NHTSA Complaint #10152412 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

THIS IS A 2003 VW PASSAT WITH 27,000 MILES. IT IS KEPT OUTSIDE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THERE HAVE BEEN RAINS HERE RECENTLY, EXPECTED THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE REAR FOOTWELL WAS FOUND TO HAVE WATER IN IT RECENTLY. NEITHER THE SUNROOF NOR WINDOWS HAD BEEN LEFT OPEN. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY VW DEALERS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, THE BOTTOM OF THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBE WAS CLOGGED, BACKING WATER UP. THE RESULTING DAMAGE INCLUDED CARPET, DAMPENED TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, WIRING HARNESS AND A SAFETY RELAY AMOUNTING TO OVER $3,000 TO REPAIR. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE DAMAGED PARTS AND UNCLOGGING THE DRAIN TUBE. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT