NHTSA Complaint #10204196 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

IF FUEL TANK IS FILLED MORE THAN APPROX. 3/4 FULL, THE ODOR OF GAS IS APPARENT VERY SOON AFTER. IT PERMEATED MY GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND OVERWHELMED ME WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME A VENT TUBE ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE, AS HAS THE DEALERS MECHANIC. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE TANK. I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, AND HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR OVER A YEAR. MY LOCAL VW DEALER WILL BE REPLACING THIS FOR FREE BASED ON THE APPROVAL OF A REGIONAL VW MANAGER, BUT I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NEWS TO THEM, AND NO SUCH RECALLS OR EXTENDED WARRANTIES APPLIED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AND I WAS ONLY SAVED THE ~$3,000 IN REPAIR EXPENSE BECAUSE ONE SPECIFIC DEALERS ADVISER HAPPENED TO BE AWARE OF A "SOFT RECALL," AS HE PUT IT. HE TOLD ME A NUMBER OF THESE TANKS ARE FAILING ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, AND HAVE ORDERED EXTRA FUEL TANKS TO ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS. VW SHOULD BE NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS OR AT THE VERY LEAST HAVE INFORMATION ON IT THROUGH THEIR NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. *TR