NHTSA Complaint #10124402 — 1999 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I OWN A 1999 VW PASSAT WAGON. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECALLS ABOUT THE FRONT END. I DID HAVE IT CHECKED AT LEAST TWICE BY MY DEALER WHO SAID EVERYTHING WAS OK. AS I WAS NEARING MY HOME TODAY AT ABOUT 25 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SUDDENLY COLLAPSED UPWARD INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND THE CAR STARTED SKIDDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. BECAUSE I WAS GOING RATHER SLOW I WAS ABLE TO CORRECT IT AND STOP IT BEFORE IT WENT OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN GOING 65-70 NEXT TO OTHER CARS ON THE INTERSTATE OR EVEN 40 ON A TWO LANE AROUND TOWN I'M SURE THINGS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN QUITE SO BENIGN AND WE (MY FAMILY AND I) MAY ALL HAVE BEEN INJURED OR WORSE! WHEN THE WRECKER LIFTED IT THE DRIVER AND I BOTH LOOKED AT THE A ARM AND THE ENDS WERE CRACKED OR SHEARED OFF. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING BEFORE IT HAPPENED, AND DID NOT HIT ANYTHING WHILE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. EVEN IF I HAD IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE INSPECTION BY THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE FOUND IT. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURERER PROBLEM AND IT IS WAY TOO SERIOUS TO SAY THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE. THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A DEATH CONNECTED WITH THE FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSING WHEN YOU CONSIDER LOST OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!