NHTSA Complaint #10884170 — 2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

WHILE DRIVING HOME (APPROX 50 MILE TRIP) I HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60MPG. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE AND SMELLED BURNING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE BAY. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF IT WAS LEAKING ANYTHING AND FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT SEEMED TO BE OIL DRIPPING FROM THE CAR. I THEN NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL FROM BEFORE I STOPPED THE CAR. I LEFT THE CAR IN PLACE FOR A TOW TO NOT DAMAGE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE THAN IT ALREADY WAS. IT WAS TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP IN TOWN WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE PCV VALVE STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR MAIN SEAL TO FAIL AND BECOME COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THEY SAID THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OUT TO REPLACE THE SEAL AND IS GOING TO COST $1700. VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY INDICATION OF PROBLEMS BEFORE THE SCREECHING NOISE AND DID NOT HAVE ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON DURING THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 100,000 MILES AND VW OF AMERICA DENIED TO HELP OUT IN ANYWAY WHEN CONTACTING CUSTOMER SERVICE. ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH EXACT SAME ISSUE WAS FOUND WHEN I LOOKED AT OPEN CLAIMS ON NHTSA AND MANY OTHER CLAIMS ARE EASILY FOUND WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH. I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON TIME AND AT VW DEALERSHIPS AND WAS NEVER ADVISED TO GET THE PCV REPLACED AS NORMAL MAINTENANCE.