NHTSA Complaint #10454965 — 2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA FAILS TO PROVIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS A FUSE DIAGRAM, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY IDENTIFY AND REPLACE A SIMPLE BLOWN FUSE. *TR WITHOUT A BASIC FUSE DIAGRAM, THE ONLY CHOICE FOR VW OWNERS NEEDING TO REPLACE A FUSE IS TO PULL FUSES ONE-BY-ONE AS THEY SEARCH FOR THE BLOWN FUSE. WITH MANY UNUSED SLOTS, SHOULD A FUSE BE INADVERTENTLY REPLACED IN THE INCORRECT SLOT, A CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM SUCH AS BRAKE LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, ABS BRAKE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HORN, ETC. CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY DISABLED WITHOUT ANY IMMEDIATE KNOWLEDGE ON THE PART OF THE OWNER. THIS HAPPENED IN MY CASE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LOCATE THE 12-VOLT ACCESSORY FUSE. ALL OTHER AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURES PROVIDE FUSE ASSIGNMENT DIAGRAMS EITHER IN THEIR OWNER'S MANUALS OR, MORE TYPICALLY, ON THE BACK OF THE FUSE COMPARTMENT COVERS. THIS ENABLES THE OWNER TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY THE CORRECT FUSE, PULL AND INSPECT IT, AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW FUSE. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA'S CORPORATE OFFICE AND SPOKE WITH A SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO WHO WAS UNWILLING TO GIVE ME ANY EXPLANATION WHATSOEVER WHY VW REFUSES TO PROVIDE THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION. VW'S ADVICE IS TO "SHINE A FLASHLIGHT ON THE END OF THE FLAT FUSE AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHICH ONE IS BLOWN." IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY A BLOWN FUSE IN THIS MANNER. SINCE THIS REPRESENTS A VERY REAL POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO EACH AND EVERY VW OWNER WHO NEEDS TO REPLACE A FUSE, NHTSA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL VW MODELS, GOING BACK TO THE DATE VW INSTITUTED THIS ILL-ADVISED POLICY. NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO PLACE FUSE ASSIGNMENT DIAGRAMS ON THE INTERIOR OF THE FUSE BOXES. THIS WILL IMMEDIATELY AND COMPLETELY CORRECT THIS SAFETY DEFECT.