NHTSA Complaint #10204897 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

2003 VW PASSAT WITH A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION. CUSTOMER STATES THE PROBLEM OCCURRED THROUGH A LEAK IN THE SUNROOF. DEALER ALSO STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *KB THE DEALER STATED THAT A CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAIN HAD CAUSED WATER TO OVERFLOW DOWN THE PASSENGER FRONT WINDSHIELD. A PILLAR CAUSING CORROSION IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HARNESS WHICH WAS LOCATED AT THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOTWELL. THE DEALER STATED THE LEAK WAS CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AND THAT'S WHY IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER APPROVED THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER AS HE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DEALERS LOT, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE CONSUMER AND INFORMED HIM, THIS TIME THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN WITH THE TCM THE ENTIRE TIME.*JB