NHTSA Complaint #10125628 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

2002 JETTA WAGON, BOUGHT WITH 16K MILES; NOW HAS 23000. INSPECTION REPORT PROVIDED BY SALES DEALER NOTED THERE WERE NO SIGHTS OF OIL LEAKS, NO VISIBLE SMOKE, NORMAL OIL PRESSURE READINGS, ETC. THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND THE LEVEL CHECKED JUST PRIOR TO PURCHASE. CAR HAS USED 4 QUARTS OF OIL IN 7000 MILES, WITH NO LEAKS OR SPRAY AND NO VISIBLE SMOKE. VW DEALERSHIP SAYS TO HAVE THE WARRANTY COVER THIS PROBLEM (60000 MI/4 YEAR WARRANTY), THAT THEY WOULD HAVE CHANGE THE OIL, THEN I MUST BRING IT IN EVERY 1000 MILES FOR THE NEXT FEW THOUSAND MILES TO GET OIL CHECKED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE RECEIPTS THAT ESTABLISH THAT THE CAR BURNED 2 QUARTS OF OIL IN APPROXIMATELY 3500 MILES OF DRIVING. THEY SAY IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BURN 1 QUART EVERY 3000 MILES. NO VEHICLE WITH ONLY 22000 MILES ON IT SHOULD BE BURNING OIL. I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHER JETTAS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THAT OWNERS ARE ROUTINELY TOLD BY VW IT IS "NORMAL" TO BURN AS MUCH AS 1 QUART PER 1000 MILES. EVEN IF THE CAR WAS "ONLY" BURNING 1 QUART EVERY 3000 MILES, I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT, NOT "NORMAL." IT'S BURNING TWICE THAT. MY CONCERN IS THAT VW HAS MANUFACTURED AN ENGINE THAT IS INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE, AND IS TELLING CUSTOMERS THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR LOW-MILEAGE JETTAS TO BE BURNING OIL TO AVOID HONORING THE WARRANTY. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS PROCESS OF BRINGING IT IN EVERY 1000 MILES IS JUST DESIGNED TO DELAY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRES. I ONLY HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES; I WANTED TO HAVE A RECORD OF THE FACT THAT THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED PRIOR TO THE END OF THE WARRANTY.