1997 Volkswagen Passat

HEATER CORE FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY, CAUSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SWEET SMELLING WHITE/GREY SMOKE AND HOT MIST TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A TOTAL VISUAL OBSTRUCTION TO THE DRIVER AND CHOKING/COUGHING OF A 5 YEAR OLD PASSENGER. THE DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER, MANAGER TO PULL SAFELY OFF THE BUSY ROAD (US RT 1), BUT SHE AND HER CHILD WERE VERY SHAKEN BY THE EVENT. THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY! I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO VW OF AMERICA. I EXPECTED TO HEAR BACK TODAY FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP, BUT DID NOT. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PAY IN ENTIRETY FOR THE REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS RESISTANT, AS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL VW, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN ON MANY OTHERS. THE CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON, VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. IT WAS A MODEL BUILT EITHER IN BRAZIL OR MEXICO. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH THE DEALER, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC WHO WAS METICULOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE MECHANICALLY--WE HAVE DETAILED COMPUTERIZED DOCUMENTATION. NEVERTHELESS, THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS AND LOCKS, EITHER THE DOORS NOT STAYING SECURELY LATCHED DURING DRIVING, PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, AND NOW THE DOORS MAY BE LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY--NOT WHEN ONE IS DRIVING AND WISHES SECURITY. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO VW. I WILL BE DELIGHTED IF THEY COME THROUGH FOR ME ON THE HEATER CORE. ONE THING AT A TIME.

SEAT BELTS NEVER RAVAL ALL THE WAY (MINOR ISSUE), AIR CONDITIONER GETS COLD ONLY FOR ABOUT A MINUTE (ONCE AGAIN MINOR), AND NOW IT MISFIRES ON CYLINDERS 5 AND 6. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH O2 SENSORS, THE COIL PACK (3 TIMES), IGNITION WIRES (TWICE), SPARK PLUGS (TWICE IN 4,000 MILES), AND THE ECU. STILL MISFIRES AFTER 3 SHOPS AND THE DEALER HAVING IT TWICE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS STRAIGHT (KEN GARFF OREM VW/AUDI DEALERSHIP). THEY TOLD ME "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO", VW AMERICA SAID "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO, THOSE DEALERSHIPS ARE INDEPENDENT FROM US". THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, BROKE SOME ENGINE COVERINGS, THAT I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT TO HAVE THEM DECIDE TO REPLACE. THE NEXT ROUND I GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE HOOD WAS POPED A LITTLE BIT BUT CLOSED (I LIVE 2 MILES FROM THE DEALER). SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AND NOT TO MY SUPRISE, THEY LEFT A FEW ENGINE COMPONENTS UNBOLTED AND SITTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEY ALSO LEFT THEIR TOOLS AND THE BOLTS IN SMALL CASIM PARTS OF THE SHEET METAL. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS LOOKED AT AND THEY CONVIENIENTLY LEFT THE WIRES CUT BUT NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH. VW AMERICA ALL THROUGH THIS SAID ONLY THAT I CAN COMPLAIN AND THAT THEY WILL "NOTE THIS IN MY RECORD, BUT THATS ALL WE CAN DO." THEY HAVEN'T EVEN OFFERED TO HELP ME FIND A NEW DEALER OR TELL ME A TYPICAL WAY TO FIX A MISFIRE.

LIGHTS, WIPERS AND HEATER FAN LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE, FIXING THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION SWITCH PART NUMBER AS LISTED ON THE INVOICE (6NO-905-865) IS SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, TO PART NUMBER 357-905-865 THAT FAILS IN THE 1996 VW PASSAT & JETTA, A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME SYMPTOMS