NHTSA Complaint #10148415 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

PURCHASED A USED CAR FROM DAN PERKINS CHEVROLET, IN MILFORD, CT ON MARCH, 18, 2004.I WAS ADVISED BY THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA, THAT THE CAR CAME IN AS A TRADE FROM A GIRL WHO BOUGHT CARS FROM HIM ALL THE TIME AT DAN PERKINS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM A COUPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THAT DAN PERKINS PURCHASED IT AT AN AUCTION. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON/THE LIGHTER DID NOT WORK/THE TIRES WERE BALD, AND THE 6 DISC CD CHANGER WAS NOT IN THE CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED THE SALESPERSON, JOHN ALMEIDA, AND THE USED CAR MANAGER, THEY STATED THEY FIXED EVERYTHING, BUT THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CD CHANGER, I WROTE A LETTER TO DAN PERKINS HIMSELF, AND HE GAVE ME A NEW ONE BECAUSE IT WAS ADVERTISED WITH THE CD CHANGER. WHEN MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON I BROUGHT IT TO CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN IN STRATFORD, CT. THEY ADVISED ME TO GET A COPY OF MY CONTRACT FROM DAN PERKINS AND ANY OTHER PAPERWORK FROM DAN PERKINS. I CONTACTED THE SALESMAN, JOHN ALMEIDA AND HIS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GETTING A COPY OF ANYTHING. THEY DO NOT KEEP COPIES OF CONTRACTS FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS. HE ALSO YELLED IN THE BACKGROUND THAT CURRAN VW WAS TRYING TO PASS THE BUCK AND THAT I WAS OUT OF LUCK!!!THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO ENGINE!I AM MAKING CAR PAYMENTS ON A CAR THAT DOES NOT WORK, ON A CAR THAT I HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS!I CONTACTED CURRAN VW BECAUSE VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE ENGINE TO 8 YEARS, I ONLY FOUND THIS OUT BECAUSE I DID MY OWN RESEARCH ONLINE. VW OF AMERICA DENIED MY CLAIM BECAUSE ONE OF MY MECHANICS, WHO DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER, HANDWROTE RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL CHANGES.CURRAN VOLKSWAGEN GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $12,074.60. THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE IS $8,000!!!!!VW OF AMERICA ADVISES THEIR CONSUMERS TO HAVE OIL CHANGED EVERY 5,000 MILES OR EVERY 6 MONTHS. I HAD MINE CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES.DAN PERKINS SHOWED ME NO VEHICLE HISTORY REPORTS. *AK