NHTSA Complaint #10523939 — 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND A "SERVICE ENGINE NOW" INDICATOR LIT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR ENTERED LIMP MODE AND POWER WAS GREATLY REDUCED. I DECIDED TO DRIVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER TO DROP IT OFF. OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES THE CAR PRODUCED LESS AND LESS POWER (A FEELING AKIN TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS, BUT THERE WAS STILL 1/2 TANK OF DIESEL IN THE CAR) UNTIL IT DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. NO OTHER WARNINGS, NO OTHER DRIVABILITY CUES, JUST A DEAD CAR ON THE FREEWAY UNABLE TO BE STARTED OR MOVED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS/POSSIBLY FATAL HAD I NOT BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO FORCE MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY GAVE OUT. SO TO SUM UP - ONE OWNER (PURCHASED NEW) DIESEL JETTA; CAR MAINTAINED BY DEALER AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS. FUELED AT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THREE STATIONS FOR MUCH OF ITS LIFE, NEVER HAD A NON-DIESEL PUMP ANYWHERE NEAR IT; DRIVING PERFECTLY ONE MINUTE, FIVE MINUTES LATER, A DEAD CAR. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER TODAY, FROM THE SYMPTOMS IT SOUNDS LIKE THE NOTORIOUS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) HAS CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED. *TR