NHTSA Complaint #10177995 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

MY 2003 VW PASSAT 4-DOOR SEDAN HAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY AND I NOTICED THIS TIME THAT THE EMERGENCY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING EARLIER IN THE DAY - THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT ALSO COMES ON/OFF FOR NO REASON. I'VE REPORTED THE WARNING LIGHT A COUPLE OF TIMES AS WELL TO THE VW SERVICE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENS EITHER. THE WARNING LIGHT WILL AT LEAST SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF, UNLIKE MY BRAKE LIGHTS. SINCE TODAY IS SATURDAY, LEAVING MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON UNTIL THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REOPENS ON A MONDAY IS PROBABLY GOING TO RUN MY BATTERY DEAD. WITH THAT CONCERN IN MIND, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE VW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HOTLINE, 800-822-8987, TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS I CAN LOOK INTO AND THE OPERATOR SAID SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY DOCUMENTATION. SHE ADVISED THAT VW ROADSIDE CAN COME TOW MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP (THAT WON'T REOPEN UNTIL MONDAY) OR THEY CAN COME TO JUMP-START MY CAR (WHICH CAN TAKE UP TO 45-60 MIN. AFTER DISPATCH). THIS SEEMS A TERRIBLY LONG TIME TO WAIT & A HUGE INCONVENIENCE ESP. SINCE IT ALSO TOOK 30 MIN. JUST TO REACH THE LIVE OPERATOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. I LOVE DRIVING MY PASSAT; I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW DIRECT FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2003. CAR SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME WHICH IS WHY I'M ADAMANT ABOUT FOLLOWING SERVICE GUIDELINES AND BRING MY CAR IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE & OIL CHANGES. I ONLY BRING IT INTO A VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE, NEVER A LOCAL GARAGE MECHANIC. CAN NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO BOTH ISSUES: 1. SPORADIC CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 2. BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINING ON WHILE DRIVING AND AFTER THE CAR IS SHUT OFF. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS BOTH ARE MAJOR CAUSES FOR SAFETY CONCERN, IN ADDITION TO FURTHER EXPENSIVE REPAIRS WHICH MAY BE DEFECTS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD COVER INSTEAD. THANKS. *NM