2000 Volkswagen Eurovan

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING IN THE DAYTIME, THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS DUE TO THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE PANEL. MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER CAN'T DETERMINE THE SPEED, LOCATE THE GEAR POSITION, GAS, TEMPERATURE, AND SWITCH TO JUDGE MILEAGE. SCC

THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 71,000 MILES. ON 10-9-01, IT WAS INSPECTED BY MCNEVIN VW IN BERKELEY, CA AT 65,456 MILES. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE SAID TO HAVE 80% REMAINING AND THE REARS HAD 70% REMAINING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AT 70,558 MILES AND HE SAID THE FRONT HAD LESS THAN 50% AND THE REARS WERE AT 20%. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VAN I'VE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED TWICE WITH THE THIRD TODAY, 11-29-01. I CALLED THE BERKELEY DEALER AND HE REFERRED ME TO VW OF AMERICA. THE LATTER REFUSED ANY ASSISTENCE OR INFORMATION WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN. WHEN I WAS NOTIFIED THE CAR NEEDED NEW BRAKES AT 27,866, I ASKED WHY SO SOON. THE ANSWER WAS THAT THE CAMPER CONVERSION WAS TOO HEAVY FOR THE EXISTING BRAKES AND I SHOULD EXPECT TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST EVERY 30,000 MILES. THIS WASN'T REVEALED TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT CHANGE WAS 26,030 MILE LATER. NOW THEY NEED REPLACEMENT AT 16,800 MILES LATER. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS USED ALL CERTIFIED VW PARTS. APPROXIMATELY 60% OF MY DRIVING IS LONG DISTANCE FREEWAY WITH LITTLE BRAKING. ABOUT 40% IS CITY DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS WITH NO PANIC BRAKING. I DO NOT DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF USING THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I HOPE YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION IN TRYING TO FIND A REASONABLE SOLUTION WITH THIS OTHER THAN SELLING THE VEHICLE. IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS I WILL HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1,800 FOR NEW BRAKES. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK