NHTSA Complaint #10490810 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON

PURCHASED CAR USED. FIRST TIME I FILLED THE GAS TANK STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS WAS PRESENT DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL MILES OF TRAVEL. WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE STORE FROM PAYING FOR THE SECOND FILL UP THERE WAS A BIG PUDDLE OF RAW FUEL ALL OVER THE GROUND DIRECTLY UNDER THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH & DISCOVERED A MANUFACTURE RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. AFTER EXPLAINING MY DILEMMA TO THE APPROPRIATE CORPORATE DEPARTMENT I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD/WOULD DO TO REMEDY THIS VERY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. MY FEELING IS THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER PROPERLY ADDRESSED, IN SPITE OF THE RECALL, & IS THEREFORE STILL A HAZARD. I HAVE DISCOVERED BY KEEPING THE LEVEL OF THE GAS TANK BELOW 1/2 IT DOESN'T LEAK. OUT OF NECESSITY FOR TRANSPORTATION THIS IS HOW I'VE BEEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. DUE TO THE MAJOR EXPENSE OF PROPERLY REPAIRING THIS, AND THE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HAZARD IT PRESENTS, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COMPLETE, AND PROPER REPAIR OF THIS ADMITTED DEFAULT IN THE CAR. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN YOUR ORGANIZATION DO TO ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER? *TR