NHTSA Complaint #10193538 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I'M RELIGIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE OIL IN THE CAR, ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF IT. I LOVE MY VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. I HAD THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON ONCE OR TWICE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT ALWAYS TOOK IT INTO A SHOP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE LIGHT ALWAYS WENT OFF AND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE, DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS. SO MUCH SO THAT THE OIL PUMP WAS BLOCKED AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AS A RESULT. I HAD THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING COME ON THE DAY MY CAR DIED. IT WAS A FEW MILES AFTER IT WENT ON IT STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PUSH MY CAR INTO IT'S PARKING SPOT AT HOME. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS @ THE BURNSVILLE LOCATION TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD STARTED WITH A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE PASSATS, BUT THAT IT HAD BECOME COST INEFFECTIVE AND SO CUT THE WARRANTY TO 50,000. MY CAR SEIZED AT UNDER 87,000. I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX IT, AS YET. HAD TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK AND SO MY PAYCHECK WAS GREATLY REDUCED. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE CAR PAYMENT ON IT EITHER, AS A RESULT, WHICH HAS A BALANCE OF NEAR TO $10,000.00. *AK