NHTSA Complaint #10153804 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WAS DRIVING ALONG AFTER JUST ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND GOT UP TO SPEED (ABOUT 45 MPH). THEN I FELT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ENGINE FALTER, AND THE MOTOR JUST QUIT, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO ODD SOUNDS EITHER. JUST LIKE I TURNED THE KEY "OFF". I COASTED TO A STOP OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO START IT A FEW TIMES. JUST CONTINUOUS CRANKING AND NOT EVEN A "COUGH". NO UNUSUAL NOISES, COMPRESSION SEEMED GOOD. TIMING BELT FAILURE APPEARS TO BE RULED OUT. NO EXTERNAL LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP (THE ONE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT) EITHER. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, ALL THE NORMAL DASH LIGHTS LIGHT. YESTERDAY, I DID NOTICE A MORE PRONOUNCED SOUND COMING FROM THE IN-TANK LIFT PUMP WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO "GLOW". AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE TONIGHT, I COULD NOT HEAR ANY SOUND FROM THE LIFT PUMP. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALER SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS STILL IN EFFECT. TODAY (THREE DAYS LATER) THE DEALER CALLED ME AND SAID THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP FAILED AND IT WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB