NHTSA Complaint #10070354 — 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

JUNE 2, 2003 THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SENT TO VOA DEAR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA I HAVE A 1999 BEETLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE ON MAY 4TH 2003; AS OF TODAY MAY 12, 2003 THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT. HE SAID, CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES. THEY WILL NOT BE SENDING ANY KIND OF PAPERWORK TO ME, AND I WILL NOT GET ANY MORE CALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE? I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THIS ANSWER AND THIS IS WHY: 05/04/03 SUNDAY SMOKE THEN FLAMES CAME POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 1999 VW BEATLE PURCHASED OCT 1998. I WAS GIVEN A CASE # OF [XXX] TO REFER TO. [XXX] SAID THE A/C SWITCH WIRE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE WAS WAITING FOR A CALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA?S CUSTOMER RELATION'S PERSON. 05/12/03 MONDAY 1:38 PM I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM [XXX]. [XXX] GOT ON PHONE AND SAID THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS SENT TO THEIR PRODUCT LIAISON PERSON. [XXX] SAID, CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S TOO OLD AND HAS TO MANY MILES. THEY WILL NOT BE "SENDING PAPERWORK" TO ME AND ? I WILL NOT GET ANY MORE CALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE. I HAVE A RECORD OF ALL PAST SERVICE RECEIPTS (DATING BACK TO THE PURCHASE DATE) AND HAVE DOCUMENTED PROOF OF RECENT PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS TO THE A/C AND ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THIS CAR IN THE PAST. MY DAUGHTER, A CURRENT RESIDENT OF ARIZONA, CURRENTLY IS EMPLOYED AS A FULL-TIME NANNY. SHE HAS IN HER CARE A TWO MONTH OLD AND WILL BE EXPECTED TO DRIVE HIM ABOUT. HER PAST JOB WAS CARING FOR A TWO YEAR OLD AND HAD THIS FIRE? ERUPTED WHILE HE WAS IN HER CARE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRUE TRAGEDY. PLEASE SEND VERIFICATION OF YOUR DECISION IN WRITING TO ME BY MAY 30, 2003. PLEASE SEND ALL INQUIRIES BACK TO ME AT [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] JELINEK BUILDERS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR