NHTSA Complaint #10456846 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL ON THE 130 EARLIER PASSAT VEHICLES WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STARTED AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS SOMEWHAT DRIVABLE BUT W/O ANY POWER ASSIST WHATSOEVER. I AM A MAN AND COULD WRESTLE WITH IT TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND OVER TO THE LOCAL DEALER. BUT MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED. AND I FEAR WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THERE WOULD LIKELY BE AN ACCIDENT THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE DRIVER. THIS HAD HAPPENED TO MY WIFE SEVERAL TIMES BUT IF SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND EVEN SOLD US A NEW BATTERY AS THEIR MACHINE WAS SHOWING LOW VOLTAGE CODES. THE TECH EVEN SAID THAT MAY AFFECT THE STEERING, SINCE IT HAS ELECTRONICS. NOT SURE WHY IN THE WORLD WE NEED STEERING SYSTEMS THAT HAVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I THINK THAT VW HAS UNDERESTIMATED THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT LIKELY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE REPAIR WAS AN ENTIRE NEW STEERING RACK FOR THE CAR. *JS