NHTSA Complaint #10130299 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

AT 58,000 MILES MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STOP DEMAND LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MAN INDICATED TO ME THAT THE 2000 PASSATS' WHERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL PUMPS. HE FURTHER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS THAT THE PUMPS THAT WERE MANUFRACTURED WERE NOT BUILT STRONG ENOUGH TO UP HOLD CERTAIN SYTHETIC OILS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN THE OIL GETS TO HOT THE OIL CYRSTALIZES AND THEN TURNSS TO SLUDGE. GIVEN THAT INFORMATION I THEN PROCEEDED TO GET MY CAR SERVICED. HOWEVER UPON THE DATE OF SERVICE ( EVEN KNOWING THE PROBLEM) MY CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AT A COST TO ME FOR $75.00. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE I LEARNED THAT THE PUMP WAS ONLY COVERED UNDER THE WARRENTY IF I COULD PRODUCE 5 YEARS OF OIL SLIPS. I HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS REGARDING THIS MATTER. THE FIRST, THE OWNERS MANNUAL DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE PUMPS ARE SENSATIVE TO CERTAIN TYPES OF OILS (SYNTHETIC). SECONDLY, THE MANNUAL DOES NOT STATE THAT THE WARRENTY REPAIRS WILL ONLY BE COVERDED IF ALL RECEIPTS FOR SERVICES PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE ARE PROVIDED. THRIDLY, IT IS CLEAR IN MY MIND THAT IF A MANUFRACTURER PLACES A DEFAULT OR DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP IN A CAR THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL? I HAVE READ IN THE MOST RECENT COMSUMER REPORT MAGAZINE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURING PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATS. FOURTHLY, WHEN CONTACTING VOLKESWAGON DIRECTLY I SPOKE TO CUSTOMER "CARE" THE ATTIDUDE WAS APPAULING. THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS "OH WELL" " THAT IS OUR POLICY" DID NOT GET THAT RECEPTION WHEN BUYING THE CAR! I BOUGHT MY PASSAT JULY 13, 2000 AND BY JULY 13, 2005 I HAVE A SERIOUS ENGINE PROBLEM. FINALLY, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COST TO ME WOULD START ANYWERE AT 1,000. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY THIS IS MY PROBLEM? I AM A THERAPIST AND I COME ACROSS MANY PATHS IN MY TRAVEL. MY PATHS INCLUDE PHYSIATRIST, TEACHERS,DOCTORS, CLIENTS ETC I WILL BE SURE TO SHARE WITH THEM MY DISSATIFICATION WITH VOLKESWAGON. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU