NHTSA Complaint #10068345 — 1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGON JETTA, WOLFSBURG EDITION. I'VE BEEN STRANDED A TOTAL OF 6 OR 7 TIMES (LOSING COUNT) ON THE INTERSTATE BY THIS VEHICLE. PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS MYSTERIOUS PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. I WORK FOR THE STATE OF INDIANA, COMMUNTE INTO INDIANAPOLIS 5 DAYS A WEEK, I AM AN INTERSTATE TRAVELER. I HAVE FORGIVEN MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS HAD, BUT RECENTLY HAVE REACHED THE LIMIT. JUST LAST WEEK I WAS ONCE AGAIN STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR AND MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING AND SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. THIS SITUATION TERRIFIED ME. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO URGENTLY COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE, BUT I WAS IN FEAR THAT THE CAR WOULD BE ON FIRE DUE TO SEEING THIS SMOKE. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED; ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE MAN DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE FROM MY STEERING COLUMN. I KNOW FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT THE BAD IGNITION COIL IN THESE VEHICLES IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE ARE EXISTING RECALLS ON SOME VOLKSWAGON IGNITION COILS. THIS SEEMS UNJUST CONSIDERING THEY USED THE SAME IGNITION COIL IN THE 1998 THAT THEY DID IN OTHER VEHICLE YEARS. THIS REPAIR COST ME $400, WHICH IS JUST ICING ON THE CAKE FOR ME RIGHT NOW. NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE SERVICEMAN WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL SAYS ALL IS CONNECTED AND HE THINKS THE SMOKE IN THE CAR WAS COMING FROM THE AIRBAG WIRING. HE SAID THERE'S NO WAY TO DISCONNECT THE AIRBAG (TO STOP ANY CHANCE OF IT EXPLODING OUT ON ME WHILE DRIVING). IF IT COMES OUT WHILE DRIVING..I AM DEAD.IF IT FAILS IN AN ACCIDENT.I COULD BE DEAD. I AM AFRAID TO EVEN HAVE MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I HONESTLY THINK IT'S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS WIRED INCORRECTLY. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN GETTING JUSTICE SERVED. I'VE HEARD OF SO MANY OTHERS WHO ARE MISTREATED AND IGNORED BY VOLKSWAGON. THIS VEHICLE'S REPEATED FAILURE SHOULD BE NOTED. I APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *AK