NHTSA Complaint #10248423 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

MY 2000 VW PASSAT 1.8T BEGAN EXHIBITING A FLASHING/BEEPING RED LIGHT TO INDICATE A FAILURE IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE LIGHT ACTIVATES 99% OF THE TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONAL IN THIS STATE, WHICH MEANS THE CAR IS DRIVABLE, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS SAFE UNDER PANIC STOP OR REDUCED TRACTION CONDITIONS. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON ON 1998-2001 PASSATS (AND AUDI A4S) WITH THE BOSCH 5.3 ABS MODULE. THE DEALERSHIP ACTED AS IF THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH AN INDEPENDENT SHOP SAID THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL AT THEIR SHOP. HOWEVER, NO ACTION HAS EVER BEEN TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER. I DID OPT TO HAVE THE ABS MODULE REBUILT BY A THIRD PARTY. THE RESULT WAS A $400.00 INSTEAD OF $1000.00 AT THE DEALER. OUTRAGEOUSLY, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT VWOA DEALERSHIP SERVICE WORK FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $1,000. THE APPARENT FAILURE RATE OF THIS MODULE, AND THE FACT THAT IT DEGRADES THE OPERATION OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL SAFETY FEATURE OF A CAR (THE BRAKES), MAKE IT MY OPINION THAT IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. RECALL ACTION SHOULD INCLUDE COMPENSATION FOR OWNERS WHO HAVE UNDERTAKEN REPAIRS, AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY MODULE. THANK YOU. DK *TR