NHTSA Complaint #10154899 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

TODAY I TOOK MY DAUGHTERS 2000 JETTA IN FOR SERVICE. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND I TAKE IT TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND RECALLS. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS CHARGED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE COMPUTERIZED CHECK-UP. I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS'' SIDE AIR BAG. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE PROBLEM COULD CONSIST OF ANYTHING FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO THAT OF A MALFUNCTIONING AIR BAG UNIT. HE STATED THAT THE PRICE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS MALFUNCTIONING THE CARS INTERNAL COMPUTER HAD SHUT OFF ALL THE OTHER AIR BAGS WITHIN THE CAR. THE CAR IS IN THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW AWAITING SERVICE. YOU ARE THE THIRD PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO AT THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY ANSWERS. SAFETY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN CARS TODAY AND THAT IS WHY I PURCHASED THIS JETTA. YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS STATE THAT THIS CAR IS ONE OF THE SAFEST ON THE MARKET. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT A SAFE CAR NOW AND VW COMPANY REFUSES TO HELP ME FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. ALL OF THEM AGREED THAT THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AND ABSORB THE PRICE WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. I'LL TAKE THIS MATTER AS FAR AS IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN FOR A FAIR RESOLUTION. MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND WILL NOT LET HER DRIVE IN AN UNSAFE CAR. *NM