1996 Volkswagen Passat

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 1996 VW PASSAT AT 65 MPH AND THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF MY CAR WAS ENGULFED WITH WATER AND ANTI FREEZE STEAM AND VAPOR. IT WAS QUICKLY AND WITH OUT WARNING IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE HEATER CORE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD HAVE LEAD TO A MAJOR ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE SELLER STATED THAT IT WAS A MINOR ISSUE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS RESET AND ILLUMINATED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING; HOWEVER, RADIATOR FLUID WOULD SPILL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. THE RADIATOR, TIMER, WATER PUMP, AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95V178000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN) FOR THE 1995 PASSAT IS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE SHE IS EXPERIENCING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB

I HAVE HAD ONGOING ISSUES WITH ELECTRONIC AND EMISSIONS SENSORS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND RECENTLY SPENT $756.54 TO (AGAIN!) REPLACE SENSORS SO THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PASS ITS ANNUAL EMISSIONS TEST (AS MANDATED BY THE EPA). I WROTE TO VW CUSTOMER CARE TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT OF THIS (AND PAST) CHARGES AND WAS TOLD TODAY (7/13/06) THAT NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED, SO NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE. I TOLD THEM THAT NHTSA ISSUED RECALL 99V131 (WHICH ADDRESSES SOME OF THE AREAS) BUT VW TOLD ME THAT IT DID NOT APPLY, AS ALL REIMBURSEMENTS ARE VIN-SPECIFIC. CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP? THANK YOU. *JB

OUR MAIN COMMENT IS THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO OUR DAUGHTER ILLEGALLY. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE MILEAGE INDICATOR HAD BEEN ROLLED BACK. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN HER DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT WILL NOT RUN, ALL THE HARDWARE IS FALLING OFF. AFTER FINALLY IN. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****743725