NHTSA Complaint #10226071 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE BRAKES. WHEN HE TOUCHED THE WHEELS, THEY WERE EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE HAD STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS. ALL FOUR BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH ANOTHER LIGHT (HE DID NOT REMEMBER WHICH LIGHT). AFTER HE ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN INDIANA AND WAS INSTRUCTED ON WHERE TO FIND THE FUSE TO DEACTIVATE THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STABILITY CONTROL. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THEY HAD SEEN AUDIS EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND FEATURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.