NHTSA Complaint #10070948 — 1997 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

HEATER CORE FAILED SPONTANEOUSLY, CAUSING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SWEET SMELLING WHITE/GREY SMOKE AND HOT MIST TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A TOTAL VISUAL OBSTRUCTION TO THE DRIVER AND CHOKING/COUGHING OF A 5 YEAR OLD PASSENGER. THE DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER, MANAGER TO PULL SAFELY OFF THE BUSY ROAD (US RT 1), BUT SHE AND HER CHILD WERE VERY SHAKEN BY THE EVENT. THE FAILURE OF THE HEATER CORE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY! I HAVE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO VW OF AMERICA. I EXPECTED TO HEAR BACK TODAY FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP, BUT DID NOT. I REQUESTED THAT THEY PAY IN ENTIRETY FOR THE REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS RESISTANT, AS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS MODEL VW, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN ON MANY OTHERS. THE CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON, VERY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN. IT WAS A MODEL BUILT EITHER IN BRAZIL OR MEXICO. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITH THE DEALER, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC WHO WAS METICULOUS ABOUT MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE MECHANICALLY--WE HAVE DETAILED COMPUTERIZED DOCUMENTATION. NEVERTHELESS, THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS AND LOCKS, EITHER THE DOORS NOT STAYING SECURELY LATCHED DURING DRIVING, PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOWS, AND NOW THE DOORS MAY BE LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY--NOT WHEN ONE IS DRIVING AND WISHES SECURITY. I DID NOT REPORT THIS TO VW. I WILL BE DELIGHTED IF THEY COME THROUGH FOR ME ON THE HEATER CORE. ONE THING AT A TIME.