NHTSA Complaint #10232790 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

2000 PASSAT -OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND A BIG STOP LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO PRIOR WARNINGS OR ANYTHING WRONG. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WAITED ABOUT 1 HOUR THEN DROVE 1 MILE HOME. NEXT DAY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS TOLD BY VW MECHANIC HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL ME BUT MY ENGINE WAS BLOWN DUE TO OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH THIS YEAR. WANTED $9500 TO REPLACE ENGINE (ONLY 52K MILES) I STILL OWED $7500 ON THE CAR. REPLACED ENGINE AT ANOTHER GARAGE FOR $5400 THEN HAD TO REPLACE TURBO FOR $2000. OIL IS NOW LEAKING AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. CALLED VW. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IF I COULD PRODUCE EVERY OIL CHANGE RECEIPT. THE GARAGE WHERE I GOT MY OIL CHANGED ONLY KEEPS RECORDS IN THE COMPUTER FOR 6 MONTHS THEN THEY ARE PUT IN BOXES IN STORAGE. VW BASICALLY SAID "TOO BAD". I HAVE HAD 2 JETTAS AND NOW THIS PASSAT. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE JETTAS. IF THEY HAVE "KNOWN PROBLEMS" WHY ARE THEY NOT RECALLS? VW COULD NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION. *TR