NHTSA Complaint #10249199 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

POWER TRAIN issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10249199
Vehicle	2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
Component	POWER TRAIN
Date of Incident	October 1, 2008
Date Filed	November 19, 2008
Mileage	70,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	VA

Consumer Description

I OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WITH A 1.8T ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 70,000 MILES AND I JUST FOUND OUT IT HAS ENGINE SLUDGE. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AROUND MAY 2004 WITH AROUND 34,000 MILES AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (NOT VW DEALER) ABOUT SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM VW OF AMERICA ABOUT ALTERED OIL CHANGE SCHEDULE AND USING FULLY SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL. BEING UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THESE ENGINES WERE HAVING I FOLLOWED THE OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES OF 5,000. I WAS NOT AWARE OF SAVING RECEIPTS OF CHANGES AND PERFORMED SEVERAL MYSELF. MY DISPLAY SHOWED A STOP ENGINE LOW OIL PRESS MESSAGE SO I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED SOME TESTS AND TOLD ME I HAD ENGINE SLUDGE. AS OF NOW I HAVE NO RECOURSE WITH VW OF AMERICA AS FAR AS FIXING AN ENGINE THEY KNOW IS FLAWED. *TR

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