NHTSA Complaint #10825233 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

PURCHASED A USED 2004 VW PASSAT GLX 4MOTION WITH 91K MILES AND NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE HISTORY PER CARFAX.. FIRST FILL OF THE GAS TANK REVEALED A SEVERE LEAK OF GREATER THAN 180 DROPS PER MINUTE. THE LEAK OCCURRED AT ALL TIMES WITH THE CAR RUNNING OR TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE LEAK STOPPED AFTER THE GAS GAUGE MOVED BELOW F. REMOVED REAR SEAT AND NOTICED FUEL WETTING ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE TANK ADJACENT TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. USING A MIRROR FUEL WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM THE VENT BOSS ADJACENT TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. THIS EXACT ISSUE IS COVERED UNDER VWOA RECALL 26E5/R5 NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 08V156000. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY INFORMED ME MY VEHICLE VIN [XXX] IS NOT ELIGIBLE HOWEVER THEY DID NOT SAY WHY. THE CARFAX REPORT STATES THAT A HEAT SHIELD WAS REPLACED 8/11/2008. RECALL 26E5/R5 INVOLVES A HEAT SHIELD AS WELL AS THE FUEL TANK. IT'S POSSIBLE THE TANK WAS OK AT THE TIME. IF THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY HAD THE RECALL AND THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED THE PROBLEM AFTER IS THERE ANY RECOURSE UNDER THIS RECALL? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR