1997 Volkswagen Passat

WHILE EN-ROUTE BETWEEN DEXTER, MICHIGAN AND GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, CABIN BEGAN TO SMELL OF SMOKE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH A HALON EXTINGUISHER PROMPTLY. EXAMINATION OF THE COMPONENTS POST-FIRE REVEALED A DEFECTIVE CENTER CONDUCTOR. CIRCUIT WAS FUSED AT 10 AMPS WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE BLOWN, POST FIRE. NO INJURIES, NO DAMAGE TO PERSONAL GOODS, DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO CIGARETTE LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS POORLY DESIGNED. *NM

DT: GOODYEAR TIRES EAGLE GPS , SIZE 195/60/R14 EXPERIENCED A LARGE CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY AROUND LEFT FRONT TIRE RIM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER, AND THEY URGED THE CONSUMER TO TAKE TIRE TO SEARS BECAUSE THESE TIRES CAME ON A USED VEHICLE, THESE WERE NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE CONSUMER WENT TO SEARS, WHO REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY 1,000 MILES AND HARDLY ANY WEAR ON THEM. THE OTHER TIRES WERE ALSO CRACKED. THE SERVICE MAN AT SEARS ASKED THE CONSUMER TO RETURN THE NEXT DAY AND HE WOULD REPLACE THE OTHER TIRES. BUT WHEN CONSUMER RETURNED THE NEXT DAY A DIFFERENT PERSON WAS WORKING AND SAID THESE WERE NOT SEAR'S TIRES BUT SAMATAEA'S CLUB TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO SAMATAEA'S CLUB TO REPLACE ALL TIRES AND RETURN THE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TIRE TO SEARS. SAMATAEA'S CLUB WOULD NOT HONOR THE TIRE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS NOT A MEMBER, AND THAT WAS PART OF THEIR POLICY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED GOODYEAR, AND THEY SAID IT WAS UP TO SAMATAEA'S CLUB AS TO HOW THOSE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAVE HARDLY ANY WEAR BUT CONTINUE TO CRACK. CURRENTLY ON THE SIDEWALL THE STEEL AND TREAD IS SHOWS THROUGH . NO ONE WILL REPLACE THESE TIRES AT THIS TIME. THE CONSUMER DOES PLAN TO REPLACE THESE TIRES, BUT FEELS HE SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. *AK

1997 VW PASSAT TDI. THE CAR HAD A "TV-12" RECALL, IN WHICH THE ECM AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED. WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS, THE ECM WENT OUT AGAIN, AND VW "REFUSES" TO LIVE UP TO THE WARRANTY. 2) FAILURE OF THIS, DOES NOT DIMINISH IT'S "CRUSING" CAPACITY DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO POWER TO PASS SAFELY, AND MUCH LOSS OF POWER, WHEN ENTERING THE 'EXITS'. CONSEQUENTLY, A VERY POSSIBLE SITUATION RESULTS TO HAVE A TERRIBLE CRASH. VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND ONLY FIXES IT WHEN "THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS". 3) THE ORIGINAL INTAKE WAS REPLACED, AND ECM. HOWEVER, VW WILL NOT PUT A 'NEW' ECM IN, RATHER, THEY PUT IN A "REBUILT" ONE. THIS IS PRONE TO HUMAN ERROR, AND THAT'S WHY MINE FAILED WITHIN FIVE (5) TO SIX (6) MONTHS. IT 'GOES OUT' CONSTANTLY. *JB

HEATER CORE FAILURE - HEATER CORE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY, DUMPING HOT COOLANT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FOOT WELL, AND OBSCURING VISIBILITY BY RAPIDLY STEAMING UP ALL WINDOWS.*AK UPON REQUEST, VWOA REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND COVERED PARTS/LABOR 100% AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE. THIS SHOULD BE A FORMAL RECALL AS THE HEATER CORE IN THIS VEHICLE IS THE SAME PART (SAME PART NUMBER, MANUFACTURER, ETC...) THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF FORMAL RECALLS IN THE LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S GOLF/JETTA/CORRADO/PASSAT CHASSIS.

DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM HAS REPEATED FAILURES DESPITE REPLACEMENT/REPAIR ON SIX OCCASIONS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE THE WINDOW MUST BE CLOSED BY GRASPING THE GLASS AND MANIPULATING IT WHICH CAN RESULT IN FINGERS BEING TRAPPED AND BROKEN. ALSO, ONCE THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED, THE WINDOW MAY DROP DOWN INTO THE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION, OR FAIL TO OPEN IN AN EMERGENCY PRECLUDING AN ESCAPE PATH. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY FAULTY DOOR LATCH MECHANISM ACTUATORS WHICH PRECLUDE DOOR OPENING FROM OUTSIDE BY RESCUE PERSONNEL. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ROLL PIN SLIPPING OUT OF THE DOOR LATCH TRIGGER MECHANISM CAUSING FAILURE OF AND BINDING OF THE LINKAGE WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATING MECHANISM TO FAIL, TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT PER THE GE INFORMATION SERVICES, JAPAN ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK