NHTSA Complaint #10532441 — 2008 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT

AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AROUND END OF MAY 2013 AND I TOOK THE CAR TO BE SEEN BY A VW TECHNICIAN AT DIRITO BROTHERS IN WALNUT CREEK, CA ([XXX]- TECHNICIAN AND [XXX]- SERVICE MANAGER). AFTER I WAS CHARGED A $75 SERVICE FEE FOR ASSESSING THE ISSUE AND NOTHING WAS FIXED, I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT VW OF AMERICA AT 1-800-822-8987 DIRECTLY TO SEE HOW THEY CAN ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AIRBAG FAULT, AS I WAS QUOTED MORE THAN $500 IN REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING I DID NOT DAMAGE. I DISCUSSED MY CASE# [XXX] WITH [XXX] ON 06.06.2013. THEIR RESOLUTION WAS TO HELP PAY HALF OF THE COST, BECAUSE I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER (I AM AT MY 3RD VW AND MY FATHER HAS A JETTA= TOTAL OF 4 WV CARS). I AM SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THEY DID NOT CONSIDER THIS AS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM, I AM BASICALLY DRIVING WITHOUT AN AIRBAG AND THE RISK IS DEATH, IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. PER [XXX], HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE WHAT A CRITICAL SAFETY PRIORITY IS FOR THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND HOW TO ASSESS APPROPRIATE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE EVERYDAY TO WORK FEELING THAT I AM AT RISK AND WAS TOLD THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE TO COVER HALF OF THE COST OF THIS FACTORY FAILURE AND THAT THEY ARE MAKING ME A FAVOR BY BEING WILLING TO COVER HALF OF THE COST. I AM WONDERING HOW NOT ENSURING BASIC SAFETY IS GOING TO AFFECT VW'S BRAND WHEN THEY WILL GET HIT WITH LAWSUITS FOLLOWING INJURIES SUSTAINED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE (PRODUCT LIABILITY CASE)? IS IT GOING TO BE WORTH IT NOT PAYING THE ENTIRE REPAIR COSTS? IS A HUMAN LIFE WORTH $500? THIS IS MORE ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE AND ETHICS, THAN THE MONEY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR