NHTSA Complaint #10816865 — 2016 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

SAFETY ISSUE - 2016 EGOLF WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP WITH "MAIN CHARGING FAILED" ERROR. DURING A NORMAL COMMUTE AFTER 3, 4 MILES OF DRIVING 30 - 40 MPH, CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AFTER A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP RIGHT AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS IS EVENING 6PM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WHILE REST OF THE SYSTEMS SEEM TO BE FUNCTIONING, THE CAR IGNITION IS ON, PRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOESN'T DO ANYTHING WITH "ELECTRICAL ERROR , STOP" MESSAGE ON THE DASH. AFTER GETTING STUCK IN A LANE FOR AN HOUR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, GOT THE CAR TOWED TO NEARBY VW DEALER. DEALER INFORMED THAT THE MAIN CHARGING MODULE THAT CHARGES BATTERY FAILED, WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW PART FORM GERMANY. IT COULD TAKE UP TO TWO WEEKS. SAFETY ISSUE - THE FACT THAT CAR JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY HAS PLENTY OF CHARGE LEFT POSES A SERIOUS AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IS JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.I WAS TOLD THAT THE DESIGN PROTECTS DRIVERS AGAINST GETTING STRANDED AFTER BATTERY IS DISCHARGED, SINCE THE CHARGING MODULE FAILED. THIS SEEMS TOTALLY ILLOGICAL THAT THE DESIGN IS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU FROM STRANDED WHEN BATTERY RUNS OUT, SO IT RATHER STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET THE MODULE FIXED BEFORE YOU CAN DRIVE IT TO A SAFE PLACE. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW INCIDENTS REPORTED LIKE THIS, SO VW HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO FIX ON 2016 EGOLF IMMEDIATELY. MAYBE IT REQUIRES A DESIGN FIX TO LET DRIVERS DRIVE TO A DEALER TO GET THE FAULTY PART TO BE FIXED, INSTEAD OF STRANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.