NHTSA Complaint #10640738 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN IT BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE RADIATOR COOLANT. CHECKED TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND REALIZED TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATION. NO ENGINE LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. OPENED HOOD AND DISCOVERED COOLANT WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE HOOD LINER AND ENGINE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART. TOOK IT TO THE VW GARAGE AND WE WERE TOLD IT HAS BEEN A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE VW ROUTAN LEADING ONE TO THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW OF THE HOSE ASSEMBLY. THE TOTAL DAMAGES DUE TO THIS ONE HOSE ASSY FAILURE KNOWN TO DATE IS THE FOLLOWING: PLASTIC HEATER CORE HOSE ASSEMBLY; TEMPERATURE SENSOR; THERMOSTAT; HOOD LINER SOAKED AND RUINED; AND REPLACE COOLANT. REPAIR BILL IS NEAR $1000.00 FOR ALL THESE ITEMS. FURTHERMORE, IF THIS HAD GONE UNNOTICED DUE TO THE LACK OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THIS COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR