NHTSA Complaint #10714169 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CENTER CONSOLE RADIO HEAD-UNIT STOPPED WORKING. THE SPEAKERS STOPPED PLAYING MUSIC, THE DISPLAY ON THE HEAD-UNIT BLACKED OUT, THE BACK-LIGHTING FOR THE UNIT WENT OUT, AND MY BLUE TOOTH CAPABILITIES CUT OUT AS WELL. MY RADIO HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND I AM UNABLE TO USE HANDS-FREE BLUE TOOTH WITH MY PHONE. I NOW HAVE TO USE MY PHONE BY HAND IF I WANT TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHILE DRIVING. I'VE BEEN NOTICING INCREASED DRAIN ON MY BATTERY (EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF) WHICH WAS CONFIRMED TO BE COMING FROM MY DEAD RADIO ACCORDING TO DIAGNOSTICS RUN AT AN AUTO SHOP. I HAVE HAD TO JUMP AND REPLACE MY BATTERY TWICE UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY BATTERY WILL DRAIN AGAIN FROM THE DEFECTIVE RADIO UNIT. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP, THE ONLY OPTION THEY OFFERED TO ME WAS TO PAY $125 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEN ANOTHER $800 TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SAME BRAND. I REFUSE TO PAY $800 FOR A REPLACEMENT PART THAT I AND MANY OTHERS BELIEVE IS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR