NHTSA Complaint #10463362 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WHEN I STARTED MY CAR, A 2010 JETTA SEDAN TDI, IT STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE, BUT STILL RAN. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT OVER TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES AWAY. I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACHIEVED A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAKE THE NOISE AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER WITHIN A HALF MILE. I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING CENTER AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, WALLACE IMPORTS OF JOHNSON CITY, TN. IT TOOK THEM APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAINED TO MY HUSBAND THAT THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, WHICH RESULTED IN METAL FRAGMENTS CONTAMINATING THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. AS A RESULT, HE WAS TOLD THAT EVERY PART WHICH CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE FUEL HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE FUEL TANK, FUEL LINES, FILTERS, FUEL INJECTORS, AND MANY OTHERS. THERE WAS A TWO PAGE LIST OF THE PARTS USED TO FIX MY CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN RESULTING IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION. FURTHER, WE ALSO HAVE 2010 JETTA TDI SPORTSWAGEN AND HAVE CONCERNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SINCE MY HUSBAND ROUTINELY MAKE ROUND TRIPS OF 230 MILES AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK TRAVELING MAINLY ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR