NHTSA Complaint #10043507 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) PASSAT EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT USER COMMUNITY AS FREQUENTLY OCCURRING AND CONFIRMED BY VW SERVICE TECHNICIANS AS A PROBLEM SEEN OFTEN. MY SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED SEEING THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 4 TIMES A MONTH. THE CAR CONTAINS A POLLEN FILTER. THE SEAL AROUND THE POLLEN FILTER FAILED. WHEN THE SEAL FAILS, WATER COMES INTO THE CAR AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL, FLOODING BOTH THE FROM AND REAR OF THE CAR, AND, IN OUR CASE REQUIRING ABOUT $600 WORTH OF REPAIR. REPORTED CONSEQUENCES OF WATER COMING INTO THE CAR, INCLUDE (1) SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTING N THE CENTER CONSOLE, MAKING THE AUDIO, VENTILATION, ANTI-SLIP OVERRIDE AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS AT NIGHT; (2) FAILURE OF EITHER THE AIRBAG TRIGGERING MECHANISM OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT, OWNER CANNOT DISTINGUISH; (3) AND FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM (DOORS AND TRUNK -- LOCKED DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE.) THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR GETS WET -- FOR EXAMPLE WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN -- AND RESULTS IN FAILURE OF SYSTEMS RELATED TO INTERIOR LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AIRBAGS, AND LOCKS -- ALL CRITICAL FOR SAFETY IN EITHER NORMAL OR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. VOLKSWAGEN HAS DENIED MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF FROM THE REPAIR COSTS I INCURRED FIXING THE FAILURE OF THE POLLEN FILTER SEAL IN MY 2001 PASSAT. *LA