NHTSA Complaint #10577275 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE ON THURSDAY MARCH 27, 2014, THE CAR BEGAN TO FLASH THE "GLOW PLUG" WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH A MESSAGE "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP". AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE CAR WOULD ONLY DO ABOUT 50 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 2 MORE MILES UNTIL I FOUND A SAFE LOCATION TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE. THE CARS ENGINE STALLED AS I WAS MAKING MY WAY OFF THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO START AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE SAME DAY TO A LOCAL GARAGE OF MY CHOICE. THE TECHNICIANS TOOK FIVE DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO RUN PROPERLY, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM GETS CONTAMINATED WITH TINY METAL SHAVINGS WHEN THE PUMP FAILS, THE COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $8000-$10000 FROM A LOCAL VW DEALER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE ON SOME MODELS BUT THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS, SO NOTHING WOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. I AM NOT HAVING THE CAR FIXED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY AND THE CAR ITSELF IS ONLY VALUED AT AROUND $14000. MY CHOICES ARE TO LET THE BANK REPO MY CAR AND RUIN MY PERFECT CREDIT THAT I HAVE BEEN BUILDING FOR 15 YEARS, OR KEEP PAYING THE $350 A MONTH FOR A CAR THAT DOESN'T RUN FOR THE NEXT 4 YEARS. IT IS A CRIME THAT VW IS AWARE OF THIS BUT ARE CONTINUING TO ROB US UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE CARS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR COVER REPAIR BILLS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS SUBJECT. *TR