NHTSA Complaint #10620701 — 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

THIS IS MY SECOND ENTRY ABOUT THIS INCIDENT; THIS CAR WAS A CERTIFIED 2013 PASSAT TDI SEL THAT I HAD OWNED FOR FOUR DAYS! I HAD NEVER EVEN REFUELED IT ONCE AND THE FUEL PUMP EXPLODED ON I-95 IN MARYLAND AND THE ENSUING INCIDENT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. I WAS AT THE ENTRY TO THE BALTIMORE I-95 TUNNEL WITH NEARLY NO WHERE TO PULL OVER ONCE THE CAR STOPPED--CARS AND TRUCKS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE TUNNEL MOVING CREW CAME SHORTLY AFTER SINCE MY STOPPED CAR WAS AN EXTREME HAZARD--I AM HANDICAPPED AND HAD NO WHERE TO ESCAPE TO. I EVENTUALLY WAS TOWED BACK TO MY DEALER AND NOW THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP TO BE FIXED FOR 1&1/2 WEEKS. VW CLAIMS THAT THE REASON FOR THIS FAILURE IS THAT OWNERS ARE PUTTING GASOLINE IN WITH THE DIESEL. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE IN MY CASE AS I ONLY HAD THE CARE FOR 4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THE DEALER HAD TOPPED IT OFF WITH THEIR OWN FUEL! VW IS NOT BEIG HONEST ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM AND NHTSA NEEDS TO ORDER A TOTAL RECALL. IT IS A NEAR MIRACLE THAT I WAS NOT KILLED. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE TUNNEL WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OVER AT ALL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND MOST LIKELY A FATALITY (ME!) PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE INFO. *TR