NHTSA Complaint #10152333 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I HAVE A 2004 VW PASSAT WAGON. WE WERE IN THE LAKE TAHOE REGION LAST WEEK DURING A RAIN AND SNOW STORM. WE GOT IN THE CAR ONE MORNING TO FIND INCHES OF WATER IN THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR AND TO DISCOVER OUR TRANSMISSION WAS SHORTED OUT. HAD IT TOWED 100 MILES TO SACRAMENTO, WHERE IT SAT FOR A WEEK BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS PINE NEEDLES IN THE DRAIN BELOW THE BATTERY WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET IN THROUGH THE VENTING SYSTEM. VOLKSWAGON CLAIMS THAT THIS ISSUE DOES NOT FALL UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS A MATTER OF MAINTENANCE - YET NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO REGULARLY CHECK AND CLEAN THE THIS DRAIN AS IT'S NOT PART OF NORMAL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. WE KNOW AT LEAST THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL BOX IS FRIED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA IF/WHAT ANY OTHER DAMAGE MAY BE. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL TO TELL ONE TO CHECK FOR THIS ISSUE. I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WILL BE A COST OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. BESIDES THE ISSUE OF WATER GETTING INTO THE CAR, WHY IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL PLACED IN NON WATERPROOF LOCATION UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT THAT COULD BE PRONE TO GETTING WET? THERE IS A FORUM IN WHICH MANY OTHER VW OWNERS SPEAK OF THE SAME ISSUE - HTTP://WWW.THEAUTOBAHN.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=12789 I CANNOT ACCEPT VW'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY ON THIS.