NHTSA Complaint #10266297 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GTI

ON APRIL 4, 2009 I DISCOVERED THAT MY FUEL PUMP, CAM FOLLOWER AND INTAKE CAM LOBE HAVE PREMATURELY WORN AS DESCRIBED IN A JUNE 2007 VW TSB #15 07 04. THE CAM FOLLOWER CAP WORE THROUGH, CAUSING THE FUEL PUMP PLUNGER TIP TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE CAM LOBE, WEARING ALL THREE PARTS TO THE POINT THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED, AS PER THE TSB, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS MAINTAINED AT THE DEALER DURING WARRANTY PERIOD PURSUANT TO VW SPECIFICATIONS, AND IN EXCESS OF THE INTERVALS CALLED FOR IN THE MAINTENANCE BOOKLET THAT CAME WITH THE CAR SINCE THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. BECAUSE MY CAR NEVER DISPLAYED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE CAM WEAR WAS NEVER CHECKED BY THE SERVICING DEALER SINCE THEY ARE INSTRUCTED IN THE TSB NOT TO PROCEED IN THE ABSENCE OF A WARNING INDICATOR, AND BY THE TIME THE ISSUE WAS FOUND, VW DENIED WARRANTY CLAIMS DUE TO MILEAGE ON THE CAR (80,100 +/- AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY). IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THE PARTS WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR TO THE POINT THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR CAM SHAFT MAY FAIL DURING HIGHWAY OPERATION, POSSIBLY CAUSING A COLLISION OR THE RELEASE OF FUEL INTO THE ENGINE BAY THEREBY CAUSING A RISK OF FIRE. THE VW MAINTENANCE BOOKLET MAKES NO MENTION OF THE NECESSITY OF REPLACING OR EVEN CHECKING THESE PARTS FOR WEAR THROUGH 100,000 MILES, AND IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE OWNER MAY HAVE NO WARNING OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE OF THE PARTS. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED ONE CAM FOLLOWER, AND HAVE THE ORIGINAL DAMAGED PART. AN UNSCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF VW OWNER WEBSITES INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE, AND IN SOME INSTANCES HAS OCCURRED IN AS FEW AS 25,000 MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED VW DIRECTLY, AND WHILE THEY HAVE NOT DISPUTED THE FACT THAT THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE, THEY REFUSE TO OFFER ANY REPAIR ASSISTANCE. *TR