NHTSA Complaint #10649634 — 2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

MY CAR'S DRIVER'S HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE WIRING IN THE HARNESS/HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS EXPOSED (THE COLORED COATING PROTECTING THE WIRING WAS GONE). I ORDERED A LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. IN THE MEANTIME, THE OLD HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS BROUGHT TO THE VW DEALER, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY "SEE A LOT OF THESE COME IN", BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OR OWNERSHIP OF POOR QUALITY FROM VW. WHEN THE PART CAME IN AND WAS BEING INSTALLED, I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. I WASN'T ALLOWED TO DRIVE THE CAR AS I WAS TOLD IT WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE EXPOSED WIRES TOUCHED EACH OTHER, THE CAR COULD JUST STOP OR, PERHAPS THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, WHICH WOULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IF I WERE DRIVING AT NIGHT. EITHER WAY, I WAS TOLD AN ACCIDENT OF SOME SORT WOULD OCCUR, WHICH IS WHY I WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO USE THE CAR WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN. IF VW HAS SEEN "A LOT OF THESE" INCIDENTS COMING INTO THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT, ONE WOULD QUESTION WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ALLOWING DRIVERS TO BE OUT ON THE ROADS WHEN THE CAR HAS INFERIOR AND DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL PARTS. DANGEROUS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS...DANGEROUS FOR THE OTHERS WHO MIGHT BE INVOLVED SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. I DO HOPE THAT A FOLLOW-UP WITH VW COMES OUT OF THIS COMPLAINT AS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. A RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER AND I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE AND PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE COMPLAINTS, SUCH AS MINE, CAN BE HEARD. *TR