NHTSA Complaint #10074719 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

WE PURCHASED A NEW VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT STATION WAGON FROM LIVONIA VOLKSWAGEN AUTOPLEX (NOW THAYER AUTOMOTIVE LIVONIA, INC.) IN JULY, 2003. AT 18,500 MILES, THE CAR DEVELOPED A RATTLE IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAR HAS AFTERMARKET BRAKES THAT FIT DIFFERENTLY FROM VW BRAKES, HENCE THE RATTLE. HOWEVER, THESE ARE THE BRAKES THAT WERE ON THE CAR WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO US. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THREE OCCASIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE BRAKE PADS APPEARED "TOO NEW" TO HAVE 18,500 MILES ON THEM (IMPLYING THAT WE HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED). BASED ON THIS, VW OF AMERICA STATES THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE VW BRAKES TO BE PUT ON THE CAR. WE HAVE NOT HAD THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR REPLACED OR SERVICED IN ANY WAY, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THE CAR SERVICED ANYWHERE BUT THIS DEALERSHIP. INCIDENTALLY, THE DAY AFTER THE 10,000 MILE SERVICE, THE WINDSHIELD FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, AND THE DAY AFTER THE BRAKE INSPECTION A HUBCAP FLEW OFF. THIS MAY SPEAK TO THE SKILL AND INTEGRITY OF THIS SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF REGULATORY SERVICES WHO STATE THAT THIS MATTER WAS NOT IN THEIR JURISDICTION BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER LICENSED BY THE STATE, AND SUGGESTED WE CONTACT YOU. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH, ASSUMING, OF COURSE, THAT IT WAS MADE OF ALL VW PARTS. APPARENTLY IT IS NOT. CURRENTLY, OUR NEW CAR HAS SQUEAKY BRAKES, AN INCREASINGLY LOUD RATTLE IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE, AND A MISSING HUBCAP. VW OF AMERICA WILL NOT HELP US. THE SALES MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT RETURN OUR CALLS. WE WOULD LIKE VW BRAKES ON OUR VW CAR, ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR IS, IN FACT, A VW PRODUCT, AND A HUBCAP REPLACED. A FAMILY WHO BUYS A NEW CAR ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWELVE YEARS WOULD APPRECIATE HELP. *JB