NHTSA Complaint #10449751 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

THE TDI (DIESEL) ENGINE IN THE '04 & '05 NORTH AMERICAN VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS WAS EQUIPPED WITH A CHAIN DRIVEN OIL PUMP/BALANCE SHAFT MODULE. THE CHAIN TENSIONER FAILS CAUSING THE CHAIN TO SEPARATE WHICH STOPS THE OIL PUMP AND DESTROYS THE ENGINE. IF A PERSON IS LUCKY, LIKE I WAS, AND HEARS THE CHAIN NOISE BEFORE IT FAILS, THE ENGINE CAN BE SAVED. THE FIX INVOLVES INSTALLING A NEW GEAR DRIVEN BALANCE SHAFT MODULE WHICH CONTAINS A NEW OIL PUMP. THE REPAIRS COSTS ~ $2,500 PARTS AND LABOR. VOLKSWAGEN HAS IGNORED THIS FAULT IN THE US (AND CANADA), DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS, EVEN THOUGH HUNDREDS OF CASES OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. IN FACT, THE NEW DESIGN MODULES ARE CURRENTLY ON BACK ORDER AT THE VW PARTS FACTORY. THE OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE PROBLEM IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A DEFECT. THE FACT THAT VW RE-ENGINEERED AND REPLACED THE ORIGINAL OIL PUMP DRIVE ASSEMBLY IS AN ADMISSION THAT THE DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. REFERENCE VW'S TECHNICAL PRODUCT INFORMATION NO. 2016429/2 DATED 29-JAN-2008. I SEE THIS AS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE OF THESE CHAINS FAILED, ON THE HIGHWAY DURING FREEWAY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DESTROY ITSELF AND SPILL OIL AND OTHER FLUIDS ONTO THE ROAD SURFACE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *TR