NHTSA Complaint #10152258 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DUE TO INTERIOR WATER LEAKS INTO THE FOOTWELL AREA FROM BLOCKED PLENUM DRAIN. AS STATED IN THE JUNE 18,2004 VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN VEHICLE HAS 28,000MILES . IT IS A LEASE. FIRST ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BEGAN AT APPROX 20,000 MILES WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT KEPT CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND REPAIRED. SECOND PROBLEM KEY LOCK SYSTEM FAILED. UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO RE-DO CODES AND REPLACE KEYS, ALSO CHANGED STEERING WHEEL. THIRD PROBLEM, DAMPNESS ON FLOOR OF DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AND BACK., TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING, INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNLESS TURNED OFF MANUALLY, DOOR LOCKS OPENED AND CLOSED RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF RANDOMLY, SOUND SYSTEM WENT ON AND STAYED ON AFTER CAR WAS VACANT. CAR NEEDED TO BE JUMP STARTED IN ORDER TO USE. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE DUE TO NORMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS CAUSING PROBLEMS. VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO COOPERATE STATING THAT THEY DO NO COVER DEFECTIVE PARTS IF IT RAINED ON THE VEHICLE. AT THIS TIME, CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS WHILE PARTS ARE ORDERED TO REPAIR AT MY COST. SO FAR BILL IS RISING ABOVE $4,000. REQUEST TO TERMINATE LEASE WAS DENIED. 90 DAYS EARLY TERMINATION WAS OFFERED BY VW LEASING BUT PAYMENTS MUST CONTINUE TO BE MADE AFTER CAR IS RETURNED. *NM