NHTSA Complaint #10615821 — 2014 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

REF: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE10034. REGARDING MY 2014 JETTA TDI (DIESEL): FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY 3/4 FULL. FILLED REMAINDER (APPROX. 1/4 TANK, 3.5 GALLONS) WITH ULSD AUTO DIESEL FUEL AT A SERVICE STATION IN PORTAGE COUNTY, OH. I NOTICED AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE LOSS OF APPROX. 4 MPG IN FUEL ECONOMY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON VARIOUS VOLKSWAGEN TDI/DIESEL INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUMS (IN ADDITION TO VARIOUS CHEVY AND/OR FORD DIESEL PICKUP TRUCK INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUMS), THE SYMPTOMS SEEMED TO COINCIDE WITH DAMAGE TO THE BOSCH CP4 HPFP (HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP). SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: -- LOSS OF FUEL ECONOMY. -- MINOR HESITATION EVEN ON SMOOTH, LEVEL ROADS THAT GETS WORSE OVER TIME. -- PRESENCE OF METAL "FLAKES" OR "SHAVINGS" IN THE FUEL FILTER CANISTER AND OTHER PARTS OF THE FUEL DELIVERY/RETURN SYSTEM. -- I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE POINT OF PURCHASE (AN OFFICIAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER), AND REQUESTED THEY PROVIDE ME WITH A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL FILTER CANISTER. THIS INSPECTION CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF NAKED-EYE-VISIBLE CONTAMINATING PARTICLES (SUSPECTED TO BE ALUMINUM METAL "FLAKES" OR "SHAVINGS") IN THE FUEL FILTER CANISTER, AND POSSIBLY OTHER PARTS OF THE FUEL DELIVERY/RETURN SYSTEM. DUE TO THE FUEL DELIVERY/RETURN SYSTEM DESIGN, THESE METAL "FLAKES" OR "SHAVINGS" CAN BE RE-INTRODUCED INTO THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WITHOUT BEING TRAPPED BY THE FUEL FILTER, CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE HPFP AND CASCADING CONTAMINATION (GENERATION OF ADDITIONAL METAL "FLAKES" OR "SHAVINGS"). ONCE FUEL FLOW THROUGH THE HPFP, FUEL ACCUMULATOR RAIL, AND INJECTORS BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY RESTRICTED BY CONTAMINANTS, THE HPFP CAN FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THIS, IN TURN, CAN LEAD TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF POWER STEERING. CASE OPENED WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE. *TR