NHTSA Complaint #10148215 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 2001 VW JETTA GLX VR6 WITH APPROXIMATELY 45K MILES. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN A PRIVATE SALE WITH 25K MILES. INITIALLY, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BAD COIL PACK, WHICH DID NOT BECOME PROBLEMATIC UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AGO. LAST WEEK, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD A NEW COIL PACK INSTALLED FOR $836, WHICH INCLUDES A $99 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND $560 FOR THE PART. DURING THE PAST WEEK, I HAVE HAD A CASE OPEN WITH VW CUSTOMER ADVOCACY REGARDING THE COIL PROBLEM AND YESTERDAY I RECEIVED THEIR RESPONSE. THEY HAVE STATED THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE WG COIL REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN CONTRARY TO THE WORDING OF THEIR ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE. PLEASE REFERENCE TSB 10005665. AS A RESULT OF THIS COIL PROBLEM, I HAVE HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED AT 25K MILES AND HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE BACK FIRE ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE. AT THIS POINT, I HAVE PAID THE $836 TO RETRIEVE THE CAR FROM THE DEALER AND I HAVE POSSESSION OF THE FAULTY IGNITION COIL THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO ASKED VW CUSTOMER ADVOCACY TO SEND ME A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO MY CLAIM. I AM SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY 2001 JETTA VR6 OWNER WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, ONLY TO FIND THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PROMISE TO REPLACE FAULTY COIL PACKS IN 2001-2003 VR6 ENGINE CARS. THE ORIGINAL CUSTOMER SERVICE ACTION WAS INTENDED TO PREEMPT THE ISSUING OF A FORMAL RECALL AND VW IS NOT HONORING WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY PROMISED IN HAVING ISSUED ONLY 15 TSB'S WITH A MUCH NARROWER SCOPE THAN ORIGINALLY INTENDED. *NM