NHTSA Complaint #10159858 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

2000 PASSAT GLS 4-MOTION V6 HAS BEEN REGULARLY SERVICED. OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES. AT APPX 65000 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, THE CAR OVERHEATED WHILE IDLING (IT HAD BEEN IDLING FOR LESS THAN 8 MINUTES, IT WAS ONLY 50 DEGREES OUTSIDE, THE COOLANT HAD BEEN CHECKED A FEW WEEKS PREVIOUS AT THE CAR'S LAST OIL CHANGE). THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN THE DASH MAXED OUT AND STEAM AND SMOKE STARTED ISSUING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. TURNED THE CAR OFF & LET IT COOL FOR APPX 20 MINUTES BEFORE OPENING HOOD. CHECKED COOLANT, IT HAD COMPLETELY BOILED AWAY. REPLACED COOLANT, LET CAR CONTINUE TO COOL FOR APPX ANOTHER 1.5 HRS. STARTED CAR AND DROVE IT (SLOWLY) TO A GARAGE SPECIALIZING IN EUROPEAN CARS. (MY REGULAR MECHANIC.) REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, BOTH OF WHICH HAD STOPPED WORKING. VW RECOMMENDS THAT THE TIMING BELT BE REPLACED AT 80000 MILES. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TIMING BELT LOOKED SIGNIFICANTLY WORN AND THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NOW FOR FEAR IT MIGHT BREAK BEFORE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT. REPLACED TIMING BELT. TOTAL COST OF REPLACING WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT: $725. DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE TEMPERATURE FROM THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILURE, PISTONS AND VALVES IN ENGINE NOW KNOCK AND ENGINE IS NOISY, PARTICULARLY WHEN FIRST STARTED. ENGINE NO LONGER SEEMS TO BE AS RESPONSIVE, POWER WISE, AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY. 65000 MILES SEEMS A BIT YOUNG TO BE EXPERIENCING A WATER PUMP FAILURE. THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED SO QUICKLY AND WITH NO PRIOR INDICATION OF AN IMPENDING PROBLEM, AND THAT THIS RESULTED IN SUCH STRESS TO THE ENGINE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A DESIGN FLAW INVOLVED. (HAVE HAD WATER PUMPS GO OUT IN OTHER CARS, BUT NEVER PRIOR TO 80000 MILES, NEVER IN UNDER 8 MINUTES AND NEVER WITH SUCH DIRE RESULTS AND HIGH REPAIR COSTS. *NM