2009 Volkswagen Passat

On [XXX], a MIDAS shop found an alleged crack in the front part of the gas tank on the upper part of the tank by the floor board. The manager also stated that it could be a plastic seal from the fuel pump on the top part of the tank. The tank is located next to the exhaust system. My 2009 VW CC 4-Motion only has 122,xxx miles on it. I could see a wet spot and presumed I smelled gas but was not sure. He gave me a printout of what the cost would be to repair the system. I told him I would be filing a report with NHTSA. I then called Lunde's VW, W. Bell Rd., Peoria, AZ. I talked to a Tyler Rodriquez and he said there were no recalls and VW could not warrant the problem. I told him I would be filing a report with NHTSA and he did not respond to me. Both places were quite fast to elicit repairs from their business. Only MIDAS pointed out the exhaust pipes being near the gas tank. Approximately six years ago I had been to another VW dealership in Phoenix about my gas gauge needle not working properly and I was sold a gas cap to fix the problem. The problem has been a recurring one and my gas mileage fluctuates. This situation reminds me of the mid-1970s problem with the Ford Pinto gas tanks, which I believe was never resolved. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE CAR HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS POP ON AND THE FUEL PUMP IS THE ERROR CODE, ALONG WITH MISFIRES. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST A DOZEN OR MORE CLOSE CALLS WITH THE STALL OUT AND FAILURE TO START UP, AND AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES I HAVE ALMOST BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THE STALL OUT. IT STALLS WHEN ITS IN MOTION OR EVEN WHEN IT IS PARKED AND IS STARTING UP.

FUEL PUMP CRACKED, AND PLACEMENT OF PUMP CAUSED GASOLINE TO POOL UNDERNEATH BACK SEAT INSIDE THE CAR, RIGHT UNDER WHERE MY 4 YEAR OLDS CAR SEAT IS. TECH STARTED WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT IT DIDNT CATCH ON FIRE, BECAUSE IT WAS BASICALLY A BOMB DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH HIM THAT COULD HAVE GONE OFF ANYTIME THE CAR WAS TURNED ON OR RUNNING. ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET THE FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACED, AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT RECALL WHEN THE CAR STARTED STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. IT IS NOW AT VOLKSWAGEN OF MACON WAITING ON PARTS FOR A $1,000 REPAIR. WE ARE GOING TO GET RID OF THE CAR BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PUTTING MY SON BACK IN A CAR WHERE THAT IS EVEN POSSIBLE.

I AM WRITING TO YOUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OF THE INJUSTICE I EXPERIENCED WITH A RECALL AT VOLKSWAGEN. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I HAD SOME ISSUES WITH MY PASSAT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. DEALERS DOING WHAT DEALER'S GAUGED ME FOR WHATEVER THEY COULD. THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, VOLKSWAGEN CAME OUT WITH RECALL FOR THE PART WHICH I REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO. THEY PAID ME PARTIALLY FOR MY OUR OF POCKET EXPENSES BUT MY ARGUMENT TO THEM WAS THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AT THE DEALER TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IF NOT FOR THE RECALL. I INITIALLY REQUESTED THAT THEY REFUND FULL LABOR AND ONE OF THE PARTS. BUT COME TO THINK OF IT BOTH PARTS ARE RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM AND NOW I WOULD LIKE A COMPLETE REFUND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND A FUEL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (SOUTHERN VOLKSWAGEN GREENBRIER, 1248 S MILITARY HWY, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, (757) 424-4689) INDICATED THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V509000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) WHEN THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,272.

3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS MY CAR WOULD LOOSE POWER AND SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED AND ALL THREE TIMES THEY STATED IT WAS DIFFERENT THINGS AND THAT THEY HAD TO TAKE STEPS IN REPLACING GOOD PARTS TO FIND THE BAD ONES. JUST TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE THAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE WHOLE TIME. NOW THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. WHICH I HAVE SUMMITTED THE PAPER WORK AND THEY CONVENIENTLY CANNOT FIND. THIS PAST WEEKEND MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER AT ALL WHEN I TRIED TO START IT IN A PARKING LOT SO I HAD IT TOWED FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 2.5YEARS. THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT THE ENGINE MOTOR IS BAD AND IT WOULD COST $7500.00 TO REPLACE. THE TECHNICIAN CANNOT FIND ANY OIL LEAKS ND CLAIM THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT A HALF OF COURT OF OIL IN THE MOTOR. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED LESS THAN 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE IS NO WAY IT COULD OF RUN FOR THAT LONG ON HALF A COURT OF OIL AND SHOULD HOLD 5.6 QUARTS. WHICH LEADS TO THE MOTOR EATING SO TO SPEAK THE OIL. ( A BAD ENGINE) ALTHOUGH I SPENT OVER $20'000.00 ON THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD ALL THESE ISSUES VOLKSWAGEN IS TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP AT ALL WITH REPAIRING THE ENGINE. THAT I WILL HAVE TO EAT THE $9000.00 STILL OWED ON THE VEHICLE. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BY VOLKSWAGEN.