NHTSA Complaint #10715076 — 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

RURAL ROAD IN FLORIDA, CRUISE CONTROL SET TO SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH. APPROACHING A SHARP CURVE, I DOWN SHIFTED MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM 5TH TO 3RD TO SLOW DOWN TO AN APPROPRIATE SPEED OF ABOUT 35 MPH. WHEN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH, AND BEGAN STEERING INTO THE CURVE, THE CAR'S CRUISE CONTROL RE-ENGAGED AND I FOUND MYSELF STRUGGLING TO STEER AROUND THE CURVE AT 45 MPH. EXACT MODEL IS GOLF SPORTWAGEN TDI SEL WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. VW'S OWN INSTRUCTION VIDEO SAYS THAT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE CRUISE CONTROL DIS-ENGAGES AND THAT THE DRIVER MUST PRESS THE RESUME BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE RE-ENGAGED. IN MY 50 YEARS OF OPERATING AUTOMOBILES, EVERY CAR WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND A MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS OPERATED PER THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE VW VIDEO. UPON CAREFUL READING OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL I FOUND THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER: "CHANGING GEARS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVE ... THE CRUISE CONTROL REDUCES ACCELERATION AS SOON AS THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED, AND AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE TO REGULATE SPEED AFTER A GEAR CHANGE." THIS NON-STANDARD BEHAVIOR MAY SOON LEAD TO PEOPLE BEING KILLED. *TR