NHTSA Complaint #10537226 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

CONCERNING VOLKSWAGEN RECALL 08V156000. SUMMARY: VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 412,000 MY 1999-2005 PASSAT (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 14, 1999. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELD THAT CAN BECOME DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE (4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE ONLY) THAT CAN LEAK DUE TO FRACTURE. CONSEQUENCE: A HEAT SHIELD THAT MAY CONTACT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. IN ADDITION, A FUEL LEAK FROM A FUEL LINE OR FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL UNDERBODY HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS TO COVER THE POSSIBLY DAMAGED AREAS. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE ON 4MOTION/ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REPLACE COMPONENTS IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2008. FAST FWD TO 2013. OUR GAS TANK IS NOW LEAKING OUT AND THERE'S EVERY INDICATION IT'S A VENTILATION VALVE. THE RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETE ON THIS CAR IN 2008, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER SERVICE ORDER DID NOT SPECIFY THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVES WERE INSPECTED. THE WORK ORDERED SPECIFIED INSTALLING THE HEATSHIELDS ONLY. VW DEALER WILL NOT COVER COSTS OF CHECKING THE VENTILATION VALVE GIVEN THEY SAID THE RECALL WORK WAS ALREADY PERFORMED. WHO HOLDS DEALER ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROPERLY COMPLETING RECALL INSPECTION /MAINTENANCE? *TR