2008 Volkswagen Passat Electrical Problems

There is a recall with the fuel pump and the manufacturer is claiming that I need to replace certain parts to be able to do the recall.

NHTSA ID

11488339

Incident

Sep 27, 2022

REFERENCE NTSA VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 08V235000. IT IDENTIFIES A ENGINE SURGE AND RESULTANT VEHICLE SURGE FOR VW PASSATS IN THE YEAR 2008. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 VW PASSAT LUX WAGON AND HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME AT LEAST 6 TIMES SINCE THE END OF JUNE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. MOST RECENTLY, A LADY WAS WALKING IN FRONT OF MY CAR IN A CROSSWALK, I HAD STOPPED FOR. AS I BEGAN TO LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ABOUT A FOOT, BEFORE I STOPPED IT AGAIN. WE WERE BOTH NOTICEABLY SHAKEN BY WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. I TRIED REPORTING THIS INCIDENT AND THE RECALL TO MY LOCAL DEALER, VW OF OLYMPIA< WA> ONLY TO BE TOLD IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY SPECIFIC VIN. I WENT ON TO CONTACT VW CARES ONLY TO BE TOLD THE SAME THING. I DID FILE A REPORT WITH THEIR CASE NUMBER 190810111. THIS SITUATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN APPARENT TO MY SPECIFIC VIN WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW AND THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. NOW 12 YEARS AND 137K MILES LATER, THERE IT IS. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED IF THIS IS NOT DEALT WITH.

NHTSA ID

11269173

Incident

Oct 4, 2019

Mileage

137 mi

TAKATA RECALL THE FUEL PUMP WATER PUMP AND POWER LOSS

NHTSA ID

11111928

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AUTO SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 18V148000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED GANLEY WESTSIDE VOLKSWAGEN AT (440) 734-2000 (LOCATED AT 25580 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11100203

Incident

Oct 23, 2017

Mileage

165,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR KNOWN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO THE ISSUE BUT THEY FAIL TO OFFER A SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS KNOWN FAULTY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSE AIRBAG FAULTS.

NHTSA ID

11084466

Incident

Aug 16, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHEN I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR IT COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, I LOSE POWER STEERING, ACCELERATION, BRAKING & NEED TO ALLOW THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP & THEN STUT IF OFF & TURN IT BACK ON. I HAVE TAKEN MY PASTA IN AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY VIN BUT NO AVAILABLE PARTS FOR A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS REPLACED I'M SCARED TO KEEP DRIVING IT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT I WILL NOT BE SO LUCKY TO NOT HIT SOMEONE.

NHTSA ID

11083165

Incident

Mar 24, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL POWER CONSUMPTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11065594

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE CHANGING THE PASSENGER-SIDE LOW-BEAM BULB, I FOUND WIRING TO ALL THREE BULB HOLDERS MISSING INSULATION, HAVING EXPOSED WIRES. EVEN THE INTACT INSULATION IS VERY BRITTLE WHERE THE MINIMAL MOVEMENT OF THE WIRES, NECESSARY TO REPLACE ANY OF THE BULBS, CAUSES MORE INSULATION TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE BULB WIRING. THERE IS NO WIRE WRAP, ELECTRICAL TAPE, NOR HEAT SHIELDING ON ANY OF THE WIRES WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, LIKE WHAT I SEE ELSEWHERE WITHIN THE WIRING LOOM UNDER THE HOOD. WHETHER THE DAMAGE TO THE WIRES IS INITIALLY FROM HEAT BUILD-UP WITHIN THE HOUSING OR ABRASION AGAINST ANY OF SEVERAL STAMPED METAL PIECES INTERNAL TO THE HOUSING, THE RESULT IS UNSAFE. IF EACH LIGHT WERE INDIVIDUALLY FUSED, THEN THE WIRE GAUGE USED WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR A 55-WATT (HALOGEN) BULB. HOWEVER, THE WIRE GAUGE IS NOT ENOUGH TO SURVIVE ANY SHORTING OF THESE WIRES, EITHER DIRECTLY AGAINST EACH OTHER OR THROUGH ANY METAL WITHIN THE HOUSING, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS ENOUGH CURRENT TO BLOW THE COMMON FUSE. LOSING A LIGHT SEEMS PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE RISK OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A QUICK GOOGLE OR YOUTUBE SEARCH REVEALS THIS PERSISTENT ISSUE OVER MANY MODELS AND YEARS OF VW, AUDI, AND OTHER MANUFACTURERS USING SIMILAR HELLA OR VALEO LIGHTING COMPONENTS. I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED THIS ON BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON MY 08 TOUAREG, WHICH I COMPLETELY REWIRED, AND NOW ON BOTH SIDES OF MY 08 PASSAT. VOLKSWAGEN DOES NOT HAVE ANY SUPERCEDED PART FOR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE NOT FIXED IT. AS OPPOSED TO BUYING A REPLACEMENT HOUSING (~$340 EACH) WITH THE EXACT SAME SPECIFICATIONS, I WILL REWIRE THESE HOUSINGS WITH LARGER WIRE, HEAT-RESISTANT SHIELDING AND LOOM WRAP TAPE, JUST AS I HAD TO DO ON MY TOUAREG. ANY OTHERS NOT SO MECHANICALLY INCLINED ARE TRAPPED WITH A POOR DESIGN THAT HELLA, VALEO, AND VW HAVE NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11064304

Incident

Jan 14, 2018

Mileage

100,981 mi

MANY TIMES THE CAR WON'T START. AFTER MANY TRIES, IT MAY START, BUT I HAVE BEEN LEFT IN VERY COLD AND UNSAFE PLACES WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO START THE CAR. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THESE CARS AND VW SHOULD OFFER AN INEXPENSIVE OR FREE FIX FOR THIS.

NHTSA ID

11063419

Incident

Jan 16, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

ENGINE STALLS SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING--JUST A MOMENTARY HICKUP

NHTSA ID

11051885

Incident

Apr 25, 2017

Mileage

99,500 mi

MY VEHICLE (2008 VW PASSAT) STARTED HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES AND WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 40 MPH AS WELL AS ALSO HAVING A ROUGH START UP WHEN TURNING MY CAR ON. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT AND AT FIRST THEY CLAIMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WHICH WOULD COST ME AROUND $700. LATER IN THE DAY, I RECEIVED A CALL BACK TELLING ME THAT MY INTAKE CAMSHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE REPAIR WITHOUT REPLACING THIS AS WELL. NOW MY TOTAL WAS UP TO $2000. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH AND CALLING AROUND TO COMPARE PRICES, I TALKED TO A REPAIRMAN THAT HAD TO REPLACE HIS CAMSHAFT IN THE SAME YEAR VW CAR BECAUSE OF SIMILAR ISSUES. I FOUND THAT MY MODEL 2008 VW PASSAT WAS BUILT WITH A FAULTY INTAKE CAMSHAFT REVISION B WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE ABRASIVE AND CAUSING FRICTION WITH THE FUEL PUMP. SINCE 2008 VW FOUND A SNEAKY WAY TO REPLACE THIS WITH A REVISION A CAMSHAFT AND NOT RECALL THE PREVIOUS PART, WHICH HAS NOW, OVER TIME CAUSED MY $2,000 PROBLEM AND COULD HAVE PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK OF AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ACCELERATION ISSUES. I GUESS THIS REPAIR WOULD HAVE FALLEN UNDER MY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, WHICH HAS SINCE EXPIRED, BUT MOST CAR ISSUES TAKE LONGER THAN THE WARRANTY PERIOD ANYWAYS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH OCCUR OVER TIME WITH FAULTY PARTS. I HAVE TALKED TO VW AND THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND THERE IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS PART AND NEVER HAS BEEN. THE ISSUE WAS JUST PUSHED UNDER THE RUG, HOPING TO BE IGNORED FOREVER. UNTIL NOW, I WILL NOT ALLOW OTHER TO SUFFER WHAT I AM GOING THROUGH NOW AND VW HAS A BAD REPUTATION WITH BEING DISHONEST RIGHT NOW SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY HIDE YET ANOTHER ISSUE? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FOR ME AND PROVIDE ME WITH FURTHER STEPS TO TAKE ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10944383

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

Mileage

90,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN THE CAR WOULD STALL WHICH CAUSED US TO HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AN ENGINE CODE INDICATED A FAULTY PART. THE PART WAS REPLACED, THEN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER A CAR WASH. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WATER HAD GOTTEN INTO THE WIRING HARNESS AT AN AREA AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SHORT. IN THIS AREA OF THE WIRING HARNESS THERE IS A JUNCTION THAT WE WERE TOLD WAS NOT WATER PROOF OR SEAL AGAINST WATER. THIS SHORT DAMAGED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WHICH MADE THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE.

NHTSA ID

10852815

Incident

Feb 21, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR ON STATE HIGHWAY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD AND COAST INTO PARKING LOT. CAR WOULD NOT START FOR 24 HOURS TO MOVE TO REPAIR SHOP. AFTER DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING DUE TO LOSS OF ALL POWER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER SUPPLY RELAY WAS APPARENTLY BAD. COULD FIND NO RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE. SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A CAR WITH SO FEW MILES WHICH HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY ISSUE! WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER IN TIME TO AVOID TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628479

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS APPROX ONE YEAR OF DIFFICULT STARTS REQUIRING MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. ON 7/20/14 WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT VEHICLE STALLED AND REFUSED TO RESTART DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. TOWED HOME. DTC SHOWED CONTROL MODULE FOR ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK LEAKING. VEHICLE REFUSING TO START DESPITE ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS CHECKING OUT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615276

Incident

Jul 20, 2014

Mileage

75,112 mi

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER A CHECK OF THE BATTERY. THE CAR HAD NO POWER WHATSOEVER AND COULD NOT BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL TO TOW-THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ALSO LOCKED.THE VEHICLE SAT TWO NIGHTS IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT BEFORE A TOWING COMPANY COULD FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. THE TOW WAS $106.00 TO THE VW DEALERSHIP.THE DEALER WANTED $107 LABOR CHARGE FOR EACH PROBLEM. I ALREADY LOOKING AT A $214.00 BILL FOR THE STARTING ISSUE AND BRAKE.I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN IF THE CAR STARTS THE BRAKE SHOULD RELEASE ACCORDING THE OPERATORS MANUAL-ITS ELECTRONIC.HOW THIS HAPPENED IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY AS THERE HAD NEVER BEEN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INDICATION.I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR ON THE INTERNET AS I DID SOME RESEARCH AFTER THIS HAPPENED. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP- THE STEERING WHEEL MODULE WAS $565 SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO MOVE THE CAR AND TRY AND GET IT STARTED , ,,WHICH SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME GIVEN THAT THE CAR ONLY HAS 90,000 MILES. I TRIED TO GET SOME HELP FROM VW CUSTOMER CARE GIVEN THAT THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW...IT REALLY IS UPSETTING TO HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH FOR A CAR SO LIGHTLY USED WITH ONLY MAKING 3 MONTHLY VEHICLE PAYMENTS AND. VW WAS COMPLETELY UNWILLING TO WORK WITH ME IN ANY WAY. GERMAN ENGINEERING = GERMAN JUNK! *TR

NHTSA ID

10614742

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

WE CAME HOME FROM A 30 MILE TRIP AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. WENT IN THE HOUSE AND ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER HEARD A BIG POP SOUND. I THINK IS WAS A TIRE EXPLODING AND FOUND THE ENTIRE ENGINE ON FIRE. ANOTHER POPPING SOUND OCCURRED AND ANOTHER TIRE BLEW. ON THE DRIVE HOME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS NOTED ON THE DASH BOARD. WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR THERE WERE NO ODORS OR INDICATION OF A FIRE. MY KEYS WERE IN THE HOUSE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. OTHER ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED. THIS PAST WEEK MY CHARGER GOT EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH AND I STOPPED USING IT. I ALSO FELT THE CAR TRY TO START AFTER I TURNED IT OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587079

Incident

May 6, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

ALL CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL WENT DEAD, AND AIRBAG FAILURE INDICATOR CAME ON. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SEEMS NOT TO BE FUNCTIONAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559496

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER A CHECK OF THE BATTERY. THE CAR HAD NO POWER WHATSOEVER AND COULD NOT BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL TO TOW. AFTER 4 DAYS IN THE SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAD BURNED OUT AND FRIED THE IGNITION AS WELL. HOW THIS HAPPENED IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY AS THERE HAD NEVER BEEN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG BEFORE THIS INCIDENT.THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR ON THE INTERNET AS I DID SOME RESEARCH AFTER THIS HAPPENED. THE PRICE TO REPAIR THE CAR WAS $895.00,,,WHICH SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME GIVEN THAT THE CAR ONLY HAS 45K MILES. I TRIED TO GET SOME HELP FROM VW CUSTOMER CARE GIVEN THAT THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW...IT REALLY IS UPSETTING TO HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH FOR A CAR SO LIGHTLY USED...AND COULD IT JUST HAPPEN AGAIN? VW WAS COMPLETELY UNWILLING TO WORK WITH ME IN ANY WAY. *JS

NHTSA ID

10545220

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

Mileage

45,000 mi

I GOT HOME AFTER WORK SATURDAY NIGHT AROUND 7PM AND PARK MY 2008 VW PASSAT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND TWO MINUTES AFTER SMOKE START COMING OUT THROUGH FRONT GRILLE I OPEN THE HOOD AND IT SMALL LIKE BURNED PLASTIC. I SOW COIL AND WIRE WHERE IS CONNECTED ALL MELTED. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367107

Incident

Nov 20, 2010

Mileage

24,800 mi

OWNED THE CAR FOR 9 MONTHS, AND HAVE HAD DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS FOR 8 MONTHS INCLUDING A COMPLETE FAILURE THAT REQUIRED TOWING. THE PRIMARY PROBLEMS ARE: 1. STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT ON - THE COMFORT MODULE AND STEERING ELECTRONICS WERE REPLACED 7 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR 2. ONGOING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR DIED ON 6/15/10, WAS TOWED, AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED. CURRENT: CAR DID NOT START ON FIRST ATTEMPT ON 7/4/10, WHICH IS LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER! 3. CAR BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL. NEED TO ADD OIL BETWEEN SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES. IN APRIL 2010, OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER ADDED 2 QTS OF OIL AND TANK WAS STILL NOT FULL. STILL HAD 1,000 MILES TO GO BEFORE NEXT SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE. HAVE HAD OIL ADDED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. 4. CAR IS SLUGGISH, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UP HILLS. NO RESPONSE OR RESOLUTION FOR THIS, BUT THE CAR HAS A TURBO ENGINE NOTE: THIS CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY VW DEALERSHIPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341430

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

39,249 mi

2008 VW PASSAT WAGON. THIS CAR WHILE PARKED, RUNNING AND OCCUPIED, IN A GARAGE HAD A FIRE WHOSE POINT OF ORIGIN WAS THE AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CAUSE TO BE ACCIDENTAL MECHANICAL. THE FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $200,000 ALSO ONE OCCUPANT OF THE HOME HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED BY EMS FOR SMOKE INHALATION. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR STATED SHE TO LEAVE. SHE PLACED THE 5 YEAR OLD IN THE CHILD SEAT OF THE VOLKSWAGEN AND OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR. SHE STARTED THE CAR AND SMELT SMOKE. IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CALLED THE HUSBAND. THE HUSBAND SAID THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE SEAT HEATER, HAD HER TURN OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND RESTART THE CAR. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR SMELT AND OBSERVED SMOKE AGAIN, TURNED OFF THE CAR, GOT OUT AND SAW FLAME UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. SHE REMOVED THE DAUGHTER FROM THE CAR AND TOOK HER OUT TO THE DRIVEWAY. SHE THEN WENT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND REMOVED A GAS CAN FROM THE AREA OF THE CAR/SNOWBLOWER. SHE AGAIN RE-ENTERED THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE OTHER GARAGE DOOR (BOTH NOW OPEN) OBSERVED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE DRIVERS DOOR OF THE CAR. SHE EXITED THE GARAGE THROUGH AN INTERIOR DOOR, CLOSING IT BEHIND HER. SHE THEN WENT UP INTO THE HOUSE REMOVED TWO DOGS TO A CRATE ON THE DECK. IN THE MEANTIME A NEIGHBOR HAD GRABBED THE LITTLE GIRL. WHILE ALL THIS WAS HAPPENING THE MOTHER PLACED THREE FRANTIC 911 CALLS. THE OWNER OF THE CAR STATED HE HAD HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATED SEATS IN THE PAST AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE. THE LAST TIME IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. THE DERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED ITS FIRE INVESTIGATION, AND THE CAR IS BEING TURNED OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (STATE FARM AND LIBERTY MUTUAL). *TR

NHTSA ID

10308290

Incident

Feb 6, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT AXLE AT 2,200 MILES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING SEVERELY. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 50 DEGREES, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAS TO BE WARMED UP FOR AT LEAST TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL SHIFT. IN ADDITION, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY EMITTING HOT AIR. THE RADIO ALSO DOES NOT WORK ON OCCASION. THE CONTACT HAS ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT MONTHS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 5/27/09 *CN UPDATED 05/29/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10268469

Incident

Oct 12, 2008

Mileage

12,000 mi