NHTSA Complaint #10683473 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN

I JUST ENTERED THE EXPRESSWAY. THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING BETWEEN 5-6 RPMS, AND THE CAR WAS GOING 40. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR, SO I WENT TO THE NEXT EXIT (2 BLOCKS) AND GOT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY. THE CAR WAS SMOKING. A PASSERBY TOLD ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SMOKE AND LIQUID POURING OUT OF THE CAR. I THEN HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE VW'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WOULDN'T COME UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CLEARED THE CAR TO BE TOWED. FINALLY, IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS BROKEN HEATER HOSES AND WATER PIPES. HAD I BEEN IN THE FAST LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED, A SERIOUS CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED, AS THE SMOKE AND REVVING BEGAN SO SUDDENLY, AS DID THE SLOW CAR SPEED. *TR