NHTSA Complaint #10190093 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

MY GIRLFRIEND PURCHASED A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T IN 2005, NEW OVERSTOCKS FROM THE LOT. SHE JUST HIT 30000 MILES ,AND THE CLUTCH WENT OUT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO FIND THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON DRIVER'S ERROR . THE DEALER WANTED $1900.00 FOR REPAIRS ON A JOB THAT CAN BE DONE FOR SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THROUGH AN ALTERNATIVE AUTO SHOP. WHEN WE CALLED TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE LIMITED RESTRICTION WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ITEM WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR, AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ONLY BY A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP TO KEEP HER EXTENDED WARRANTY VALID. AFTER HEARING THIS ABSURD POLICY I DECIDED TO CHECK AROUND TO SEE IF ANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGEN CLUTCH RELIABILITY TO FIND THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE KNOWN TO VOLKSWAGEN. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE CLUTCH ISSUE AS A FAULTY PART THEY FOUND IT TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL TO BLAME THE MECHANICAL FAILURE ON USER ERROR. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DISTURBING TO ME AFTER READING SEVERAL VOLKSWAGEN OWNER REVIEWS THAT STATED THE FAULTY CLUTCH LEFT THEM STRANDED WHILE TRAVELING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AS IT WAS MY STRONG BELIEF THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS VEHICLES WITH IMPENDING KNOWN MECHANICAL ERRORS ON THE ROAD, BUT THEY CHOOSE TO NEGLECT THE ISSUE. *AK