NHTSA Complaint #10454194 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY, THE CAR DIESEL ENGINE STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND VIBRATE. THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC HAVING TO STOP BEHIND US. WE MANAGED TO MOVE ASIDE AND PUSH THE CAR TO A LOW TRAFFIC ROAD. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST GARAGE. AN INITIAL INSPECTION INDICATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED, REASON FOR SENDING IT TO THE VW DEALER AT CLEAR LAKE. THE DEALER TOLD US THAT VW OF AMERICA IS CONSIDERING HELPING US WITH THE REPAIR, QUOTED BETWEEN $7,200 TO $10,000, AND HAD INSTRUCTED THEM TO ORDER THE PARTS. TODAY, HOWEVER, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I COULD APPROVE THE REPAIRS FOR THEM TO START WORKING ON THE CAR AND NO RESPONSE WAS AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE PROGNOSIS IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP THAT RELEASED METALLIC DEBRIS INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. AT THE MOMENT OF THE INCIDENT THE CAR WAS BARELY 15 MONTHS OLD, WITH 43K MILES AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. IT DOES NOT GO THROUGH HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ONLY RIDDEN ON REGULAR ROADS. TO MY QUESTION ABOUT HOW COULD I HAVE AVOIDED THIS PROBLEM, THE VW SERVICE REP STATED THAT IT WAS A SIMPLE MECHANICAL FAILURE. *TR