NHTSA Complaint #10579263 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN CC

CAR PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2010. ONE OWNER. WITH NO WARNING, CLUTCH FAILED COMPLETELY WITH ONLY 48K MILES, AND GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE CAR TO BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AN ONLINE SEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY OTHER VW CC AND GOLF (2009, 2010 MODELS) HAVE HAD CLUTCH FAILURES WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. ALSO, THERE IS A VW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (VW 2028783) WHICH DIRECTS DEALERS TO INSTALL AN UPDATED CLUTCH KIT WITH IMPROVED SPRINGS. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND AS I IN NO WAY ABUSED THE CLUTCH. ALSO, TO INFORM THEM THAT THIS CC IS STILL WITHIN THE 5YR/50K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. VW CUSTOMER OPENED A CASE, HOWEVER, THE CASE MANAGER CLAIMED THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THAT VW WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THEY UPDATED THE PARTS AND HAVE DISTRIBUTED THE TSB DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. *JS