NHTSA Complaint #10926677 — 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (HPFP) FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (<10 MPH) ON A COUNTY ROAD, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP, AND DISABLING THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER BEING TOWED, AN INSPECTION BY THE VW DEALER REVEALED THAT THE HPFP FAILURE SENT MENTAL PIECES THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM, INCLUDING THROUGH THE FUEL FILTER, ULTIMATELY CLOGGING THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RENDERING THE CAR INOPERABLE. THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE DEALER NOTED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL TANK. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITH ~1/4 TANK OF DIESEL FUEL AND NO OTHER INDICATION OF WHY THE PUMP FAILED. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS RESULTED IN A +$5,000 OWNER OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO GET THE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL AGAIN. VW HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE HPFP FOR THE SAME VEHICLE MAKE/MODE FOR 2012 MODEL YEAR BUT THIS VEHICLE IS A 2013 AND THUS NOT COVERED. THIS OCCURRED ON A 2013 VW PASSAT TDI WITH ~100,800 MILES.