NHTSA Complaint #10361563 — 2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING. I HAD TO ATTEMPT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH THE CAR SLOWING DOWN AND ENGINE MISFIRING. WHEN PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, WE EXITED THE CAR SINCE IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS STRETCH OF ROAD AND SOON A HIGHWAY SERVICE VEHICLE CAME AND TOLD US THEY WOULD TOW US OFF THE ROAD FOR OUR SAFETY. WE WERE STRANDED ON A LONE STRETCH OF BUSY FREEWAY 80 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD TO GET A TOW FOR 80+MILES AND 2+ HOUR'S DRIVE. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY CAR (IGNITION COIL) WAS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD 4 MONTHS PRIOR (WHICH ALSO REQUIRED A TOW). AT THAT TIME, ONLY ONE IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED (EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN EXISTING RECALL ON THE IGNITION COILS) AND SO 4 MONTHS LATER I ENDED UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IN READING ON THE WEB, I HAVE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WITH VW IGNITION COILS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2001 - EVEN MORE REASON TO WHY ALL FOUR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE PROBLEM BACK IN JUNE. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS (WITH 2001-2003 MODELS) BUT FOR SOME REASON IT STILL CONTINUES TODAY AND THERE HAS BEEN ONLY SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED AND NO FACTORY RECALLS. *TR