NHTSA Complaint #10170708 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

MY PASSAT HAD TWO PREVIOUS INSTANCES OF WATER LEAKAGE IN THE FLOOR OF THE BACK SEAT, WHERE THE COMPUTER IS HOUSED. THIS RESULTED IN A SHORT-CIRCUIT IN THE CARS COMPUTER IN THE FALL OF 2005, CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW IN TRAFFIC AND ULTIMATELY STOP WHEN I REACHED DEALERSHIP. MAROONE VOLKSWAGEN OF DELRAY BEACH ADDRESSED THESE TWO INSTANCES UNDER WARRANTY BY FOCUSING ON THE POLLEN FILTER AND POLLEN FILTER CAGING. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, I AGAIN TOOK IT TO MAROONE VOLKSWAGEN ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 SINCE THIS SEEMED TO BE ANOTHER RECURRENCE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER WARRANTY. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID COWL HAD A HAIRLINE FRACTURE, WHICH WAS ALLOWING WATER UNDER MY HOOD AND INTO THE CAR. HOWEVER, COWL WAS INTACT ON PREVIOUS VISITS FOR SAME PROBLEM. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA WHO ACCEPTED DEALERS DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING GIVEN THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ONLINE POSTED BY PASSAT OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME LEAKAGE PROBLEM THAT I DESCRIBE ABOVE, AND IT IS NOT DUE TO COWL. PLEASE REFER TO AUTOBAHN.COM. *JB