NHTSA Complaint #10513949 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH ON FRIDAY MAY 24, 2013 WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND SHUDDER VIOLENTLY. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND THEN IT SEEMED THAT THE POWER WAS COMING IN AND OUT. BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN SHAKING AND LOSS OF POWER, I HAD TO VERY QUICKLY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON A HEAVILY CONGESTED HIGHWAY ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP (INCLUDING ALL OIL CHANGES) AND IS UP TO DATE ON ALL PERTINENT MAINTENANCE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) AND HAS ACCUSED US OF SOMEHOW ALLOWING METAL INTO THE DIESEL FUEL (THEY EVEN HAD SOME METAL "SAMPLES" TO SHOW ME AT THEIR SERVICE COUNTER, HOW BIZARRE). I WENT BACK TO THE FUEL STATION WHERE WE LAST FILLED UP AND SPOKE TO THE MANAGER, WHO SAID THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF ANY ISSUES RELATED TO CONTAMINANTS OF ANY KIND IN THEIR DIESEL FUEL. WE ARE STUCK WITH A $6,000 BILL FOR A DEALER-MAINTAINED CAR THAT HAS ~83,000 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD, IN ADDITION TO THE FRIGHT OF A VIOLENT LOSS OF THE VEHICLE'S POWER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR