NHTSA Complaint #10181819 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

MY CAR, A 2004 VW PASSAT GLX AUTOMATIC, HAS HAD A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, WHEN THE SALESPERSON TOLD ME IT JUST NEEDED TO ADJUST TO MY DRIVING STYLE. MONTHS LATER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T ADJUSTING TO MY DRIVING STYLE. I TOOK IT IN AND IT WAS "FIXED." ABOUT MAY OR JUNE OF 2006, IT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AGAIN, E.G., SLAMMING, SURGING, DELAYED ENGAGEMENT, ETC. I GAVE IT SOME TIME, HOPING IT WOULD "READJUST," THEN TOOK IT IN NOVEMBER OF 2006, WHEN THE PROBLEMS HAD BECOME MORE ACUTE. IN A 4-5 MINUTE TEST DRIVE WITHIN A MILE OF THE DEALER, THE MOST WORRISOME MALFUNCTIONS COULD NOT BE REPEATED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE TIME SAID THE MINOR ISSUES WERE NORMAL, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO "WRITE A LETTER" TO GET THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED. ON SATURDAY, 2/3/07, A TRANSMISSION SURGE PROPELLED MY CAR OVER A SPEED BUMP AND INTO THE CONCRETE, CAUSING WHAT I PRESUMED WAS AN OIL LEAK. THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE PRESENTS OBVIOUS HAZARDS TO PEOPLE, IN ADDITION TO PROPERTY. AS OF TODAY (2/6/07), THE DEALER IS REQUESTING THAT I PAY APPROXIMATELY $900 TO FIX THE OIL PAN SO THEY CAN DRIVE THE CAR AND ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. *JB