2009 Volkswagen Passat

The check engine light and oil pressure light appeared on my dash screen as I was driving home from work. I pulled over to the nearest repair shop to have the vehicle diagnosed. Upon arriving, the mechanic noticed my oil was low and filled the car with oil. Once that was completed, the car would not start. I noticed it made unusual noises after several more failed attempts. I had the vehicle towed to an authorized dealership to further troubleshoot and they were able to confirm that the engine jumped time due to a failed timing chain tensioner, which requires a new engine since mine is an interference engine. Due to the timing chain tensioner failing, there was catastrophic damage done to the engine leaving the vehicle inoperable.

TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED THE STATE INSPECTION DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *BF *AS

MY VW PASSAT 2009 SUSTAINED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAILURE TIMING CHAIN/TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND NOW NEEDS VERY EXPENSIVE ENGINE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. CAR DROVE OKAY FOR 15 MINUTES IN THE MORNING THEN IT WAS THEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WHEN TRYING TO RE-START THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC NOTED ABSENT COMPRESSION IN 2 CYLINDERS AND DIAGNOSED IT TO BE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING. THIS HAPPENED AT 80,000MILES AND LESS THAN 10 YEARS (9 YEARS 9 MONTHS) OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. VW'S EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN BUT DOES NOT COVER REPAIR OF ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTED DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT VW DEALER REGULARLY AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHAIN. OTHER OWNERS OF VW VEHICLES HAVE ALSO COMPLAINED OF HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS ON ONLINE COMMUNITY WITH SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN RATHER THAN WEAR AND TEAR DUE AGEING AND I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP AND DISCUSS A RECENT INCIDENT. ON APRIL 19TH 2019 OUR 2009 VW PASSAT WAS IN OUR GARAGE AS THIS IS THE USUAL LOCATION WE PARK OUR CARS. ON THE 18TH WE COMPLETED YARD WORK AND NOTHING OUT OF THE NORM WAS NOTED AS WE COMPLETED THE YARD WORK AT AROUND 8PM AND NOTHING WAS NOTED TO BE ABNORMAL. AROUND 4 AM ON THE 19TH MY SPOUSE AND I WERE AWOKEN TO A LOUD POP SOUND. THIS SOUND WAS UNUSUAL TO US. SHORTLY AFTER THE POP SOUND THERE PANIC ALARM COULD BE HEARD THAT WANED OUT IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. MY HUSBAND WENT TO THE GARAGE AND WAS MET WITH BLACK AND PRESSURE LIKE FORCE AGAINST THE GARAGE DOOR. WE IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED THE HOME AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AT THE TIME WERE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE BUT ONCE THE FIRE FIGHTERS ARRIVED WERE TOLD THE VW PASSAT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL REPORTED TO US THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I WANTED TO TOUCH BASED WITH VW PERTAINING THIS MATTER IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE OTHERS LIVES. OUR GARAGE HAS BEEN DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE VW ATLAS WAS DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE. MY VW PASSAT HAD WAS DRIVEN THE DAY OF THE 18TH WITH NO CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED THAT ANOTHER PERSON COULD BE GRAVELY HARMED IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT ADDRESSED. I AM A VW CUSTOMER THAT ENJOYS THE OVERALL PRODUCT AND WISH EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY FOR THE PRODUCT. IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INQUIRY PLEASE CALL (XXXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).