoperative fuel pump. my complaint is when i checked online for recalls, i found a recall that was posted in sept 2002 for the same issue i am having with my car. my car was purchased in feb 2002 and the recall is for 2003 models. i called vw of america and explained the issue with them and the only offer they gave me was $1000 towards a new vw. unbelievable! because the recall was for 2003 models, they could not assist me because my vehicle is a 2002. even though i am having the same issues with my vehicle as the 2003 recall. the dealer quoted $589 for the repair. this stall could have been worse than it was due to the inclement weather, night time and the exit ramp. this should be included in a safety recall because there is no warning before the vehicle cuts off which causes a potential for a crash, which is what i was faced with last night. i am not asking to be singled out, but to look into this 6-month gap of the recall in sept 2002 and the purchase date of my vehicle feb 2002. i was also told at vw of america that they could only assist me with my issue if my vin number matched the recalls. so my question, what if the stall of my vehicle caused an accident and serious injuries or fatalities were involved, would vw look into the 2002 recall then or just tell the families, sorry, you didn't have a 2003. *tr | |||
| 09/10/2009 | 1 | ||
| I am a the owner of a 2002 volkswagen passat 4motion with an automatic transmission. i am contacting you to seek action in regards to nhtsa campaign number for a recall for faulty gas tanks. i purchased this car as a certified used vehicle in 2004. i took the car to a vw dealership 4 times with a problem with something leaking under the car, and told there was not a leak found. after smelling gas, and finding fuel on my garage floor, the dealership was able to determine that the vehicle had a cracked fuel tank, and repaired the vehicle for $3000. after complaining to vw of america, the costs were covered and shortly thereafter i received a recall letter for the same issue. now, one year later, i again smelled fumes, and found gasoline on the floor. the dealership stated that it is the same problem. vw of america has offered to cover the cost of the repair. my car is parked in our garage where our gas hot water is located. the fuel on the floor was no more than 15 ft from the hot water heater. had there been a spark, i am certain that there would have been a major fire, with potential fatal outcomes. i will not bring this vehicle back to my house for fear of a repeat failure. i also have concerns selling a defective vehicle to a 3rd party knowing the potential severe safety hazards. volkswagen has clearly designed a faulty product they refuse to stand behind, and as a consumer, i will have to incur a finanical loss to replace this vehicle. these problems stem from negligent design and are a very serious potentail hazard. the 4motion cars should be removed from service and compensations should be allowed to owners. i desperately seek your assistance on this issue to review whether a second recall may be necessary. thank you for your assistance. *tr | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 68000 | 1 | |
| Hello, my name is robert campbell and i am a the owner of a 2002 volkswagen passat 4motion with an automatic transmission. i am contacting you to seek action in regards to nhtsa campaign number 08v156000, which clearly indicates a recall for faulty gas tanks on this particular make/model due to fractured ventilation valves. upon purchasing the car as a certified used vehicle in 2006, i had to have the gas tank replaced within the first week of ownership due to this very same defect. this was covered by the two year warranty provided by the dealership. a week ago, my gas tank started to leak again. fuel is now leaking on the exhaust system creating a severe safety hazard. upon inspection by the dealer, they have surmised the second tank has once again failed - due to a fractured ventilation valve. both volkswagen of american and my local dealer are refusing to acknowledge this recall and will only replace the tank if i agree to repair costs totaling $1,800. volkswagen has clearly designed a faulty product they refuse to stand behind, and as a consumer, i should not be financially obligated to pay for repairs that clearly stem from negligent design. i desperately seek your assistance on this issue and will gladly offer my full cooperation. *tr | |||
| 08/11/2009 | 77000 | 1 | |
| I put gasoline in my car. i began smelling gasoline and noticed the fuel meter hadn't registered the increase in fuel. i was stopped at a stop light at this point. i heard a big boom and then people around me were shouting at me to get out of the car. i looked to the right and noticed flames shooting up the right side of the car. i jumped out of the drivers seat to safety. a good samaritan was able to grab a fire extinguisher from a near by business; and another person came running out of a nearby business with another and the were able to extinguish the fire. the flames were primarily under the vehicle and toward the passenger side. police and fire personnel arrived on scene. made sure fire was completely out; then pushed car to safety. a tow truck was called, as my car was completely un-drivable (all the belts, hoses were melted, including the brake cable). the tow truck driver (also a mechanic) told me that the fuel injector had exploded. he then said it was a defect; a manufacturer issue. *tr | |||
| 01/08/2009 | 90000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery) and immediately called the dealer. the contact was informed that they would repair the vehicle according to the remedy; however, if the heat shields and another component became damaged during the installation, he would have to pay for the repair. the vehicle has not been repaired. the manufacturer did not assist. the vin was unknown. the failure and current mileages were 90,000. | |||
| 01/14/2009 | 91000 | 1 | |
| Suddenly felt strong gasoline smell inside the vehicle (not a result of accident or any other occurrence.) the problem was diagnosed as a fuel tank leak. the gas tank had to be replaced. the vw dealer in sunnyvale, ca, refused to pay for the costly repairs. *tr | |||
| 07/20/2008 | 51300 | 1 | |
| Vehicle leaked a large amount of fuel (~4 gallons in 3 days). no fire, but there is now a large hole in my driveway. shop says leak is from top of engine. *tr | |||
| 06/17/2008 | |||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from the front end of the vehicle. she pulled over to a local service station and noticed that the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. the fire was extinguished by a representative at the service station. weeks later, the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). she is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. the failure and current mileages were unknown. | |||
| 07/01/2007 | 76000 | 1 | |
| For the past nine months i have smelled gas when i filled my gas tank past half full. i checked for recalls on your website last month an came across the vw passat fuel tank safety recall. since my car was at the dealership to take care of yet another problem, i told them about my gas smell problem and informed them about the recall. i told them that it only occurs when the gas tank is past half full and told them to put gas in it and test it. when i picked up the car they hadn't done the gas tank test. the service advisor looked up the recall and found information on the gas tank safety recall r5 and printed out a faq sheet. he informed me that they didn't have the new tank for the recall and he expected them on may 30th. he told me to contact him and make an appointment to have the tank replaced once they had the parts in. i called the dealer on may 30th and made an appointment for today june 3rd. i brought my car to the dealership and i was informed by another service advisor and she couldn't find any volkswagen recall covering my vin. the service adviser i spoke to when i had picked up my car after the repairs i had done in may came over. he recalled obtaining the information and searched for it again and it wasn't listed. they let me call volkswagen customer service. the vw customer service representative said that there wasn't a safety recall on the my volkswagen w8. i told him that it smells like gas when the gas tank is filled past half full. he said he would contact the service manager at the dealership i was at and see what could be done. i read the information on your website involving this recall and it seams pretty clear that any 1999- 2005 model year passat with a gasoline engine is covered. i have a 2002 vw passat w8 with 4motion. one of the responses from vw lists vin number ranges, but mine doesn't appear to be within that range. i think that vw erred in their investigation and didn't look into the w8. *tr | |||
| 05/06/2008 | 37700 | 1 | |
| I have a 2002 vw passat v6 glx wagon with 37,000 miles. whenever the fuel tank is full, or near-full, there is a strong smell of gasoline from the right rear side. i have had to leave my garage door partially open because of the danger of igniting fumes from the pilot lights of my home gas water heater and furnace in the garage. i have found wet patches smelling strongly of gasoline on the underside of the fuel tank. it is obvious that the gasoline tank is leaking somehow and presents a fire safety issue. i suspect it might be the same problem that is being investigated in nhtsa action number pe08008 even though my model is not an all-wheel-drive. meanwhile, whenever the vehicle is parked, in my garage or out in the open, there is a constant danger of fire being ignited. *tr | |||
| 02/09/2008 | 61000 | 1 | 03/28/2002 |
| Last saturday (feb.9, 2008) around 11:00am, while i was picking up my two daughters from ballet school (boston ballet, 19 clarendon street, boston), the check engine lamp started to blink and i could feel my car (2002 passat wagon, all wheel drive) was a little bit shaking. as the car manual says, i drove in low power to the closest volkswagen dealership (boston volkswagen, 168 western avenue, allston). while i was driving to the dealership, i saw some smoke coming out from the front hood (right front side). we (my daughters, my wife, and myself) got the dealership around 11:30am. a sales consultant (michael petersante) and another person there saw my car, and said that my car possibly would catch on fire. we evacuated from the car, they moved all the cars around my car to the other place. the dealer called for a fire department. before the fire department came in, while i was looking at my car from the inside of the dealership building, i could see the flame coming out above the right front wheel in the car (somewhere the engine is located) and smoke filling up inside of my car. the fire department (boston fire-engine 41, ladder 14, unit d11) came and put out the fire. a police officer (boston police district 14, 301 washington street, brighton) came after the fire was extinguished (arrived at 11:53am), and checked out the scene and had my car, whose front part (engine compartment) was all broken and crushed while the wire was put out, be towed. it was hard to believe that a 5-6 years old car caught on fire while i was driving and in just 30 minutes reached to such situation. fortunately, we were close to the dealership and were able to get there before the worst thing happens. and again, very fortunately, my family was able to get away to the safe place before the worst thing happens. but if it happened 10 minutes earlier or if it took 10 minutes longer than actually it did to get there, things that i don | |||
| 09/24/2007 | 1 | ||
| I am complaining about a 2002 volkswagen passat 1.8t. with 76,000 miles on the car based on the latest news from the dealer today i will have invested over $1000 on various failures of the fuel evap system. first it was vacuum hoses and now it is the charcoal canister and purge valve. there has been one recall on one part of the system which of course was not what was wrong at any point with my vehicle. the entire fuel evap system is faulty and vw knows it and refuses to do anything about. it is a great moneymaker for them as only they have the access to the electronic codes and parts to repair the system and tremendously over inflated prices. *jb | |||
| 08/08/2007 | 48068 | 2 | 02/20/2002 |
| Check engine light came on for 6 times since purchased new. latest incident, in first week of august, 2007 - the diagnosis was found fault for evap system incorrect purge flow, tested purge valve and found to be stuck. for 6 dealer visits, 2 identical diagnosis with 2 replacements. is this a design fault? defective part? why the repetitive issue with the same area. car only has 48,000 miles. *tr | |||
| 11/05/2005 | 41000 | 1 | 05/09/2002 |
| I own a 2002 vw passat v6 glx with 42,700 miles. within the past 2 months an intermittent problem started with very strong gasoline fumes coming from the car after the tank is filled and the car is parked in a residential garage. the gas tank is filled until the first click off of the gas nozzle ( at several different gas stations). the gasoline fumes are very strong, requiring that the garage doors be left partially open to reduce the fumes to a tolerable level. no fuel drips from the vehicle. the fumes seem to be coming from the right rear of the car. fumes can sometimes be smelled briefly outdoors when the vehicle's gas tank is full. the fumes stop after the tank level is down to about 3/4 tank. the problem recurs consistently now for me everytime the vehicle is refueled. i brought the vehicle to the local vw dealer on 11/5/05. they pressured tested the vehicle's fuel system with argon and reported that they can find no fuel leak or duplicate the problem with a full tank of gas. the service manager contacted vw technical assistance. i brought the vehicle in on 12/15/05 with a half tank of fuel as requested. the service technicians, as recommended by vw technical assistance, removed the gas tank and weighed the charcoal canister to determine if adequate charcoal was present. the charcoal canister was within factory specifications. the service technicians reinstalled the same parts and then filled the gas tank. they then pressure tested the vehicle's fuel system with argon overnight, leaving the vehicle in the service bay. they could not detect any fuel leaks or reproduce the problem. vw technical assistance reportedly told the tech's that they had done all that was possible and that there was nothing else to do. the service manager acknowledged that their service bay is quite large and ventilated so that the conditions do not duplicate having the vehicle in a residential garage. a fire risk and fume exposure remain. *jb | |||
| 09/19/2003 | 3 | 10/08/2001 | |
| While driving at 40 mph, the vehicle vibrated uncontrollably. without warning then the vehicle stalled. the driver tried to restart the vehicle but was unable to do so. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the driver that the engine needed to be replaced. *la the dealer replaced the mass air flow sensor and cleaned the fuel pump relay to resolve the stalling problem. the radio was inoperative due to a short in the wiring. *nm*nm | |||
| 08/21/2002 | 1000 | 2 | 04/01/2002 |
| Bought the car new 4/02, ignition coil failed in 8/02 with only 1000 miles on car. the vehicle started shaking and lost power w/ baby in the car on a highway. car was towed to the dealer and they replaced the ignition coil. happened again on 10/31/02, car was at the dealership for almost 1 month waiting for another ignition coil. dealer provided rental car and complaint was filed with v.w. they paid my car payment for month of 11/02. many people having same problem. dealer's lot was full of cars waiting for this part. i took their last rental car, lucky for me, since i got an impala ss instead of a 2 door cavalier. there should be a recall issued on these ignition coils. there are many lemon law cases filed against vw. also very poor gas mileage and acceleration. very dangerous left hand turns when the car just sits there and you're hitting the gas!!!*jb | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY | |||
| 09/01/2009 | 68000 | 1 | |
| Hello, my name is robert campbell and i am a the owner of a 2002 volkswagen passat 4motion with an automatic transmission. i am contacting you to seek action in regards to nhtsa campaign number 08v156000, which clearly indicates a recall for faulty gas tanks on this particular make/model due to fractured ventilation valves. upon purchasing the car as a certified used vehicle in 2006, i had to have the gas tank replaced within the first week of ownership due to this very same defect. this was covered by the two year warranty provided by the dealership. a week ago, my gas tank started to leak again. fuel is now leaking on the exhaust system creating a severe safety hazard. upon inspection by the dealer, they have surmised the second tank has once again failed - due to a fractured ventilation valve. both volkswagen of american and my local dealer are refusing to acknowledge this recall and will only replace the tank if i agree to repair costs totaling $1,800. volkswagen has clearly designed a faulty product they refuse to stand behind, and as a consumer, i should not be financially obligated to pay for repairs that clearly stem from negligent design. i desperately seek your assistance on this issue and will gladly offer my full cooperation. *tr | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP | |||
| 09/10/2002 | 41970 | 1 | 03/05/2002 |
| Fuel system failed. the car ran like a tractor, misfiring and emitting explosive like sounds. the dashboard warning light came on and stayed on. we limped to the next vw dealer who found it necessary to replace the ignition coils. the coils were already once replaced under warranty on july 23, 20003. why do we have to pay $200.44 plus tax for these obviously unreliable parts? *jb | |||
| 05/04/2007 | 7586 | 1 | 10/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact was driving with the cruise control set at 67 mph when the vehicle shut off. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was repaired. the current mileage is 70,000 and failure mileage was 7,586. | |||
| 01/28/2007 | 82996 | 1 | 02/01/2002 |
| Volkswagen 2002 passat 1.8l turbo. engine stalled completely going 60 mph on freeway. coasted to side of road. was able to restart. very dangerous. issue sounds identical to fuel pump issue with 2003 passat which causes dangerous stalling without warning. *nm | |||
| 07/03/2006 | 60015 | 1 | 04/15/2005 |
| 2002 volkswagen passat failed to start suddenly, with no warning signs. it had to be towed to the mechanic, with no answer immediately for its failure to start. the fuel pump was the reason for the breakdown, and volkswagen recalled the 2002 passat for faulty fuel pumps, but not all 2002's qualified for the recall, like mine. there was a waiting list of 3 months just to get a pump from the dealer. the fuel pump had to be replaced at a charge of $615.87, and it should have been included in a recall if this problem affects all 2002 models. *jb | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | |||
| 03/08/2010 | 125000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. after the vehicle was repaired per nhtsa recall # 08v156000: fuel system, gasoline, delivery, the contact noticed a crack in the fuel line near the fire wall. he also noticed that gasoline spilled over the engine and the catalytic converter. the contact is concerned that the manufacturer did not perform the recall properly. when the dealer was notified of the failure they refused to repair the vehicle again under the recall unless the contact would pay for the repairs. the current and failure mileages were 125,000. updated 04/22/10 *bf | |||
| 02/01/2008 | 100000 | 15 | 11/06/2006 |
| 2002 passat 4 motion v6 leaking gas then filled up over half a tank? *tr | |||
| 02/10/2008 | 81150 | 1 | 10/15/2002 |
| After a gas fill in february 2008 a strong odor of gasoline was evident. upon inspection, it was noted that gas was leaking onto the pavement under the car. the problem seemed to resolve itself after about 1/4 tank of gas was burned. after the next fill, the problem recurred. the dealership determined that a sending unit had failed, which was replaced. again the problem recurred upon filling the gas tank. the dealership then determined that there was a broken vent on the fuel tank causing the leak which required a replacement tank. during all of this there was never a warning light that would alert to the problem. *tr | |||
| 04/12/2007 | 57000 | 1 | |
| My 2002 volkswagen passat developed a major fuel line leak inside the engine compartment. a metal high pressure fuel line that is mounted to the firewall either cracked or somehow blew a hole in the line. a high pressure stream of gasoline was being sprayed directly on top of the engine. this gasoline eruption as i will call it because the word leak is inadequate to describe the amount of gasoline that was spraying out of the hose in a location that is directly adjacent to a fuel line mounting bracket on the firewall. it is very visible in the photos i took. ak when i opened the hood of the vehicle i found a gasoline mist had covered the entire inside of the engine compartment. the leak was so bad i initially parked the vehicle in my garage but could smell the gasoline inside my home so i had to move it outside. the next day i had a dealer look at. he informed of he found the leak, i came into see the leak before he repaired it, he started the vehicle with the hood open and within seconds the top of the engine had gasoline spilling on top of it. i took some photographs that clearly show the spray of gasoline onto the engine. i requested that the dealer save the fuel lines that he removed from my vehicle, so i now have those at my home. i would be happy to supply these failed components as well as send in the photos. i contacted volkswagen regarding this incident and they expressed no interest in taking this opportunity to learn what could cause this major fuel line leak. they have not yet called the dealer to learn more about the repair, and they were not interested in me sending them the failed fuel line parts. i am appalled at volkswagen's lack of concern over this issue. i feel very strongly that safety needs to be a top concern for auto manufacturers and i do not believe that volkswagen is giving this incident the appropriate attention. please investigate this, i will be more than willing to assist in any way i can.*ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | |||
| 07/30/2002 | 1000 | 20 | 07/12/2002 |
| Same as other complaint listed: dangerous situation. when accelerating from a complete stop vehicle does 1 of 3 things: 1)gasps for gas and goes nowhere (dangerous when making left hand turns) or 2) tries to move ahead like a carbureted care with vapor lock or 3) performs normally. problems are more noticeable when outside temperature is hot. i live in nevada. i have complained to vw and dealership basically said that vw knows about it but there's nothing that can be done. many on vw forums have same problems. this is extremely dangerous and i'm surprised no one has been in an accident. *nlm | |||
| 11/24/2002 | 4500 | 1 | 05/24/2002 |
| One of the coli packs failed on my car at approximately 4500 miles. the car ran very rough and had a very noticable loss of power. a warning light appeared on the dash board and the manual said that the car should not be driven and should be towed to the dealership. i was afraid that if i was in a situation where the car needed to accelerate qucikly that an accident could have occured. | |||
| 09/28/2001 | 5 | 08/01/2001 | |
| Three of four original ignition coils have failed. two of the replacements have failed. vw america has been contacted. they acknowledge that they are aware of the problem and that a new coil is available, but they refuse to replace the coils until they fail. when the coils fail, the car runs very rough does not engage into the turbo phase and the engine light comes on. dt | |||
| 12/03/2001 | 70 | 11/01/2001 | |
| Dangerous situation. when accelerating from a complete stop vehicle does 1 of 3 things: 1)gasps for gas and goes nowhere (dangerous when making left hand turns) or 2) tries to move ahead like a carbureted care with vapor lock or 3) performs normally. | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 1 | ||
| 2002 volkswagen passat with fuel odor. consumer states that she noticed a strong fuel smell filling her garage. mechanic stated that there was a crack in the fuel tank. mechanic stated that the consumer hit the bottom of the fuel tank on something. *kb the consumer stated a few months after the fuel tank was replaced, the timing belt failed. *jb | |||
| 10/02/2007 | 115243 | 10 | |
| This complaint is about a 2002 passat 4-motion v6 car. gas odor entered my house for 2 weeks and i did not know what was causing the problem. i called the gas company to see if i had a gas leak with my furnace. the gas company came and tested but found nothing wrong with my furnace or equipment using natural gas. i decided to find the root cause and began ruling out possibilities. i observes the gas smell was in my garage. i observed whenever my gas tank was filled, more odor came into the house. i filled the gas tank on 10/1/07 and parked the car out on the street. on 10/2/07, when i entered the car in the early am hours, the gas scent made me throw up and i became dizzy. i had no idea what was wrong and i drove - while praying - the car to the dealer. they immediately told me they would not let me drive the car out of there without finding out the problem because of the very strong gas odor. i was later told if anyone had thrown a cigarette by my car, it would have caught on fire! the car was dripping gas as i drove to the dealer! the dealership found the problem was cause by a leak on my fuel tank. a new fuel tank was needed - that is the only way it could be fixed. i requested my old tank and said it has to be brought and shown to the government agency over transportation and the environment because i could have died and no one would have known it was a faulty manufacturer's part. the old tank shows 3 plastic tubes used on the gas tank that drains the gas! plastic ! one of the plastic tubes broke off causing the gas leak! i visited a website and found so many other passat owners have had this problem and vw is doing nothing to change the design! i spoke to vw and i was told there is nothing they can do and i have to pay the cost of the repair! i am asking your office to investigate this safety issue. this is a dangerous safety issue to all passat owners! i have my old gas tank and will be happy to bring it to your office . *tr | |||
| 09/14/2007 | 80500 | 1 | 07/19/2006 |
| If fuel tank is filled more than approx. 3/4 full, the odor of gas is apparent very soon after. it permeated my garage overnight and overwhelmed me when i opened the door. my mechanic told me a vent tube on the top of the fuel tank is defective and has seen a number of these, as has the dealers mechanic. they have told me the only remedy is to replace the tank. i personally have not been in any accidents, and have owned the car for over a year. my local vw dealer will be replacing this for free based on the approval of a regional vw manager, but i called vw of america and was told that this issue was news to them, and no such recalls or extended warranties applied. i feel that this is a significant safety issue, and i was only saved the ~$3,000 in repair expense because one specific dealers adviser happened to be aware of a soft recall, as he put it. he told me a number of these tanks are failing on my particular vehicle, and have ordered extra fuel tanks to accommodate customers. vw should be notifying customers or at the very least have information on it through their national customer care center. *tr | |||
| 09/16/2007 | 91000 | 1 | 01/01/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. the contact smelled gasoline and noticed a leak coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle. the float assembly was replaced, but it did not correct the failure. the dealer stated that a new fuel tank was needed and would cost $1,700. they also stated that the metal flange seal and tank were connected and would not be replaced. the manufacturer investigated the failure and stated that there were no recalls and the vehicle was out of warranty. the current and failure mileages were 91,000. | |||
| 06/09/2007 | 66082 | 2 | 12/17/2001 |
| The 2002 volkswagen passat glx 4 motion with just over 66,000 miles had just been refueled with a full tank of gas and driven into our garage when my wife smelled strong gasoline fumes and noticed puddles underneath the vehicle. i brought it to volkswagen dealership, and was charged $70 for the diagnosis , and then a total of $302.77 to replace the gasket for the fuel pump. they did not fill the tank to confirm that the problem no longer existed, but said that the problem was fixed. a week later the same situation, gasoline fumes and puddles under vehicle. returned to dealership, and they kept car for 4 days to diagnose. bottom line ,they informed me that the vehicle may need a new fuel tank , $1,622. and /or new fuel lines, $922.25. they will need to lower the fuel tank to completely diagnose at a cost of $700 because of 5 hours. labor. we had already spent over $300 for repairs that apparently wasn't necessary because it did not fix the problem. they did not refund our $300. also , my wife called volkswagen of america, and we were told that the car was out of warranty, so they would offer no help. i purchased this car brand new. it was top of the line i expect better performance and service as i have had a number of volkswagens and none had given me grief until this one. a gasoline tank and fuel lines were safety issues and if they fail in such a short time they would have to be either defective or poorly designed, and the responsibility to correct them should lie with the manufacturer. any reasonable person would think that the $300 repair bill would be acceptable but not anywhere between $2000 and $3000. why should the customer pay for a poor design that involved $700 just to diagnose? from the look of some of the other complaints found on this site they would already know and gladly extend some good will to the owners of these vehicles. *ak | |||
| 09/16/2006 | 66900 | 1 | 01/19/2006 |
| A chemical smell permeating my entire house for 2 months. i had home gas company come out and check for a gas leak,gas company did not find a gas leak. the smell would be worse some days. a friend found my tank leaking . i took my car in the next day, monday p.m. to have it looked at baron vw. they said it was a nipple on a hose inside the tank, and the whole tank had to be replaced. this is a very expensive repair, that they are estimating to be two thousand dollars. i do not believe that this just happened, with the hose being inside the tank, i think this is a bad part. i have found other incidents of this online , for this particular 2002 passat, with four motion. i think it is a defect of the part and it is expensive because the whole drive train must be removed to replace it. i am hoping you will look into this because that is a very dangerous problem. i don't think some people would even notice their tanks leaking. if my car was not stored in my garage everyday i would have never noticed it. it could have blown my house up when i turned my heater on for the winter with the fumes that were in this house, not to mention driving with a leaking tank, and the chance of static or a cigarette butt getting tossed my way. the car has been out of my garage for 3 days now and the attic fan has been on until last night and my house still stinks. i am afraid now to turn my home furnace on. people who own these cars should be warned to check them for gas leaks, especially if they keep them in their garage. i also think about the times i had my grandson strapped into a child seat right there over that leaking tank. the reason the smell was in my house stronger some days was because i would leave the car outside sometimes and i had the windows open and attic fan on would draw the smell out. the day i discovered it was particularly strong was because i had put the car back in and shut the windows and turned my a/c back on in the house. *jb | |||
| 08/02/2006 | 50000 | 1 | 03/11/2002 |
| 2002 vw passat, v6 4motion just turned over 50,000 miles (warranty expired) and noticed that when i filled the gas tank, for several days until the gas level went down, there was a very strong gas odor in the car and around the car. took it to the dealer, who first pointed out that it was time for me to pay the passat driver privilege tax, a.k.a., $650 for standard maintenance work. regarding the gas smell, after the mechanics allegedly checked the car, the service advisor speculated that it was a leak in one of the fuel pump seals, which are located under the back seat (where the strongest smell was coming from). he said that he had seen other passats at around my same mileage with the same problem. the tank was only | |||
| 03/22/2006 | 65000 | 1 | 01/01/2002 |
| My 2002 vw passat 4 motion developed a severe fuel leak from a defective fuel tank which ruptured along the top and was leaking in 3 places. vehicle has not been involved with any collision. vw refused to cover the repair due to my vehicle having 65000 miles. dealer mechanic said he has seen several other passats with 4 motion have the same problem. repair cost estimate is 3000.00. *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer noticed after filling vehicle with fuel vehicle intication light would flash, stating low on fuel. dealer had been notified could not duplicate the problem. *ak | |||
| 06/14/2003 | 25000 | 1 | 06/01/2000 |
| While driving on the highway right rear michelin mxv4 tire disintegrated. parts of the tire ruptured the gas tank. on 6/18/2003 the consumer contacted the manufacturer, who stated that vehicle was not involved in the recall# 02v026000. on 6/20/2003 the dealer called and informed the consumer all damages to the vehicle would be fixed per the recall. a recall notice was received after the call from the dealer was made. *ak *ph | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - FILLER PIPE AND CAP | |||
| 11/21/2006 | 21000 | 1 | 06/14/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while parked, the fuel tank filler neck was observed to be leaking under the back seat. also, a strong odor of gasoline was coming from the backseat. it was also observed that the vehicle consumed a great deal of gas. secondly, there was a slash in the rear tire on the passenger side due to debris and abrasion with the fuel tank. there were no warning signals prior to the incident. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, who determined that there was a fuel leak on the tank top nipple. the fuel tank was replaced and the tire was realigned. the manufacturer was notified and refused to acknowledge that the vin # was not part of the nhtsa recall #02v026000. reimbursement was also denied. | |||
| 02/26/2002 | 1 | 09/25/2001 | |
| While driving, the rear passenger side tire failed and damaged the fuel filler neck causing a fuel leak. consumer believes this failure is very similar to the failures described in odi-influenced recall 02v026000 for 2000 model year vehicles. a fire could have resulted if an ignition source were present. *tt *cb | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | |||
| 01/10/2010 | 80000 | ||
| 1. oil was leaking and we repaired it in a local garage. a day later we noticed the oil sludge problem - which told us oil something, stop engine. we called the vw dealer in hartford, ct, and they suggested to bring the car in immediately otherwise it will impact the engine. we immediately took and droped it at the vw dealer and they called us next day telling the oil is not getting into the engine. everything is blocked. they suggested to repair it otherwise the engine will be dead. we asked them to repair and paid close to $1800. they have replaced bunch of pipes, and parts but labor cost was lot more than parts. but i learned on the internet, that this is an existing problem and vw is aware of it. i read thru few forums on the net, and they all suggested, if i do not have all the oil change receipts, they will not cover the repair charges. but i am surprised, that vw dealer never mentioned about the existing problem, i had to learn thru internet. 2. check engine sign comes all the time on my dashboard, first time i took it, they repaired (same dealer) fixing and replacing small parts and again most of it is labor charges and less parts. we paid about $2000. all these repairs happened within couple of months of each other. again 10 days later, the check engine sign comes and they repaired again few things and charged about $500. a week later the check engiine sign comes again. we call the dealer and he says bring it in. i am sick and tired of taking this car every week to the dealer and paying them lot of money every time i take it. my car is 2002 vw passat 1.8t. i heard there are lot of known problem with this model and dealer never mentioned to us once. | |||
| 01/26/2003 | 15700 | 3 | 06/12/2002 |
| I have a 2002 volkswagen passat gls 1.8t whose engined has stalled on 3 different ocasions while operating the vehicle at high speeds on an interstate highway. vw dealers have attempted to fix the problem on 3 different ocasions and i am not satisfied that the problem has been permanently resolved. the problem has been diagnosed as an ignition coil failure which causes one cylinder to shut-down during the engine operation. this happens randomly due to a faulty original equipment part. on two of these ocasions the car has lost power and shut down while operaring the vehicle on i-95. on the second ocasion i was being tailgated by a tractor trailer which almost overrun me after the sudden loss of speed. i had to veer out of the highway crossing several lanes to get out of the truck's way at the springfield interchange in northern virginia. vw has not responded to my letters or requests to permanently fix this problem. i would like you to force them to recall all 1.8t engine-equipped vehicles with this known problem (see new york times auto section feb 2/2003) before there are incidents of this failure where there are fatalities. | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | |||
| 01/26/2003 | 15700 | 3 | 06/12/2002 |
| I have a 2002 volkswagen passat gls 1.8t whose engined has stalled on 3 different ocasions while operating the vehicle at high speeds on an interstate highway. vw dealers have attempted to fix the problem on 3 different ocasions and i am not satisfied that the problem has been permanently resolved. the problem has been diagnosed as an ignition coil failure which causes one cylinder to shut-down during the engine operation. this happens randomly due to a faulty original equipment part. on two of these ocasions the car has lost power and shut down while operaring the vehicle on i-95. on the second ocasion i was being tailgated by a tractor trailer which almost overrun me after the sudden loss of speed. i had to veer out of the highway crossing several lanes to get out of the truck's way at the springfield interchange in northern virginia. vw has not responded to my letters or requests to permanently fix this problem. i would like you to force them to recall all 1.8t engine-equipped vehicles with this known problem (see new york times auto section feb 2/2003) before there are incidents of this failure where there are fatalities. | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES | |||
| 12/02/2002 | |||
| Consumer was told by dealer that the qual pack were defective on her vehicle, also stated that the vehicle takes a while to heat up. ts | |||