NHTSA Complaint #10260796 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

A POTENTIAL ISSUE HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME ENGINE PARTS RELATED TO THE BALANCE SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THE ENGINE OIL PUMP SYSTEM DRIVE CAN FAIL AS EARLY AS 45,000 MILES. AND IF THE FAILURE OF SAID COMPONENTS DO FAIL, SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE CAN EASILY OCCUR FORCING THE DRIVER, AT MINIMUM, TO PAY AN UNREASONABLE AND VERY COSTLY SERVICE BILL. IF A DRIVER EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE DURING A TYPICAL HIGHWAY PASS OR MERGING ON A ROADWAY, THE COST WOULD BE UNFATHOMABLE PERTAINING TO THE LOSS OF LIFE, FAR SURPASSING THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL THE ENGINE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS COME UP WITH A FIX BY CHANGING THE CHAIN TO A GEAR. THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AS YET, EVEN WITH MANY OF THESE VEHICLES HAVING FAILED. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TO EVERY 2004 PASSAT WITH THE BHW ENGINES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT STEPS VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IS TAKING TO INFORM 2004 AND 2005 PASSAT TDI OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. GOOD CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP WOULD DICTATE A PROBLEM OF THIS SEVERITY SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE OWNERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THESE ENGINE FAILURES COULD LEAVE MOTORISTS STRANDED UNDER DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR