NHTSA Complaint #10482481 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON A FEW SECONDS AFTER I HAD MERGED A FEW LANES OVER ON THE FREEWAY (101S @HOLLY DURING RUSH HOUR). GLOW PLUG LIGHT FLASHED ONCE OR TWICE. WITHIN 60 SECONDS, THE CAR HAD DIED WHILE TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING UP ON BOTH SIDES OF ME. PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR STARTED AGAIN, NOR DID I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (I HAD 2 LANES ON MY RIGHT, 2 ON MY LEFT). AFTER TRYING TO START IT FOR A MINUTE OR SO, CALLED 911. AFTER 10 - 15 MINUTES, CHP CAME AND STOPPED ALL TRAFFIC, PUSHED ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH HIS CAR. CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. TOW TRUCK CAME A WHILE LATER, TOWED ME TO VW DEALER (BOARDWALK) WHICH WAS NEARBY. DEALER: BOARDWALK VOLKSWAGEN, REDWOOD CITY, CA STATUS: FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. PROVIDED ME RENTAL CAR. TOOK 1 WEEK. ALL IN ALL, GAVE ME GOOD SERVICE. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM. HERE IS WHAT THEY DID UNDER WARRANTY (PER THE RECEIPT): * REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP * REPLACED AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP * REPLACED FUEL FILTER HOUSING AND FILTER * REPLACED ALL INJECTOR LINES * REPLACED 4 INJECTORS * REPLACED FUEL RAIL * REMOVED AND REINSTALLED FUEL PUMP INSIDE GAS TANK * DRAIN AND REFILL DIESEL * ROAD TESTED RECHECK OK * VENDOR CODE (BOSCH) AND (CBF) NOT A VERY OPPORTUNE TIME FOR A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, WHILE CRUISING ON THE BUSY RUSH-HOUR HIGHWAY, AND IT HAPPENED VERY FAST. NEVERTHELESS, NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND THE CAR IS NOW BACK ON THE ROAD. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THESE CARS OF THIS VINTAGE, AND I WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO CONTACT VW TO TRY AND REPLACE THE PUMP BEFORE IT FAILS. ON THE TRICLUB FORUM, THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THIS SAME THING HAPPENING 100S OF TIMES TO THESE CARS. HERE IS MY ENTRY: HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=3978779 SOMEONE ON THE FORUM ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE AN INCIDENT WITH NHTSA, SO I AM DOING THAT HERE. *TR