NHTSA Complaint #10690691 — 2009 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

2009 VW PASSAT 2.0T. OIL LEAKING FROM REAR MAIN SEAL. REAR MAIN SEAL FAILED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES, NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. FIRST INDICATION WAS OIL SPOT ON DRIVEWAY AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. INSPECTED BOTTOM OF ENGINE AND IT WAS COATED WITH OIL. THE PCV VALVE FAILED AND CAUSED REAR MAIN SEAL TO RUPTURE AND SHOOT OIL (AND POSSIBLY GAS VAPORS) ALL OVER BOTTOM OF HOT ENGINE. ALTHOUGH NOTHING IGNITED IN THIS CASE, BEGAN TO QUESTION IF SOME OF THE OTHER FIRE INCIDENTS LISTED ON NHTSA SITE WERE POSSIBLY CAUSED BY SIMILAR CONDITION. FAILURE OF APPROX. $40 PART CAUSED APPROX. $1700 IN DAMAGE- ALL OUT OF WARRANTY. WARRANTY IS FOR 5 YEARS/60,000 MILES. NO MAINTENANCE DATA AVAILABLE TO OWNER INDICATED THAT PCV VALVE SHOULD BE CHECKED AS PART OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. VW LEADERSHIP DECLINED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONIBILITY FOR SITUATION. *JS