NHTSA Complaint #10238766 — 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE SELLER STATED THAT IT WAS A MINOR ISSUE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS RESET AND ILLUMINATED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING; HOWEVER, RADIATOR FLUID WOULD SPILL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. THE RADIATOR, TIMER, WATER PUMP, AND SENSORS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT NONE OF THE REPAIRS REMEDIED THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95V178000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN) FOR THE 1995 PASSAT IS IDENTICAL TO THE FAILURE SHE IS EXPERIENCING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB