NHTSA Complaint #10324933 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I OWN A 2004 VW PASSAT WITH 35000 MILES. THE CAR IS LIKE NEW, EXCEPT THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO GUNTHER VW IN COCONUT CREEK FLORIDA, FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS TOLD TO GO HOME AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WITH THE RESULTS. THEY LEFT A MESSAGE THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, AND TO COME AND GET MY CAR. I CALLED AND ASKED WHAT WERE MY OPTIONS AND THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE FOR $8600. I CALLED VW CORPORATE, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A LETTER SENT IN 2004 TO THE OWNERS OF CARS WITH THE 1.8 TURBO, I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS LETTER. IT WAS FAXED TO ME, I WAS STUNNED AT THE TONE OF THE LETTER, IF I HAD SEEN THIS LETTER I IMMEDIATELY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF THIS CAR. THERE ARE 197000 WEBSITES CONCERNING THIS ENGINE, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL BUYING THESE CARS WITHOUT BEING TOLD THEY ARE BUYING A CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. VW NOW STATES THAT THIS ENGINE NEEDS AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000MILES, AND IF YOU GO PAST THE 3000 MILE MARK, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINES PERFORMANCE. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED WHEN THEIR ENGINE STOPS IN TRAFFIC. *TR