NHTSA Complaint #10199607 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

BATTERY GOING DEAD WITHOUT TIME OR REASON; DOORS WOULD LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH NO ONE AROUND; TRUNK WOULD UNLOCK AND WOULD NOT SHUT WITHOUT KEY INTERVENTION; LIGHT ON DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK WOULD FLASH INCESSANTLY WITH NO ONE NEAR. CAR WENT OVER FOUR YEARS WITH NO INCIDENT AND SUDDENLY STARTED ACTING "STRANGE." NO CHANGES OR WORK DONE ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SINCE NEW WHEN THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DEALER HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE BUT UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING SOURCE, KEEPING CAR AS LONG AS THREE WEEKS (WITH A "LOANER") AND NOT CHARGING EXCEPT FOR A SMALL FIRST TIME INSPECTION. SIX RETURNS TO DEALERSHIP WITH SOME RELIEF; ONLY THE BATTERY GOES DEAD WITH IRREGULARITY. WE HAVE A 2000 PASSAT THAT SITS NEARBY AND HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. NUMBER OF FAILURES IS ONE, BUT ALL RELATED . . SIX TRIPS TO DEALERSHIP AND RELIEF ON ALL BUT THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. WE ARE 80 AND FEAR THAT WE WILL BE CAUGHT OUT AND HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. ALL DATES ARE APPROX. *JB