NHTSA Complaint #10166460 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, MY WIFE AND I OWN A WHITE, 2002, VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. MY WIFE HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON THE VEHICLE AT A JIFFY LUBE IN NAPA, CA. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY SHE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. MY WIFE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC IN CLEARLAKE, CA. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE OIL FILTER WAS LOOSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK OIL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC IN CLEARLAKE. UPON RAISING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC LOCATED THE OIL DRAIN PLUG. THE DRAIN PLUG WAS LOOSE. THE DRAIN PLUG WAS REMOVED AND DETERMINED TO BE A CHEVY TRUCK DRAIN PLUG. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE OIL PAIN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD BEEN STRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I HAD THE OIL PAN REPLACED AT A COST OF $401.71. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE JIFFY LUBE IN NAPA. BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER, SENIOR MANAGER AND THE MANAGER, IT IS THEIR CONTENTION THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT FOR THE DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS THE HIGHEST INCIDENT OF PAN STRIPPING COMPARED TO OTHER MANUFACTURES. IT IS THEIR OPINION THAT THE NEW OIL PAN WILL ALSO STRIP. JIFFY LUBE HAS AGREED TO PAY ME THE ABOVE MENTIONED COST OF REPAIRING MY VEHICLE. AS PART OF THE REPAYMENT, THEY HAVE REQUIRED ME TO WRITE TO NTSA AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO RECEIVED MY FUNDS. PLEASE USE THIS LETTER AS PART OF ANY ON GOING INVESTIGATIONS AS TO THE FAILURE OF VOLKSWAGEN OIL PANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *JB