2004 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Problems

I PURCHASED A 2004 VW PASSAT 1.8 LITER TURBO 4MOTION STATION WAGON ON AUGUST 12, 2015. WITHIN ONE HOUR OF PURCHASING I TOOK IT TO FILL IT UP WITH FUEL. THE FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING IMMEDIATELY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT BY REPLACING AN O-RING ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER, MEANWHILE ADVISING ME TO NOT FILL THE TANK PAST THE 3/4 FULL MARK UNTIL THEY FIXED IT. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, IT STILL LEAKED WHEN IT WAS FILLED ABOVE THE 3/4 TANK LEVEL. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO REINSTALLED THE SAME O-RING, AGAIN UNSUCCESSFULLY, AT MY EXPENSE. I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED OF A RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK AND THE VENTING SYSTEM. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD "FIXED" THE RECALL ISSUE IN 2008 AND THAT ANY FURTHER ACTION WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE AND COULD INVOLVE REPLACING THE FUEL TANK, A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. I FIND THIS RESPONSE INADEQUATE AND, IN LIGHT OF READING MANY OTHER POSTS DESCRIBING SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED FUEL LEAK, BELIEVE THAT VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BY NHTSA FOR CORRECTING A RECURRING, DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE.

APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO I LEFT MY PARENTS' HOUSE IN THIS VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND QUICKLY FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE RIGID LINE WHERE IT IS FASTENED TO THE FIREWALL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE METAL TUBE HAD CRACKED INSIDE THE RUBBER LINED BRACKET THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ODD BUT ISOLATED INCIDENT; I HAVE SINCE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR FAILURES, SO IT SEEMS WORTH DOCUMENTING CONSIDERING THE HIGH RISK OF FIRE INVOLVED. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH UNTOLD AMOUNT OF WIRES DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE WINDOWS ROLL. DOWN THE ALARM IS DISABLED, THE DOORS UNLOCK. WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS GO. ON AND OFF DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK EMERGENCY FLASHERS GO OFF AND ALARM WILL GO OFF. CAN'T UNLOCK CAR WITHOUT SETTING ALARM OFF.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT FAULTY AIRBAG ... EPC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FIRST WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. VEHCLE WAS STOPPED. ON RE-START, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS IDDLING AND STATIONARY.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WITH A STATEMENT ABOUT FAULTY AIRBAG ... EPC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FIRST WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. VEHCLE WAS STOPPED. ON RE-START, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE WAS IDDLING AND STATIONARY.

FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR FAILED (SEPARATED FROM BOLTING HUB) IN HARD BRAKING AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. BRAKES HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 2009 AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 37,000 MILES DRIVEN SINCE REPLACEMENT. NO OTHER SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR OR WARPAGE NOTED BY AUTO TECHNICIANS. FAILED PART NUMBER 4B0-615-301-B. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH UNTOLD AMOUNT OF WIRES DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE WINDOWS ROLL. DOWN THE ALARM IS DISABLED, THE DOORS UNLOCK. WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS GO. ON AND OFF DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK EMERGENCY FLASHERS GO OFF AND ALARM WILL GO OFF. CAN'T UNLOCK CAR WITHOUT SETTING ALARM OFF.

HAD TO REPLACE THE COMFORT CONTROL MODULE ALONG WITH UNTOLD AMOUNT OF WIRES DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE WINDOWS ROLL. DOWN THE ALARM IS DISABLED, THE DOORS UNLOCK. WHILE DRIVING LIGHTS GO. ON AND OFF DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK EMERGENCY FLASHERS GO OFF AND ALARM WILL GO OFF. CAN'T UNLOCK CAR WITHOUT SETTING ALARM OFF.