2009 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Owner Complaints

WHILE DRIVING 2009 VW PASSAT WAGON ON I-495 SOUTH IN HAVERHILL, MA, AT AROUND 5 PM, SMOKE SUDDENLY BEGAN BILLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER SAFELY (NEAR EXIT 48/ MILE MARKER 105.6) AND EXIT THE CAR, WHICH WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN A MINUTE. NO PASSENGERS, NO INJURIES, NO OTHER CARS WERE DAMAGED. UP TO THIS POINT, THE CAR HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. NO OVERHEATING, NO LEAKING, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO OTHER INDICATION OF IMPENDING FIRE. MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE FROM THE ANDOVER BARRACKS RESPONDED (978-475-3800), AS DID THE HAVERHILL FIRE DEPARTMENT. CHARRED REMAINS OF THE CAR WERE TOWED TO TROMBLY BROTHERS, 141 SUTTON ST NORTH ANDOVER, MA 01845. OF NOTE: UPON ARRIVING HOME, THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FROM VW IN THE POSTAL MAIL, NHTSA NUMBER 17V509, REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE.

NHTSA ID

11109833

Incident

Jul 5, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

2000 RPM AT IDLE WITH A/C ON. NORMAL WITH A/C OFF. SAME AS NHTSA 08V235000. VW SAID THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT RECALL. VEHICLE TRIES TO ACCELERATE BEYOND BRAKE CONTROL AT IDLE ONLY WITH A/C ON.

NHTSA ID

11109733

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2017 I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY PASSAT STALLING, AND OR LOOSING POOWER WHEN I AM DRIVING, LAST SEPTEMBER 2017 I WAS TOLD THAT A RECALL (20AE) WAS COMING OUT THAT WAS RELATED TO MY FAILURES. AROUND OCTOBER 15, 2017 I FOUND OUT THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGON GARAGE THAT PARTS FOR THE RECALL ARE NOT AVAILABLE. MY CASE# FROM VOLKSWAGON GROUP OF AMERICA IS #519607. AT ONE POINT I WAS TOLD BY VOLKSWAGON GROUP OF AMERICA THAT I SHOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH MY LOCAL DEALER (VOLKSWAGEN OF MARIETTA) AND HAVE IT EXPECTED. ON FEBRUARY 27, 2018 (CASE NUMBER 180145272) I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WOULD AGAIN BE REGISTERED. I WILL NOW BE UP TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO LOOK AT HIS CASE LOAD AND RESPOND. I DO NOT RECALL HIM EVER RESPONDING TO ME. THE LOCAL DEALER AT THAT TIME SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING ONLY IF THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND THE FOUND WAS FOUND. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ONLY DETECTABLE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURED WHE THEY WERE TESTING THE CAR. IF THEY DID NOT DETECT THE FAILURE I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION. IT IS THEREFORE OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THIS IS A NON-STARTER AND I WILL HAVE TOPAY FOR AN INSPECTION AND NEVER GET A REPAIR FOR MY PROBLEM UNLESS I PAY CLOSE TO $2,000. I AM A MARRIED SENIOR CITIZEN (80 YEARS OLD) , ADISABLED VETERAN AND WIFE WHO IS 77 YEARS OLD AND WE RELY ON THIS CAR. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND OTHER LIES BY VW THE VALUE OF MY CAR IS LESS THAN WHAT I OWE ON THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SELL THE CAN AND BUY ANOTHER. THE CAR'S ENGINE FAILED AFTER A VIOLENT SHAKE THIS LAST FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018. IT HAS BEEN OK OVER THE WEEKEND. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. ANY SUGGESTIONS? THIS MORNING I AGAIN CALLED VOLKSWAGON GROUP OF AMERICA, AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD GET A RETURN CALL WHICH HAS YET TO HAPPEN. MY PHONE # IS [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *CC

NHTSA ID

11101057

Incident

Jun 8, 2018

FUEL PUMP CAUSED CUTTING OFF , DELAYED STARTING WHICH LED TO THE CAR BEING INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ID

11089838

Incident

Apr 22, 2018

Mileage

196,000 mi

CAR STOPPED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION. WENT TO THE VW DEALER. THEY FOUND "FAULTS FOR FUEL MODULE, AND FUEL PUMP UNIT." THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED FUEL PUMP AND TUBE BUT DIDN'T TELL ME IT WAS A RECALLED ITEM/PART. I PAID THE FULL AMOUNT OUT OF MY POCKET: $988.57

NHTSA ID

11071593

Incident

Mar 23, 2017

Mileage

65,200 mi

THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP BUT DIDN'T "RELOCATE" IT IN THE VEHICLE AS SUGGESTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. I PAID $988. MY QUESTION IS: WHO SHOULD PAY THE "REMEDY" COST?

NHTSA ID

11062205

Incident

Mar 25, 2017

Mileage

65,200 mi