NHTSA Complaint #10174365 — 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I OWN A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITH A 2.8 ............................................................................................................. LV6 ENGINE AND 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ON 03 AUG 2006 (MILEAGE: 84028) I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE WHEN THE ECL INDICATOR CAME ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 19 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE FIRST TIME WAS 10 NOVEMBER 2004 (MILEAGE: 68184) IN WHICH THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED UNDER NHTSA RECALL #04V-09600 (20 FEBRUARY 2004). IN BOTH CASES THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY LITHIA VOLKSWAGEN OF THORNTON, COLORADO. THE FIRST SWITCH REPLACEMENT USED PART #1J0-945-511-D, WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT USING PART #1J0-945-511-F. THIS IMPLIES A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DESIGNED BY VOLKSWAGEN BECAUSE OF FLAWS WITH THE DESIGN USED TO RESPOND TO THE NHTSA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE SECOND INCIDENT OF THIS BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY EITHER THE FEBRUARY 2004 RECALL THAT REPAIRED THE FIRST INSTANCE OR THE NEW RECALL 06V183000. SINCE THE BRAKE LIGHT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO FUNCTION LONGER THAN 19 MONTHS. ITS FAILURE PLACES MY FAMILY AND I AT RISK OF INJURY OR EVEN DEATH DUE TO A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE OF VOLKSWAGENS INABILITY TO PROPERLY DESIGN A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THIS SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE TO PROTECT ITS OCCUPANTS. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD MAKE A SERIOUS EFFORT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM PERMANENTLY OR DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SAFETY BY REPLACING THE SWITCH AT MANUFACTURER EXPENSE. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE (1-800-822-8987, REF. #60279193) THEY CLAIMED THIS SERVICE WAS NOT COVERED BY EITHER RECALL AND SINCE THE PART HAD PERFORMED PAST THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE SWITCH AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *NM