NHTSA Complaint #10251930 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

VW PASSAT 2003, PURCHASED01/09/03, 4 MOTION SEDAN, FOR $32,766.50. ON 10/7/2004, I WENT THROUGH A 2" OR LESS, RAIN PUDDLE. BECAUSE OF THE AIR INTAKE ON THE PASSAT LOCATION BEING VERY LOW, THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE WATER INTAKE IN THE AIR INTAKE PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND COST $11,077.53. THE CAR MILEAGE WAS 29,143. VW REFUSED TO PAY, SAYING IT WAS NOT THEIR FAULT. MY INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFAULT IN THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO PAY THE $11,077.53 TO KEEP A VEHICLE THAT I HAD PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. IT WAS 1/3 THE COST OF THE NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 29,143 MILEAGE. THE AMOUNT OF RAIN CAN BE DETERMINED ON THE DAY IT HAPPENED, IN MIDDLEBURY, IN. I DID CONTACT CARTALK, AFTER NO RESULT FROM VW, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT ENOUGH TO POST A RECALL, BUT IT IS STILL SOMETHING I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED IN 2004. I DO STILL OWN THE CAR, BECAUSE OF MY INVESTMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER $44,000, BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE COMPARED TO THIS ONE. *TR